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JOB STATEMENT

SEIU Healthcare Minnesota  unites more than 35,000 healthcare and long-term care workers in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home care throughout the state of Minnesota. We are a leader in the progressive community and use a bold and creative approach to politics and organizing. Our daily work is designed to build and reflect member strength and to hold politicians and employers accountable for quality care and quality jobs.

We strongly encourage people of color and women to apply.

OVERALL JOB STATEMENT

The Organizing Director oversees the local’s work related to external organizing activities. As part of the senior staff body, the Director collaborates in the overall development and implementation of the strategic organizing plan for SEIU Healthcare Minnesota

The Organizing Director at SEIU Healthcare Minnesota must carry out a variety of job functions that entail many different areas. An Organizing Director, besides managing the organizing department, is required to develop organizing strategies, organize the community to support SEIU Healthcare Minnesota’s organizing efforts, work closely with international organizing staff, and develop and maintain an SEIU Healthcare Minnesota Member Organizing Team. Any candidate must be willing to work long and irregular hours including weekends and evenings when called for. The Organizing Director must also be willing to travel with some overnight stays.

The Organizing Director shall be required to perform services in accordance with the needs of the Local and at such times and places as are necessary. The Organizing Director must have a dedication to improve the position of our members and strengthen the role of our Union in every venture. There must be a willingness to become educated in health care issues, and a desire to lead and inspire our member leaders and rank and file.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Directs External Organizers in developing and executing the strategic organizing plan for the local including the design and implementation of leadership identification, recruitment, development, and training.
• The Organizing Director oversees and directs the work of all organizing staff, including the development and training of Organizing Committee members.
• Develops organizing campaigns for unrepresented facilities and sectors of workers and works closely with the leadership team members, International Union Division Director, and SEIU local union Organizing Directors when needed to ensure that the targets are aligned with SEIU and local union priorities.
• Develops uniform standards for review and evaluation of campaigns.
• Develops overall industry strategies and action-based campaigns that are industry specific and union-wide on issues that engage workers and members, that are opportunities to build the organization and that are aligned with industry and national objectives within SEIU.
• Ensures the tracking, reporting and analysis on all campaigns in her/his purview.
• Ensures the handling of elections are consistent with SEIU HCMN standards.
• Provides direction, staff development and disciplinary action (if needed) to staff in his/her Department
• Develops recommended budgets, allocates resources effectively and plans and implements program activities as appropriate.
• Coordinates with internal Directors to conduct surveys, job audits, investigation and related activities to and in development of Union policies, bargaining positions and development of effective representation programs consistent with internal industry standards and goals.
• Testifies as expert witness before various agencies
• Evaluates and initiates requests for ULPs and other third party proceedings.
• Answers questions from members; respond to members’ calls in a timely manner.
• Develops organizing budget proposal for organizing year.
• Support and lead organizing staff in all organizing campaign needs.
• Makes organizing decisions in consultation with the designated leadership of Healthcare Minnesota; when to pass cards, file, pull petition, or when to go to hearing on all campaigns.
• Creates a strong community support base through organizing and communication systems; public speaking, leafleting, campaign newsletters and site visits.
• Identifies, recruits, and trains members for Healthcare Minnesota Member Organizing Team.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or GED, Secondary Education preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience leading large teams of organizing staff/members and demonstrated experience in developing and successfully executing large scale organizing campaigns.
• In depth knowledge of relevant special body of knowledge including labor law like .
• Knowledge of workers, the workplace, labor, and political issues
• Excellent interpersonal skills as demonstrated by the ability to relate, establish and cultivate respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• Adept at leading and motivating workers in necessary struggles
• Dedication to workers’ rights and social justice
• Skilled at managing and meeting many and varying deadlines
• Effective informal and formal negotiating skills
• Effective demonstrable oral, written and listening skills in English; bilingual skills highly desirable
• Excellent analytical and judgment skills as demonstrable by the ability to assess information and evidence and act strategically
• Excellent organizational and prioritizing skills showing flexibility as needed; adept at dealing with conflicting/changing priorities
• Effective facilitating and organizing meeting skills
• Experience organizing independently and as part of a team
• Working knowledge of computer programs including Word, e-mail, accessing the Internet, and databases
• Program planning and administrative skills
• Previous staff supervisory experience
• Ability to work long and varying hours including weekends, nights and holidays. Driving long distances for extended periods of time is also required. * * *Travel both statewide and out of state with overnights and periods away from home may be required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, automobile insurance and a working automobile.

SKILLS NEEDED

• Knowledge of labor rights and contract language.
• Ability to create and execute campaign plans.
• Ability to gather, analyze and present statistical data.
• Ability to establish rapport with members in widely diversified ethnic, social and economic groups.
• Ability to mobilize membership around issues.
• Ability to maintain a commitment to educating the members on the Union and their contract.

BEHAVIORAL QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED

• High level of experience in leading union programs, including representation and bargaining, member engagement and leadership development and organizing and ally work.
• Ability to lead, motivate and inspire others and participate in key union organizing activities even in the face of employer opposition and intimidation
• Sound interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• Desire to learn about labor history, collective bargaining, organizing models and other relevant information, and ability to support others in doing the same
• Must be able to handle multiple priority projects simultaneously and meet established deadlines and remain accountable to leaders, senior staff, and organizational goals
• Good and ethical judgment. Willingness to take initiative, to work with a team
• Good judgment and ability to discern priorities when faced with many important tasks.
• Manage conflicting demands.
• Show extreme amounts of patience.
• Work under pressure independently.
• Maintain high degree of confidentiality, both for the health care workers being organized and on internal Local and International issues.
• Show professional demeanor at work-sites and in the community.
• Maintain respectful, professional relationship with Union members and leaders.
• History of high level of proven leadership.

Qualified applicants should email a résumé, cover letter, and references to Chief of Staff, Brenda Hilbrich at Brenda.hilbrich@seiuhcmn.org stating clearly that they are applying for the “Organizing Director” position.

New contract ratified Monday following agreement reached after 2nd strike had been authorized

Albert Lea, Minn — After a contentious, multi-year fight, members of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota who work at the Albert Lea Mayo Hospital have reached an agreement with Mayo Clinic. The two sides reached a tentative agreement the week of May 7th for both groups of workers (general group and skilled maintenance) that have been without contracts for nearly two years.

After giving members time to look over the tentative agreement, a majority of SEIU members voted to approve the plan Monday. The agreement came following members authorizing a second strike in a vote in late April. With a possible second, longer strike looming, the two sides were able to reach an agreement that found both sides compromising at the May bargaining sessions.

Workers expressed pride in standing up for good jobs and quality rural healthcare, even as Mayo dug in on certain policy proposals that the group had hoped to stop.

“Being able to win really good pay raises and making sure our contract does not include a subcontracting clause for skilled maintenance jobs were big wins,” said Nate Johnson, Chief Engineer and 20-year Mayo employee. “We wish we had been able to get them to move on everything we wanted, but I’m incredibly proud that we stood up for what is right and won the positive changes that we did. We hope we showed other workers, both here in Albert Lea and across the state, that there is power in standing up for what is right for working families.”

The groups won pay increases ranging from 7.25% to 10% over the three years of the contract. While Mayo won the right to change four core benefits during the term of the contract, workers won a contract provision that those benefits will be offered to all full-time and part-time (.5 and over) employees during the term of the contract, an important win for members. The contract also included protections and support for workers who may have to transition to Austin, even as the union continues to oppose any reductions in staff or services in Albert Lea. It also preserved holiday pay, which was one of the driving issues behind the Dec. 22nd strike and Christmas lockout.

“We took a stand, against the odds, because we believed that the work we do in our community hospital is important for our families, our neighbors and our communities,” said Sheri Wichmann, who has worked in sterile processing for 18 years. “Going on strike and being locked out showed we firmly believed in our fight for good jobs and good healthcare here in Albert Lea. We remain committed to those values. While you always wish you had been able to win everything you set out for at the start, we are proud we were able to move Mayo on important issues facing our families and community.”

As part of the agreement, both sides agreed to drop NLRB charges against the other.

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SEIU Healthcare Minnesota represents over 35,000 healthcare and long term care workers in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and home care across Minnesota.