Democratic Governance

The Kent Education Association leadership values and welcomes effective membership control over their organization rather than by leaders acting as brokers for member interests. Democratic governance can be best achieved when membership is actively involved in union operations and decision making. Consequently, leadership has proposed an organizing model that involves and empowers union members directly.

The key component of the organizing model is its emphasis on mobilization of the rank and file to do the work of the union...[which] gives members a sense of power as a group. When the members share in the decisions and all the activities of the union, they will also be sharing in the victories. (Banks and Metzgar 1989:49)

Organizing Model

The proposed "organizing model" embodies these concepts:

• If a union is truly to be democratic, then the decisions must be made by those most affected by those decisions. Without an active group of employees meeting together on a regular basis to discuss, debate and decide how to proceed, there will be no democracy.
• A conception of leadership in which leaders are those willing to take the initiative and contribute effort, rather than one based on authority. The belief that leadership will spread as broadly as possible.
• Involvement of large numbers of members in proactive efforts to achieve member goals. Power eminates from members' participation. Getting members involved brings in energy.
• Acceptance of the view that members need to take some appreciable responsibility for winning union struggles and making the union strong. It's the commitment of workers to stick together and speak up for one another that determines if there will be a strong union.

KEA Organizational Chart

Organizing Team

CHARGE:
Organize members to broaden the dialogue, discussion and debate; to do research as needed and develop actions that engage members in order to achieve member goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Recruit members
• Train members in the Listening processes (1:1 and small group)
• Facilitate the discernment sessions
• Develop organizational chart that:
• Identifies the chairperson(s) and contact information
• Identifies committee members and contact information
• Provides structures to communicate with all members
• Develop Organizing plan for the following year in Spring
• Monitor progress of “trainees”, Listening Campaigns, and other aspects of the plan as needed
• Report back information from discernments to
• Executive Board
• Membership
• Maintain a current list of trainers, listeners and participants
• Organize members of specific Communities of Interest as needed
• Coordinate with and support other committees as needed
• Maintain a current file of the committee work to include
• Agendas
• Minutes and notes
• Recommendations
• Other