TOOLBOX: How Stewards Help on the Job
You have seen them on the job, worked beside them and maybe even brought a question to them.
But who are the stewards of 393, and how can they help you?
A steward is a journeyman on the job, like anyone else. He or she is doing the work of their peers, and has other responsibilities in addition to that. Stewards are representatives of Local 393 at the job site. They are tasked with handling grievances, safety issues, master labor agreement questions, etc. The steward is the representative on the job site — for the members, the contractors, and the union hall. They act as a go between for all of them. Good stewards play many roles, including that of organizer and leader of members on the job site. Stewards build our union power with the members on the job site.
This job is bigger than it may seem at first. Stewards need to know the ins and outs of the contract, the construction side or the service side.
“I grew up in the union. My father was a union man, and my younger brother just started in the trade. I’ll be a union man til the end.” – Anacleto (Jimmy) Ramirez
They need to know the expectations of both the members on the job and the management on the other side of it. They need to manage delicate relationships with management while fighting for the rights of their brothers and sisters. They need to make sure members on the job know about important developments; and they often need to handle disagreements on job sites.
And, as always at UA Local 393, safety is a top priority. Stewards are there on the job site to make sure everyone, from members to managers and owners, is taking every safety precaution.
The challenges a steward faces can change from day to day on a job site. Steward Scott Reese shares one of the ways he has helped his brothers and sisters on the job, “Another example of my duties was to do my best to try and find the right fit for some of the workers in regards to tasks. One big issue is when management wants to lay off an employee for “lack of production.” I think this is just an easy fix for management to get rid of employees they are frustrated with or possibly a personal issue. Instead of someone losing their job, I think you have to first take a look at the skill level of the task they have been asked to perform. Everyone has a strength in this trade and if you have an employee that’s proficient in lay out but you have them trying to do rigging and vice versa, then I think we owe it to our members to find them the proper fit for their experience and expertise. This is a constant and sometimes, unfortunately it isn’t resolved, but moving members around to different crews I feel pays off a great deal of the time and I have seen success.”
“The thing I like about being a steward is being able to help the UA members, local or traveler. Whether it’s a payroll glitch or an unjust discipline/termination. Being able to give the workers a voice when they may feel intimidated by upper management or the contractor.”
– Scott Reese
So, how can a steward help you? If you see something you have a question about on the job site, just ask them! Whether you think something unsafe is happening, that the contract is being violated, or something else is bothering you – stewards are there to help you. In the event anyone is laid off, the steward should be present. Every member should know that they have a steward on the job.
“When you can effect a positive change in someone’s life, it makes all the headaches seem like white noise in the background.” – Josh Kutras
Our stewards are some of the very best. A good steward has to know the contract, or be able to find whatever they need out of the contract efficiently. They need effective social skills, the ability to help a frustrated member and help them figure out what’s right or wrong according to the contract; as well as the ability to talk to a superintendent and represent the union effectively. Great stewards, our stewards, are trustworthy. They have integrity and the backs of their brothers and sisters.
“I like being the line of information to the guys in the field.” – Frank Austin
To become a steward at a construction site, you must be appointed by a business manager or a business agent. “We look at their temperament, judgement, and ability to solve problems. When we appoint a steward we let everyone know, including the contractor and the workers out in the field, that he or she is the point of contact,” explained Business Representative Al Gonzalez.
The role can be a little different for shop stewards. For HVAC tech Frank Austin, no one in his shop was representing the service techs as a steward. So he talkedto the owner, who thought he’d be a good representative for the guys in the field, and then got the local’s approval. For stewards like Frank, the job is less putting out fires and more keeping the members in the field informed. In service shops it can also mean managing a much longer term relationship than one might find on a construction site. Many of these shop owners have relationships with the union going back years, which requires contract disputes to be handled much more delicately.
“I wanted to represent the local and be a voice for the members.” – Jeff Bautista
While representing your union brothers and sisters at the job site is an honor that can be very rewarding, it isn’t always the easiest job. As one steward shared, “Some days you help someone out and it feels great, other days you might not be able to and you feel somehow you let your brothers or sisters down.” Another mentioned one of the hardest parts of the job, when all the safety precautions aren’t enough. “There were even a few times I had to call loved ones due to injuries, that wasn’t easy.” Being in this leadership position on the job site can be demanding, but our stewards are dedicated to walking that line for their brothers and sisters on the job.
Does being a steward sound interesting to you? Take it from one of our stewards, “people shouldn’t be afraid to get involved and to participate. They shouldn’t be afraid to take on some form of leadership role and help guide the other members and help look out for their best interests.”