Well, winning the election, not letting any unfair labor practices discourage you (don't know if GC has any pending ULPs against it, but it often happens during a campaign, especially before an organization hires a law firm), and getting to a first contract are one thing. Sustaining the interest of the rank-and-file in the long-term, particularly at the local level, is another thing.
The reality is a job at GC is just another poopy retail gig. It's maybe a step above telemarketing. It's not something someone should be trying to make a career out of. Welders, EMTs, nurses, university faculty, communication workers, teachers, etc. are going to be more invested in their locals because they have an investment in their careers. If I'm a sales associate at GC, am I going to be wanting to serve as an officer and fight tooth and nail every three years to get the best CBA that I can? I doubt it. I'm probably going to be gone long before the current CBA expires, because at the end of the day, union or not, GC is just another crappy retail gig.
I'd love to see GC employees get a fair shake here, but I'm ultimately cynical about it. My prediction: The union wins; management is all but impossible to bargain with for the first contract; the employees who were instrumental in the original election move on and are replaced by employees who are apathetic; a decertification petition is submitted to the NLRB; things go back to business as usual.
