Suzanne Mode first joined a union – the Wobblies— while working for a non-profit in her hometown, Washington D.C. After moving to Texas in 1981, Mode worked in a unionized factory and was soon hired as an organizer of public employees in Dallas, Texas. She went on to represent federal employees in Arkansas, Oklahoma and North Texas before moving to Seattle, Washington in 1987. Mode continued organizing in both the public and private sectors until hired by OPEIU Local 8 in 1990 as Union Representative.

Mode was elected Business Manager of Local 8 in 2002. In addition to serving as a delegate to the Seattle Central Labor Council and the Washington State Labor Council, she also represents OPEIU as a Labor Trustee on the Western States Office and Professional Employees Pension Fund and as Secretary to the Local 8 Puget Sound Benefits Trust. She was elected Vice President to Region VI in June 2010.