Steward's Corner
Resources for Stewards
Congratulations on becoming an SEIU Nevada Steward. You are now part of a long tradition of activists who are the heart, the soul and the driving force of our union.
The Stewards Corner is dedicated to you. Here you will find information about duties as well as resources including a Stewards manual and flyers for your bulletin boards.
Check back regularly for updates!
Duties of a Steward
Stewards are elected by their fellow union members. Their chief responsibility as a steward: to build a united, organized, and involved membership in your workplace. Without this involvement and solidarity, no union in the world can protect and serve its members.
Whether it is a Private or Public Sector Chapter, every facility has Stewards. Your co-workers will turn to you first when issues, problems and concerns surface in the workplace. The work of the Steward is representational in nature, but grievances aren’t your only responsibility. Stewards help to build membership in their department and lead their members in worksite fights to resolve issues. Members of any unit or department should always call upon their Steward to insist the contact is enforced.
As a leader in the workplace, you'll have your hands full. That's because SEIU stewards are ...
Organizers. This is the big one. It doesn't just mean signing up new members, although it means that too. It means SEIU stewards are responsible for organizing the whole workplace to deal with problems as a united group. Which is, when you think about it, what labor unions are all about.
Problem solvers. You're the person workers turn to with their problems. It might be a work-site hazard. Maybe someone's been fired, or perhaps layoffs are threatened. It might be just a new employee with a question. Perhaps you can solve the problem with a friendly word, or maybe you'll organize a worksite action or file a grievance. Problems don't go with your territory. They are your territory.
Educators and communicators.The contract. The health insurance plan. What's a "ULP"? How can I do this? Why did they do that? It's a complicated world, and your members are counting on you to help them make sense of it. Equally important, your union officers are counting on you to help them keep in touch with your co-workers. You work with them every day. They don't.
Worksite leaders. You're the one who keeps it moving. You're the one who's not afraid to speak up to management. You make unity happen, and you never let anyone forget there's a union at your worksite. (Nobody said this job is easy.)
Resources for Stewards
Check out the following resources. Feel free to use and distribute as you see fit.
Stewards Manual
Flyers for StewardsCheck out these flyers. Feel free to post these flyers on your bulletin boards.
Join Daniel Ames, SEIU Steward and Eligibility Specialist at UMC by encouraging members to contribute to our Committee on Political Education. Click here for the Contribute to COPE flyer.