SEIU Union Organizer-in-Training, Midwest Region in Chicago, Illinois at SEIU

SEIU Union Organizer-In Training, Midwest

We are seeking energetic and passionate individuals interested in starting social justice careers in labor organizing.

For 100 years, SEIU has been helping workers stand up for their rights, fighting for dignity, respect and better conditions in workplaces and communities. With a membership 2.1 million strong, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the United States, and our diverse leaders and staff support workers as they speak out for good jobs and better lives for themselves and their families.

The SEIU Organizer-in-Training (OIT) Program is a 12-month training program. As an Organizer-in-Training with the SEIU, you will be assigned to organizing campaigns, trained on the fundamentals of union organizing, and will have the opportunity to learn the skills needed to help workers build power in the workplace.

The OIT program trains labor organizers to assist and empower non-union workers to join unions and is different from other training programs that focus on developing political, electoral or community organizing skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conducting broad and intensive outreach efforts to non-union workers.
• Building one-on-one relationships with workers.
• Identifying, recruiting and developing worker leaders
• Conducting individual and group meetings with workers to move organizing campaigns forward.
• Engaging, motivating and mobilizing workers to take action.
• Planning and carrying out actions and events to support worker organizing efforts.

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to social and economic justice.
• Ability and willingness to work long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends.
• Ability to spend the majority of the work week out of the office doing work site visits, home visits, canvassing on foot, attending worker strikes and meetings, rallies and other union activities.
• Excellent listening, oral and written communication skills.
• Multilingual skills are a plus but not required.
• Basic computer literacy and ability to learn the organization's technology tools.
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team.
• Willingness to conduct work site and home visits.
• Strong planning, time-management and problem-solving skills.
• Possession of a valid U.S. driver's license, proof of auto insurance and an automobile for business use.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively as needed. If offered an OIT position, you will be required to travel to the campaign you are assigned to. Campaigns can be based in the Midwest or can be a national campaign located outside the Midwest region.

Compensation:

• Salary and benefits are set by a collective bargaining agreement. Salary is $56,000/annual and benefits include fully employer-paid health benefits package, work cell phone, and other benefits outlined in the policies of SEIU and the staff union contract. This is a full-time, salaried position.

Application Requirements:

A resume and cover letter are required for all applications. Your cover letter should explain your reason for wanting to work for SEIU, an example of how you demonstrated success in a similar position, and a description of how this position fits into your long-term career plan.