Types of Stewards

The steward wears many hats: communicator, organizer, negotiator, peacemaker and trouble maker. A study commissioned in 1992, found that workplaces that had effective stewards were better able to involve members and participation levels were highter.

• Chief Steward
• Lead Steward
• ODOT District Steward

Chief Steward  (Source: Board Policy 17A, Chief Stewards; Feb. 26, 1993)
The role of the Chief Steward is to coordinate activities by chapter stewards, to ensure that all chapter stewards comply with training and education requirements established by the State Board, to monitor training needs on the part of the stewards and recommend appropriate actions to the Education Department, and to chair the Steward Committee.

Chief stewards may be elected by the stewards in a chapter or, alternatively, may be appointed by the chapter president, as specified in the chapter by-laws. If the by-laws are silent, the chief steward shall be appointed by the chapter president. Whether elected or appointed, the chief steward's term of office shall be the same as that of the chapter president. The chief steward may be removed by the chapter president at any time, subject only to a final appeal to the chapter board. The action of the chapter president shall be effective until and unless reversed by the chapter board.

The policy will be effective in each chapter upon the expiration of the current term of office for the chief steward or following the next chapter election, whichever is earlier. [ top ]

Lead Steward  (Source: Board Policy 17B, Lead Stewards; Feb. 26, 1993)
In multi-agency chapters or at the discretion of the chapter, in multi-work site chapters, lead stewards will coordinate the steward activity in the agency or work site. He/She will report to the chapter chief steward. He/She will be designated by the chapter president. [ top ]

ODOT Steward ( Source: Board Policy 18, ODOT District Stewards; Feb. 26, 1993 - Revised April 17, 1998)

The stewards in each ODOT district will select a steward, from among their ranks, to function as the District Steward* for that ODOT district. The term of such district steward will be three (3) years, commencing each May of 1999.

The OCSEA State Board member with the longest continuous period of board service shall conduct the ODOT District Steward nominations and elections each May of every third year of the ODOT district(s) whose headquarters is located within their OCSEA district. If the senior board member is a candidate for the ODOT District Steward, or is incapacitated, then the election shall be conducted by the board member with the second longest continuous board service.

The ODOT District Steward may represent the ODOT grievances at the second and third steps, which arise out of the district. These district stewards will keep the chapter president informed of the progress of such grievances. Any final settlements must be signed off by at least one of the following: District Steward or Chapter President (of the chapter where the grievance originated) or Grievant and the Staff Representative. It is recommended that non-ODOT Chapter Presidents consult with the ODOT District Steward before signing off on ODOT grievances.

District Stewards who incur expenses for postage, mileage, lost time, etc. during the representation of a member from his/her respective ODOT district, may seek reimbursement from that member's chapter, whether or not the district steward is a member of that chapter. However, the chapter is obligated to make such reimbursement only if the District Steward was granted approval for those expenses before they were incurred.

The term District Steward is used to prevent confusion with the chief steward, which may be in place in the same chapter where there are ODOT employees. [ top ]

See Related

AFSCME Steward Handbook

Types of Stewards

Selection

Certification

Training

Committees

Incentives