The shop steward holds a special place in any union. At the worksite, the
steward is the union — the link between union members and management.
Shop stewards are members' first line of defense, responsible for enforcing the
contract and handling grievances, and for proactively ensuring worksite safety,
mobilizing members for the union's political campaigns, orienting new members to
the worksite and the union, and more.
Your job as a shop steward is more than a list of duties, however: Your chief
responsibility is building a united, organized, and involved membership at your
worksite. Stewards play both offense and defense.
All this gives shop stewards a special responsibility, but also a special
authority that is protected by law as well as your union contract. As a shop
steward, you deal with management as an equal. It is a violation of federal law
for your employer to discriminate or retaliate against you for fulfilling your
steward duties.
Because of the importance of shop stewards, Local 616 is making it a priority
in 2005 to grow and strengthen the base of stewards who populate our many
worksites. We'll hold trainings for new and veteran stewards, and provide
resources like this guide to help you do your job as a shop steward better.
• What Is a Shop Steward?
Perhaps the most visible and dramatic part of your job as a steward is
handling grievances. But being a Local 67 shop steward means much more than
that. You'll also be:
A Communicator: Members need to know what's going on. You do
this through worksite meetings, your union bulletin board, and most importantly,
one-on-one conversations.
A Problem Solver: Not every problem is a grievance. You can
prevent most problems from becoming grievances by taking appropriate actions:
getting the facts, creating a plan, and involving members.
An Educator: Education comes not just through teaching, but
through action. Union members learn by sharing experiences, taking action, and
discussing it afterward.
A Health and Safety Watchdog: You may not need hard hats and
thick gloves, but modern office technologies pose plenty of dangers. A steward
helps keep his or her co-workers safe on the job.
A Political Activist: As public employees, your real bosses
are your elected officials. That's why politics is part of every Local 616
member's job. Our stewards advance our political goals by mobilizing members for
phone banks, rallies, COPE drives, and get-out-the-vote activities.
Sound like a lot? It is. But don't worry. The resources in the Shop Steward
Leadership Guide will provide you with information —and inspiration — from
others who have done it before and made their union stronger.
