Workers’ Rights Organizer

Overview

Worker’s Justice Project (WJP) (workersjustice.org) was founded in 2010 to address the racial and economic injustices that low-wage immigrant workers face in New York City by building collective power to win institutional change. WJP runs two long-standing worker’s centers in Brooklyn. We promote justice and opportunity for low-wage immigrant workers in New York City by pushing for systematic enforcement and expansion of workplace protections, which include labor and occupational health and safety standards while advocating for industry-specific efforts to improve working conditions. WJP also offers skills-building training to workers in health & safety and industry-specific areas, and we educate immigrant communities about their rights in the workplace and how to exercise those rights.

WJP is a fiscally sponsored project of TSNE (www.tsne.org).

Responsibilities

This is a temporary position with the possibility of transitioning to regular employee. Eligibility is  based on business need, funding, and good standing within WJP. Additionally, the individual must have been with WJP for at least 6 months to be eligible. WJP will evaluate close to the temporary employment end date.

The Workers’ Rights Organizer conducts outreach to app delivery workers throughout NYC with a focus on French-, English- and African language speaking immigrant workers. The position is based out of WJP‘s Williamsburg Worker Center but will spend significant time out in the field. The Organizer is part of a team of organizers under WJP’s Los Deliveristas Unidos/Delivery Workers United (LDU) initiative who are working to strengthen and expand WJP’s delivery worker membership, win concrete and transformative workplace campaign victories, and significantly contribute to long-term movement building in New York City and beyond. The ideal candidate will not only align themselves with WJP’s vision and mission but will have a proven track-record of organizing experience within French-speaking immigrant communities.

Essential Functions

Outreach and Base Building

• Conduct weekly street outreach and events targeting app delivery workers in all five boroughs of NYC with a focus on French-speaking immigrant workers.
• Inform app delivery workers about their workplace rights and about WJP’s organizing campaigns to improve working conditions for delivery workers.
• Identify and help build WJP’s base and develop WJP members through group and one-on-one engagements. Organize one-on-one meetings with new worker-members identified through outreach and walk-ins;
• Motivate and obtain commitment from workers, and support workers to take direct action in their workplaces, to file complaints and to educate their co-workers about their rights.
• Help build a strong base of delivery worker members for LDU by conducting outreach, facilitating participation in events and meetings, and identifying worker-leaders who can connect LDU to new communities of delivery workers.
• Build effective relationships with potential and current members;
• Generate leads by exchanging and collecting information from individuals whom they come in contact with and follow up accordingly.
• Support outreach efforts and administer surveys for research projects.
• Support the planning and implementation of leadership development trainings.
• Assist with daily operations, including managing client queues and welcoming new workers seeking support.
• Demonstrate flexibility to work across WJP locations, including the City Hall Hub, South Slope Center, Williamsburg Center, and other designated sites based on staffing needs.
• Support case management, including filing labor rights complaints and assisting workers with follow-up.
• Participate in organizing campaigns and support worker engagement and leadership development.
• Help manage conflicts constructively and support the development and strengthening of worker committees.

Workers’ Rights Education and Resources

• Educate delivery workers about their workplace rights, including minimum pay laws, workplace safety regulations, deactivation protections and more.
• Provide information and case management assistance to delivery workers about key topics and resources such as app account deactivations, wage theft, street safety, safe battery charging, how to obtain drivers’ licenses, and more.
• Help workers understand the importance of collective action and fighting for their workplace rights.
• Create and facilitate orientation presentation to inform general public and potential members of WJP, LDU, and their programs;
• Follow up with potential members, ensuring they receive needed services within LDU Division and WJP;
• Strengthen WJP’s network by forming relationships with community partners and stakeholders;
• Provide information about WJP’s services to potential and existing members.
• Provide translation assistance for WJP staff assisting French-speaking workers.

  Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• A commitment to WJP’s mission, vision, and values and our workers and worker justice;
• Excellent people and relationship building skills;
• Deliverista / On-Demand Courier experience preferred: Hands-on experience working as a delivery or gig-economy courier is a strong plus to help our team better empathize with driver challenges, navigate operational bottlenecks, and understand day-to-day field dynamics;
• Strong written and verbal communications skills in French and English, with additional African language a plus;
• Prior community organizing experience strongly preferred;
• Proficiency knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and other applications (Google Apps.) and equipment operation such as copiers, scanners, and telephones;
• Administrative and organizational skills necessary to carry out the job description responsibilities;
• Strong meeting facilitation skills;
• Knowledge of NYC public transportation system;
• Ability to handle multiple priorities at the same time;
• Dedication and ability to work a flexible schedule including early mornings, evenings, and/or weekends as needed.
• Deep dedication to the leadership of directly affected people;
• A belief in peoples’ ability to change their conditions and their communities;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Love of teamwork and a good team player while working in a collaborative work environment;
• Special interest in building power among low-income people of color to fight for social economic and racial justice.
• Proven ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, resolve conflicts constructively, and maintain productive relationships across teams.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• There may be a need to lift and/or move materials or equipment.
• Able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions.
• Able to commute using the NYC public transportation system.
• Able to work in an open office space.
• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls.
• Reach; traverse; sit or stand (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move.
• Extended periods of time in front of a computer screen is an essential aspect of the position.
• Lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards.
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight.
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location:This position will be primarily based at the Williamsburg Worker Center and City Hall Deliverista Hub, with regular fieldwork throughout New York City and periodic travel to other locations, as required. This is an onsite position and is not eligible for remote work.

Schedule: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week. This is a temporary position through August 31, 2027 This position requires the ability to work during regular business hours and requires flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends based on programmatic and operational needs.

Compensation: The pay range for this position is $28 - $32/hr.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): twelve paid holidays, three weeks of vacation, one week of personal holiday, and ability to accrue up to 487.5 hours of health leave time for benefited staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Harvard Pilgrim/Point32Health Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension and Employee-paid 403b plan through TIAA.
• ...and more!

TSNE/WJP strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/WJP prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/WJP celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/WJP's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.

TSNE/WJP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the application and hiring process. If you need an accommodation to apply or participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [email protected]. Requests will be handled confidentially and shared only as needed to evaluate and implement the accommodation.