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Resources for Organizers

A democratic union depends a great deal on the strength of its steward system. What do stewards do?

Educate members

Stewards are among the most well-informed members of the union; they're on the front lines of planning the union's actions, and so they're typically most in touch with union happenings. Thus one of the most important roles of a steward is to help keep as many of the approximately 3,000 TAs and PAs the union represents as informed as possible. What's going on with the contract negotiations? When's the next membership meeting? What will we be deciding there? What does the contract say about overwork (or appointment letters, or sick leave, or x)? When's the next rally or happy hour? Keeping members informed is key to maximizing members' involvement. Obviously you can't be expected to know the answer to every question. This important things is to be available to members in your department so they can ask the tough questions. Then take responsibility for finding an answer - your Organizing Committee representative is a great place to start - and getting back to the person.

Mobilize members

The TAA is a volunteer run organization, and it takes work to maintain that tradition. Almost no one will "volunteer" until they are asked or encouraged to do so. Stewards are the active members who do that asking, encouraging new (and old) members to get involved in their (our) union by coming to membership meetings, showing up for volunteer nights, joining committees, coming to rallies, running for elected office, and perhaps even becoming fellow stewards. The strength of any union lies in building active and involved membership, and stewards do this by informing members about upcoming events and opportunities and doing whatever it takes (sign-up sheets, reminder calls, etc.) to help members stay involved.

Represent members in your department

All TAA members have a right to attend TAA meetings, and can speak their minds about union issues. But many members don't (or can't) attend important meetings. Because of its diversity and the direct contact stewards have with a large number of TAA members, the Stewards' Council is the closest thing the TAA has to a "representative" body. The Council does not decide things in place of membership (which retains ultimate decision-making power in the union) but it often serves as a forum for sounding out members' general feelings on important issues. When you attend Council meetings you can speak both as an individual member (and steward) and as representative of members in your department (they may not always be the same). It is critical that you try to keep in touch with your members and to understand how they perceive issues so the Council can make informed decisions about what union members think is important and, in some cases, what kind of information members need in order to understand specific issues. The Stewards' Council is responsible for designing the union's education and organizing efforts - for building the union - and without input from individual stewards these campaigns can miss the mark entirely.

Know the Contract! And work with the Contract Enforcement Committee to defend our contract

Members in your department should know that you are a resource as they encounter work-related problems or have questions about the contract. As someone "on the ground," you are also the person best positioned to become aware of potential contract violations in your department, even if other members do not realize their rights are being violated. At a minimum, as an educated steward, you can forward concerns and complaints to the Contract Enforcement Committee. You can also do preliminary intake investigation, or even become involved with Level 1 grievances-if you feel comfortable doing so.

Building the union beyond your department

Not every department and workplace where TAs and PAs labor has a steward. But the strength of the TAA depends on successful membership drives, rallies, and actions that involve the broadest number of members and departments. The Stewards' Council schedules, plans, and executes membership drives during the academic year. The Council also plans rallies and actions (and recruits participants) in coordination with bargaining, contract enforcement, or other union bodies.

Pass the torch: recruit a replacement steward when you decide to step down from the Stewards' Council

During your term as steward you'll learn who the other committed union members in your department are. Before you step down, talk to these activists about taking on the steward position(s) in your department. Don't leave your department high & dry!