In next month's issue of the BMWE Journal, the Membership Bargaining Priority Survey for the 2000 round of bargaining will be released. This survey will be the foundation for the preparation of BMWE's demands in the next round and an important reference during bargaining. It is essential, therefore, that we get as large a return as possible. The larger the return the more accurate the results will be and the better our leadership will know how our membership feels about the various issues that will be dealt with in the upcoming round. A large return will also send a clear message to the railroad companies that the membership is involved in the bargaining and is serious about the issues.

The return can be done in three different ways. One, we ask the members to mail the survey from the Journal back using the postage-paid, addressed form. Two, lodges may set up special meetings and have a survey completion meeting. Three, the lodges may set up one-on-one communication committees to meet every member, discuss the survey and collect them.

Of the above methods, the one-on-one is the most effective and the individual mail return is the least effective. The last round's survey return rate in systems and lodges where the one-on-one method was used hit nearly 90 percent in some cases. The Soo Line System Division had the highest rate of return with 88 percent using the one-on-one method. The average return rate where mail return was relied upon was just over 10 percent.

As you can see where one-on-one communication was used, the return rate was significantly higher. The one-on-one method allows for more information to be provided to the members when they complete the survey via questions and answers. It would be impossible to include every possible answer to every question in the survey instructions.

Best of all, once the one-on-one communications network is in place for the surveys, it can be used for many other communications such as bargaining updates, building actions to demonstrate power, and distributing any other information that is critical for the members to have.

Since we know that one-on-one communications works best, we are outlining the process in the Journal so everyone will understand what will be taking place in the coming weeks. However, we cannot stress enough how critical it is that every member's voice be heard. So if, for some reason, you are not contacted personally, complete and return the survey in the Journal. It really matters!

How To Communicate One-on-One

For those lodges interested in using the one-on-one method of survey collection, the following is a basic guide to setting up the communications network. It may require some variations depending on the logistics of your lodge, but using this guide most of the logistical problems can be remedied.

• The lodge president and other local officers should appoint a one-on-one communications committee. The committee should be recruited from across the geographic area that the lodge covers. One committee member for every five to ten members in the lodge is the best ratio, the lower the ratio the better. When recruiting the committee members, consideration should be given to the individual's verbal skills, ability to get along with co-workers, support of the union, and how much territory the member covers in his or her daily work. The ideal committee member is someone that sees several co-workers a day and has an opportunity to visit with them individually for a few minutes.
• At the same time as the committee is being appointed, the Grand Lodge and system offices should be notified of the lodge's intent to collect the surveys via the one-on-one method.

• As soon as the committee is appointed, they should meet to start mapping out the lodge's territory and making assignments of territory and individuals to each committee member. The committee should first identify the lodge's territory, then sub-divide that territory into workable areas for each committee person. Keep in mind that ideally each member will receive a one-on-one contact in two weeks or less.
• If a Mobile Production Gang is in or is expected in the lodge's area, the committee can recruit someone from that gang to be the one-on-one contact person for that gang. The committee person who is assigned to the territory where the gang is working may be the best person for that responsibility.
• The next step is for the committee person to notify the individual members assigned to them that they are the one-on-one contact person for that territory. When this contact is made, advise them that they should bring their surveys to work with them so that any questions they may have can be answered.
• The second meeting of the committee should take place right after the one-on-one materials are mailed. The materials will include extra surveys, expanded questions and answers about the survey and talking points to encourage participation. At that meeting the materials should be discussed and reviewed. If there are any questions that cannot be answered, they should be referred to the system office for an answer. A method to get the answer back to the whole committee should be planned at that time as well.
• At this same meeting the territories should be reviewed. Discuss and try to solve any problems that cropped up when the members were advised how the surveys were going to be handled. Also at this meeting, handling of the collected surveys should be discussed. It is the committee's option to have each committee person mail the collected surveys or to send them to the chairperson for him or her to mail. It would be easier for the chairperson to keep track of the committee's progress if he or she were sent the surveys for final mailing.
• A meeting of the committee should be held after the first week of the collection process. At that meeting, progress of the collection should be reviewed and problems discussed and solved. It is important that the committee evaluate their progress.
• A final meeting of the committee should be held near the end of the collection process to do a final review and make sure everyone possible has been contacted. At this meeting, ways to improve the communication should be discussed so the next one-on-one communication can be even more successful.

We recognize that our membership is spread out over a large area. The biggest obstacle to successful one-on-one communication is getting the committee together. These meetings can be handled via conference call as long as the necessary materials are distributed to the committee prior to the call. AT&T conference calls can be set up by calling (800) 232-1234. The calls cost about 50 cents per minute, per line, but that may be cheaper than committee persons driving long distances to meet.

Finally, if you have any questions or would like assistance in setting up your one-on-one communications network, please feel free to contact Grand Lodge or your system office. The Organizing Department will be responsible for membership mobilization activities such as this and can be reached at (303) 280-1855.