Mistakes To Avoid

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

· Meet With Management Alone:  When you meet with management alone, suspicions may arise as to what kinds of deals you are making.  It also allows management to lie or change its story.  More important, when stewards meet with management alone, it takes away an opportunity for members to participate in the union and to understand that it’s really their organization.

· Fail to Get Settlements in Writing:  Just as you should protect yourself by not meeting with management alone, be sure to get grievance settlements in writing.  Putting the settlement in writing helps clarify the issues and keeps management from backing down on its deal.

· Fail to Publicize Victories:  Publicizing each and every victory is an important way to build your local union.  This publicity not only has a chilling effect on the employer, but helps educate your members about their contractual rights.

· Fail to Organize:  Stewards are much more than grievance handlers.  They’re the local’s mobilizers, who should be talkin’ and fightin’ union all the time.  Each and every grievance and incident must be looked at in terms of how it can increase participation, build the union and create new leaders.