CAW 4212 Education

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CAW 4212Education

• The Shop Steward in the CAW Steward Training -
  Level 1

Laura Burns, May 2005
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Objectives

• To build skills and confidence
• To enhance the ability to challenge
  anti-worker/anti-union myths
• To understand the structure of the CAW
• To identify the stewards role and
  responsibilities
• To understand the differences between a grievance
  and a complaint
• To identify the different types of grievances

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Why a Union ?

• To establish a real balance of power
• To limit the management rights
• It speaks for everybody
• For the grievance procedure
• For higher wages and better benefits
• To fight for legislations
• For the services
• ...

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The Labour Movement

• The right of association is a basic right in
  every democratic society

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Local Union

• Election by the members every 3 years

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The Shop Steward

• Role and responsibilities
• Personality of a good shop steward
• What a shop steward should know
• Tools needed

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Role and Responsibilities
TO DEFEND

• TO INFORM

TO BUILD SOLIDARITY
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Role Responsibilities

• The FIRST and the MOST IMPORTANT contact between
  employees,management and the Union
• Generally, no authority to bind the Union
  (subject to the collective agreement)

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Personality of a Shop Steward

• Leader
• Educator
• Communicator
• Organizer
• Listener
• Friend, Counsellor...

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What you should know

• Collective agreement
• Managements practices and policies
• Membership
• Supervisor/Foreman
• Labour laws
• Your Union
• Yourself

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Tools needed

• Collective agreement
• Seniority and other related lists
• Copy of health and safety act
• Grievance forms, Fact sheets
• Phone book
• Files (contacts, proposal,discipline,)

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What is a Grievance

• Violation of the collective agreement (specific
  clause or disciplinary action)
• Unfair changes in past practice
• Violation of general laws
• A difference between the Union and management in
  interpretation of a negotiated agreement

• Every grievance procedure has a number of steps
• Every step has a time limit

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Four Types of grievances

• Individual grievance
• Group grievance
• Union or Policy grievance
• Company grievance

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Conclusion

• Members need you
• The Union needs you
• Your employer needs you