The International’s Information Technology Department is helping locals stay connected to our members and potential members during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak with the UFCW-developed AuthCard and Sidekick apps.
The AuthCard app, which is available to all locals, allows organizers to send prospective members a link to complete an authorization card and still adhere to social distancing. UFCW Local 1445 used the AuthCard app successfully last summer.
“The AuthCard app has changed the game on organizing campaigns,” said UFCW Local 1445 Secretary-Treasurer Fabricio DaSilva. “It allows for a fresh new way to engage with workers in a cool, easy and simple way. I highly recommend it. It’s a must have tool in today’s fast paced world where workers have so much on their plate.”
The Sidekick app is part of the UFCW’s LUMM system, which is a free software widely used throughout all of our regions to maintain accurate membership data. The cloud-based Sidekick app enables union representatives to access LUMM member data securely and in real time on any mobile device or desktop, and includes maps of member activity, reports, and storage of signatures and documents. The app also offers many features needed to welcome and service our members remotely, including an administrative and member gateway, use of multimedia, digital membership application, reporting, surveys, grievances, document and file repository, texting, email and an offline mode for areas not internet accessible.
UFCW Local 1473 is using the Sidekick app to text their members during this health crisis.
“We used Sidekick to text out a questionnaire for our members at one of our grocery store chains,” said Melanie Bartholf, who is the political and retail service director at UFCW Local 1473. “We publicized the questionnaire on social media, but we know not everyone is on social media and wanted to make sure all of our members who worked for this grocer were able to share their feedback with us. Utilizing the text feature in Sidekick was a quick and easy way for the rep to contact all of the members and send them a link to the questionnaire. Sidekick made it easy and fast for us to let our members know that we are here for them, we are pushing on their employer to do more for them, and that we care about what they’re going through right now.”
You can view the introductory video for the Sidekick app here.
For more information about the AuthCard app, contact Marty Boley at mboley@ufcw.org. To learn more about the Sidekick app or arrange for a training session, contact Laurie Kolish at lkolish@ufcw.org.