Collective Bargaining & Employer Relations Specialist

About SEIU 775

SEIU 775 represents more than 55,000 long-term care workers providing quality home care, nursing home care, and residential services in Washington, Montana, and Alaska. SEIU 775’s mission is to unite the strength of all caregivers, to create a better life for ourselves and those we care for, and to lead the way to a more just and equitable world.

SEIU 775 is a fast-growing union committed to uniting the strength of long-term care workers and improving the lives of working people. Our 55,000 members are low-wage home care and nursing home workers throughout WA State and Montana, and Alaska, who provide life-sustaining care and are fierce advocates for quality care and quality jobs. Currently the Local is engaged in a coalition effort with other unions and community groups to help organize in the private sector.

The Collective Bargaining & Employer Relations Specialist (CBER) works as part of a team within the Union Strength Department of SEIU 775, reporting to the Collective Bargaining and Employer Relations Deputy Director. The teamwork is throughout Washington, Montana, and Alaska.

Member Support & Dispute Resolution:

• Lead the union's workplace dispute resolution process by evaluating, preparing, and resolving grievances for the assigned bargaining unit(s).
• Support other departments and teams of the union as needed and work with members and leaders to develop leadership skills needed within the scope of these programs
• Recruit and develop member leaders to serve as member Advocates (similar to stewards) in Nursing Homes and Home Care Agencies

Collective Bargaining:

• Negotiate union contracts in the healthcare industry
• Recruit and develop member leaders to participate on the contract negotiations team
• Coordinate contract negotiation and contract campaigns

Labor Management & Culture Change:

• Participate in the coordination and facilitation of a dynamic and growing industry-wide Labor Management Committee program charged with enhancing communication and culture change in the long-term care industry
• Engage in other areas of Employer Relations as assigned
• Recruit and develop member leaders to participate in Labor Management Committees

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assignments to political, electoral and growth mobilization as required by the organization
• May be required to do political work for candidates and member political education as part of job duties.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills are requirements of this position.
• Highly organized with the ability to track multiple deadlines
• Competent computer use with Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to utilize databases and to learn to use the organization’s proprietary database is a requirement.
• Strong personal planning and time management skills
• Ability to work with people from other cultures and backgrounds are also necessary skills.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment are considered key components to achieving organizer performance standards
• Fluency in a second language is also highly desirable.

(Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job may be considered.)

• Two years of experience successfully evaluating, preparing, tracking, and resolving grievances in a large bargaining unit or equivalent.
• Experience with the following types of employers is highly significant: labor unions, progressive issue advocacy organizations, long term care, community organizations, political campaigns, and elected officials.
• Personal commitment to the mission and goals of SEIU 775 is a requirement of this position (visit www.seiu
  775.org for more information).
• A drivers’ license, a car, and automobile insurance are requirements of this position.
• Willingness to work long, irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, is required.
• Willingness to travel is a requirement.

• Previous collective bargaining experience desired.
• Experience with Labor Management Committees or similar joint Employer/Union organizations,…