Lead Organizer

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 Union represents 25,000 workers who work mostly in retail and food processing industries in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and parts of Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.

UFCW Local 400 is seeking to hire someone in the following position: Lead Organizer

Location:

Primarily in greater Washington, DC metropolitan area, however you must be willing to travel to all areas covered by UFCW Local 400, including the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and parts of Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Major responsibilities include:

• To initiate or expand union organizing campaigns by:
  1. 1. Building lists of employees at targeted worksites
     2. Gathering data, having conversations and assessing interest at non-union work sites
• To win organizing campaigns by:
  1. 1. Developing and implementing work plans which carry out the campaign strategy
     2. Planning and leading meetings and actions in support of the campaign strategy
     3. Building strong, trusting relationships with workers
     4. Building strategic alliances and relationships within the broader community
• To build, understand, and articulate the campaign strategy
• To be willing to share, grow, and critique your campaign visions, tactics, strategies and plans for execution
• To be a flexible, honest, willing, and committed teammate to your fellow organizing staff
• ​To service union-represented workers by:
  1. 1. Fully understanding collective bargaining agreements and educating the workforce on their rights, benefits, and protections under the contract
     2. Enforcing the terms of collective bargaining agreements by identifying violations, filing grievances, defending members facing discipline, and pursuing remedies
• Identifying community and political allies with influence over organizing targets
• ​To build majority support for the union by:
  1. 1. Building relationships, identifying issues, and assessing interest of workers through a variety of means
     2. Moving workers to take action in support of the campaign
     3. Recruiting workers to join in collective action
• ​To develop strong worksite leadership of campaigns by:
  1. 1. Building relationships and identifying leadership potential
     2. Recruiting a representative group of leaders to a more active and responsible role in the campaign as members of the organizing committee
     3. Developing individual leaders and the committee as a whole so that they are more confident, capable and active in their leadership of the campaign
• ​To develop strong member organizers by:
  1. 1. Identifying roles for union members in campaigns
     2. Orienting, training and directing union members who are on organizing campaigns
     3. Assessing the ability of member organizers to contribute to the campaign
• To provide and make strategic use of campaign data by:
  1. 1. Maintaining an accurate and updated database
     2. Creating clear and accurate reports detailing the status of a campaign
     3. Using reports to analyze the campaign and determine next steps
• To support the success of UFCW Local 400 and the UFCW by:
  1. 1. Willingly taking on additional responsibilities and assignments as needed
     2. Working as a collaborative member of the Local 400 team and demonstrating interdepartmental solidarity
     3. Being a supportive member of the Local 400 family

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Previous experience organizing workers to form a union (required)
• Ability to lead teams of other organizers
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to organize and plan work
• Commitment to fight for justice and human rights
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to work long, irregular hours
• Valid driver’s license and full-time access to a vehicle required
• Experience working in retail, cannabis, grocery, or service industry desirable but not required

Type of Employment:

• Full time salaried

Compensation:

• Annual salary range $80,000-$90,000 depending on experience
• Full benefits package, including health insurance, dental, pension, 401(k), legal

To apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, accomplishments and references to resume@local400.org

UFCW Local 400 is an Equal Opportunity Employer and highly values diversity of perspective and experience. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and people with a working-class background to apply.