The Steward's Sourcebook

Articles to help stewards do a better job

The Research and Collective Bargaining Services Department of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers provides comprehensive support for collective bargaining activities, including training for stewards and local lodge officers.

These articles have been taken from the Boilermaker Reporter, which carries The Stewards Page as a regular feature.

• The Reasonable Person Standard - Arbitrators consider how a prudent person might be expected to behave
• Information requests are a valuable tool - They can be used for more than just gathering facts
• Credibility is the Key to Success - Stewards with credibility are more likely to negotiate good outcomes for their grievants.
• How To Interpret Contract Language - Figuring out what the contract actually says is not always easy. How to interpret contract language
• How To Argue Your Position - Evidence is key to winning the grievance. Collect all the evidence you can, quantify it, make it trustworthy, and present it well for maximum impact.
• Five Steps To Winning Grievances - There's no magic bullet, but carefully following these basic steps can give you a great advantage.
• Employers Must Have "Just Cause" For Discipline - Stewards can use these seven questions to establish whether the employer has just cause.
• Grievance Handling - But We've Always Done It That Way! - Using past practice to win grievances
• Organize Your Facts With a Steward Fact Sheet - This useful tool organizes the information you'll need to process a grievance
• Rights In Conflict: How Can You Represent Two Members Involved In a Dispute With Each Other? - You must protect the rights of both members based on the facts and the contract, not popular opinion
• Sexual Harassment Grievances Are Never Easy - They can be really difficult when one member is accusing another one of inappropriate behavior
• Good Records Help the Steward and the Local - Keeping grievance information well organized not only wins cases, it can help win good contracts
• What To Do When a Member Asks For Advice - Have your tools handy & be careful what you say
• ULPs Ensure Company Complies With NLRA - The NLRB does not solve grievances, but makes sure everyone — companies & unions — complies with law
• Don't Jump To Conclusions - Let the Facts Guide You
• Grievance Handling - A grievance log helps categorize facts
• Arguing a Grievance Is Like Arguing a Court Case - If you want to win your grievance, you need to know what argument to use and how to support your claim
• Educate Your Members Regarding Their Contract - The more they understand, the easier your job will be