Power Structure Analyst: Vision for this Initiative
District 1199NE seeks to leave no power on the table. Strikes and politics have been the defining
levers of power in the local for nearly 50 years. With the consolidation of corporate forces over
that same period, even more power must be developed for healthcare workers to win the justice
they, their families, and the communities they serve deserve. In collaboration with UC
Berkeley’s Labor Center, 1199NE will develop an additional source of power, the community.
This position will support the creation of a bottom-up, member-centered program to harness the
power of the community. The work has two foci: (1) helping members come to better understand
the official, complex structures of power that embed every labor market, as well as the less
visible, often hidden power structures impacting their lives; and (2) enabling members to create a
successful approach to harness the many community connections they already possess and turn
connections into a durable third front for justice.

We organize, research, analyze, and work hours based on the needs of our members and the
campaign. You will be expected to work long and irregular hours as needed for the campaign.

This position is based in Connecticut.

Authority and Accountability
The Power Structure Analyst will report directly to the Power and Strategy Coordinator.
Indirectly this position reports to the President of the union and to the University of Berkeley’s
lead on the project. They will work closely with worker leaders on the 1199 Faith Committee,
member organizers who work with this initiative, as well as the union’s research and political
teams.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to be part of a high-impact, highly principled union
with a healthy democratic tradition.

Overall Responsibilities Include:
Creating an initial power structure analysis in key labor markets throughout the state of
Connecticut, then maintaining them as the union and community allies begin shifting the power
structure.

Being a core member of the union’s political education team, regularly designing the best
pedagogy for helping members and the workers around them understand capitalism (our
political-economic system).

Conducting semi-structured interviews with faith leaders, secular community institutional
players, local policy makers, and others as deemed relevant.

Details of Responsibilities Include:

• Conduct conversations with allies and other stakeholders to understand their roles and
interests
• Track news coverage day-to-day and via databases like Nexis to understand issues
affecting members and communities, assessing prevalence and state of public debate
• Investigate existing datasets on state’s population and living conditions to understand
potential developments and current challenges facing membership
• Integrate investigations with strategic thinking around points of leverage
• Question all “facts” and assumptions, endlessly searching for verifiable, instead of
subjective, assessments regarding the labor market power structure
• Find hard data to back-up all assertions
• Prepare presentations and briefings to share findings in various formats and registers for
leadership and broader membership/community
• Collaborate with organizing staff and other partners in weekly meetings to share work
done and to support setting strategic priorities
• Keep meticulous track of progress of analysis and of assessments

A job well done results in creating a member-based third front for power; their own community.
This includes members throughout the union understanding their ties to their own community
and matching it against our learnings about where key sources of informal power exist. Members
come to see themselves as having a new identity: community leader.

Basic Qualifications (required at start date)
• A minimum of five years’ experience in research and policy analysis
• Established track record of conducting labor market analyses of wages and other job quality
outcomes, the role of race, gender and immigration status, and firm and industry dynamics
• Strong quantitative skills and experience in using large government datasets and/or strong
qualitative research skills and experience conducting mixed-method research
• Proven ability to carry out complex research and policy analyses in the area of labor and
employment

Preferred Qualifications
• 1-2 years—or more—of experience in new organizing
• Solid writing and communication skills
• Experience working with academic researchers and stakeholders such as unions, worker
centers, and varied constituencies
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team

Start Date and Nature of Position
Position will be full-time; salary will be commensurate with experience. Expected start date is as
soon as we find you or you find us and can make starting the work happen!

To apply, please email your most recently updated resume, a cover letter (required), two writing
samples (required) and contact information for 3 references. Letters of reference are not required
at this time. We will seek your permission before contacting your references.

All materials will be treated as confidential.

SEIU New England is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified
applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected
veteran status.

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to:
Katie Bordonaro, Executive Assistant to the President
77 Huyshope Avenue, Hartford CT 06106
Email: kbordonaro@seiu1199ne.org