A union representative, union steward,[1] or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a trades/labour union member and official. Rank-and-file members of the union hold this position voluntarily (through democraticelection by fellow workers or sometimes by appointment of a higher union body) while maintaining their role as an employee of the firm. As a result, the union steward becomes a significant link and conduit of information between the union leadership and rank-and-file workers.
A British shop steward discusses an issue with a foreman during WWII
The duties of a union steward vary according to each trades union's constitutional mandate for the position. In general, most union stewards perform the following functions:
Monitor and enforce the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement (labour contract) to ensure both the firm and union worker are not violating the terms of the agreement.
Ensure that the firm is in compliance with all national, state and local laws and regulations.
Represent and defend fellow workers whom the firm believes violated company policy or the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement, often through the grievance process.
Communicate and disseminate official union policy, memos and directives to workers in the shop.
Popularize and promote union consciousness and values in the workplace.
Unlike other union representatives, stewards work on the shop floor, connecting workers with union officials at regional or national levels. The role of shop stewards may vary from being a mere representative of a larger national union towards independent structures with the power of collective bargaining in the workplace.
In political historyedit
In the United Kingdom, a network called Shop Stewards Movement organised shop stewards against the First World War. In Germany, a network of shop stewards called Revolutionary Stewards took an important role in the revolutionary "January Strike".[2]
Other designationsedit
Father of the chapel (FoC) or mother of the chapel (MoC) are the titles in the United Kingdom and Australasia referring to a shop steward representing members of a trades union in a printing office or in journalism. The FoC or MoC is assisted by the clerk of the chapel or by a deputy FoC/MoC. In the printing trade, a chapel is the traditional name given to a meeting of compositors. The name originates in the early history of printing in Great Britain, though the National Union of Journalists states that the precise origins of the terms are unclear.[3]
Further readingedit
John Benson, Unions at the Workplace: Shop Steward Leadership and Ideology, 1991.
Ralf Hoffrogge, Working-Class Politics in the German Revolution. Richard Müller, the Revolutionary Shop Stewards and the Origins of the Council Movement, Brill Publications 2014, ISBN978-9-00421-921-2.
Y. Rittau and T. Dundon, 2010, The roles and functions of shop stewards in workplace partnership: evidence from the Republic of Ireland, Employee Relations, Vol 32(1), p. 10-27.
Referencesedit
^The Union Steward's Complete Guide, David Prosten, Union Communication Services, Inc.
^Ralf Hoffrogge, Working-Class Politics in the German Revolution. Richard Müller, the Revolutionary Shop Stewards and the Origins of the Council Movement, Brill Publications 2014, ISBN978-9-00421-921-2., pp. 21-31.
^"National Union of Journalists (NUJ): Chapels and branches".
union, representative, union, representative, union, steward, shop, steward, employee, organization, company, represents, defends, interests, their, fellow, employees, trades, labour, union, member, official, rank, file, members, union, hold, this, position, v. A union representative union steward 1 or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a trades labour union member and official Rank and file members of the union hold this position voluntarily through democratic election by fellow workers or sometimes by appointment of a higher union body while maintaining their role as an employee of the firm As a result the union steward becomes a significant link and conduit of information between the union leadership and rank and file workers A British shop steward discusses an issue with a foreman during WWII Contents 1 Duties 2 In political history 3 Other designations 4 Further reading 5 ReferencesDuties editThe duties of a union steward vary according to each trades union s constitutional mandate for the position In general most union stewards perform the following functions Monitor and enforce the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement labour contract to ensure both the firm and union worker are not violating the terms of the agreement Ensure that the firm is in compliance with all national state and local laws and regulations Represent and defend fellow workers whom the firm believes violated company policy or the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement often through the grievance process Communicate and disseminate official union policy memos and directives to workers in the shop Popularize and promote union consciousness and values in the workplace Unlike other union representatives stewards work on the shop floor connecting workers with union officials at regional or national levels The role of shop stewards may vary from being a mere representative of a larger national union towards independent structures with the power of collective bargaining in the workplace In political history editIn the United Kingdom a network called Shop Stewards Movement organised shop stewards against the First World War In Germany a network of shop stewards called Revolutionary Stewards took an important role in the revolutionary January Strike 2 Other designations editFather of the chapel FoC or mother of the chapel MoC are the titles in the United Kingdom and Australasia referring to a shop steward representing members of a trades union in a printing office or in journalism The FoC or MoC is assisted by the clerk of the chapel or by a deputy FoC MoC In the printing trade a chapel is the traditional name given to a meeting of compositors The name originates in the early history of printing in Great Britain though the National Union of Journalists states that the precise origins of the terms are unclear 3 Further reading editJohn Benson Unions at the Workplace Shop Steward Leadership and Ideology 1991 Ralf Hoffrogge Working Class Politics in the German Revolution Richard Muller the Revolutionary Shop Stewards and the Origins of the Council Movement Brill Publications 2014 ISBN 978 9 00421 921 2 Y Rittau and T Dundon 2010 The roles and functions of shop stewards in workplace partnership evidence from the Republic of Ireland Employee Relations Vol 32 1 p 10 27 References edit The Union Steward s Complete Guide David Prosten Union Communication Services Inc Ralf Hoffrogge Working Class Politics in the German Revolution Richard Muller the Revolutionary Shop Stewards and the Origins of the Council Movement Brill Publications 2014 ISBN 978 9 00421 921 2 pp 21 31 National Union of Journalists NUJ Chapels and branches Portal nbsp Organized labour Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Union representative amp oldid 1203558315 Other designations, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
