Public Employee Press
Increasing Shop Stewards’ workplace presence on the agenda at training
Local 372 aims to grow its ranks

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Effective communication in the workplace was the theme for the shop steward training session organized by Board of Education Employees Local 372 at union headquarters on March 7.

"You are the foundation of this union because you ask those hard questions on behalf of the members," said Schools Division Director Marva Lewis Bradford, in her welcoming remarks to the 175 members at the Saturday morning session.

Local 372 President Shaun D. Francios I said that in addition to improving communication, the local is also committed to increasing the number of shop stewards, making sure that every school has at least one.

"Our goal is to have one shop steward for every seven members," Francois said.

After the welcoming remarks, the local's citywide organizer, Martha Ayon, gave a brief summary on Local 372's political agenda. Ayon stressed the importance of being politically active and encouraged members to join the union's team of Green Machine volunteers in their phone bank operations. She also reviewed basic organizing principles.

"It's important that as shop stewards we do more listening than talking," Ayon said. She also cautioned against using excessive union jargon when talking to members.

Bulletin boards are important

The afternoon session focused on reviewing the basics of filing a bulletin board grievance. Francois said that while visiting several schools he noticed that the bulletin boards were not being kept up to date. Bulletin boards may see unimportant, but they provide a space for members to get information about union business, notices of meetings, classes and other issues. Management is also contractually obligated to provide bulletin boards.

"How the bulletin board looks is a reflection on us," Francois said. "We want to be able to use it as a tool for organizing our members. That's why it's important."

For Family Worker Daniel Goodine, the bulletin board at his Brownsville school in Brooklyn is necessary for posting articles from the union newspaper and to help mobilize members. "That's an issue, members always talk about money, but when we need to mobilize them during contract talks or for a demonstration, that's a challenge," said Goodine, who has worked for the DOE for 15 years.

The Schools Division staff coordinated the workshop on effective communication and pointed to the importance of determining how members prefer to communicate, either through email, telephone or personal contact and taking that into consideration when communicating with them.

Things to consider before filing a grievance: A grievance is not a gripe; it's a violation of the union's collective bargaining agreement with the city. Your most important weapon is your contract, read it and know it. Know the policy and procedures and code of conduct of your agency. Check with your grievance rep or chapter chair for assistance. Remind members that they have a right to union representation when being called in for questioning by managers, especially if disciplinary action is being considered.

Union members thinking of becoming a shop steward can take the General Shop Steward Training course offered four times a year by the DC 37 Education Fund. The 10-session course is followed by a wide range of advanced courses, such as Advanced Grievance Handling and Arbitration, Public Speaking, Writing for Shop Stewards, Conflict Resolution and Milestones in Labor History. Ed Fund Assistant Director Claire Menelas heads the Labor Education Unit and recommends the course. "We have lively discussions and do role playing in the classes, then at work they get a chance to put into practice the things they study in class," Menelas explained.

For more information about upcoming shop steward training and to get an application, members can call the DC 37 Education Fund at 212-815-1700 or visit the union website at www.dc37.net. Shop stewards who missed the Local 372 training can sign up for the June 6 session at union headquarters.

"Now more than ever we need our shop stewards," said DC 37 President and Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez, at a recent Local 1549 training session. "Shop stewards remind our members that the union is not something separate from the membership."