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IBEW Local 21 Stewards Page
Overview
This page is designed to provide a ready reference tool for the hundreds of shop stewards who represent IBEW Local 21 members in the various shops that make up our organization. Below, you will find helpful links for information and documents that will assist you and help you perform your duties as an IBEW Local 21 Union Steward.
Tips for Stewards
Six important reminders to keep stewards focused on the responsibilities of an IBEW Local 21 union steward. Focusing efforts in these areas will make better stewards, and help to build a better and stronger local union.
Weingarten Rights
One of the most vital functions of a union stewards is to prevent management from intimidating employees. Nowhere is this more important than in closed-door meetings when supervisors or guards, often trained in interrogation techniques, attempt to coerce employees into confessing to wrongdoing.
On-line Stewards Manual
This link will redirect you to the website of IBEW Local 1613 in Kansas City, MO. The information available is a terrific resource for both new and veteran union stewards.
Grievance/Arbitration and other Related Forms
Included are the Grievance Fact Sheet, Grievance/Arbitration Form and Grievance Information Request letters for AT&T, plus Grievance Forms for Altura and Comcast. All are in an Acrobat Adobe format and should be printed and used, if you run out of forms.
New Member Checklist
When a new worker shows up in your shop, stewards should introduce themselves as soon as possible to the new worker. Be positive, confident, and inquisitive. Talk about our union, who we are, what we believe in, the “union advantage,” and share a good union story or experience.
In one sense, all union members are union stewards for we should all work to protect our contracts with the employers, assist one another, and ensure justice on the job. However, the official IBEW Local 21 Union Steward in each shop or office is often the face of the union to other members and to the companies where they work. Stewards are leaders, educators, negotiators, psychologists, hard workers, looked down on by some bosses, and looked up to by many. Without them, the bargaining unit would weaken …
Shop stewards are the key to making the union strong. The steward provides the link between the union and the members and when the steward does her or his job, the union works for the members.
One of the most vital functions of a Union steward is to prevent management from intimidating employees. Nowhere is this more important than in closed-door meetings when supervisors or guards, often trained in interrogation techniques, attempt to coerce employees into confessing to wrongdoing. It is extremely important that each and every member carry with them at all times, in their wallet or purse, a “Weingarten Rights” card. If you need more copies of these cards, ask your Area Steward, Chief Steward, or Business Representative to make arrangements to provide them to you, or call the union hall at (630) 960-4466, then punch 0 for the clerical staff, tell them who you are, what you need, and they will mail it to your home.
It is the shop stewards job to represent the members in the shop. Stewards are the leaders of action on the shop floor, and they are also the conduit of information to and from the union. Stewards are the eyes and ears of the union in the shop.
Being a union steward is a tough job. We recognize and will always support you - as there is no more important job in the entire union. Be Proud to be Union. SOLIDARITY!
Note: to replace any forms or other supplies originally provided to you in your stewards kit or during training, ask your Area Steward, Chief Steward, or Business Representative to make arrangements to provide them to you, or call the union hall at (630) 960-4466, then punch 0 for the clerical staff, tell them who you are, what you need, and they will mail it to your home.
