Ohio Nurses Association

Labor Representative

Based in Columbus, OH

 

Title: Labor Representative
Department: Organizing and Field Services
Reports to: Director of Organizing and Field Services
Collective Bargaining Status: Union
Employee Status: Administrative
Pay: Salary
Last Revised: February 2026

Purpose
The Labor Representative is responsible for following the AFT organizing model for representation, providing guidance, and representing the collective bargaining members of ONA.

Essential Functions
Labor Relations

• Reviews and analyzes trends in labor relations, nursing and healthcare practice, delivery of health care, and the organization.
• Reads AFT’s Powering Up manual and practices the AFT organizing model in representation and negotiations
• Reads and processes a significant amount of information related to nursing, healthcare practice, and labor relations to be educated in the field and able to discuss points of interest.
• Reviews statutes and regulations related to nursing and healthcare and uses identified issues to represent the collective bargaining members.
• Provides grievance handling and negotiation services to members.
• Represents members in contract negotiations.
• Advocates on behalf of members.
• Provides education relevant to labor relations to members.
• Interprets contract language to determine if management action is in line with the contract.
• Represents individuals or groups of nurses and healthcare professionals in grievance hearings and arbitrations.
• Writes briefs.
• Writes contract proposals.

Consultation with Staff and Members

• Provides consultation and assistance to members in regard to employee relations and collective bargaining.
• Works with the Organizing Department and Director of Organizing and Field Services as needed to coordinate internal organizing efforts within existing units and External Organizing efforts for new units.
• Works with the management team to assist local units with the development of programs and strategies to make the value of ONA membership more apparent.

Communications

• Responds to phone calls, emails, and other forms of communication timely.
• Maintains a high level of communication with local unit leaders, members of management, and individual members.
• Listens to members with employment-related concerns as related to the collective bargaining agreement.
• Responds to members in a supportive manner.
• Submits information relative to Organizing and Field Services to Ohio Nurses Review.
• Assures that all marketing and public relations communications intended for public release are reviewed by the Director of Organizing and Field Services.

Relationship Building

• Provides a professional level of support to members.
• Spends time on site at assigned local units to build rapport and provide support.
• Provides honest and transparent information and feedback to local unit leaders and members.
• Cooperates with outside service providers as necessary.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Participates in staff meetings and other required meetings and seminars.
• Assists and attends in the coordination and preparation for the biennial Convention.
• Submits time electronically weekly.
• Submits credit card statements, if necessary, by the deadlines established.
• Respects computer and laptop service requests and responds timely when action is required.
• Provides information on the intranet calendar when out of the office.
• Maintains documents in a format that makes them readily accessible to other staff in accordance with office policy.
• Travels throughout Ohio frequently, sometimes daily, depending on workload. Travel nationally occasionally. Overnight trips occasionally.
• Other duties, as assigned, by ONA management.

Typical Physical Requirements

• Regularly uses a telephone and e-mail system for communication.
• The person in this position frequently communicates with coworkers and association contacts who have inquiries. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• The person in this position must be able to drive a car.
• The person in this position frequently operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• This person frequently travels out of the office and drives to locations in proximity or several hours away and must be able to transport a variety of boxes, bags, and materials.
• Light work – Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than those for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Employment Standards:
Knowledge of:

• Labor and employment law.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• ONA’s Organizing and Field Services Guidelines.
• ONA’s Bylaws.
• Nursing Practice.
• Other healthcare-related practices, as applicable
• Health Policy.
• Nursing and other healthcare-related legislation.
• Collective bargaining principles and practices.
• Employer anti-organizing tactics.
• Communications strategies.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Internal and External Organizing Campaigns.

Skill in:

• Microsoft Office – Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
• Reviewing, editing, and writing written documents, including contracts and briefs.
• Experience with virtual grievance/arbitration platforms, electric filing systems, and collaboration tools (Teams, Zoom, SharePoint).Paying attention to detail.
• Making presentations.
• Persuasion and negotiation.
• Clearly and concisely communicating.
• Leading and facilitating meetings.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate a helpful, accepting attitude towards members and others.
• Relate to and establish rapport with all types of people.
• Advocate.
• Learn new things.
• Research issues related to labor relations.
• Stay abreast of current events in labor law.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Work with individuals and groups.
• Solve problems and troubleshoot.
• Develop and deliver presentations.
• Negotiate with others.
• Work independently in a trustworthy manner
• Respond knowledgeably, often without much advance notice, on a variety of issues related to healthcare professions.
• Handle stressful situations.
• Take ownership of and accountability for work product.
• Resolve conflict.
• Use diplomacy and tact when dealing with others.
• Organize schedule and work priorities.
• Maintain confidentiality of grievance files, arbitration cases, and labor relations strategies in compliance with Association policy and data security standards.

Additional Qualifications
Any combination of education and experience, which would likely produce the necessary knowledge and abilities, is qualifying.

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree.
• Experience in labor relations.
• Collective Bargaining.
• Background or interest in healthcare.
• Willing to travel and accept overnight stays.
• Maintain eligibility for auto insurability through ONA’s carrier.
• Work flexible, irregular hours required.

Work Environment
The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such office environments. Observance of all safety rules and guidelines is imperative and always expected. The employee may be exposed to chemical compounds found in an office environment. The Employee may also be exposed to hazardous household waste.

Note: Job descriptions outline the essential duties, skills, attitudes, and requirements for each position. They are not intended to capture every task an employee may perform. Job duties may be changed or added, as needed, to meet operational requirements at the discretion of ONA, and such adjustments will be communicated reasonably to affected employees.

How to Apply: 
Please submit your cover letter and résumé to: bvaskova@ohnures.org.

An Equal Opportunity Employer
We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. The Association will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of this position.