Following are some common mistakes to avoid.  It’s a mistake to …

• Promise Remedies Too Quickly:  You are hurting both the member and your credibility if you pass judgment on a grievance prior to a thorough investigation.  Given the frequency of poor and mixed arbitration decisions, no steward should ever promise victory.
• Fail to Speak With New Workers:  The most important way a union gains the support of a new member or potential new member is by one-on-one contact with the steward.
• Fail to Adhere to Time Lines:  Even the strongest, iron-clad case can be lost if you fail to follow the time line specified in your contract.  If you do get a formal extension of time limits, be sure to get it in writing.
• Let Grievances Go Unfiled:  Every grievance that goes unfilled undermines the contract that you struggled so hard to win.  While most members see changes and problems only in terms of the impact on them, the steward needs to be able to understand a grievance’s impact on the contract and the union as a whole.