Site reps needed now more than ever

by David Ngô

From keeping existing members in the know to fostering relationships with potential members, site representatives are the eyes and ears of CSEA at the worksite. When classified staff want to understand how CSEA’s different services and resources constitute a labor union, they turn to site reps who can help guide them. Well-trained site reps are fundamental to growing CSEA’s membership and are needed now more than ever.

Dale Brewer, district electrician, San Mateo Union Chapter 519

"Site reps are the union. We are the ones who go out and become the faces of CSEA,” said Dale Brewer, a district electrician with San Mateo Union Chapter 519. He shared his inspiration for starting as a site rep 10 years ago. “I became a site rep because I was having issues with a supervisor that was a tyrant and I got some great help from my site rep,” Brewer explained. “So, I thought my way to give back was to become a site rep and help other people having issues. That's what really sparked me to do it and I love it.”

"So, I thought my way to give back was to become a Site rep and help other people having issues."

- Dale Brewer, district electrician, San Mateo Chapter 519

As CSEA’s boots on the ground, site reps are the ones who make first contact with new employees while helping members stay informed and deal with supervisors. They are a critical link in communication between the rank and file, the site representative coordinator, stewards, and the chapter executive board. “I’ve done introduction interviews when new workers first show up, so I’m the first contact for them,” Brewer said. “CSEA has great (site rep) trainings; I went through all the trainings with CSEA at the home office and the one thing I really appreciate is all the support they give us.” Site reps can also be described as the union ambassadors for the worksites they visit. They act as a chapter’s go-to liaison when connecting with workers, which is why they are crucial for recruiting. For Brewer, he is a key communicator for classified staff who work the night shifts. He enjoys being a site rep because he is able to keep members up to speed on union business while hearing their stories. “The thing that I like about our chapter members is everybody really cares,” Brewer said. “I've done a lot of work with the night crews. The schools and the students, they don't see these people but they really are the backbone of what happens.” With the school year in full swing, the importance of revitalizing site rep programs across the state cannot be understated. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted how CSEA engages with potential members. This may have changed how site reps conduct union business, but it has not hindered their commitment to CSEA.

“It kind of gives you a sense of worth, you know. I’m not just the maintenance electrician anymore, I get to be out there and help members too,” Brewer explained. “Everyone from the custodial staff to the school monitors, they take a lot of pride in what they do and that doesn’t get seen a lot. That’s what spurred me to get more involved.” As the school year marches on, site rep training will be available for all interested members looking to help CSEA grow and become part of something bigger than themselves. Site reps work closely with the chapter’s site rep coordinator and are assigned worksites to visit. Every school site has their own site rep to build rapport with staff while keeping the e-board informed of their challenges. And with new bulletin board kits, recruitment materials and more training opportunities on the way, site reps will be better prepared than ever before to help CSEA advocate for all classified staff.