Description

OREGON NURSES ASSOCIATION (ONA) JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Internal Labor Representative                                                          Department: Labor

Supervisor’s Title: Director of Labor and Organizing                                       Exempt Status: Exempt Assignment

Location: Eugene / Springfield / Roseburg

Hours and travel: ONA works with healthcare workers who work across the state in 24/7 facilities. By the  nature of this work, there are times where travel, working nights, and overnight stays are required.

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. 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 Assistant Director of Labor 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, Strategic Campaign Director, Director of 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 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.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

This is a full time, exempt position. The salary is based on applicable years of experience applied to the wage scale outlined in the union staff ’s collective bargaining agreement.

ONA offers a starting annual salary range of $81,898.65 - $127,202.98 based on experience.  The total salary range for this position is currently $81,898.65 to $140,497.07 annually.

ONA also offers an exceptional benefits package including total employer coverage of cost (100%) of medical, dental and vision premiums, as well as employer paid long and short-term disability and life insurance. Opportunity to enroll in 401K plan after 6 months of employment which includes a 3% employer contribution, with additional longevity contributions after 5 years. Union members are also enrolled in a union pension plan.  Annual PTO is 25 vacation days, 8 personal days and 12 sick leave days.

TO APPLY:

To apply for this position, please upload your application that includes a resume here:

https://secure.entertimeonline.com/ta/ONAG18.careers?ShowJob=486904262

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 
This position requires a Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of three (3) years’ as a union 
organizer, community or political organizer, or internal organizer/business agent required except 
as noted below.  Applicants with healthcare experience encouraged to apply.  ONA will develop 
a registered nurse with less than three years of experience if other relevant skills or experience 
are present.   

• Knowledge of basic labor and employment law, such as NLRA, PECBA, FMLA, ADA, OSHA, and Worker's Compensation.
• Knowledge of or commitment to learn about Nurse Practice Act, HIPAA, Oregon's Staffing Law, and other healthcare related practices and culture.
• Speak one-on-one and with groups.  Confident initiating conversations with strangers.  Facilitate group discussions.
• Ability to figure out solutions to complex problems.
• Handle multiple priorities at once, with ability to appropriately triage and delegate.
• Raise vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely.
• Gather and assess relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively.
• Come to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with prospective members.
• Collaborate with other staff, work with a team.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND/OR REGISTRATIONS 
A valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and automobile liability coverage or access to 
an insured vehicle are required.

QUALIFICATIONS 
Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without 
posing a direct threat to the safety or health of employees or others. To perform this job 
successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable 
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, and membership databases 
  or similar programs. 
• Ability to use text and other digital platforms. 
• Smart phone with data plan, which ONA will reimburse per collective bargaining 
  agreement. 
• Personal laptop, which ONA will provide per policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an 
employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. The work environment 
characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while 
performing the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to:

•  Sit for prolonged periods of time in an office environment. 
• Work irregular hours, sometimes for long durations. 
• Utilize smart phone, text, and respond to texts. 
• Input data on a computer. 
• Read a computer screen and written documents. 
• Transport for some distance up to 30 pounds. 
• Drive day or night, often for long distances, and for prolonged periods of time. 
• Frequently travel, sometimes out-of-state.  Travel by car will be necessary.  Travel by 
  plane will be likely. 
• Stay overnight in hotels or otherwise away from home. 
• Navigate without assistance within worksites.

OTHER

Periodic travel will/may be required along with occasional evening or weekend work. Hybrid 
schedules are available as appropriate for job duties and subject to supervisor approval.  

DISCLAIMER: 
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being 
performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed 
as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so 
classified.