More than 70 members from 20 different Council 36 local unions attended the Steward training on March 18 & 19. The 2-day training helped new and experienced stewards identify different strategies for grievances and workplace problems, while also building unity in the workplace and organizing members into action.

For most of the attendees this was their first steward training, and they were excited to get more involved in their union and to learn more about what it means to be a steward. The attendees learned how to properly write a grievance, analyzed mock grievances, participated in mock grievance hearings, and much more. For Karen Lee, the knowledge she learned at the steward training will help her be the effective leader that her local needs. “I have a responsibility for the members I represent to be able to have the knowledge to support them and to protect them,” said Lee, a member of AFSCME Local 1520. “We fought hard to finally gain recognition and we need to be prepared for the next stage of making a strong workplace.”

For more experienced stewards like Marius Woods, who has been a steward for AFSCME Local 1083 since 2013, this training was an opportunity to sharpen his skills and learn new tips. “I learned some important verbiage that I can use when filing a grievance,” said Woods. “I also learned ways to make a grievance more powerful.”

For most Locals, good stewards are the backbone of the union. Stewards are leaders, organizers, communicators, and representatives. Steward trainings help to provide the knowledge necessary to create strong and effective stewards, which in turn makes a union stronger. Hopefully, each of the attendees left the training feeling empowered and inspired to lead and build a sense of unity and solidarity amongst their coworkers in their union.