
It is critical that shop stewards have the authority to assist their colleagues in the workplace and to report any illegal or unethical behavior by the employer as part of this rule. In other words, this status allows the steward to assist employees in disciplinary and grievance proceedings and monitor and report any legal violations committed by the employer to the appropriate authorities. We can assist you with all of the issues involved in labor law.Ī shop steward, for example, can function as a union representative at the same time as he or she can as a management representative. As a result, shop stewards are not above the law, and they continue to work for the company as employees at the heart of the case. An employee was dismissed from his job after purposefully disrupting a meeting with management. Despite a lack of legislation, there is no statutory framework in place to protect shop stewards from disciplinary action. The shop steward assists union members in carrying out their responsibilities in their workplace, such as inquiries, grievance procedures, compliance, and negotiating. Shop stewards, like any other employee, have the right to disciplinary action as a result of their misconduct. Let your Local 1245 Business Representative know if you think you might be interested in being considered for steward.The steward or officer of a union is an equal of management in labor-management issues, so they cannot be disciplined for exercising their union duties. If you’re not currently a steward, but want to look into it a little further, make time to talk to a steward in your area about his or her responsibilities. Find members who can help with specific tasks.

– Pace yourself for the long haul. Don’t let your union work become too big a burden. If you identify problems or issues that need attention, let your union Business Representative know what’s developing. – Communicate! You are the union’s eyes and ears at the workplace. It is especially important to bring this message to new employees as soon as possible. Help members understand the power of unity–how the union makes them stronger and how they can help make the union stronger. But also look for opportunities to unite all members around workplace issues.

– Build the union. Yes, you must defend the person who gets into trouble.

– Respect each member. Be discreet when sharing information about someone’s discipline or grievance. – Respond to members in a timely fashion. If you need more time to conduct research, let the member know you’re still working on the issue. – Be nosey. Poke around for as much information as you can, especially when researching a grievance. You need good information to determine the right course of action. – Don’t shoot from the hip. Research is your friend. Seek out the opinions of members who may be too timid to come forward. – Listen to others. No matter how big or small the issue, listen carefully to what the other person has to say. Be confident that you can find out what you need to know–because you can! – Trust yourself. It’s OK not to know everything. But there are a few guiding principles that can help you be a more effective steward: You don’t have to know everything to be a steward. And your Local 1245 Business Representative is ready to give you a hand whenever you get on shaky ground. There are almost always other stewards you can–and should–consult with when you feel like you need a second opinion.

The important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Being a shop steward is truly a work in progress: every day has the potential to present you with a problem you never faced before.
