All Local 1942 stewards comprise the steward body. Local 1942 By-Laws define the structure of the steward body and give it certain decision-making powers with regard to steward training, approval of new stewards, and organizing activity in the local. The steward body and its monthly meeting are the place for stewards to bring complaints and suggestions about the support structure for stewards and any changes that need to be made to make it easier to do their jobs as stewards.

Additionally, the steward body is expected to take responsibility for proposing tactics and strategy on both contractual and non-contractual problems. Typically it is the body that takes major responsibility for carrying out day-to-day actions once major policy decisions have been decided by the members. Obviously this includes enforcing the contract, but it also includes such things as local negotiations and labor/management meetings with the hospital. Since the primary duty of stewards is to organize and one of the best ways to organize is through struggles with management, it makes sense that our steward body is the primary group within the local for planning and carrying out strategies to deal with struggles that arise with the hospital.

Return to "Union Stewards"...