What makes a good union organizer

Though a union organizer may be an elected official from his or her union, he or she may also be a paid employee. This is often the case when union organizers are needed to help unionize companies or work sites without unions. Volunteers may also be used for this purpose. Some union organizer jobs include a public speaking role. In this case, the trade union member would be responsible for representing his or her union at public events, rallies, strike action events, and other labor rights activities.

He or she may also represent his or her union during legal proceedings, business meetings, and other official events. The work environment of a union organizer can vary dramatically. He or she may work primarily in the office or out in the field with various labor unions. Long hours, overtime, and varied schedules are common in this career.

To be a successful organizer, a person must be competent and trustworthy. Zip Code. A Forbes "Best of the Web" Blog. Workplace Fairness. Your Zip:. Select Distance: 5 miles 10 miles 25 miles 50 miles miles miles miles. Find an Employment Attorney The Workplace Fairness Attorney Directory features lawyers from across the United States who primarily represent workers in employment cases. Your Zip Code:. The goal is to sign-up a sizable majority. This "card campaign" should proceed quickly once begun and is necessary to hold a union election.

The signed cards are used and required to petition the state or federal labor board to hold an election. It will take the labor board at least several weeks to determine who is eligible to vote and schedule the election. The union campaign must continue and intensify during the wait. If the union wins, the employer must recognize and bargain with the union. The organizing campaign does not let up after an election victory.

The real goal of the campaign, a union contract the document the union and the employer negotiate and sign, covering everything from wages to how disputes will be handled , is still to be achieved. In UE, we are proud of our democratic tradition: UE members run their own local unions — and there's no other union where this is a truer statement. But you don't "go it alone," either. UE will be with you every step of the way — helping with everything from organizing to negotiating your first contract