Union Representative / Organizer

SEIU Local 121RN

Union Representative / Organizer

Based primarily in Southern California but may vary

Who We Are: SEIU Local 121RN is a powerful voice representing over 11,000 Registered Nurses and Licensed Healthcare Professionals in California. We are leading the fight to win strong contracts, strong workplace protections and strong, safe staffing standards at hospitals in Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and Orange counties.

Learn more .

Job Summary:
The Union Representative/Organizer is responsible for development of worksite leaders, enforcement of the collective bargaining agreement, responding to questions about the contract and developing internal structures that support field organizing campaigns, contract campaigns and political and community campaigns. 

The Union Representative/Organizer also files grievances and does preparation for arbitration to enforce our members’ contract rights. In addition, this position prepares for negotiations through working with the membership, disseminating bargaining surveys and working with the bargaining committee and Chief Negotiator. 

Essential Functions: 

• Development of current leaders (Stewards, Bargaining Team members, Contract Action Team members), as well as identifying, recruiting and developing new leaders
• Engaging and mobilizing our members into action through various internal processes, including the collective bargaining process (i.e. contract campaigns)
• Developing and implementing internal organizing campaigns around worksite issues
• Work with various departments to identify strategies that will provide additional support for members in health and safety matters, labor law, Title 22, etc.
• Filing of grievances and preparing members throughout the grievance and arbitration process
• Facilitating membership meetings and coordinating membership events
• Effective and timely communications with our membership
• Maintaining Union membership, visibility and activity
• Participating in community, political and other Union events
• Coordination of worksite membership COPE drives through political education on nursing legislation, patient care issues and the overall impact of political work on the healthcare industry 
• Membership COPE drives

Other Requirements:

• The role will require a commitment to often work long and irregular hours to prepare for and attend events and Union activities on weekends, evenings and some holidays (e.g., Labor Day), or to complete assignments that cannot be completed in a regular workday or during the week.
• Get out the Vote events (All Staff): Participate in occasional neighborhood canvassing events 
• Civic Actions (All Staff): Support our nurses during civic events through attendance and participation. This may include, but is not limited to, annual events such as May Day and other Labor-events including marches or parades; or strikes, lawful protests and rallies, or other civic actions and activities. 
• Other duties as assigned

Job Specifications: Qualifications, Skills, Experience and Attributes: 

• 2 years’ experience as a Field Representative or Organizer, preferably in the healthcare sector. Experience to include filing grievances, representing members in grievance meetings and Weingarten meetings, organizing worksite actions, mobilizing members in the worksite.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge of Word, Excel, Microsoft Outlook and membership databases. 
• Ability to listen actively and frame issues for and with members
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with diverse group of voices in a team environment.
• Ability to assess information and evidence and deal with conflicting/changing priorities.
• Ability to think strategically and exercise a high level of judgment.
• Ability and willingness to hold management representatives accountable through contract enforcement and membership participation. 
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours and participate in Union-wide events and activities.
• Ability to perform a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature. 
• Ability to perform with frequent interruptions and/or distractions.
• Ability to work independently and identify potentially more effective methods of work operation. 
• Ability to adapt to frequent changes in workload.
• Ability to perform a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature. 
• Ability to perform with frequent interruptions and/or distractions
• Ability to work independently and identify potentially more effective methods of work operation. 
• Ability to adapt to frequent changes in workload. 
• Ability to drive/travel throughout California.
• Ability to occasionally travel out of state.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills in English required.
• Bilingual in Spanish, Mandarin or Tagalog is a plus.
• Must maintain a current, valid driver’s license and working automobile with current auto insurance. 

Typical Working Conditions:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

• Regularly operate a computer, cell phone, and other general office equipment.
• Stand, walk, and/or sit for long periods of time.
• Move through the office to access file cabinets and operate office equipment
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Traverse in the office and in an outside environment during various types of events. This may include moving, or being stationary, for multiple hours, in outside conditions. Traversing may include ascending/descending stairs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but can elevate during events and campaign activities.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
• May include exposure to large crowds.

Salary and Benefits:
This is a full-time, salaried, overtime-exempt position. The salary range for this position is between $95,693 – $118,983, which will be based on the candidate’s relevant and verifiable professional experience and qualifications. SEIU Local 121RN offers a generous benefit package including medical, dental and vision benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a 401(K) plan as well as generous holiday and vacation policies.

To Apply:
Please send your letter of interest, résumé and three (3) references via email with the job title Representative/Organizer in the subject line to Josh Marshall at View email address on unionjobs.com . No phone calls, please.

SEIU Local 121RN is an equal opportunity employer. People of color and women are encouraged to apply.

This job posting may not reflect the complete job description.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

WHEN APPLYING: Be sure to indicate that you saw this information at .