How Do I Become a Shop Steward?
If you are interested in being a Shop Steward for Local 88, follow these steps listed below.
Attend a Shop Steward Meeting
Before the monthly General Membership meeting on the third Wednesday of the month, from 6PM to 6:45PM, there is a Shop Steward Meeting/Training. Attend a couple meetings to learn more about the duties and responsibilities.
Talk with others
Talk with your Chief Steward and or the Staff Representative for your area. Don’t know who your steward is? Check the Local 88 web site www.local88.ws. A list of Shop Stewards can be found under the link Stewards.
Attend the Shop Steward Training
Basic Steward Training is offered at the Council 75 office several times a year. Contact the office to register 503-239-9858. Check the Oregon AFSCME Council 75 events calendar for the next session www.oregonafscme.com; open the events calendar to view dates.
Complete Questionnaire
After you have completed the training, fill out the Shop Steward Questionnaire here:
http://www.afscmelocal88.org/forms-downloads/shop-steward-questionnaire/
Reply
The officers and the staff representatives at their monthly meeting (normally the 2nd Wednesday of the month) will review your questionnaire and you will receive a reply shortly after that meeting.
Appointment
Upon completion of the process, if approved, you will be appointed and sworn-in at the next General Membership Meeting. The employer will be given notice of your appointment. Without this formal notification you are not recognized as a legal representative of the union, even if you have completed the training and sent in the questionnaire.
Why not?
There are a few times when someone who volunteers to take on the duties of being a shop steward is not appointed. This can be for several reasons, there are currently enough shop stewards for a given work unit, the volunteer has expressed personal concerns which are not representative of the union, or there is a misunderstanding about the various roles and duties of being a shop steward. There are many other ways to get involved, be assigned to a committee, updating the bulletin board, passing out fliers. Please talk with the President or Staff Representative if you have questions about the process.
We have several committees as part of Local 88’s regular work. The Effective and Internal Structure Committee is evaluating at our current structure and reviewing ideas for enhancement and improvements.
