• Introduction to Lesson 3
• Advocacy
• Right to Union Representation
• Explaining Health and Safety Rules
• Explaining the Contract
• Labor/Management Meetings
• Introduction to Grievances
• Case Study: Never Too Late
• Assess Your Learning
• Summary/Preview

Stewards Do Much More than Handle Grievances

Grievance handling to enforce the contract and protect workers’ rights can be an important part of the steward’s job. We can’t let management get away with violating the contract or with treating workers unfairly. But if handling grievances is the only thing the steward does, who communicates with the members? Without educated and informed members, the union can’t be strong.

If stewards handle grievances and do nothing else, how will the workers in their areas understand what the union is, or what the union is doing inside and outside the workplace? And when workers aren’t informed, it’s harder to get them involved or to get their support when it's time for a fight.

Next—read the case study of Ed Koslowski, a steward dealing with a troubled employee. When you are finished reading, go to “Assess Your Learning” to explore more of your problem-solving skills.