University of Illinois at Chicago United Faculty
(AFT/IFT/AAUP Local 6456)

Staff Organizer

Based in Chicago, IL

 

University of Illinois Chicago United Faculty (AFT/IFT/AAUP Local 6456) represents approximately 1500 full-time tenure-track (TT) and non-tenure-track (NTT) faculty members across 11 colleges and 60+ departments at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). UIC United Faculty (UICUF) formed in 2012 and has since bargained four contracts, including striking for five days in January 2023 to win the current contract. We expect to be at the bargaining table for our fifth contract this spring and currently are building our infrastructure for a contract campaign. While UICUF has two bargaining units, the tenure-track and non-tenure track faculty work closely together as a single, unified union. UICUF is eager to collaborate with a hard-working, imaginative organizer to help build our union.

The work is in person, based in an office near the UIC campus. The position has a standard Monday–Friday 40-hour work week but may occasionally require overtime, especially during contract campaigns. The Staff Organizer will be one of two paid staff members and will report to the UICUF President. This is a full-time salaried position with benefits. The position is approved for a salary range $60,000 – $80,000, depending on qualifications and experience, and benefits including employer-funded retirement contribution and family healthcare. 

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the United Faculty Staff Union, Chicago News Guild TNG-CWA Local 34071. Employees must become union members within 30 days of being hired.

Duties
UICUF has two paid staff who manage the day-to-day operations of the union. Below are duties that this position is likely to include, but specific job duties can change based on interest, skills, and new needs that arise. 

Member Organizing

• Build union membership through office visits and collaboration with member volunteers
• Identify, recruit, and support activists and leaders
• Train members for organizing, campaign work, and other activities

Contract and Issue Organizing

• Work with union leadership to create long-term campaign strategies, plan actions, and mobilize members
• Support the Bargaining and Organizing Committees in carrying out contract campaigns
• Support to the Common Good Committee in building community relationships and organizing campaigns
• Provide logistical support for meetings and events

Member Support

• Work with the Chief Steward, the Grievance Committee, and other staff to enforce the contracts through grievances and other formal structures
• Help members organize around workplace problems and advocate for faculty through campaigns, shared governance, and other mobilizations

Communications

• Support the Communications Committee in drafting messages to members, publicizing events, and maintaining the union’s social media
• Help maintain the union website

Data Management

• Help to maintain the member database through Airtable
• Reconcile union database with data received from the employer

Skills/Experience
Required 

• Superior oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with groups
• Organized & detail-oriented
• Commitment to building coalitions and organizing for power though the labor movement

Preferred 

• Experience working as a labor organizer
• Experience in higher education and/or labor unions
• Experience in higher education organizing
• Experience with web design, graphic design, and social media management

To Apply
Please send your résumé and a cover letter to: uicunitedfaculty@gmail.com. Use the Subject Line “Staff Organizer.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications must be submitted by March 2, 2026.

UIC United Faculty is an Equal Opportunity Employer.