Stewards Guide

LEADER

The steward must take the leadership role in his/her department. He/She must set an example for other workers to follow. The steward must make decisions which uphold the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and the union constitution and bylaws. Listed below are the things the steward should do and know to fulfill the role of leader and suggestions as to how to do them:

THE STEWARD AS A LEADER
What You Do:

  1. Work for the group welfare

  2. Fight for what is right

  3. Act promptly and decisively

  4. Establish friendly relations

  5. Hold no grudges

  6. Discourage factional bickering

  7. Develop teamwork

  8. Lead instead of drive

What You Need To Know:

  1. Long-range aims of the union
  2. The consequences of your actions
  3. Actions speak louder than words
  4. The other person also has a point
  5. You can't win them all
  6. Why people disagree
  7. Cooperation means success
  8. Adults respond to sound reasoning

How You Go About It:

  1. Know the facts, write them down, and talk them over.

  2. Keep the people who are being affected informed on the course of action.

  3. Give credit where credit is due.

  4. Ask for advice and help. You can't know everything.

  5. Keep your word and deal fairly and impartially.

EDUCATOR

The steward has the responsibility of educating the members in his/her department, both the old and new, about the collective bargaining agreement, union policy, and why changes occurred. Listed below are some of the things that the steward should do and know to fulfill the role of educator and suggestions as to how to do them:

THE STEWARD AS AN EDUCATOR

What You Do:

  1. Keep members fully informed
  2. Discuss and explain policies
  3. Tell about union counseling

  4. Clarify union objectives
  5. Explain legislative program
  6. Stress registering and voting

  7. Interpret labor legislation
  8. Tell economic "facts of life"

What You Need To Know:

  1. Informed members are loyal members
  2. What your union is doing
  3. Social agencies and programs available in the community
  4. Union history
  5. How laws are made and their impact on unions
  6. Responsibilities of citizenship
  7. How labor laws operate
  8. How our system functions

How You Go About It:

  1. Make person-to-person contact daily - tell your story - ask for ideas.

  2. Hold regular department meetings to tell your people what's going on .

  3. Distribute union periodicals and literature - check mailing lists.

  4. Enlarge your own knowledge by attending classes whenever available and share this knowledge with your fellow members.

  5. Keep your communication lines open - invite criticism, suggestion and full discussion.

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