The big picture: It’s the final sprint for IEA AutoPay, but the Pocatello Education Association has a huge head start — and their tips can help your local finish strong.  

• Zoom out: IEA AutoPay is the union’s effort to switch every member from paying dues via payroll deduction, which is handled by school districts, to paying IEA directly. The campaign has been in place for more than a year, and thousands of members have already enrolled — but the deadline to make the switch for the upcoming year is Aug. 31. IEA AutoPay is designed to protect the union from legislative action that has decimated union rolls in other states like West Virginia, Tennessee and Florida.  

PEA President Mary Anne McGrory said only about a classroom full of educators stands between the local union and their goal of 100% enrollment in IEA AutoPay. Here’s what worked for them.  

Make contact: McGrory sent an email to members who had not yet made the switch explaining the “why” behind IEA AutoPay: It protects the union and its power.  

• The talking points: The PEA team framed IEA AutoPay as protection against legislative threats and anti-union tactics. They also emphasized the program as a safeguard that keeps membership stable and private. “What resonated most was: Look at how erratic our legislature has been,” McGrory said. “They could pass a law very quickly to end payroll deduction. We don’t want you to lose your benefits and protections.” 

• Keep it private: The privacy aspect also appealed to potential switchers, McGrory said: “Some people don’t want the district or their principal to know they’re a union member. So having it come out of their bank account helps with that — being private and secure.” 

Gameify it: PEA offered a $100 gift card to anyone who switched by their target date. McGrory recommends gift cards that are easy to use. “People love gas gift cards, grocery store gift cards — but for that raffle, we just did Amazon.” 

• Follow up: “After that first week or 10 days, I followed up with another email to the people who hadn’t switched yet — different verbiage, but the same messaging,” she said.  

• Get social: PEA made IEA AutoPay part of their social media outreach efforts, too.  

Use your network: Share lists of members who haven’t switched yet with building reps — and ask them to personally follow up and offer whatever help is needed.  

• Find a gem: If your local includes Gemstones, even better! McGrory asked PEA’s Gemstones to help her do the heavy lifting.  

Create visibility and offer help: Pop into staff lounges during lunch or planning periods to offer on-the-spot assistance. PEA members set up micro-events in multiple schools to help members switch over.  

• Sweet spot: McGrory used a favorite union organizing tactic — sugar — to get members to show up to outreach events. “We announced we’d be in the staff room to help people switch over, and we took in treats — brownies, donuts, cookies,” she said.  

• Get organized: PEA members also used that time to help organize non-members and explain the importance of joining the union.  

Troubleshoot: Make it as easy as possible for folks to switch, McGrory said. Help switchers find their member number or their bank account or their routing numbers. Be patient and persistent — it helps normalize the new payment process.  

• Make it personal: McGrory worked her phone to contact members she knew. “People I knew personally that were on the list — I would either text them, ‘Hey, I see you haven’t switched yet. Is there a problem? Do you not have your member number?’” she said. Hearing from her directly made it easier to fix any issues.  

• Understand the psychology: Some members didn’t want to switch to IEA AutoPay because they didn’t want to know how much was coming out of their bank account for union dues each month. That’s a real psychological barrier for some people, McGrory said — one she countered by explaining what that membership pays for and how members can use it to save money through IEA Member Benefits, apply for National Education Association grants, or attend free professional development courses.  

Work your list: PEA kept a running list of members’ IEA AutoPay statuses by asking members to email her when they had switched. PEA sent personal thank-yous to those who made the effort.  

Celebrate wins, too: Make sure everyone knows who won raffle prizes, and thank those who entered.  

Keep the momentum going: PEA plans to keep pushing until the Aug. 31 IEA AutoPay deadline, using the same tactics that have worked so far. But thanks to their outreach, they don’t have far to go — McGrory says only 30 to 40 people are left on the list.  

What has worked for your local? Have more flipping strategies that worked for your local union? Email Julie Sarasqueta at jsarasqueta@idahoea.org to share your successes.