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Local 876 Stewards
Stewards are an important part of the
communications between the union and the membership.
They serve as not only communicators, but manage
conflicts and resolve disputes, educate members on
the grievance procedure, represent each member
fairly, conduct investigations, maintain records,
understand the principles of just cause and identify
violations of past practice, and do all of this
voluntarily.
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| Steward Training Program |
At the recent
Local 876 Steward Day, the local’s new Steward
Training Program was unveiled. Working with the
Labor Studies Department at Wayne State University,
Local 876 has developed a customized training series
especially for UFCW Local 876 Stewards. The series
will include several day-long small group training
sessions designed to provide stewards with the tools
and knowledge needed to improve their expertise as
union representatives and enforcement of the union
contract at the workplace.
Local 876 has
placed a high priority on this training program and
ensuring the participation of all stewards.
Therefore, stewards will be paid lost time for their
attendance at each session. In addition, training
sessions are being held at several locations to
minimize stewards’ drive time.
Over the next
six to eight months, Stewards will be receive a
letter from Local 876 that will assign each Steward
to a specific training location and date. Two
workshops were held in October and one in November.
The remaining workshops will be scheduled after the
new year. |
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Annual Steward's Conference |
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The
2008 Local 876 Annual Steward
Conference was held at the union
hall on September 4, 2008. Following
a morning of training devoted to the
presidential election, interested
stewards went to Comerica Park for a
Detroit Tiger game with the Los
Angeles Angels. |
Go to
the Employers Page to find your Steward
Link to the
Steward Source Publication
Steward
Elections
Steward Guidelines as Set by the
Steward Review Committee
In
response to the membership's desire to have a greater voice in the
selection of union stewards, the Local's
new administration has established a
Steward Review Committee of six,
rank-and-file Executive Board members
who, after much discussion, decided the
best course of action for a
complete renewal of all steward and
alternate positions to be conducted
through a secret ballot election process
in 2007-08.
Qualifications for
Candidacy of Steward and Alternate:
1. Eligibility
a. Any working member in the store/unit.
b. One year in good standing with union
at the time of the election.
c. Full
time or part time employee.
2. Availability
a. Ability to serve a four-year
term.
b. Available during normal work hours.
c. Attendance at member grievance
meetings.
d. Volunteer attendance during
non-working hours, vacations, or leaves,
if warranted.
3. Personal
Qualifications
a. Personable, knowledgeable and
approachable.
b. Good communicator.
c. Excellent understanding of
contractual language, including any
separate contracts within the unit, if
applicable.
4.
Grocery & Meat Steward/Alternate
Situations
Where there is both a grocery and meat
steward in any given store, based on
store interest, there is the option of:
(1) When interest is evident, conducting
two separate elections in each
department, using the same guidelines
for both elections.
(2) Due to lack of interest in either
department, conducting one election for
the entire store, in which all employees
may participate. In these cases, the
elected Steward/Alternate will represent
the entire store.
Steward/Alternate
Election Process and Guidelines
Steward and alternate elections will be
conducted at all units in 2007 as
scheduled by the business
representative. The exception being any
units where a Steward election was
conducted after October 1, 2006.All
elections will be conducted according to
the following process.
Step 1:
The business
representative will leave a posting
announcing an “Open Steward Position” in
the employee break room, or other
designated area readily accessible to
all members, for at least one week.
Step 2:
Members interested
in serving as steward/alternate sign the
posting.
Step 3:
The business
representative removes the posting and
verifies applicants’ qualifications.
Step 4:
Should an
election(s) be necessary, the business
representative will schedule, conduct
and organize an election(s), with all
elections being conducted within 10 to
14 days following the removal of the
“Open Steward Position” posting sheet.
Scheduling of election times will be
based on the number of members in a
unit; location of the unit; and the
needs of the membership. Local 876 will
make every reasonable attempt to
accommodate the largest percentage of
the membership.
Step 5:
The election will
be conducted by secret ballot. The
candidate with the top ballot count will
serve as steward, while the candidate
with the second highest vote total will
serve as alternate. Business
representatives will maintain custody of
all election materials, and announce
winning applicants.
Local 876 reserves the right to have the
Steward Review Committee recommend, make
changes, fill vacancies, and conduct
removals based on just cause, and or
failure of compliance to these
guidelines.
Requirements of an
Elected UFCW Local 876 Steward
A
Local 876 steward is responsible for
enforcing the union contract at the
workplace and representing members in
the grievance procedure and other
encounters with management. In addition,
the steward is responsible for keeping
the membership in his/her unit informed
and updated regarding union related
matters including, but not limited to;
contractual protections, UFCW
constitutional rights, Local 876
by-laws; union dues and initiation fee
structures, notice of membership
meetings, contact information for Local
876 and other union-related sources,
union member-specific programs, and
upcoming programs and volunteer
opportunities within Local 876.
The steward's role as communicator and
liaison to the business representative
and Local 876 is paramount in how well
the membership in the unit work
together. As communicator and immediate
support person at the workplace, a
steward's role is vital, and should be
taken on only after serious
consideration. Protecting and supporting
the general welfare of the membership
and its union is a main component of the
union's strength.
In
addition to these general requirements,
all Local 876 stewards are required to:
● Attend the Annual Local 876 Steward’s
Day
● Attend advisory or bargaining
committee meetings, or any
specially-called contract-related
meetings
● Attend two General Local 876
Membership Meetings annually
● Maintain the Steward Box
● Regularly post materials on, and
maintain, the Union Bulletin Board
Requirements of an
Elected UFCW Local 876 Alternate Steward
Ability to serve four-year term, assist
steward with duties and responsibilities
when needed or requested.
Local 876 reserves the right to have the
Steward Review Committee recommend, make
changes, fill vacancies, and conduct
removals based on just cause, and or
failure of compliance to these
guidelines. |
For more information
regarding the steward election process and
requirements, contact your business
representative.
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