Florida AFL-CIO

Field Staff
Central Florida Zone

Based in Central Florida
(Orlando/Orange County, FL)

 

About the Florida AFL-CIO - The Florida AFL-CIO represents over 500 local labor unions, 10 councils, and over one million union members, retirees, and their families in the State of Florida.

We are construction workers, health care professionals, classroom teachers, agricultural workers, hotel and restaurant employees, transportation workers, firefighters, law enforcement and correctional officers. Wherever people work in Florida, across a broad range of trades and professions, you will find our members.

We work to provide better lives for all workers, members or not, through political and legislative action, grassroots mobilization and education. We also provide a wide range of community services working to build stronger and healthier communities.

Reports to - Florida AFL-CIO Director of Politics & Public Policy, upon coordination with Zone 2 Central Labor Council Presidents or designee(s).
Central Labor Council Jurisdiction - Volusia-Flagler CLC, Space Coast CLC, North Central CLC, Central FL CLC, West Central FL CLC
Salary & Benefits - Salary commensurate with experience. Generous employee benefits package, including healthcare, dental, pension. Liberal vacation/sick leave provided, as well as covered expense reimbursement.
Start Date - ASAP

Job Purpose - Work with the Florida AFL-CIO Director of Politics & Public Policy and Central Labor Council Presidents to plan and implement program strategies to organize the local labor movement, achieve political and legislative objectives, and increase labor’s influence at the Central Labor Council, State, and National level. Provide organizing support to affiliated unions and expand labor’s agenda by forming alliances with constituency groups, community, religious, and allied organizations.

The position is a salaried, overtime exempt position that is covered under a union collective bargaining agreement with substantial benefits and job security. The salary is competitive and based on qualifications and experience. Medical coverage with low out-of- pocket expenses, dental, eye care; generous personal leave; retirement benefits and accrued leave buy-outs. The position is based in the Central Florida (Orlando/Orange County, FL).

Responsibilities and Duties
Build Participation in Priority Activities

• Work effectively with the Florida AFL-CIO Director Politics & Public Policy and Central Labor Council leadership to assist in developing and implementing a Strategic Plan.
• Work closely with State Fed and National AFL-CIO staff to advance labor’s agenda at the Central Labor Council level.
• Increase participation in Central Labor Council meetings, rallies, and events.
• Develop a permanent mobilization infrastructure that expands labor’s ability to create larger, more creative, and more strategic impact/presence.
• Identify local union coordinators to expand the mobilization network within local unions and households.
• Build membership of new local union affiliates within the Central Labor Councils.
• Chart local union steward/rep/organizing meetings and events and serve as a liaison for the Central Labor Council.
• Work with the Florida AFL-CIO Director of Politics & Public Policy, Central Labor Council and affiliate leadership to develop work plans of sustainable activities for an extended duration to accomplish strategic goals and/or outcomes.
• Assist in organizing logistics, turnout, and content for events of the Central Labor Councils.
• Recruit membership of new local union affiliates.
• Assist with Central Labor Council(s) special functions/events such as Labor Day, dinner/dances, fundraisers and socials.
• Assist the State Federation in statewide activities such as the Biennial Convention, COPE Convention and other training, as needed.
• Function as conduit between National AFL-CIO, State Federation and Central Labor Council Membership.
• As authorized, report Central Labor Council Activities to State and National AFL-CIO.

Build Support for Organizing

• Assist area unions in achieving their organizing goals by working with area leaders to develop an organizing assistance plan that may include a roundtable, political and community leverage, home visits, multi-language organizers, etc.
• Assist affiliated local unions through education and training on mobilizing their membership and building local union infrastructure.
• Coordinate assistance to local unions in organizing campaigns, including rallies, traditional and social media communication campaigns and volunteer activities.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with activists from the labor movement.

Build a Strong Political Program

• Assist in developing and implementing a plan that expands labor’s political power.
• Engage with elected officials and seek an understanding and support for organizing and working family issues.
• Mobilize grassroots activists to play key roles in actions and meetings with state legislators and members of Congress, city and county political officials and other appropriate governmental entities.
• Work with the Florida AFL-CIO Field Director, CLC leadership and affiliates to build mobilization capacity to support in-district lobbying on local, state, and national issues.
• Coordinate legislative campaign strategies, including varied modes of communications, protests, lobbying, etc., as directed by the Florida AFL-CIO Field Director in conjunction with the State Fed and CLC President.
• Assist in planning and conducting screenings of political candidates.
• Recruit activists for Working Families Lobby Corps.
• Coordinate phone bank, canvassing, and GOTV activities during political campaigning.
• Report activities using appropriate modes, such as LAN, email, spreadsheets, etc.

Build Community Relationships and Coalitions

• Facilitate the development of close ties and effective working relationships between labor leadership, constituency groups and like-minded community, religious, and allied organizations in the interest of mobilizing collective power on joint campaigns.
• Strengthen the linkage between the Florida AFL-CIO, central labor councils, local unions and constituency groups.
• Work with community groups to increase union outreach.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with activists from community and advocacy groups.

Build Communication and Media Networks

• Plan and execute earned media events, including press conferences and rallies.
• Assist in developing and implementing communications and messaging using traditional modes, social media and evolving technology.
• Work with local affiliates to develop workplace and other communications systems to better educate and activate local union members in support of endorsed candidates and issue campaigns.
• Develop and maintain updated fax blast, phone text, and e-mail list-serves for the area, as well as sub-groups.
• Assist in gathering information for database(s) of unions and community allies.
• Provide training and expertise to develop/support the CLC Media Action Team and union leaders so as to enlist appropriate leaders/spokespersons to communicate to the media during various campaigns and activities.
• Ensure that columns and Letters to the Editor are written and published, and radio and TV interviews are granted and aired.

Required Skills/Experience

• Live in and work within the designated CLC jurisdiction, operating from a base of one or more offices.
• Able to work long and varied hours, including nights and weekends.
• Union experience, community organizing, political, issue and legislative campaigns, or other related fields.
• Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with union leaders, community & constituency groups.
• Ability to plan, organize and multitask various projects and campaigns.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Comfortable working in diverse environments.
• Self-motivated and willing to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to produce basic newsletters and leaflets.
• Proficient in the use of the Microsoft Suite of programs, Databases, and social media.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and maintain reliable transportation.

Desired Skills

• Bilingual 

How to Apply:
Please send résumé and cover letter to: Billy Lawson, Executive Assistant to the President, Florida AFL-CIO at wlawson@flaflcio.org (NO TELEPHONE CALLS PLEASE)