MEMORANDUM

December 20, 1967

To: All AFL-CIO International Union Presidents

From: William L. Kircher, Director of Organization

Re: First annual AFL-CIO Organizing Conference

December 10, 1967, Bal Harbour, Florida

We are pleased to report to you that 120 delegates attended the AFL-CIO Organizing Conference representing 50 national and international unions.

This conference was not meant to be a cure-all but rather to stimulate additional interest in solving the problems in organizing the 32 million unorganized workers eligible to be members of the AFL-CIO

The Directors and Assistant Directors of the AFL-CIO Organizing department presented three topics:

1. How to use the NLRB

2. Danger points in Organizing

3. The need for quality organizing

Paul Hall, Chairman of the AFL-CIO Executive Council's Organizing Committee expressed appreciation on behalf of the Executive Council for the attendance at this conference and stressed the need for the cooperation of all AFL-CIO unions to complete the need for the cooperation of all AFL-CIO unions to complete the task of organizing the unorganized. Chairman Hall expressed his full commitment and support to all AFL-CIO unions to complete the organizing of the unorganized in their respective jurisdictions.

Discussion from the floor was opened and the following points from the floor were made:

1. The need for a training program for new organizers to be held several times a year in a central location.

2. A training program for organizers that would be established on a systematic regular continuing basis at a fixed location.

3. A training program specifically designed to appeal to young workers between the ages of 21 and 30.

4. The development of visual aids in portfolio form for house visits.

5. Utilizing the skills of retired union members.

6. Appreciation was expressed by various representatives for the benefits their organizers had received through participation of the AFL-CIO Organizing Department in organizing training programs and cooperative organizing programs. (It was suggested that if any national or international union had not taken advantage of this special training program and cooperative organizing program, they should get in touch with the AFL-CIO Organizing Department.

7. It was suggested that AFL-CIO, in cooperation with all national and international unions, have a program of examining and defining the corporate structure of the various industries so as to be able to organize on a cooperative and cooperative basis (quality organizing).

8. Because of the conspiratorial activity of companies in the South, it was suggested that special concentration be given to this area (quality organizing).

9. The need for more and up-to-date staff training programs.

10. The need for quality rather than quantity organizing. The thought behind this was that we could improve on our number of wins by concentrating on quality organizing rather than quantity organizing. For example, if the average number of wins are in the 50% area, by reducing the number of campaigns and concentrating on quality, we might easily raise it to 58, 59 or 60%.

11. An analysis by the Department of Organization (and shown on charts) proved that a change of 7% of the vote in 18% of the elections held would have resulted in 150,000 more AFL-CIO members.

12. Need for involving all departments of international and national unions and AFL-CIO in organizing campaigns. (the same emphasis used in collective bargaining must be adapted to organizing.)

13. There was unanimous expression of approval for the institution of an exchange program of ideas -- a clearinghouse for methods and ideas.

14. There should be a continuation of this type of conference with particular emphasis on sub-committee of Directors of Organization at it relates to their particular jurisdiction (to solve problems and coordinate field operations).

The overwhelming response to this conference and the enthusiasm of the delegates is gratefully acknowledged by the AFL-CIO Department of Organization and we look forward to implementing, with your help, the suggestions presented.

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update 24 July 2008