Stewards’ Policy Manual - Public

ENGINEERS & ARCHITECTS ASSOCIATION

IUPA LOCAL #8000

UNION STEWARDS POLICY ADOPTED JULY 2003
REVISED 11/02/07 TO REFLECT NAME CHANGE

Union Stewards' meetings are held every 4th Thursday of each month at 5:30 pm in the EAA Board room.

If you would like to apply as a Union Steward for your location, please print the following documents and return to the EAA office as soon as possible.
Application
Registration

Current Listing of Union Stewards

I. Union Steward

A voluntary dues-paying member in good standing elected by the membership or appointed by the Board to a one-year term for a specific floor, area or office.

Mission Statement
The mission for EAA Union Stewards is to act in a service capacity to aid EAA's members. A Union Steward's role is to be the liaison between the Governors and executive staff, and EAA's members. They do this by attending the monthly Union Steward meetings and then disseminating the information they gain there to the members they represent. They also serve by helping to organize demonstrations, picketing, etc. Union Stewards are the first link to EAA's members and are there to serve as advisors for issues like grievances, disciplinary action, and other workplace issues. One of the most important functions for an EAA Union Steward is to help build solidarity among EAA members as well as show the public at large their pride in their organization. "Union Stewards must always strive to be part of the solution!"

A Union Steward is:
1. The vital Communication Link between the membership, the Unit Councils, the Governors and Staff of EAA,
2. A local contact for EAA information and representation,
3. An ambassador for EAA speaking on the advantages of membership,
4. A recruiter of new members, 5. The director of the area representatives,
6. A distributor of bulletins, newsletters and official notices to area representatives.

II. Union Steward Appointment or Election

1. A member desiring to become a Union Steward shall submit a petition with the lesser of 10 signatures or 50 % of the voluntary dues paying members who work in the same specific location.

2. If there is only one candidate for the location, the Board of Governors may appoint a Union Steward for that position.

3. If more than one candidate from the same location wishes to be a Union Steward, an election will be organized in that specific location by the Union Steward Steering Committee and the appointed EAA Staff Representative.

III. Attendance Policy

Because of the vital role that Union Stewards play in the flow of information between EAA members and EAA staff and Board of Governors, it is imperative that they consistently attend Union Steward meetings.
Therefore, Union Stewards must attend six (6) senior representative meetings per year. After three (3) consecutive unexcused absences, a Union Steward will be removed from the Union Steward cadre.

IV. Disciplinary Procedures

Union Stewards are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the aims and goals of EAA and that they present the positions approved by the Board of Governors and the Executive Director of EAA.

Disciplinary procedures have been established to address complaints of misconduct by a Union Steward:

1. Censure: A procedure that allows the Union Steward Steering Committee to reprimand a Union Steward for not representing EAA in their work place, not distributing bulletins and information, and other minor infractions as delineated in the Union Steward Responsibilities list. The concerned Union Steward will be censured by the Union Steward Steering Committee.

2. Dismissal: A procedure to remove a Union Steward that works against the stated position of the Board of Governors and the Executive Director, campaigns for the decertification of EAA, misrepresents their affiliation with EAA, or has been censured on more than two occasions for the same minor infraction. The concerned Union Steward will be notified by mail of the proposed dismissal, and can challenge the decision at the next scheduled Union Stewards Steering Committee meeting. The Steering Committee has the sole authority to make a determination.

V. Recognition Program

An annual recognition program has been established.

VI. Educational Training Program

The EAA training program is established for Union Stewards in order to prepare them for handling grievances and representing members in disciplinary matters.

Formal grievance training classes for Union Stewards will be conducted once every calendar year. Training on specific issues and updated personnel policy and procedure information will be presented to Union Stewardss when necessary at the monthly Union Steward meetings.

Once the training has been given, Union Stewards will utilize the training to assist their fellow members, at their work location, in filing, investigating and following through the grievance process. They will also contact the assigned union staff Labor Representative upon initiation of the grievance.