WHAT THE STEWARD SHOULD KNOW

• Read every word of your collective agreement and consult it regularly.
• Become familiar with all the provisions included in the collective agreement. Consider they should be applied in your workplace.
• Discuss them with members of your local executive and other stewards.
• Discuss them during union meetings.

Stewards must know their workplace and, as much as possible, know every worker's responsibilities.

• Make sure you know all the members of your group.
• Learn all the salary scales.
• If the workers benefit from a productivity bonus system, be familiar with it.
• Make sure you have a seniority list in your files.

Everybody is different. In the case of a grievance, for instance, some will readily give you all the relevant information while others will not. Some will have a complete file, others won't. Some will have personal problems. You will be in a position to help your members more effectively if you know them well.