Grievance Representative – Capital Area District

Seiu 49; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 62,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision covered

401K retirement plan

Paid time off

Travel allowance

Job summary

Capital Area District seeks a Grievance Representative to join the Contracts and Grievance Center in Washington, DC. The GR meets with members, drafts claims, and advances grievances through a formal resolution process.

The role requires strong English and Spanish proficiency, excellent writing, and the ability to negotiate outcomes with employers while managing a substantial caseload.

Qualifications

• Commitment to social justice and representing diverse workers.
• Fluent in English and Spanish; strong communication skills.
• Ability to draft grievance claims and correspondence; use 32BJ databases.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends if needed.

Responsibilities

• Meet daily with members to hear workplace issues or grievances.
• Investigate issues, discuss with employer representatives and attorneys, and develop cases for arbitration.
• Identify systemic issues and negotiate resolutions with employers.
• Manage a large caseload within contractually fixed time frames.

Skills

English proficiency

Spanish proficiency

Listening skills

Writing skills

Negotiation skills

Tools

Grievance database

Electronic grievance tracking system

Job description

Grievance Representative
Capital Area District

Based in Washington, DC

ABOUT US
With 190,000 members, SEIU 32BJ is the largest union representing property service workers in the country. Our members have fought for and achieved high standards for private and public sector property service workers, and we continue to fight for higher standards for thousands of unorganized service workers.

With a commitment to building power for low-wage workers, 32BJ is engaged in winning strong contracts for members, organizing workers, supporting progressive candidates for elected office and moving a broad policy agenda, including immigrant justice, organizing rights, affordable housing, increasing minimum wages, and expanding access to health care.

The Union has approximately 450 staff in sixteen offices from Boston to Miami. 32BJ SEIU represents over 185,000 property service workers including janitors, security officers, airport workers, and food service employees in 11 states and Washington, DC. 32BJ SEIU’s headquarters are in New York City. 32BJ is an affiliate of SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which has 2 million members dedicated to raising industry standards and making life better for all working families and communities

POSITION OVERVIEW
We currently have an opening for a Grievance Representative (GR) to join our Contracts and Grievance Center in the Washington DC office. The GR meets daily with members presenting workplace issues or grievances, answering contract questions and representing each member through a resolution process.

• Through the process, the GR may meet with employer representatives, 32BJ field representatives and attorneys, and others to investigate workplace issues, resolve grievances directly with the employer, or develop cases for arbitration.
• The GR is charged with a high level of independent judgment to identify and act proactively on systemic workplace issues that could lead to grievances, and to negotiate the resolution of issues with employers.
• The GR must be a persuasive advocate for the Union and its members, possess refined problem-solving skills, have the ability to mediate workplace disputes, and possess strong negotiation skills. They must be able to manage a large caseload and process grievances within contractually fixed time limits.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Candidates must demonstrate a clear commitment to social justice, and an interest in representing workers from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong written and oral English and Spanish skills are required.
• Candidates must have strong listening and communication skills to work with diverse members who are presenting workplace.
• Strong writing and computer skills are required, as the GR is responsible for drafting grievance claims and correspondence, and is required to use 32BJ databases and an electronic grievance tracking system.
• Flexibility to work evening and weekend hours if necessary.
• Candidates with union representation experience are preferred, but candidates with an interest in workers’ rights and relevant work experience (e.g., in social work, or paralegal) may be considered.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The salary this role is $68,834. 32BJ offers a generous benefits package that includes a fully employer-paid medical, dental and vision plan (for full-time employees and their qualified dependents) and retirement benefits, including a defined benefit pension plan and 401K. 32BJ offers paid time off including three weeks’ vacation, eleven holidays, twelve sick days, and, after the first year of service, four personal days. A weekly travel allowance is also provided.

32BJ is an inclusive and diverse organization, committed to advocating for social, racial, and economic justice. We promote diversity and strongly encourage applications from people who believe in our mission. We strongly encourage women and people of color to apply.