Stewards and negotiations February, 2005

It should need no repeating that negotiated to last for as long as ten the most important function for an years! individual steward, or for a steward What can stewards do to create system as a whole, is building the union, the same excitement in the union during and not just shuffling grievances forms these long periods between contract around. talks? In many cases, unions have two Contract negotiations have different styles: one for “normal” times always been a great an opportunity to and one for negotiations. Realizing that carry out this union-building since the membership interest is highest during, interest of the membership in the affairs negotiations, a steward should try to of their union is never higher than at the duplicate activities from negotiations time a contract is on the table. Many and use them mid-contract. steward skills are needed during Here a some important areas: negotiations, to support a negotiating  It should be clear that the efforts committee and to capture the members’ of the stewards should be energies. directed to building their union— During negotiations, the interests every shift, every day, and not of all of the members are affected by the just during negotiations. negotiations over wages, benefits,  It should also be clear that, to control of the workplace. As grievances accomplish this task, a steward are handled, however, members often needs to be proactive, alert to the feel that only individual cases—like possibilities of filing grievances discipline and discharge, or individual that affect the largest number if rate adjustments—are under discussion, members. If a situation could and mentally file the situation as involve more than an individual “someone else’s problem.” worker, file a group grievance, A recent [December, 2004] news and get each member to sign on, clip demonstrated, however, one broadening the interest and dramatic change in union activities: duplicating, at least on a small Lucent Technologies and two unions, the scale, the involvement that CWA and the IBEW, reached agreement accompanies contract on a seven-year contract. This type of negotiations. long contract is unfortunately becoming  Be visible in supporting these more of a standard: once upon a time, grievances. During contract talks, workers insisted on one-year contracts it’s very common for members to so they could keep on top of any show their support by wearing changes, both within their particular buttons, T-shirts, or stickers. Use workplace and within the economy of as the same methods to support a a whole. Over time, and for a variety of major grievance, if for no other reasons, longer contracts came into reason than to stay sharp for the favor, so that some agreements now are next negotiations.  A steward should also be aware  It is important at this point to that the recognition clause of the stress that the union needs to union contract provides for the fight in negotiations against any union to negotiate over all terms expansion of the so-called of employment, so that any “management rights clause,” change in the workplace can be which could narrow the rights of negotiated, even in mid-contract. the union to negotiate over If an employer introduces a new changes in the workplace. machine, or changes the work  Expand the normal process, demand to bargain for a communications method within higher pay grade for all of the your union. Does your union affected workers. have special workplace meetings  Know the law that covers your to report on negotiations? Special workplace. A steward in a private leaflets or web-site bulletins? sector union, covered by The Use the same structure to support National Labor Relations Act, grievances. must understand that the union  Have an attitude! A minor has a long list of “mandatory change in a work requirement, subjects of bargaining”—areas like the ability to use a computer, in, around and related to the may seem like “no big deal,” but workplace that a private an alert steward can use the employer must bargain about. If change as an opportunity to you are a member of a public demand bargaining for a higher sector union, look at the state pay rate, based on additional legislation and see where you responsibilities. Even if you are have rights to negotiate. not successful, the act of  If you’re in an open shop state, bargaining builds the morale of use these mid-contract your members. grievances as a means to sign up  Understand “bargaining between some of your free riders and to contracts” as an effective method demonstrate to the anti-union for expanding the union workers that belonging to a union As union locals become larger, “pays” more than the dues which is a topic for another time, a money “costs.” steward becomes more important  You can also use these mid- because often the union officers are contract negotiations as a new far from the workplace, and may not organizing opportunity. If your be aware of changes—new shifts, workplace has some non-union changed job assignments or departments, and your boss requirements—so it’s up to every wants to dramatically reduce steward to look for every opportunity health insurance coverage, for to bargain and to build the union. example, use the demand for Bill Barry bargaining by the union as an Community College of opening to bring these Baltimore County departments under your contract.