Internal Organizing Director, Local 26 - Service Employees International Union : Job Details

Position: Organizing Director- internal

Background:

SEIU local 26 is a dynamic local of over 8000 janitors and security officers in Minnesota, the people who clean

and protect some of the largest corporate headquarters in the world and who have a proud history of militant

fights for social and economic justice.

Local 26 members were some of the first security officers in the country to go on strike and engage in acts of

strategic civil disobedience in 2009, and struck again in 2013 to raise standards within their industry across

2000 suburban and downtown officers.

In 2016, 2020, and 2024 the janitors of the union, a multilingual bargaining unit made up of Latin American,

East African, and American-born workers, went on strike, and created an alliance with the Sierra Club and

other environmental allies to win a contract with some of the first Green Cleaning language in the country,

and later an expanded green cleaning education fund.

Description:

This position will direct multiple leads over teams of internal organizers for our union. The position will

coordinate and be ultimately responsible to develop manage strategy and program for the each of our 4 sectors

separately (airports, janitorial, security, retail cleaners), as well as cross sector, union wide initiatives. This will

include enforcement of the existing contracts and the fight for the next one in 2028. Supervises leads who will

oversee the work of front line organizers and brigades (members on short term leaves of absence). Worksite

organizing and supervisory experience with low income, diverse workers, and computer skills, contract

enforcement, leadership development experience also highly recommended.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

Lead a team of lead organizers in each sector to successfully achieve the goals of the internal organizing

department, with a focus on leadership development, training and skills building, and daily supervision.

Working collaboratively with other union directors across departments, and front line staff to set and

implement union wide goals

Building an extensive and comprehensive network of worksite leaders, member-activists; developing a

member leadership program, working with staff and other members to identify, train and develop rank

and file leaders;

Creating a culture of accountability that effectively recruits and mentors new stewards, leaders and

activists; teaching and modeling one-on-one persuasion, assessment and motivation of workers at the

worksite, in meetings, on the phone and on home visits as necessary.

Building an internal organizing department that can effectively use social media and traditional

communication strategies: including Designing, preparing, and distributing meeting notices, flyers,

newsletters, and other literature; including the use of WhatsApp, texting

Maintaining organizing lists and databases, and improving their use for planning and directing work;

Planning and coordinating contract enforcement and a culture of unifying member engagement around

grievances and worksite issues, including meetings and public actions, culminating in contract campaigns.

Mobilizing membership and ensuring turn-out for community, political and union events and a deeper

understanding of union values and strategy;

Leading the development of campaigns to further the interests of the members and the power of our

union.

Pay and Benefits:

This is a position beginning in the second third quarter 2024. Pay is on a scale starting at $85,000. Healthcare and

other benefits are included. A car and valid driver's license are required. Location: Minneapolis-Saint Paul

Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. Local 26 is an equal opportunity employer and, given our diverse membership, we

particularly encourage applications from women and people of color, and candidates from our own membership.

This position strongly encourages English and Spanish fluency. Interested applicants should send resumes to

[email protected]