A common phrase you hear from the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) is that SA国际影视传媒渢he union is the members,SA国际影视传媒� but what does that mean?
The labour movement in Canada is mostly categorized into two types of unions: service unions and organizing unions.
Most unions SA国际影视传媒� including the UNW SA国际影视传媒� are organizing unions. The key is that organizing unions are run by the members. The members have a say in everything that their union does.
Members elect the leadership at all levels from among themselves. They participate actively in determining the direction of their union through meetings, conferences and conventions. Members determine the bargaining priorities and members sit on the bargaining teams.
The UNW does maintain staff, but their role is to advise and assist members or to carry out the administrative functions of the union that support the initiatives the membership brings forward through their elected representatives.
The UNW president and executive members are often the face of the union in media, and certainly they work hard representing the members. But it is very important to remember that many of the key functions of the union are carried out by members who volunteer their time to advocate for the labour movement and make their workplaces safer and healthier.
One of the most important roles in a union that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 always get the attention it deserves is the shop steward. Shop stewards are the foundation of union visibility in the workplace, both to the members and to the employer. Some of the duties of a shop steward include (but are not limited to) helping fellow members recognize and enforce their rights and responsibilities under their collective agreement, helping resolve problems in the workplace, assisting members with grievances, attending employer-initiated meetings with fellow members and educating members about their union.
Shop stewards are the union's eyes and ears in the workplace. Having a shop steward who is familiar with the unique challenges, personnel and overall environment of a specific workplace helps workers feel more supported and more confident to tackle the issues theySA国际影视传媒檙e facing at work.
Shop stewards are often the first to see what parts of a collective agreement need improvement, what recurring issues are going unaddressed and what should be included in a bargaining proposal to address those issues. This role is invaluable. They also see firsthand how a collective agreement is being implemented by an employer, and play an important role in alerting their fellow members or union executive when they see policies or practices that contravene the agreement.
Ideally, union locals have shop stewards at every worksite to ensure all members have ready access to union resources and assistance. This can be especially challenging for locals that represent workers at multiple worksites or in more than one community. Fortunately, there is no limit to the number of shop stewards a local can appoint. The more shop stewards, the more support for each other and fellow members, and the stronger the union.
Having multiple shop stewards in a workplace also strengthens the unionSA国际影视传媒檚 presence and makes it harder for an employer to intimidate their workers. Stewards can support each other, give each other confidence and bounce ideas off each other. This, in turn, makes other members feel more secure in their workplace.
There are other kinds of union stewards too. For example, a steward can be assigned responsibility from their local for keeping the union board up to date, or distributing desk drops and communications. Like many roles within a union, stewards are volunteer positions. While they are not elected executive officers, they do fall under the protections of the union when carrying out union duties. This allows them to assist members and speak out without fear of retaliation or punishment from their employer.
Being a steward is a challenging and rewarding way to make a meaningful contribution to the health of your workplace and the lives of your co-workers. It is a critical aspect of the strength of the union in the workplace, and it reinforces the idea that the union really is the membership.
When members take ownership of their union, they are more confident and better positioned to work with employers to ensure the rights and entitlements of members are met. They are in a better place to work together for the betterment of all, instead of a race to the bottom. Knowledge is power, and there is additional strength in numbers.
