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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.
 
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
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.

 
 

The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 876
876 Horace Brown Drive, Madison Heights, MI 48071 - 248-585-9671 or 800-321-6406