Internal Organizer / Staff Representative

Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals

Internal Organizer / Staff Representative

Based in Rochester, NY

Role: Internal Organizer / Staff Representative
Position type: Permanent, full-time
Reports to: Executive Director

About RUNAP
The Rochester Union of Nurses & Allied Professionals (RUNAP) is an independent union of approximately 1,400 healthcare workers in Rochester, NY. Founded in 2022 by Registered Nurses at Rochester General Hospital, RUNAP went on strike and won a first contract in 2023, and we have continued the fight for safe patient care in the Rochester community. More recently, RGH Midwives and Technical Workers have organized as part of RUNAP, and more healthcare workers have announced their intent to do the same.

RUNAP is a growing, fighting union run by its membership through open bargaining and “one member, one vote.” Our goal is to build power to win a healthcare system actually run by healthcare workers.

RUNAP is a member of the Northeast Nurses Association coalition.

Job Summary
RUNAP is looking for a Staff Representative to help the union continue to build power around critical issues like safe staffing, patient care, and a bedside voice in decision-making. To our mind, a good staff rep is, above all, a good Internal Organizer . Candidates with rep and/or organizer experience will be considered, and the role may evolve depending on the interests and aptitudes of the person hired and the needs of the union.

RUNAP is a small union with a growing staff. The Internal Organizer / Staff Representative should expect to work closely with the Executive Director and Lead Organizer in the course of organizing collective actions, bargaining and administering contracts, representing members, and developing worker leaders. In particular, we see a first contract campaign as an extension of new organizing so seek a candidate comfortable with that mindset.

This is a full-time position based at the RUNAP office in Rochester, NY. The position requires frequent local travel for meetings and events, though some work can be done remotely. Occasional out-of-town travel for trainings, conferences, and coalition meetings may also be required.

This is a salaried, overtime-exempt position that will include frequent evening meetings and occasional work on weekends. Both the Executive Director and Lead Organizer are longtime staff organizers and feel strongly about maintaining a good work/life balance while still taking the work seriously and showing up for the members.

Job Duties
The Internal Organizer / Staff Representative will report to the Executive Director and collaborate with her and other RUNAP staff in developing and executing the union’s bargaining and representation program, including organizing collective action among the membership. The position will entail managing grievances and disciplines, contract enforcement, assisting in bargaining, developing unit reps and member leaders, and internal organizing around member issues.

In the immediate future, the person hired will be joining all RUNAP staff in working with both the established RN membership and the newly organized groups as we gear up for a coordinated contract campaign in the coming months.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience as a union organizer or staff rep required.
• An organizing-focused approach to the labor movement required.
• Experience in healthcare preferred but not required.
• Experience with arbitrations preferred but not required.
• Working knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, the NLRA, and relevant labor law.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Good note-taking and database management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Proficiency in English required. Proficiency in other languages, including Spanish or Tagalog, a plus but not required.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to obtain a working car within the first month of employment.
• As RUNAP is a small team, any supplementary skills, such as strategic research or community or political engagement, would be a plus.

While the ideal candidate would have sufficient experience to hit the ground running with a first contract campaign, we are open to applicants with at least some organizing experience who are interested in developing the skills of a good staff rep. If in doubt, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation
Salary: $70,000 – $95,000, commensurate with experience. Eligible for annual increases.

Benefits: Reimbursement for marketplace or spousal health insurance premium; 401(k) with 5% employer contribution; paid leave including vacation, sick time, personal time, and holidays; cell phone and mileage reimbursement.

Relocation assistance available for out-of-town applicants.

RUNAP is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to equality and justice for peoples of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, nationalities, religions, ages, pregnancy and disability statuses, and people of the lower- and working-classes.

To Apply
Email résumé and a brief statement of interest in the position addressed to RUNAP Executive Director Megan McRobert at [email protected] .

Deadline
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and only qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. The position remains open until filled with the goal of starting as soon as possible.

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