Labor Representative - Chicago

The California Nurses Association (CNA)/National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC)/National Nurses United (NNU) is leading the national movement for registered nurse power to transform the market-driven health care industry into a health care system based on patient need.

CNA/NNOC/NNU, the nation's largest union of registered nurses, recognizes that building worker power and holding employers accountable to nurses’ collective bargaining rights are essential to recruiting and retaining Registered Nurses, while protecting their freedom to advocate for patients without fear of retaliation.

In California, the California Nurses Association passed the first historic Registered Nurse safe staffing law – nurses nationwide understand lives will be changed by safely limiting the number of very sick patients they are responsible for. Safe staffing makes a real difference in patient outcome and a nurse's ability to do the meaningful work they believe in, providing significant care.

Who We Are

We are a worker-led union dedicated to building the collective power of working people. We fight for better workplaces, stronger communities, and a society that puts people before profit. We are seeking organizers who are passionate about justice, motivated by collective action, and committed to helping workers build power.

We welcome candidates from labor, community organizing, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, student movements, political campaigns, and other similar backgrounds.

What We Believe In

• Worker Power: Lasting change happens when workers organize and act collectively to improve their workplaces and communities.
• Social Justice: We believe workplace issues are deeply connected to broader struggles for equity, dignity, and justice.
• Transformative Change: We are committed to building a stronger labor movement capable of creating meaningful change for working people.
• Political Engagement: Workers have the power to fight back against all forms of oppression that impact our lives through collective action and democratic participation.

Who Thrives Here

Successful Candidates are:

• Deeply committed to justice and solidarity
• Strong relationship builders
• Resilient, adaptable, and willing to learn
• Motivated by collective action and worker empowerment
• Comfortable engaging, persuading, and mobilizing others
• Prepared to invest the time, persistence, and collaborative effort necessary to strengthen the labor movement and advance lasting change for workers.

Position Overview:

We're looking for a skilled Labor Representative who is passionate about building worker power and developing nurse leaders. The ideal candidate will relish the opportunity to build strong workplace committees, mobilize members around workplace and health care issues, advance health care as a human right, and support efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes. They will bring experience in collective bargaining, planning collective actions to resolve grievances, organizing campaigns, and using workplace issues and data strategically to engage members, build collective strength, and win meaningful improvements for nurses and patients.

What You’ll Do – Responsibilities:

• Build and grow the nurse network
• Identify and develop leaders
• Develop campaign plans
• Maintain relationships with nurse leaders
• Organize shop floor fights and other collective actions, including strikes
• Train nurses on how to handle low level grievances and represent their coworkers
• All matters related to collective bargaining, including organizing nurses in private and public employment
• Participate in external organizing drives
• Compiling, analyzing, interpreting and presenting pertinent data
• Assisting with contract negotiations
• Processing grievances
• Member political education
• Representing nurses in employment-related problems
• Traveling to worksites to meet with members
• Assist in other work in the field as assigned
• Maintains a flexible schedule, including regular evening and weekend work, based on organizing and campaign needs.

What You’ll Bring - Minimum Qualifications:

• Organizing experience
• Campaign Planning
• Experience in organizing membership participation
• Ability to develop rank and file leadership
• Ability to track and analyze data and generate reports
• Willingness to work long, irregular hours (including nights and weekends), as needed
• Commitment to social change and to carrying out the vision and program of the organization
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in a team setting
• Commitment to organizational discipline
• Ability to work with a diverse, multi-cultural membership
• Valid driver’s license and insured car

Preferred Skills/Knowledge/Experience that is helpful but not required:

• Experience assisting with contract negotiations and processing grievances
• Organized shop floor flights
• Recruited, identified and trained member leaders to recruit other leaders
• Utilized proficiently an electronic database to track information and generate reports

In your letter, please indicate which geographical locations you are willing to consider and if you have served as First Chair or lead negotiator, please describe successful contracts you have helped to negotiate, your role, and the number of members covered by the contract.

This position is located in the following location: Chicago, Illinois.
In person with occasional travel 

If your experience does not perfectly match every qualification, but you believe you have the experience, skills, values, and commitment to succeed in this role and aligned with our mission, we encourage you to still apply.

Compensation and benefits: Competitive salary of $70,332-$188,796 annually dependent on skills and experience. In accordance with the staff union agreement, staff receive a generous benefits package, including comprehensive family medical and dental plans, and generous pension and retirement benefits. We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.

If you are interested in the role and do not meet every requirement listed, please still apply! We are interested in applicants with unique lived experience and skill sets.

CNA/NNOC/NNU is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate based on any protected category, including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, gender expression (including transgender expression or pregnancy), political affiliation, age, immigration status or disability. We encourage qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

All submitted application materials must be the direct, original work of the applicant; the use of generative A.I. tools to write your resume, cover letter, or responses is prohibited to preserve the integrity of our hiring process.