UMN AFSCME Organizer Position Description

AFSCME Local 3800 is an organizing-focused, member-driven, progressive labor union representing 1500 University of Minnesota clerical workers throughout the state.

Purpose: These positions work directly with local leadership and members to strengthen rank and file involvement on campus. The organizers are responsible for one on one organizing calls and office visits, as well as organizing workplace committees, identifying workplace leaders, and planning and carrying out worksite organizing and comprehensive campaigns. Organizers will be expected to target issues, identify and recruit workplace leaders to our Member Action Team, and move workers to use collective action to solve workplace issues. Every day is different and tasks can vary widely from one week to the next, but the majority of time will be spent directly organizing workers.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Examples provide a general summary of the work required and should not be treated as a total and complete list of expected duties to be performed by the Organizer:

Organizing and Events

• At least 60% of time will be spent in the workplace organizing new employees to join our union and organizing members to become active in our union.
• Recruit and develop worksite leaders to become involved in the Member Action Team (MAT), as stewards, and in other union activities.
• Develop broad, representative organizing committees of worksite leaders, and train them to develop worksite organizing campaigns.
• Work with elected leadership and member activists on planning and implementing successful actions and campaigns.
• Present at New Employee Welcome and schedule and facilitate new employee 1:1 orientations.
• Help organize and set up social events (i.e. annual ice cream social, occasional happy hours, lunches, etc.).
• Attend informational meetings and member organized events and functions.

Communications

• Manage a regular newsletter schedule, including soliciting and writing content, design, and sending out to members of the local.
• Promptly return phone calls and emails, especially to members.
• Create leaflets and other materials for organizing campaigns and other events.
• Maintain and update webpage, email lists, social media accounts, and other communication tools.
• Ensure that events are well documented (attendance lists, photos, video, etc.).

Administrative

• Maintain membership database and workplace maps, including input and operation of computerized database systems (ActionBuilder).
• Inform President, Officers, and Executive Board of activities, developments, and progress of organizing activity, including worker meetings.
• Ensure materials get mailed to outstate campuses, as needed.
• Attend membership, MAT, Executive Board, and (as requested) Officer meetings to keep current on decisions of the local.

Pay and Benefits

This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position, paid at $26.50 per hour. Typically, organizers are given the same raises that the local negotiates in our contract with the University of Minnesota. Organizers are reimbursed for up to 80% of insurance premiums, receive two weeks of paid vacation annually, in addition to sick leave, and are entitled to parental and bereavement leaves.

How to Apply

Please send the following to Max Vast, President of AFSCME 3800, at [email protected], no later than May 13:

• Cover letter
• Resume or CV
• Contact information for three references

This position reports to the Local 3800 president.