UNION REP / ORGANIZER

Description

Union Representative / Education Organizers work with the Union's leadership development programs. SEIU-UHW's Organization Development Department offers a range of programs including leadership development for worksite leaders and staff, continuing education, basic skills, and citizenship workshops.

They also perform a wide range of duties to develop and implement quality training programs to advance the goals of the Union.

Requirements

Job Functions :

• Work with the Executive Board members, shop stewards and committee representatives to design and implement campaigns to build organizational power and be responsible for the effective functioning of the Union including leadership identification, recruitment, development, and training of members, stewards, and new staff.
• Design and implement organizing campaigns to win Union recognition for unorganized workplaces, building organizing committees, identifying issues, leadership identification and development, and preparing workers for NLRB, MMBA and other elections, and / or strategic and recognition campaigns.
• Exercise leadership, training and motivation to build and maintain a steward system designed to empower and mobilize workers through contract negotiation, contract enforcement, and other issues and disputes affecting workers. Assign tasks to stewards, be responsible for directing stewards with respect to developing and implementing Union policies on all workplace issues.
• Educate workers and others on how power relationships work and how workers can / should use that knowledge.
• Communicate with workers including listening, framing issues and motivating them to participate actively.
• Visit work sites on a regular basis covering all shifts. Listen to workers concerns, determine when to file grievances, determine on what basis to settle grievances or prepare grievances for arbitration.
• Organize rallies and demonstrations; provide strike support including organizing workers and members involvement, support actions, pressure campaigns on employers and building community support.
• Develop written materials including newsletters, training materials, other literature, and press releases, etc.
• Participate in lobbying at State, Federal and local levels and educate and mobilize members around the Union's political program.
• Lead workers in community issues and build relationships with relevant people / groups / organizations outside the Union.
• Recruit rank and file members to sit on Political Action Committees and participate in organizing legislative and electoral campaigns.
• Represent the Union as assigned in community and labor coalition activities.
• Lead other organizer(s) and be responsible for a program of the Union when assigned.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings.
• Complete all required administrative tasks (i.e., Activity forms, expense forms, etc.) in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate record keeping on facility records.
• Required to work long and varying hours including weekends, nights and holidays. Regular worksite visits, home visits and canvassing.
• Requires constant use of independent judgment, self motivation, and capability of doing all the above duties with minimal supervision.
• Driving long distances for extended periods of time is also required. Travel both statewide and out of state with overnights and periods away from home may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications :

Tools :

The Union Representative / Organizer is required to have a valid driver's license, automobile insurance and a working automobile. Vehicles purchased after becoming a Union Representative / Organizer must be union made as approved by the United Auto Workers Union as a condition to receive the auto allowance.

Physical Demands :

The capacity to lift up to 25 pounds is required.

Relationships :

The Union Representative / Organizer works closely with and interact with Union members, unorganized workers, employers, government officials, the Executive Board members, officers, other staff, staff from other labor organizations and grassroots organizations.