Part-time Union Organizer
East Lansing, MI
The Graduate Employees Union is seeking a part-time organizer to build membership during Fall semester 2017 and Spring semester 2018. GEU represents approximately 1200 teaching assistants at Michigan State University. Organizers will report to GEU’s executive board, and will follow an organizing plan determined by GEU leadership and staff. The Organizer will be paid $16/hour for work performed over this period, which will average 20 hours per week, beginning Tuesday, September 5th. The position follows the MSU University calendar. Candidates must be able to work a flexible schedule. The positions will be based in East Lansing, Michigan, but may require occasional in-state travel. We will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue accepting applications until the position is filled.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:
- One-on-one internal organizing, including locating potential, new, and current GEU members, assessing their membership status, following up on previous conversations, and identifying potential activists.
- Keeping detailed notes and managing confidential data
- Motivating GEU members and setting an example in organizing
- Meeting twice weekly with local staff to coordinate organizing plans.
- Coordinating with existing workplace leaders on organizing plans.
- Identifying and developing new workplace leaders to participate in organizing efforts.
- Conducting job site/group meetings with members and potential members to discuss ongoing organizing efforts.
- Communicating with members and potential members outside the workplace through office visits and phone calls.
Desired Qualifications:
- Be a skilled, experienced organizer, ideally with 1 year or more of organizing experience
- Higher education experience; bachelor’s degree required
- High degree of personal integrity
- Experience working with diverse populations
- Strong interest in and commitment to unions and the labor movement
- Familiarity with current issues in higher education
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including oral communication, effective listening, writing and motivational skills
- Be self-motivated, responsible, organized, professional and detail-oriented
- Have basic computing skills, including experience with Microsoft Office, database systems and social media
GEU is an affirmative action employer. Women, people of color, members of the LGBT community and other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
Please submit cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three professional references in a PDF format with your last name as part of the file name to: geu@geuatmsu.org using the subject line: “GEU Part-time Organizer.” Cover letters should include a short summary of your organizing experience and answer the following questions:
- Now that “Right-to-work” has made union membership optional, why should graduate employees want to join the GEU?
- What would be your strategy to recruit members as leaders and build the GEU in areas where there are not currently many activists?