Status: Full-time
Union Represented: Yes (TNG-CWA)
Immediate Supervisor: Metro Director
Location: Regionally assigned primarily in Minneapolis Metro Area
Starting Salary: $69,000-$79,500, depending upon experience, pursuant to CBA
ABOUT UFCW LOCAL 663
UFCW Local 663 is a union of 14,000 hard-working retail grocery, meat packing and processing, food preparation and manufacturing, healthcare, and other workers in Minnesota. We strive to improve the lives of our members and of all working families by building an organization for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and communities. Local 663 is part of the 1.2 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Union Representative carries out a variety of job functions and is responsible for ensuring our members receive fair representation by resolving grievances, empowering members to understand their own contracts and rights at work, legislative and political action, and leading negotiations to maintain industry standards at UFCW Local 663. The ideal candidate will have excellent communications skills, work independently to address members in person, via phone, email, and text, provide accurate and timely information to members, track all member communications, and negotiate contracts.
Will need to handle multiple priorities and work projects for completion in a timely manner.
In order for UFCW Local 663 to fulfill its core functions effectively, it is essential that all personnel perform their jobs in solidarity with the membership and leadership of UFCW Local 663 consistently. The Union Representative must maintain respectful, professional relationships with union members, stewards and other leaders, co-workers, Union leadership, and workers our union is organizing. Personnel must also show a respectful, professional demeanor at worksites and in the community. Efforts by any personnel to undermine or interfere with the legitimate and lawful goals and priorities of UFCW Local 663 will not be tolerated.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Union representation and contract enforcement
- Enforce contracts, including all steps of grievance handling
- Mentor and empower members to be effective activists, stewards and leaders in their workplace, including participation at Labor Management Meetings and Safety Meetings
- Serve as a resource to members for legislative issues, trends in bargaining, and other matters related to terms and conditions of employment
- Assist in mediations, arbitrations, and unfair labor practice charges
Negotiations
- Lead negotiations for effects bargaining and independent employers, including: ensure reopeners are filed, gathering and drafting proposals, and leading negotiations with a bargaining committee
- Work with bargaining committee members to educate about and ratify tentative agreements
Answer and track all member communications to identify representation trends and organizing issues
- Answer all phone calls, emails and texts from members in a timely manner and identify the type of assistance the member needs, answer or route questions
- Accurately document information exchanged during each communication in the database in a timely manner
- Communicate with the organizing team and leadership team about representation trends and organizing issues raised by member communications
- Engage with members in a friendly and professional manner while actively listening
Create and execute personal work plans to meet goals and benchmarks, and adjust when necessary to meet representation and organizational needs.
Coordinate with Union leadership and other personnel to identify challenges, create opportunities and synergies and improve organizational efficiency.
Other duties may be assigned. This list is not exhaustive and may change or be supplemented. UFCW Local 663 personnel function as a team and, occasionally, personnel may be required to perform tasks usually performed by others. Because personnel are required to work as a team, you are required to step up and fill in for a team member who is absent or needs assistance from time to time.
REQUIREMENTS
- Excellent leadership and motivational skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including one on one interpersonal communications and ability to navigate complex interpersonal relationships
- Ability to learn Federal and State labor laws and work collectively to enforce them
- Ability to lead, develop and coordinate worker leaders and organizing committee members
- Ability to drive long distances and maintain a valid driver’s license
- Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Drive applications and working knowledge of a database
- High level of accountability to meet goals and benchmarks, independent decision making, and prioritize work
- Ability to manage complex information, operate in politically sensitive situations, exercise good judgment and recognize when to refer to a higher level
- Pleasant professional who is dependable, responsible, people and team oriented
- Ability to work irregular/extended work hours, including evenings and weekends, with occasional overnight stays
- Must pass a pre-employment background check and reference check.
- Physical requirements as required by ADA:
- Work is performed primarily from a field office.
- Driving, travel, temporary assignments, and extended work hours are required.
- Valid driver’s license required.
- The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
- The ability to observe details at close range.
- Frequently moves boxes, sometimes weighing up to 75 pounds.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bilingual, Spanish and English preferred
- Previous union experience as a member leader
- Arbitration experience
- Experience leading contract negotiations
- Knowledge of Union or other power building organizations
- General knowledge of the roles and duties of union officers and personnel and understanding of UFCW Local 663 union philosophy
- Knowledge of anti-union employer tactics
EDUCATION
High School Diploma or greater preferred, with experience as a member of a union or experience in union organizing or advocacy. Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the primary responsibilities will be considered.
COMPENSATION
UFCW Local 663 offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, a generous benefits package which includes: pension, healthcare (medical, vision, dental, pharmacy, etc.), paid time off (vacation, holidays, ESST, etc.) – and a great team. This is a union-represented position and all benefits are described in the collective bargaining agreement.
TO APPLY:
Applicants should email their resume and cover letter to frontdesk@ufcw663.org by end of day Friday, March 13, 2026.