Grievance Representative

Colorado WINS has been on the cutting edge of building power for state employees in Colorado and fighting for economic, racial, and social justice. In 2020, we passed a bill giving collective bargaining rights to state employees and in 2021 secured our first-ever contract. We are now hiring a grievance representative to join the team in Colorado on this exciting campaign to build a 21st-century union for 26,000 state employees, including a focus in our Higher Education membership.

Colorado state employees preserve and protect the things Coloradans love about the state. They are Black, brown, white and Asian and make life better for families and communities. They care for veterans and those with disabilities; maintain the safety and use of state roads and bridges; protect the quality of drinking water and air; provide stewardship to public lands and boost tourism; keep prisons and communities secure and provide many other essential services.

Colorado WINS grievance representatives are key advocates for state employees, working to uphold fair practices and address workplace concerns. By facilitating discussions, providing guidance, and building strong individual connections, they help ensure that employees’ voices are heard and their rights respected. A typical week involves visiting various work locations, engaging in virtual events, supporting educational initiatives, and conducting numerous calls and texts to maintain communication with members.

This position is based in Colorado outside the Denver Metro area.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Grievance Representative manages a caseload of workplace issues and grievances for our Colorado Classified State Employee membership. This involves meeting with members, presenting workplace issues or grievances, answering Partnership Agreement questions and representing each member through a resolution process. The position reports to the Grievance Coordinator. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Managing a large caseload and processing grievances within contractually fixed time limits;
• Understanding and interpreting labor contracts and applying their terms to workplace issues and grievances;
• Working closely with the field reps for purposes of building investigations and fightbacks, reductions in force and company transitions;
• Meeting with employer representatives, union field representatives, union attorneys and other staff to investigate workplace issues;
• Developing and preparing cases for arbitration; and
• Mediating workplace disputes.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• The ideal candidate will be a persuasive advocate for the Union and its members, possess sophisticated and refined problem-solving skills, have the ability to mediate workplace disputes, and possess strong negotiation skills. Strong oral and written skills in English and Spanish are preffered. While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional skills and personal attributes:
• Ability to effectively manage time and balance multiple projects/cases at the same time, and track/report on results and status
• Strong computer skills and ability to adopt new technology tools
• Excellent communications skills, including effective listening skills
• Experience working with a diverse membership
• Ability to move workplace issues and grievances to resolution
• Union representation experience preferred, but applicants with an interest in workers’ rights and relevant work experience (e.g., in social work, or paralegal) may be considered