Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Union Organizer

🎯 Role Definition

The Union Organizer leads and executes member-driven campaigns to build worker power, win collective bargaining recognition, and defend worker rights. This role designs and implements organizing strategies, recruits and trains worker leaders, conducts one-on-one conversations and workplace mapping, coordinates with legal and bargaining teams, and scales membership and activism across worksites. Successful candidates combine field experience, persuasive communication, labor law knowledge, strategic campaign planning, and cultural competence to mobilize diverse workforces and build sustainable union infrastructure.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Community Organizer or Field Organizer with 1–3 years of campaign experience
Frontline worker or union steward with active workplace engagement
Political or advocacy organizer (e.g., canvassing, voter mobilization)

Advancement To:

Lead Organizer / Senior Organizer
Campaign Director or Regional Organizing Director
Director of Organizing or Executive Director within a union or labor advocacy organization

Lateral Moves:

Membership & Engagement Manager
Training & Education Coordinator
Labor Relations or Grievance Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop and implement comprehensive organizing plans for union drives and contract campaigns that identify targets, timelines, tactics, staffing needs, and measurable goals to achieve recognition and successful collective bargaining outcomes.
Conduct high-volume, strategic one-on-one conversations with workers to build trust, identify issues, recruit leaders, and secure signed authorization cards or commitments to support union recognition.
Lead workplace mapping and power analysis across single-site and multi-site employers to identify formal and informal leaders, departments with high turnover, communication chokepoints, and leverage points for targeted outreach.
Build, train, and mentor worker leadership committees and stewards to sustain local organizing capacity, run member-led actions, and participate in bargaining and grievance processes.
Plan and execute coordinated workplace actions—digitally and in-person—including card campaigns, workplace meetings, visibility events, informational pickets, and escalation strategies to pressure employers and galvanize membership.
Manage and maintain accurate organizing data and CRM records (e.g., NationBuilder, EveryAction, NGP, Excel), track card returns, supporter counts, action participation, and escalate data-driven campaign adjustments.
Coordinate with legal counsel and labor law experts to ensure compliance with NLRB rules, card-check procedures, union recognition processes, representation petitions, and to prepare for potential employer anti-union campaigns.
Facilitate effective member communication strategies including text banking, phone outreach, social media engagement, email campaigns, and printed materials to keep workers informed and mobilized.
Conduct targeted outreach to marginalized and non-English-speaking workers through culturally competent messaging, translation, and bilingual one-on-ones to ensure inclusive participation and representation.
Recruit and manage volunteers, field teams, and canvassers; schedule site visits and delegate responsibilities while maintaining high accountability and quality control across field operations.
Design and deliver training sessions and workshops on topics such as collective bargaining basics, grievance handling, member rights, workplace health and safety, and leadership development.
Prepare for and support collective bargaining teams by gathering member demands, drafting proposals from worker feedback, and providing logistical support during negotiations and strike readiness planning.
Monitor employer tactics and anti-union campaigns, develop rapid response strategies, produce counter-communications, and coordinate legal and public pressure actions when necessary.
Build and maintain alliances with community groups, clergy, elected officials, student organizations, and coalition partners to amplify campaigns and expand external pressure on employers.
Organize and manage mass membership actions, including strikes, informational pickets, and solidarity events; ensure safety protocols, legal compliance, and clear communication during escalations.
Conduct workplace research, wage and benefit comparisons, and industry benchmarking to inform bargaining priorities and public messaging.
Track campaign metrics and produce regular reports for campaign leadership and funders, including participation rates, card return percentages, win/loss analysis, and lessons learned for continuous improvement.
Facilitate grievance intake and triage with members, documenting complaints, advising on next steps, and escalating to stewards or legal teams where appropriate to resolve workplace disputes.
Implement digital organizing tactics—texting platforms, virtual meetings, online petitions, and social media campaigns—to sustain engagement outside of traditional in-person visits.
Use persuasive storytelling and media outreach to shape public narratives, draft press releases, coordinate with communications staff, and support earned media strategies that highlight worker issues and campaign milestones.
Recruit, hire, and onboard temporary and full-time field staff; provide performance feedback, set expectations, and foster a high-energy, resilient campaign culture.
Manage campaign budgets and resource allocations for field materials, travel, trainings, and events to maximize impact within fiscal constraints.
Ensure data privacy and confidentiality for members and supporters, following organizational policies and legal requirements for handling signed cards, contact lists, and sensitive workplace information.
Maintain high visibility on the ground with regular site presence, flexible scheduling (evenings/weekends), and responsiveness to worker needs and shifting campaign dynamics.

Secondary Functions

Support administrative tasks related to campaign logistics: scheduling, travel coordination, supply ordering, and volunteer management systems.
Contribute to the development and refinement of organizing tools, training curricula, and campaign templates to standardize best practices across regions.
Participate in internal strategic planning meetings, debriefs, and after-action reviews to synthesize field intelligence and improve future campaigns.
Assist with member onboarding processes post-recognition, including membership enrollment, dues collection orientation, and steward training handoffs.
Collect qualitative testimony and success stories from members for use in fundraising, grant reports, and communications collateral.
Help coordinate fundraising outreach and local donor cultivation tied to specific campaigns and community engagement goals.
Maintain positive relationships with allied unions, labor councils, and worker centers to share resources and co-sponsor joint actions when appropriate.
Provide occasional support to organizing research teams by contributing frontline insights, documenting employer coercive practices, and validating worker-facing messaging.
Participate in public events, town halls, and community forums as a representative of the organizing campaign to explain goals, answer questions, and recruit supporters.
Uphold and model the organization’s values, including equity, inclusivity, member-centered decision-making, and confidentiality standards.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

In-depth knowledge of U.S. labor law and NLRB procedures, including representation petitions, card check recognition, and employer unfair labor practice processes.
Proven campaign planning and implementation skills for union drives and bargaining campaigns from conception through resolution.
Experience using organizing CRMs and data management tools (e.g., EveryAction, NationBuilder, NGP, VAN, Airtable, Excel) to track supporters and campaign metrics.
Proficiency with digital organizing platforms: mass texting/text-banking tools, phone-banking systems, email marketing, and social media campaign management.
Skilled facilitator and trainer capable of designing and leading workshops on collective bargaining, grievance procedures, and worker leadership development.
Familiarity with workplace research techniques, wage/benefit benchmarking, and employer vulnerability analysis.
Basic budgeting and resource allocation skills for campaign-level fiscal management and reporting.
Ability to prepare clear, persuasive written materials: talking points, flyers, petitions, press releases, and bargaining demands.
Competence in coordinating with legal counsel to prepare evidence, declarations, and documentation for representation hearings or complaints.
Multilingual communication skills or demonstrated experience working with interpreters and translated materials (preferred in high-diversity regions).

Soft Skills

Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to build trust quickly across diverse worker populations.
Exceptional one-on-one persuasion and motivational interviewing skills to convert concerns into commitment and action.
Resilience and emotional intelligence to manage conflict, withstand employer pushback, and maintain morale through difficult campaigns.
Strategic thinking with a tactical mindset—able to prioritize high-impact activities and adapt quickly to changing conditions.
Cultural competency and humility when engaging with historically marginalized communities and non-native English speakers.
Leadership and team development skills to cultivate worker leaders and mentor junior organizers.
Clear, compelling verbal and written communication—comfortable speaking in small groups and to the media.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for managing multiple sites, deadlines, and data systems simultaneously.
High level of discretion, integrity, and confidentiality in handling sensitive member information and workplace complaints.
Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams (legal, communications, research, fundraising).

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; equivalent practical experience in organizing or labor work accepted.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Labor Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work, Public Policy, Communications, or related fields.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Labor Studies / Industrial Relations
Political Science
Sociology
Social Work
Public Policy / Public Administration
Communications / Media Studies

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5+ years of direct organizing or labor campaign experience

Preferred:

3+ years leading union drives, campaign field work, or community organizing with measurable wins.
Demonstrated experience in collective bargaining support, grievance intake, or steward training.
Prior experience working with multilingual or immigrant worker populations and demonstrated cultural competency.
Experience coordinating with legal teams, managing campaign budgets, and using organizing CRMs and digital outreach tools.