THE ROLE OF SHOP STEWARDS
The first, and perhaps most vital, contact between employees and their
union is the IBEW shop steward. The IBEW Steward is the primary representative
in the workplace and has great influence on the image of the Union as
seen by the members. The role of the steward is to assist the Business
Manager in representing members in the workplace. The steward should try
to resolve any problems that arise between workers and management at the
local level. A steward is not a mediator; he or she is the representative
of the workers. Stewards reports to and are appointed by the Business
Manager. An IBEW steward has many duties, the most important of which
is handling grievances. Other duties include, educating members about
the union and the labour movement in general, urging members to attend
meetings, and acting as the liaison between union officers and the bargaining
unit members. In order to attend to union business, such as processing
grievances and representing employees, an IBEW steward is released from
regular duties for a reasonable period of time. Each of IBEW's Collective
Agreements contains provisions for Stewards to investigate and settle
grievances. Whether greeting and educating new members or processing grievances,
the IBEW steward is the first and most important link in the representation
chain. If you are interested in becoming a shop steward please contact
the union office. |
