News Mar 5, 2009 at 4:00 am

Hurt by Recession, Canvassers Organize

Comments

1
I worked for the PIRG and was let go recently because a caller didn't feel comfortable with me. I never psycially sexually or verbally did any thing I just made her uncomfortable. Huh is it cause Im black (mixed race actually) but black to her I was fired over the phone after raising close to 90,000.00
for the group in a little over a year.
2
High turnover is a huge problem and is probably the biggest obstacle to Canvasser's Unionization. However, the nonprofit that I work for is truly a non-profit, not a Fund Raising corporation (like Dialogue Direct, etc.) The systems that are in place for employee accountability make perfect sense: A true, blue non-profit cannot afford to pay fund raisers to not do their job and making exceptions to these rules opens the organization up for discrimination lawsuit and the negative press that comes along with it. As a radical environmental non-profit, we don't need much more of that. The organization that I work for treats long-term employees very well. Wages are good, benefits are great. The only thing we could potentially fight for would be more job security (at which point I refer to my prior argument.) Also, as an added security measure, seasoned canvassers who have hit the 3-month mark and have started receiving benefits have an extra week (so, 3 weeks of not meeting quote before being let go rather than 2.) I think this is a good system for holding both the organization and its employees accountable. This is an interesting argument, I'm surprised that there hasn't been more feedback...let's talk it out canvassers!
3
Also wanted to add that I am pro-unionization, I just don't see how it would be practical in this case. Any ideas?

Please wait...

Comments are closed.

Commenting on this item is available only to members of the site. You can sign in here or create an account here.


Add a comment
Preview

By posting this comment, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.