Stewards Guide

NEED FOR STEWARDS

In some cases, the Union provides that before employees are eligible for the office of steward they should have at least one year's seniority with the company. This also affords some measure of protection to stewards and makes it possible for them to be of service any time grievances occur.

The supervisor is picked by superiors; the shop steward is elected by equals in the local lodge. Every good standing member is eligible to serve as a shop steward. But, in choosing a steward, it is highly desirable to choose one who has shown more than casual interest in the union and has been a member long enough to have obtained a knowledge of working conditions. This is particularly important since the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act under which a steward is treated as an "agent" of the union. Section 2 (13) of the laws reads:

"In determining whether person is acting as an "agent" of another person so as to make the other person responsible for his act, the question of whether the specific acts performed were actually authorized or subsequently ratified shall not be controlling."

This language is the broadest possible definition of the law of agency, and it is purposely designed to make the Union liable for all the acts of its officers, stewards, committeemen or any member who might act as a spokesman or leader of a group no matter how unauthorized or inconsistent with Union policy the act may be. The irresponsible action of any member who might be found to be an 'agent' by the National Labor Relations Board and also liable for money damages in suits by the employer.

However, the fact that you've been chosen to represent the worker in your department shows that they have faith in you and respect your judgment.

Every union contract and every industry is different. You may be the only steward in the plant or you may be only one of a great many stewards in a large factory. In large facilities with more than one department, a number of stewards and a system for coordinating the department stewards is necessary. Many large workplaces are set up by the company on the basis of sections, departments, floors, divisions, and outside operations. In these cases, the steward system should correspond as closely as possible to the way the company has set up the workplace. After the election of department stewards, they should meet promptly and select their chief steward and recording secretary. Many successful stewards have found it profitable to eat lunch together every day and exchange experiences

TWO MAIN TASKS

In general, you have two main jobs-first, building a strong union in you workplace; and, second, grievance handling.

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