A great way to engage members in the union is to ask questions and listen. Find out what matters to your co-workers and if they have ideas to improve the workplace. Share your knowledge and discover what gets your co-workers excited. Other ideas:

• Make sure they are receiving our emails. If they are not, they can update their contact information by visiting our website: YEU.ca/update
• Have a few extra copies of your collective agreement to hand out and look up answers to questions together with a member
• Ask members if they would be willing to help out by taking on a task like:

-keeping the Union bulletin board current with items from YEU and the Local

-welcoming new members to the workplace and the Union

-attending Local meetings, especially when member input is needed for bargaining

-organizing union Lunch and Learn events

-being the official Union representative on a workplace Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee

-becoming a Shop Steward

-being a resource person for Joint Labour Management meetings

-becoming a member of one of the Public Service Alliance of Canada's many regional committees

Union education and support are available to help members feel confident in all these roles.

Remember, members may need to be asked more than once before saying yes! Don't get discouraged if they don't say yes right away - keep listening to their concerns.

For tips on organizing effective one on one conversations, read this piece