Begun in 1962 by Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Gilbert Padilla, and other early organizers, the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) is the nation’s first enduring and largest farm workers’ union. The UFW continues organizing in major agricultural sectors, chiefly in California. Recent years have witnessed dozens of UFW union contract victories protecting thousands of farm workers among agreements with some of the largest berry, winery, tomato, dairy, and mushroom companies in California and the nation. More than 75 percent of California’s fresh mushroom industry is now under a union contract. Many recent UFW-sponsored laws and regulations protect all farm workers in California, especially those at non-union ranches. They include the first state standards in the U.S. to prevent further deaths and illnesses from extreme heat and in 2016, the first law in the country provided farm workers in California with overtime pay after eight hours a day. The UFW continues to champion legislative and regulatory reforms for farm workers covering issues such as worker protection, pesticides, and immigration reform.

Summary

The full-time External Organizing Coordinator performs a wide range of duties as assigned by the Regional Director. The Coordinator plans, directs, and coordinates UFW membership growth. Responsible for managing and directing worker activities in the collective bargaining process. Work involves developing operational plans that meet the demands of the organization’s needs, and political and Union organizing objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilitiesinclude the following:

Planning and Administration

• Work with Organizing Team & Regional Director to develop an operational plan.
• Participates in MOR meetings.
• Ensures maintenance and accuracy of the database in assigned companies.

Worker Mobilization

• Ensures development and maintenance of a functioning and complete worker leadership structure.
• Directs and participates in the development and training of a volunteer organization.
• Implements programs designed to attract worker participation.
• Trains worker leadership in developing their agendas to conduct their meetings.
• Identify and Leverage workers’ issues.
• Use state and federal agencies as appropriate.
• Built majority support in assigned companies.
• Conduct NLRB/ALRB elections.
• Conduct card check recognition.
• Conduct a third-party recognition election.
• Must be able to begin and complete the organizing campaign.

Contract Development & Negotiations 

• Plans with the negotiating committee to prepare and conduct negotiations.
• Develops industry, and area councils to increase bargaining power.
• Use innovative strategies to sign the first contract.

Relationships

• Develops and maintains mutually beneficial relationships with management at the assigned companies.
• Develops and maintains a relationship with the organizing committee and negotiations committee
• Refers media inquiries to Regional Director.
• Develops and maintains relationships with religious, political, and community leaders.

Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned

Supervisory Responsibility

Supervise the organizing team, organizing committee, and negotiations committee

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty effectively. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or equivalent.

Minimum of three (3) years experience organizing, building committees, identifying, and developing leadership.

Ability to use the MOR planning process and use effective training methods for both members and workers. Must have good organizational skills and the ability to work independently. Must be familiar with the history and mission of the UFW and be willing to make long-term commitments.

Language Skills

Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Bilingual ability in Spanish and English.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages. 

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. 

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations 

Requires a valid Class “C” Driver’s License. Must be proficient with MS Office applications (Word, Excel, E-mail, and Internet).

Physical Demands 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate, though maybe loud at rallies and similar events.

Disclaimer

This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor.