The IAM Shop Steward fulfills four CORE roles in the workplace:

Shop Steward as Communicator

As an IAM Shop Steward, you keep Members in the shop informed of Union issues and policies; maintain lines of communication between the members and the Local or District Lodge; maintain lines of communication between the Members and the Company; and act as a spokesperson in your shop. 

In addition, you fill a crucial role as the eyes and ears of the Union, keeping the Business Reps and other Union officials informed of what is going on inside the shop. For this reason, it is important that the Shop Steward have good listening skills, and be prepared to keep documentation on important issues.

Shop Steward as Organizer

The Union Steward is in a unique position within his own community to provide the Union with Organizing leads. Often, our contacts with new groups of workers begin with a reference that was provided by one of our Shop Stewards. Your role as one who is well-informed on workplace issues and the benefits of Union membership provides an example that your friends and acquaintances will wish to follow. 

If you hear of anyone who may be interested in joining the Union, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or offer to have one of our Business Reps contact them. Be sure to note that we assure confidentiality and that we will not contact them at their place of employment.

Shop Steward as Representative

The IAM Shop Steward is the member's first line of defense in any grievances or complaints they may have with the Company. Typically, grievance procedure provides an opportunity or requirement for the member to try to resolve differences with the supervisor or manager involved. 

Following this first step, the Union Steward would meet with the Company official and try to resolve the problem as the member's representative. This step may or may not include reducing the grievance to writing - see your own collective agreement for details on grievance procedure. 

Failing resolution at this step, the Union Business Rep is usually called in. This is where a thorough investigation by the Shop Steward is crucial to the success of a grievance. 

Shop Steward as Educator

Educating the Members in the shop about the Union is another important role of the Shop Steward. Often, new Members have very little knowledge about the Machinists Union; as the Union Steward, you are well-positioned to educate them about the organization they have recently joined. 

In addition, all Members need to learn about their rights and responsibilities under the Collective Agreement, about health and safety issues, and about other workplace issues. This does not mean that you must have all the answers - consider yourself a resource person, one who can find the answers to questions. Remember, you can always call the Union office and speak to one of the Business Reps.

The Shop Steward's Main Duties

1. Meeting All New Employees: 

It is the Union Steward's job to keep the shop or department 100% Union. In some shops it may be the Steward's job to sign up new members. Where the Contract has a clause outlining that the Company must sign up new employees, it is your job as the Shop Steward to introduce yourself to the new member and ensure that his/her application has been properly processed.

2. Handling Grievances and Enforcing the Contract:

The Shop Steward must handle grievances that are brought forward. In addition, you should continually enforce the Collective Agreement by watching for violations and taking them up with management.

3. Educating the Membership:

The Steward often explains IAM programs, the collective agreement, and the importance of the labour movement.

4. Providing Leadership:

As a Union Steward, you should be a leader in your shop or department. Members expect the Steward to take the initiative on shop problems. However, you must be a democratic leader, not a dictator. Your job is to build a spirit of cooperation and teamwork among members you represent.

5. Assisting Local Lodge Officers:

Helping to get members out to the meetings. Making reports to the Local Lodge on Labour and Health & Safety issues in your workplace. Supporting the Machinists Union's position on community issues, and attending rallies or events sponsored by the Lodge or Labour as a whole are also important roles.

6. Advising the Member on Other Issues:

When a member has a problem or issue that is not a grievance, the Steward can provide a vehicle for the member to get assistance. You should listen carefully and sympathetically. Often, the Steward can refer the member to an outside organization where they can get counselling. If you do not have the answer, say so. Your job is not to have all the answers, but to help find them. Calling your District Lodge is one resource you can call upon; another is to call your local United Way, which can refer you to many helpful agencies.