I should explain that Kate was helpful to the Laborers several years ago by helping recruit a graduate of Cornell working with her and who now works for us and is performing stellar work for The Ohio laborers and LIUNA. He consorted with me on the attached job description and functions envisioned for this very trench-level activity that will take this person to the hinterlands of Ohio probably three days a week for 10-11 months a year. So the person has to have a great deal of self-initiative, possess teaching skills with the ability to articulate what we term the "curriculum".
The purpose of this effort by the leadership of the Ohio Laborers is to gain the trust of the membership as it (the leadership) advocates for the various candidate and issue positions necessary to advance the union's and membership's self-interest. This will require the Political and Education Director to advance relationships in small groups by explaining why at times the Union takes candidate positions at odds with its individual members, but to reason that those positions are in the union's best interests for jobs, matters like state or federal prevailing wages, project labor agreements, or right-to-work defense. Laborer retirees will also be a target of this effort, to assert that they have a continuing interest in the health of the union and in particular, how that health translates to stable union pension and health care funds from which all of them continue to benefit and rely. We find that our retirees think that their pension benefits can never take the kinds of hits that the UAW or the Steelworkers have experienced from industry hardships. So making everyone understand what constitutes their own self-interest is a the heart of this effort.
This position is being created to be a continuing, long-term effort with ever-changing messages and themes. But grass-roots activity will require intensive day-after-day efforts that wouldn't be for everyone; our Cornell graduate admits he wouldn't enjoy this assignment. But it is an opportunity to perform grassroots labor activity in Ohio, the epicenter of national politics.
So in recommending that we reach out to you, Kate believed that you may be helpful in recruiting person(s) with interest to respond to the position announcement. You may circulate it far and wide. If any aspect of it raises questions, please feel free to contact me. We are on a fast track but we will have to see what interest exists and at what time table.
If you have other suggestions about where we may seek candidates, we would welcome that.
Please call or email with any questions or suggestions.
Thank you.
Rich Murray
Ohio Laborers
rcmurray4@gmail.com
cell: (614) 832-7206