General Description
The San Jose Regional Resource Center houses six Regional UniServ Staff, one Center for Organizing and Bargaining Staff and two Associate Staff. The RUS organize and support 38 local unions in Santa Clara and southern San Mateo counties. Unions range in size from less than 10 to just over 1,100, with total membership just over 10,589. There are an additional 462 bargaining unit members to be recruited. The Santa Clara County Service Center Council is also supported by staff in this office. The communities are diverse, serving a wide range of socio-economic and ethnic populations. In many respects, the area is ground zero for the corporate charter school industry. Local unions are very active in school district and county politics.
Experience developing and implementing organizing campaigns for both represented and unrepresented workers, advancing community/labor coalition efforts and implementing membership recruitment and retention campaigns are crucial aspects of the position. Also important are experience in bargaining, handling grievances, developing and executing political campaigns, strong interpersonal skills, working with locals in communities of varied socio-economic status and the demonstrated ability to advance a racial equity and social justice agenda.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Primary responsibility is to serve as an organizer that develops strong leaders who advocate for themselves, their students and public education.
- Responsibility to assist recruiting and supporting members to lead the union and profession through strategic campaigns that promote the mission of CTA and local affiliates.
- Responsibility to support leaders in developing and implementing strategic organizing plans and to train members and leaders on all aspects of organizing, including the relationship between organizing and power and the importance and effectiveness of relational organizing based one-on-one and small group meetings.
- Responsibility to support and organize local leaders in membership recruitment, retention and engagement campaigns.
- Responsibility to foster coalitions between local chapters, community organizations, other labor unions and organizations.
- Serve as staff resource to local leaders on local programs, including negotiations, contract maintenance, political campaigns and influencing elected officials, organizational capacity building and communication systems, including electronic systems.
- Responsibility to promote and secure the implementation of CTA policies and programs.
- Represent the local chapter's position and policies to lay and professional groups.
- Performs other appropriate duties as assigned.
Qualifications - Minimum Required
- Bachelor's or higher degree preferred.
- Experience with and broad understanding of labor organizations and/or education-related associations/programs and services at local, state and national levels.
- Deep understanding of the issues facing the public schools and the education profession.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with members, leaders, professional groups and/or labor organizations, and staff colleagues.
- Demonstrated organizing and coordinating skills necessary to successfully recruit members and potential members.
- Demonstrated organizing, negotiating and coordinating skills necessary to successfully complete complex group projects and activities.
- Experience in fast-paced campaigns situations, including contract campaigns, strikes and political campaigns.
- Demonstrated support for racial, social, and economic justice; worker's rights; and a well-funded public education system.
- Adaptable and flexible. Able to adjust seamlessly and effectively to changing factors and conditions that impact CTA campaigns, projects and other union programs.
- Experience in organizing and campaigning, with relentless drive to proactively surpass campaign/program goals under pressure and with the tenacity to tackle challenges head-on in a fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly changing environment.
- Computer proficiency in the Microsoft Suite and the ability to learn and use the Association's software programs.
- Ability to communicate clearly, verbally and in writing.
- Ability to work and travel regularly, including evenings and weekends.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a valid California driver’s license.
* This position is in a bargaining unit represented by CSO. Salaries are established by a collective bargaining agreement. Step placement is also determined by the CTA/CSO Agreement.