Michigan AFL-CIO

Organizing Specialist

Based in Lansing, MI

 

Overview:
The Organizing Specialist will work with local unions, local labor bodies, the Michigan AFL-CIO, and the national AFL-CIO to foster the ability of local unions to run effective, year-round, local union-based, workplace-centered issue education and mobilization programs with their members. The Organizing Specialist will also be responsible for leading labor’s political and electoral programming. This position will be in a national cohort of local organizers who are building an organizing approach for legislative, organizing, and electoral programs including voter registration through 2024 and beyond.

The Organizing Specialist will report to the Field Director of the Michigan AFL-CIO. The Organizing Specialist’s work plan will be determined by the Michigan AFL-CIO.

Duties:

• Build and maintain relationships with local union leaders, including by scheduling and holding regular one-on-one meetings with local union leaders
• Secure local union leaders’ commitment to using their local union infrastructure to communicate, educate, organize, and mobilize their members
• Identify and/or update contact information for a point-of-contact of every local union within the area, and work with that person to identify and map all of the local’s worksites and stewards
• Establish regular worksite mobilization program commitments with local unions as well as volunteer recruitment and voter contact commitments
• Research, develop and implement strategic industry-specific plans to increase local union membership
• Help build awareness of the local union movement through some community outreach such as leafleting and tabling at community events
• Assist local labor bodies in planning and implementing social events to build solidarity among affiliated unions and their members
• Recruit and manage volunteers and release staff
• Plan and manage voter contact events
• Track local political issues and support local labor bodies in accountability actions, and build political power through legislative advocacy
• Recruit and elect union members and other pro-labor allies to local, state, and federal office to build an independent political voice by working with multiple political parties
• Provide regular updates on the progress of the worksite organizing program and other elements of the program, including detailed analytics and weekly and potentially daily numeric reports, as well as entering data into various databases
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Labor Studies or Political Science helpful but not required
• Either 1-3 years of experience in labor or community organizing, or 2-4 years of legislative or electoral campaign experience, including in a management or leadership position
• Familiarity with and commitment to the labor movement and an understanding of labor’s goals.
• Strong time management and organizational skills are required, including a demonstrated ability to independently manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects in high-pressure situations and under difficult deadlines
• Excellent communication skills are essential, including the ability to interact successfully with individuals from diverse ethnic, racial, age, gender, educational, occupational, and socio-economic backgrounds; the popular/labor education skills necessary to design and lead workshops aimed at leadership and volunteer development; the written communication skills necessary to produce newsletters, leaflets, basic phone and walk scripts, work plans, and project reports
• Computer skills are required, including knowledge and extensive use of e-mail, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Office, and Google Drive. Also required is either familiarity with or the ability and willingness to learn proprietary tools such as Labor Action Network (LAN), Action Builder, and the Local Union Database (LUD)
• A valid driver’s license, continuous use of a reliable vehicle, automobile liability insurance, and be willing to travel regularly
• Occasional travel to other parts of the state and/or out-of-state may be necessary; Overnight travel will be infrequent but may be required
• Long work hours, some holiday work, and frequent participation in evening and weekend activities are required, and attendance at early morning calls or events will be expected

Compensation: $48,000 salary. The Michigan AFL-CIO offers a competitive benefits package.

Duration: This is a grant-funded position through November 2024 with the potential of being extended.

Start Date: ASAP

Applications Due: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis

How to Apply:
Please submit a resumé and brief cover letter to work@miaflcio.org.

Diversity & Equal Opportunity
Our organization is an equal opportunity employer, and we actively seek to build diversity among our officers, staff, and members. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Women, people of color, LGBTQ, veterans, and disabled candidates are encouraged to apply.

Organization
The Michigan AFL-CIO is a non-profit federation of more than forty labor unions that represents over 1 million working people across Michigan. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our state and the nation. Employees of the Michigan AFL-CIO may work in collaboration with one, or all, of our affiliated nonprofit organizations in the Federation including:

Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute: our affiliated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to combat economic and environmental injustice by connecting the unemployed or underemployed with the training and resources necessary to find gainful employment and transition Michigan to a cleaner, greener economy.

Michigan AFL-CIO Labor Foundation: our affiliated 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization established to combat economic and social injustice by connecting the working people with resources within Michigan’s charitable, educational and legal systems.

Michigan AFL-CIO Advocates: our affiliated 501(c)(4) non-profit organization was established to unite labor leaders, policy makers, and the general public to educate and advocate around policies, programs, and projects that can bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to communities across Michigan.