Internal Labor Representative (Eugene/Springfield/Roseburg)

Supervisor’s Title: Director of Labor  
Assignment Location: Eugene/Springfield/Roseburg based

JOB SUMMARY 

This position requires the employee to facilitate and maintain the development of strong and 
engaged bargaining units.  The employee is part of the ONA labor department, which empowers 
healthcare workers to advocate for themselves, their patients, their families, and their 
communities. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop broad, representative, inclusive, and diverse pool of worksite leaders following ONA's criteria.
• Train leaders to move worksite/issue campaigns, serve as advocates on worksite committees, and act as stewards.
• Support leaders on worksite committees.  Participate on worksite committees when necessary.
• Develop and implement strategic plans for each bargaining unit using ONA template and keep strategic plans up to date.
• Conduct annual assessments of bargaining units using ONA template.
• Promote membership in the union, including developing internal organizing plans to accrete unrepresented employees in union, convert fair-share to membership, and ensure presence at new employee orientations.
• Create and maintain lists assessing membership or to track campaigns.
• Ensure bargaining unit elections are held in a timely fashion and in accordance to bargaining unit's bylaws.
• Identify bargaining unit leaders to fill statewide leadership positions on the ONA Board, Cabinets, and the House of Delegates.  Mentor those leaders when appropriate.

Communication and Interaction

• Visit workers in their homes, worksites, or other locations.
• Compose newsletters and other materials in a clear and persuasive fashion.
• Timely inform the Director of Labor and other supervisors and other supervisors and stakeholders of activities, developments, and the progress of work or emergence of issues.
• Promptly return phone calls or answer e-mails/texts, especially to members.
• Work collaboratively with coworkers, including those in other departments, members, and coalition partners.
• Develop and present trainings to members, staff and others.
• Use discretion when communicating when appropriate.

Negotiations

• Ensure contract is reopened in a timely fashion.
• Act as the lead negotiator, including draft contract proposals, identify and train negotiating team, conduct surveys, get necessary information from employer or other sources, interpret contract language, present proposals, negotiate, research best practices, write and distribute updates, develop and oversee contract action teams, issue organize, and develop and implement a contract campaign, including moving members to concerted action.
• Ratify the contract following the bargaining unit's bylaws and ONA policies.
• Produce a final agreement that is ready for print.
• Develop thorough knowledge of bargaining unit contracts, bargaining history, and the bylaws of assigned bargaining units and constituent associations.

Grievances

• Identify, train, and support stewards to handle investigatory meetings and grievances.  Monitor stewards work to ensure duty of fair representation is met.
• Represent nurses in investigatory meetings and grievances when no steward is available or when otherwise appropriate/necessary.
• Draft grievances and investigate the merits of a grievance.
• Responsible for administering, monitoring and calendaring grievance processing for all assigned units.
• Provide recommendation on merits of grievances to stewards, leaders, Labor Cabinet, Director of Labor, and Legal Counsel.

Other

• Meet goals and deadlines.
• Timely complete administrative tasks such as Expense or Beck Reports.
• Accept and apply feedback and constructive criticism from Director of Labor or other supervisor.
• Learn about ONA labor department initiatives and priorities and ONA history, structure, and strategic plan.
• Maintain confidentiality of ONA strategic intiatives and targets.
• Perform related work as required.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Update membership lists, which may include input on, and operation of, computerized database systems.
• Keep records organized, especially negotiation binders, grievance files and lists.
• Send or deliver records to ONA's headquarters in a timely fashion.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings ideally in-person or electronically when necessary.  Attend Cabinet meetings when necessary.
• Attend ONA House of Delegates and Bargaining Unit Leadership Conferences and other such functions.
• Attend educational conferences to improve current knowledge or to develop new skill or knowledge.
• Develop basic knowledge of ONA Bylaws.
• Monitor the activities of ONA constituent associations and encourage bargaining unit leaders to get involved in their constituent associations.
• Participate in local labor activities and support other unions in the community.
• Identify non-nurse employees interested in organizing and share contracts per ONA's policies and procedures.
• Back-up other labor representatives when on leave or otherwise unavailable.
• Mentor new staff during their orientation.
• Orient labor representative to bargaining unit(s) when there is a change in assignment.
• Participate in political activities, such as, canvassing and phone banking.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBLITIES

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

JOB EXPECTATIONS/COMPENTENCIES

• Job Knowledge: Must possess and continually update requisite knowledge and understanding of assigned duties, responsibilities, policies, procedures and compliance requirements to perform the position.
• Work Product: Must demonstrate quality, including accuracy and thoroughness, in work required for the position. Must plan and complete acceptable quantity of work within deadlines.
• Member Focus: Must consistently exhibit proper conduct with ONA members through verbal and written communications. This includes listening, understanding member 
  expectations/perspective and acknowledging and responding to concerns in a timely and helpful manner.
• Dependability/Accountability: Must follow through on assignments and take ownership of work. Must be reliable and responsible, and adhere to procedures, practices and work schedule.
• Collaboration/Teamwork: Must demonstrate cooperation and teamwork, and value and seek input and expertise of others. Must contribute to the team environment by working effectively with others on the team, and treat co-workers with respect, honesty and fairness. 
• Communication: Must communicate effectively and respectfully with co-workers and associates verbally and in writing. Must follow instructions and share information appropriately.
• Commitment to JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) & Welcoming Behavior in the Community: Must create a welcoming and learning environment with productive and positive workplace relationships. Must build and support a diverse and inclusive community by demonstrating respect in the workplace.