QUALIFICATIONS OF A STEWARD

SUGGESTED SKILL LEVEL & TRAINING EXPERIENCE

While everyone brings to the table a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, the following personal skills are integral to the successful administration of the responsibilities of Primary or Secondary Job Steward.

Possess a solid understanding of a particular contract.
Solid understanding of Unionism and the underlying dynamics of the Organized Labor Movement.
Possess a high degree of self motivation and self discipline.
Have past experience in a leadership environment.
Posses a high degree of organizational ability to remain effective in a chaotic environment.
Understand the procedures involved with incident reports and warnings.
Possess fundamental mathematical skills.
Solid Computer skill level (Email a must) particularly in Microsoft Excel.
Solid Communication skills.
Possess a high level of problem solving/conflict resolution skills.
Possess a high level of decisiveness/objectivity in leadership decision making.
Have a fundamental understanding of human nature.
Possess the ability to make hard decisions that may be unpopular.
Possess the ability to represent the Local in a professional manner.

THE MANY JOBS OF THE STEWARD

The traditional role of Steward has been to handle grievances. For us in IATSE Local #470, our Stewards must also be the principal foremen on the jobsite for our members as well as a grievance handler. However, a good Steward serves as much more than just a foreman or members advocate in the grievance procedure. The Steward structure is the COMMUNICATION SYSTEM in the Local.

The Steward is responsible for many jobs. The most important one is helping workers with work related problems before they become formal grievances and, when necessary, handling grievances. Other responsibilities in addition to the specific assignments section listed below are: organizing and helping make better union members, informing workers of union meetings and encouraging them to attend, acting as a communication link between union officers and the membership, supporting the political education work of the union and knowing labor legislation.

SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To create accurate payroll invoices and jobsheets of any worked performed.
As Primary Steward, to commit to one venue versus various employers.
To submit all paperwork to payroll company/employer/IATSE 470 in a timely manner
To follow and enforce negotiated contract provisions.
To secure additional personnel if requested by the employer for a particular job.
To secure replacement personnel if necessary.
To track worker hours as they pertain to negotiated benefits.
To document Hiring Hall Conduct Policy violations and issue warnings.
To provide complaint forms to the membership if requested.
To document, record and submit to the Business Agent, ‘Incident Reports’ as necessary.
To document, record, investigate and submit to the IATSE 470 Executive Board, grievances against management by the membership.
Provide answers pertaining to contract interpretation to the membership when requested.
Act as a “conduit” of union information to the Membership.
Recruit permit workers as possible new members.
To document any safety concerns and forward to the IATSE 470 Safety Officer in a timely fashion.
To answer unemployment insurance questions from the membership.
To provide employer with W4’s, I9’s etc for new hires.