Staff Representative

AFSCME Ohio Council 8

Based in Columbus, OH

A vacancy exists in the Staff Representative position in the Headquarters office of AFSCME Ohio Council 8.

Job Title: Staff Representative

Department: CO

Location: Columbus Region

Reports To: Regional Director

Salary Level: Entry Level: $81,069.50

FLSA Status: Exempt

Summary

Under the general direction of the president of Ohio Council 8 and the specific direction of the regional director of the office to which he/she is assigned, and in the context of the Council's vision and culture statements, engages in various activities that mobilize, organize, represent and educate the Council's local union affiliates, local union leadership, and local union membership and to build the union. Also performs other related duties as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Assess local union leadership/membership readiness (ability and willingness) to use member mobilization and participation strategies.
• Develop action plans to build the capacity of local unions to achieve a high level of member participation, develop collaborative and cooperative relationships, bargain good contracts, solve workplace problems, develop and apply political leverage, develop leadership, develop sensitivity to and engage in issues important to the community.
• Implement plans to train leaders and members to be mobilizers. Motivates local unions to use member mobilization and participation strategies. Examples of these strategies include: contract campaigns/member driven negotiations; interest-based bargaining; quality partnerships and other types of labor-management relationships that require worker voice; rank and file activist networks; grass roots political action programs; action-oriented communication tools such as phone trees, e-mail lists, and newsletters. Evaluate progress made in building these capacities and adjust action plan accordingly.
• In partnership with local union leaders, develop and use strategies that encourage member participation in collective bargaining, in workplace problem solving, in political action, in community participation, and to develop mobilization tools such as phone trees. Identify, educate, develop, activate and honor activists.
• Mobilize local union leaders to actively participate in the representation of their union.
• Bargain to Organize – Develop and implement collective bargaining proposals that provide opportunities for members to participate in organizing activities of the union. Examples of these proposals include bargaining to organize language and union release time.
• In partnership with local union leadership, develop and implement plans to increase member participation. Examples of these plans include work place and community actions such as petitions, rallies, union tables, walk-throughs and work place problem solving, and the development of local union action teams to assist in job actions, organizing, public relations, community action and political activity.
• In partnership with local union leadership, develops and facilitates internal organizing program for the local union. Initiates, assists and supports local union internal organizing campaigns.
• Participates in ongoing organizing campaigns.
• Recruits local union members to work as volunteer organizers. Engages in strategic political and community activity that will enhance organizing opportunities.
• Works collaboratively with organizing department and other regions to implement Council-wide organizing program.
• Develop and implement collective bargaining proposals that provide opportunities for the union to obtain recognition as the employee representative of bargaining units. Examples of “bargaining to organize” include employer agreements to extend voluntary recognition and, recognition on the basis of card check.
• Uses professional judgement to develop, in partnership with local union leadership, strategies to effectively resolve workplace issues. Examples of these strategies include filing a grievance, IBB, LM committee, arbitration or workplace action, applying external leverage, community coalitions.
• Mentors local union leadership to build local union capacity to resolve work place disputes on the job rather than process problems through grievance procedure. Incorporates into collective bargaining agreements labor management committees and grievance mediation processes that are leader/member driven rather than staff. Prepare, encourage and move local unions to IBB and other cooperative L/M approaches.
• Conducts grievance mediation and arbitration reviews with local union leadership so as to maximize problem solving and minimize problem processing.
• Prepares for and participates in meetings with the employer or employer representatives on grievances and other problems affecting local union members.
• Prepares and presents grievances in arbitration hearings.
• Provides prompt and appropriate responses, including advice and guidance, with respect to questions and concerns of local union leadership and membership regarding union related issues or problems.
• Using all available resources, conducts proposal and negotiation research to support bargaining and problem-resolution through labor-management committees and other activist strategies.
• In partnership with local union leadership, prepares proposals for new and successor agreements that meet the policy standards of the Council and that address the issues of concern to the local union’s members.
• In partnership with local union leadership, prepares for and participates in contract negotiations between local unions and employers, including interest-based bargaining, mediation, fact-finding and conciliation, as appropriate.
• Engages in effective resource utilization, sets task priorities, applies critical thinking skills.
• Prepares for and participates in various administrative hearings conducted by local government and/or state agencies, e.g. civil service, unemployment compensation, worker’s compensation and other employment and/or labor related hearings.
• Represents the union before various legislative bodies such as City Council, City Council committees, Boards of Education and Boards of County Commissioners. May serve as a member of committees, boards and commissions, as assigned.
• Assess local union leadership capabilities in areas such as communication skills, problem solving skills, group dynamics, facilitation, motivational skills, representation skills such as implementation of collective bargaining agreement, local union governance, and grievance handling.
• Develop an action plan to increase these capabilities through the local union leadership education program.
• Mentors and develops capacity of local union leadership to partner with the Council in ways that effectively represents members.
• Contributes to the development of a leader/member regional education plan which builds capacities and skill levels ( i.e., facilitation, mediation, motivational, problem solving, member mobilization, and communication skills) as well as nuts and bolts training in organizing, negotiations, arbitration and the law.
• Presents education program modules in context of the Council’s region-based education program. Prepares for and conducts local union officer and steward training classes.
• Assess progress of leadership/membership development.
• Continuously mentors, coaches and trains local union leadership to develop local union capacity using opportunities presented by daily interaction and work done together.
• Motivates local union leadership to work as a team, encourages open communication, full participation, on-going learning and staff development.
• Develops future leadership among local union leaders/members.
• Assists local union on matters covered by the local union constitution, Council constitution or International Union constitution.
• Attends local union executive board meetings and membership meetings.
• Prepares various reports as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

General Requirements

Must reside in the State of Ohio. Must have the ability to drive on a daily basis and for up to eight hours a day on rare occasions in Ohio and out of state to attend meetings, hearings, training and events as needed or arrange reliable transportation. Must be able and willing to work long