Member Information Center

Your Role as Steward

■As a NAGE steward, your job involves much, much more than handling grievances.

Grievances are important. They are often the most visible and dramatic aspect of the union's presence. Sometimes they'll take up most of your time.

But grievances should never be confused with your chief responsibility as a steward: to build a united, organized, and involved membership in your workplace.

As a leader in the workplace, you'll have your hands full.
That's because NAGE stewards are ...

Organizers
This is the big one. It doesn't just mean signing up new members, although it means that too. It means NAGE stewards are responsible for organizing the whole workplace to deal with problems as a united group.

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.)