One of the important goals of CUPE 3903 Stewards’ Council is to strengthen our role and presence within York University. Some of the actions to achieve this include:
- Recruitment of 1 designated, active, and knowledgeable steward in every York department with 3903 employees for 2009-2010
- Have representation from all 3 units on Steward Council; Unit 2 especially needs more presence since Units 1 & 3 have carried a major portion of this responsibility on our behalf in the past
- Have a diversity mix, where sufficient interest exists
- Reactivate or fom standing committees and ad hoc sub committees to address special topical issues as a 3903 collective or in conjunction with other York constituencies
- Develop a series of comprehensive teaching and training sessions to support Stewards in their role (eg what constitutes a grievance, how to assist members to file a grievance; provision of orientation for all new department hires each term re employee rights and the Collective Agreement; encouragement of active member connections within your department; develop a Steward buddy system)
Who are current Departmental Stewards? Visit this website and review the Departmental List for Stewards (left hand index under Unon Central) but remember that lists can be outdated, curent members may choose to withdraw, and most importantly we are missing Steward reps from a number of York departments
http://cupe3903.tao.ca/?q=node/19
If you are interested in volunteering or want to know more info there are lots of resources: come to a meeting listed below; contact Roxanne, Chief Steward Unit 2 (roxpwer23@hotmail.com); or send an email to one of the departmental stewards or our SC list serve 3903scouncil@masses.tao.ca We have lots of dedicated members who would be happy to respond and welcome new colleagues.
Next scheduled SC meetings**:
Friday, Feb 20
2-4 at EOB
Friday, Feb 27
2-4 in room 430 GSA meeting space
between Vari Hall and York Lanes
**We do anticipate that meeting frequency will decrease over time as we acquire a body of universally confident and knowledgeable reps on Steward Council. Of course anyone can attend SC meetings, raise items for the agenda, and participate in discussion.
WHAT ARE STEWARDS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
Each university department should have at least one steward who acts as a point person and liaison with the rest of the union. All stewards meet monthly and are trained with the current collective agreements to assist members in their departments. Stewards play an important political role by disseminating information to members and mobilizing within departments, both around specific issues with the employer and also in relation to other social justice struggles within the community as a whole.
1. Stewards Protect the Collective Agreements
Stewards can play an important role in helping to gather information on collective agreement violations and ensuring that all members are protected. We can organize and mobilize support for campus-wide initiatives that aim to fight back against breaches of our collective agreements as well as on basic worker and human rights.
These initiatives will be more successful with an active and representative Stewards’ Council.
On a departmental level the role of stewards can include:
- clarifying the collective agreement provisions for each unit
- answering questions from members in department
- passing on reminders about union meetings and other information
- attending departmental meetings
- following through on member’s grievances (including attending grievance meetings with members)
- organizing departmental meetings or actions when collective responses are necessary
- informing members about the ways they can participate in and help shape the important political work of the local
- encouraging member participation in the union’s day-to-day functioning
- keeping members informed about issues in the local and important struggles in the community
At the union level the role of stewards can include:
- attending Stewards’ Council meetings (one per month) and GMMs usually once per month
- participation in Stewards’ council committees
- participation in union political campaigns