Temporary Employee Organizer – Organizing & Member Engagement

United Domestic Workers of America, UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 is a statewide labor union representing over 210,000 home care and family childcare providers across 45 California counties. Founded in 1979, UDW is a diverse, progressive labor organization committed to social justice initiatives, including racial justice, income equality, and affordable healthcare for all. We advocate for better working conditions, fair pay, and full funding for programs like In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and subsidized family child care.

About the role

Under the direction of the Director of Organizing and Member Engagement, as well as the Member Outreach Manager and Regional Manager, the Temporary Organizer drives the organizing and field plan of the Local Union. This position is non-exempt (hourly) and based in Santa Maria, CA.

Responsibilities

• Develop organizing skills of member organizers.
• Identify, recruit, train, and develop union leaders.
• Assist in developing and executing plans for campaigns, including budget issues, contract negotiations, and worker safety.
• Develop communication systems to effectively reach members and providers.
• Build coalitions with community groups and organizations.
• Maintain work files and comply with administrative reporting.
• Mobilize, turnout, and engage membership.
• Organize union membership meetings, recruitment, and PEOPLE fundraising.
• Mobilize workers around worksite issues, politics, public policy, and other issues affecting workers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Special Assignment Responsibilities

• Recruitment and Outreach:
  • Organize and conduct informational sessions during the recruitment phase.
  • Engage members of the private care sector to raise awareness and interest in cooperative participation.
  • Recruit the first cohort of 12 participants, aiming to invite 15–20 individuals to ensure full enrollment.
• Follow-Up Support:
  • Provide 1:1 follow-up support to individuals who attend info sessions, assisting them through the application process to join the worker cooperative.
• Coordinating and Relationship Building:
  • Build relationships with participants interested in becoming worker-owners to attend the Vivid Life Home Care Academy.
• In-Person Participation:
  • Attend two scheduled in-person sessions. A transportation budget will be provided to cover rideshare or mileage costs.
• Ongoing Coordination:
  • Participate in weekly meetings with supervisors to review progress, address challenges, and coordinate next steps.

Schedule

This temporary position averages 12 hours per week for 6 months, not to exceed 29 hours per week or 8 hours per day, depending on weekly activities.

Pay

Hourly rate: $23.00 per hour.

Requirements

• Valid California driver’s license, auto insurance covering business driving, and an automobile for business use.
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends.
• COVID-19 vaccination required unless a reasonable accommodation is approved.

Qualifications

• Strong strategic and critical thinking skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Some knowledge of labor rights and contract language; ability to learn quickly.
• Ability to work effectively in team settings and independently.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task assignments and responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive union or comparable organizing experience.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Russian, or Assyrian.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

• Regularly required to talk, listen, use hands or fingers, handle objects, tools, or controls.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

• Primarily office-type environment with frequent use of office equipment and furniture.
• Low to moderate noise levels.
• Frequent deadlines and occasional pressure to work alone.
• Occasional exposure to outdoor environments, including vehicles, moving mechanical parts, vibration, odors, fumes, gases, smoke, dust, or airborne particles, and weather conditions.