Media employees at print and digital publications around the country are organizing in record numbers. Journalists at outlets such as Politico, New York Daily News, Dallas Morning News, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, New Yorker, and BuzzFeed are among the more than 6,000 workers that have organized since 2015. In the face of a consolidating industry increasingly run by hedge funds and private equity firms, workers are demanding fair pay, job security and the preservation of quality journalism.
These workers are organizing with The NewsGuild, a sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), a dynamic, member-led union that is building a movement for social and economic justice. TNG-CWA seeks a highly experienced and motivated campaign lead to serve as a lead organizer on campaigns at media companies around the country.
The position is initially slated to last a year but is subject to possible extension.
The ideal candidate will have experience running multiple organizing campaigns with professional workers. They will have the organizational and strategic skills necessary to inspire and activate workers to take action.
The position will report to The NewsGuild-CWA leadership and the CWA Organizing Director, coordinating regularly with senior campaign leads. The position can be based anywhere. It is currently remote but will involve regular travel once it is safe to do so.
Job Qualifications:
- Willing and able to take regular direction and learn from experienced campaign staff
- Willing to commit, energy, heart and long, irregular hours
- Ability to learn and implement the campaign basics
- Be able to take notes, listen and get information/report back to campaign leadership to evaluate campaigns
- Ability to assess workers’ support of the campaign, identify potential committee members, move workers to make concrete commitments and take action, recruit people to a committee, facilitate committee meetings, work with groups.
- Understand and discuss issues in a way that contribute to the momentum of an organizing campaign.
- Have a fundamental commitment to building a diverse and democratic labor movement and ability to organize workers from diverse backgrounds and demographics.
- Willing to attend an Organizing Institute
- Basic communications skills, able to do basic flyers and other written material
- Strong social, written and verbal communication skills
- Motivated self-starter able to learn and troubleshoot without heavy supervision
- Driver’s license and reliable car, must be able to travel to work locations away from home/office location.
- 1-2 years (2 years preferable) of prior labor, political or community organizing experience
- Patient in pressure situations and savvy with conflict management
- Bilingual, a plus
Responsibilities when employed in an Organizing campaign:
- Ability to assess support of the union or campaign, identify potential committee members, move workers to make concrete commitments and take action, recruit people to a committee, facilitate committee meetings, work with groups
- Understand and discuss issues in a way that contribute to the momentum of a campaign
- Utilize numerous organizing tactics including home-visiting, cold phone
calling, hand billing, etc. - Have a fundamental commitment to building a diverse and democratic movement and ability to organize workers and citizens from diverse backgrounds and demographics
- Along with campaign leadership, be able to work effectively with committee members
- assist with moving campaigns to stage 3, i.e., an NLRB election or voluntary recognition campaign
- keep the organizing committee on track
- motivate them to move through roadblocks and be public when it is time
- give them a realistic assessment of progress and inoculate them
- Work with the local to help identify and encourage others in local to participate in organizing campaigns and build support for organizing
- Along with the District Organizing Coordinator, be able to help develop and implement a local organizing plan
- Submit reports as required, but at least monthly
- Must be able to work on projects to build the local, but also be able to assist in national and district organizing projects.
- Be heavily involved in major National and District Organizing Priority campaigns
- Capable of running campaigns with minimal
assistance, motivate and dig out committee members, work in a team with other organizers involved in the campaign - Be able to communicate effectively in writing, in speaking, and via electronic media. Be able to work with data bases, able to do basic flyers and other written material
- Able to function as a trainer at an Organizer Institute and train organizing committee members
- Work with locals on National and District priority campaigns and help local organizers
- Travel to work locations away from home and work location by car and plane to locations as needed
- Computer skills that allow at least intermediate-level data management and communication
Job Specifications
Compensation: $70,111.50-$88,964.84/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.
To apply, upload the contacts for three references, a cover letter and resume by December 31, 2021.