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Union Organiser

Union organisers provide support to workers and deal with employers on issues such as working conditions and rights.

 

Tasks & duties

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Union organisers may do some or all of the following:

  • recruit union members
  • organise union member meetings
  • encourage and assist union members to recruit new members
  • advocate the union policy to the union membership, the Government and employers/management
  • help workers with employment disputes
  • negotiate employment agreements
  • provide leadership, support, advice and training for union delegates
  • help to develop union policies on conditions of employment
  • organise activities around union members' workplace issues
  • attend disciplinary hearings to support union members
  • liaise with the media
  • organise industrial action campaigns such as strikes or pickets

 

Skills & knowledge

Union organisers need to know about industrial relations, management methods and labour laws. They must also know about any workplace issues affecting their members, and have an understanding of the organisations their members work for.

Union organisers need to be skilled in:

  • negotiation and mediation
  • leadership
  • planning and organising
  • problem-solving
  • decision-making
  • report-writing
  • talking to groups and explaining complex issues clearly

 

Entry requirements

To become a union organiser you need to have a current driver's licence and experience working as a delegate or voluntary organiser.

 

Secondary education

There are no specific secondary educational requirements, but a tertiary entrance qualification is preferred.

 

Tertiary education

There are no specific tertiary educational requirements, but a degree-level qualification is recommended. Human resources and industrial relations courses may also be useful.

 

Training on the job

Skills are gained on the job. Union organisers may also attend in-house and tertiary training courses.

 

Useful experience

Useful experience for union organisers includes work as a union delegate, volunteer union organiser or personnel work. Experience with law or social science, political campaigning or work involving negotiation is also useful.

It is preferable that union organisers have work experience in the relevant industries for which they organise.

 

Related courses

Business and Commercial Law
Industrial Relations

 

For more information, please refer to Career Services.

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