Campaign to Organize Digital Employees
(CODE-CWA)

Lead Organizer

Based in Seattle, WA
(with travel nationally)

 

About the campaign: We are an underground, soon to be public, but growing wall to wall organizing union of workers at a tech company organized in a “direct join” or “pre-majority” model. We include members who are directly employed by the company, as well as Temps Vendors and Contractors. This effort is a part of CWA’s Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA). The campaign will be centered in the Northwest, near Seattle, WA.

Summary: The Lead Organizer role is to help workers form, build, and grow our union; mobilize workers around worksite issues, politics, public policy, and other matters affecting the lives of workers; develop leadership among workers; and carry out all other programs of the union in the field.

Experience and Education:
3+ years relevant professional organizing experience. Organizing in a labor union setting is highly desirable. Dual-language skills are highly-valued.

Commitment

• A strong commitment to economic and social justice
• A strong commitment to an organizing model, and supporting a democratic member led union.
• A growth mindset and a commitment to building a cohesive unified team
• Recognizable interest in the work and the membership with a desire to advance the priorities of the Union. Dedication to comprehension of workers’ work life, training, terminology, and their role within the company’s operations

CWA Organizers may be assigned to work on a variety of campaigns working with and on behalf of workers who are interested in joining the union, members who are in the process of expanding membership, supporting members in their quest for recognition; and, in the future, working with and on behalf of members who have won recognition and have a contract or are in the process of bargaining a contract.

Requirements:
Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Salary and Benefits:
The salary for this position is: $81,490.

The union will offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package including, Medical, Dental, Vision, Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, and 401(k) retirement benefits.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist workers to form, build, and grow their union; build relationships with existing members.
• Organize and mobilize around work sites, social justice, political and legislative issues.
• Identify and develop members’ leadership potential
• Assess, identify, and recruit workers to join the union, and provide foundational training to develop worker-leaders.
• Develop and implement campaign plans with the goals, strategies and tactics necessary to execute the plan, including effective management of staff, volunteer, and administrative resources. Provide clear status reports to stakeholders. Accept and incorporate feedback on plans.
• Conduct basic member training and facilitating committee and chapter meetings. Support and collaborate with other organizing staff to co-facilitate training.
• Develop, implement and evaluate daily, weekly, and monthly work plans based on assigned strategic goals and objectives for the worker units overall union organizing plan.
• Lead coalition-building efforts with other unions and allies to support varying campaign goals.
• Lead actions including pickets and rallies, and train staff to do the same.
• Identify needs and utilize campaign tools to move campaigns effectively and efficiently manage conflict and effective communication within the campaign environment.
• Facilitate meetings effectively.
• Develop plans around various goals including membership, leader recruitment and mobilizing and organizing members for key union activities.
• Identify and partner with strategic union and community allies.
• Keep centralized training material and content current and accessible to the organization.
• Develop potential new chapters; identify and recruit leaders to an organizing committee.
• Worksite mapping, list building and turf planning.
• Extensive travel within the United States to support union activities and campaigns.
• This role may require long and irregular hours
• Mentor staff and members with varying experiences and proficiencies. Lead Member Organizers. Train and support new staff.
• Builds positive, cohesive organizing team culture among staff and members.
  • Takes direction
  • Provide professional and constructive feedback with a commitment to solution-based communication.
  • Utilize effective and appropriate communication with members, staff and community allies.
  • Actively builds skills and experience required to continue to grow as an organizer.
• Other tasks and duties as assigned.

Skills and Competencies

• Adapt to changing environments and work under pressure.
• Give and receive constructive feedback founded on solution-based communication.
• Strategic thinker.
• Active listener and ability to engage in self-reflection.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate self-motivation.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, members and community allies.
• Give insightful feedback to staff organizers within the context of a co-created development plan.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with an emphasis on professional communication.
• Strong interpersonal skills; experience and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to hold oneself accountable to goals and commitments; willingness to collaborate with one’s lead to identify areas of improvement and support needed.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and projects with varying deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong technical computer and platform literacy with a commitment to learn and develop one’s skillset as the organization implements technology.
• An understanding of labor law specifically related to regulations governing union recognition.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and similar platforms.

Location: Ideally, candidate will be based in the Northwest of the US.

To Apply:
Please send résumés, cover letter to CWA Deputy Director of Organizing, Tim Dubnau at: tdubnau@cwa-union.org.

CWA is an affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. CWA will work to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforces policies against discrimination and sexual harassment.