Responsibilities of the Steward

The Steward has five main roles:

1. Grievance Representative: to assist bargaining unit members in the handling of grievances.
2. Counselor: to counsel and advise members
3. Communicator: to impart information to the members and to communicate information from the members to the officers of the division, regional office as well as informing appropriate field representatives when need is indicated.
4. Membership Coordinator: to build the membership of PEF.
5. Union Building: to promote PEF policies and activities.

A. Grievance Representative

• Determine how problems can best be handled: informally, complaints, grievances or whether another avenue should be pursued. Prepare grievances for presentation to the supervisor.
• Present grievances and be present at other steps in the grievance procedure. Preserve confidentiality of personal grievances.
• Act as a liaison between the grievant and the union's resources.
• Maintain records of all grievances, making sure your field representative has copies.
• Involve your Field Representative whenever information, advice or any assistance is needed. They are here to help you.

B. Counselor

• Counseling and advising members is an integral and important part of your responsibilities as a PEF Steward.
• Listen carefully to members to determine the exact nature of any problem, grievance, gripe, personal or family concern.
• Decide what procedure to follow: file a grievance, contact a Field Staff Representative, refer a troubled employee to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), route an issue to the Labor/Management or Health and Safety Committee.
• Ask questions; get all the facts; give the member feedback. If you cannot assist the member yourself, find out where a referral can be made.

C. Communicator

• Keep the union's actions, programs, and available services visible and accessible to your members.
• Represent the membership at all union meetings and/or executive sessions.
• Communicate information to the members through personal contacts, bulletin board postings, newsletters, or telephone networks.
• Keep the union's leadership informed as to problems and/or accomplishments.

D. Coordinator

• Recruiting, retaining and organizing membership in PEF. · Promoting union growth through involvement in meetings, elections, community work and social functions.

E. Union Building

• Promote PEF policies and activities.

F. Member Mobilizer

• Coordinate mobilization with Member Mobilizers including their recruitment.
• Serves as Member Mobilizer for non-organized locations.
• Assist in the charting process.

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