The NewsGuild-CWA represents about 25,000 journalists, media workers, non-profit staffers and activists in the United States and Canada. We’re a growing union — thousands of workers have joined our union in the past few years. NewsGuild members work at hundreds of news outlets—including big publications like the New York Times, small papers like the Casper Star Tribune and digital-only sites like Buzzfeed News. We’re also proud to represent interpreters and activists working at unions and nonprofits. The Guild is a sector of the Communications Workers of America.
The person hired into this position would start working remotely, with a priority of eventually being based in Washington, D.C. reporting to the NewsGuild-CWA President. The responsibilities of this assignment will include, but not be limited to, providing the necessary leadership for the accomplishment of Union programs in a number of locals, as well as carrying out the policies of the Union in all fields, including but not limited to negotiating contracts, organizing new members, preparing and processing all aspects of the arbitration process, education, mobilization, political and legislative activities, and assisting locals. The person must have the ability to build coalitions with our progressive partners and engage in movement building. The assignment will have a strong emphasis on organizing and raising COPE contributions.
This position has the title and salary of CWA Staff Representative and will be assigned to work from the Washington, DC office, will report to TNG-CWA leadership and be a member of the bargaining unit of the Federation of Guild Representatives. This position is made possible after the passage of the SMART resolution at the CWA Convention.
Responsibilities include:
- Assisting local leaders and staff with questions and research related to contract negotiations, grievance handling, arbitration preparation and impact of state and federal statutes (eg: ACA, FMLA, State Unemployment, FLSA)
- Supporting bargaining and negotiating contracts, including member actions
- Supporting and improving a contracts database of more than 400 agreements, including tracking expiration and renewals
- Tracking bargaining statuses with staff and local leaders
- Creating studies based on contract language and tracking bargaining trends
- Reviewing opening proposals for substance and compliance with The NewsGuild’s collective bargaining program
- Reviewing, tracking and summarizing tentative agreements before member ratification
- Developing recommendations for changes in the collective bargaining program
- Assisting with coordinated and joint bargaining and strategizing larger regional or nation agreements
- Managing legal services program, including handling submissions of locals’ requests, analyzing their merit and strategy, coordinating with counsel, tracking outcomes
- Assisting locals in preparing arbitrations
- Providing support to TNG pension fund trustees related to collective bargaining
- Promoting TNG’s Adjustable Pension Plan
- Developing and providing training to members, leaders and staff
- Working with counsel to coordinate with local leaders and staff and stay up to date on current DOL/NLRB issues
- Ensuring locals are following TNG’s Constitutional requirements for collective bargaining
- Supporting collective actions to build worker power through contract campaigns
Qualifications and Skills:
- A BS/BA degree from an accredited college/university; MBA or MA/MS in related field preferred, but not required
- Ideal candidate has multiple years of experience working in labor unions, has negotiated collective bargaining agreements, has coordinated organizing or other mobilization campaigns in support of workers
- Excellent verbal, communications and problem solving skills
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Compensation: $70,680-$118,505/year depending on experience with an excellent benefits package
The NewsGuild-CWA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates who would expand the diversity of the Guild staff.
If you feel you have the background and experience to qualify for this position and wish to apply, please submit your resume with a letter of interest, include contact information for three references, and upload your proof of degree by December 22, 2021.