Internal Labor Representative (Tualatin / Portland Metro)

JOB SUMMARY 
Department: Labor 
FLSA Status: Exempt 
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 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 Organizing and other supervisors and 
stakeholders of activities, developments, and 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 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 Organizing 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 and 
Organizing or other supervisor. 
• Learn about ONA labor department initiatives and priorities and ONA history, structure, 
and strategic plan.   
• Maintain confidentiality of ONA strategic initiatives 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 contacts per ONA’s 
policies and procedures. 
• Back-up other labor representative 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 RESPONSIBILITIES 
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.  

JOB EXPECTATIONS/COMPETENCIES 
• 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.