By Jon Olsen, Communications Staff
Stewards protect their coworker’s rights. You are the first line of defence for workers threatened with discipline or termination. Sometimes this means you must face-off with your employer and passionately defend your coworkers.
Your coworkers would get in trouble for challenging the boss like you do, but stewards have special rights that are protected by your collective agreement and labour laws.
We’re all equals here
Your boss is in a powerful position. They hire and fire, discipline and promote. The actions they take can help or hinder your career in very real ways, and the balance of power is normally skewed in their favour.
But union stewards are given special rights that levels that power balance. You have the right to stand up to your boss when you act in your official capacity as a steward.
When you meet with the employer as a steward, you are their equal. You have the right to disagree with their decisions, question their assertions, and even argue with them if necessary. And you can do so without fear of discipline.
However, your arguments should be made intelligently and respectfully. As some stewards will tell you, you do not want to give your boss an opening to retaliate against you.
When the boss targets you
Your rights as a steward prevent your employer from discriminating or retaliating against you for the work you do as a steward.
Sometimes the bosses can’t help themselves, however, and will use any excuse they can to make your life miserable, especially if you are doing a good job as a steward.
Ensure all the work you must do for your actual job is completed on time and done well. You do not want to give your employer an excuse to pick on you. Finding faults in your normal work is how they often target stewards they want to discourage.
That said, any attempt to discourage you from doing your job as a steward is a violation of your rights. Things like extra work assignments or being denied promotions should be reported to your AUPE Membership Services Officer (MSO).
Standard rules apply
Stewards are leaders on the worksite and are often seen as leaders by their coworkers—they follow your example.
While it is fine for your coworkers to hold you up as an example of a good worker and ally, your employer is not allowed to hold you to an impossible standard.
Stewards cannot be held to a higher standard of work than other staff. If your employer harasses you or enforces stricter rules and extra supervision, that is a violation of the collective agreement.
Contact your MSO if you feel your employer is violating your rights by holding you to a higher standard.
The best defence
Even with these protections in place, you may still find yourself targeted by your employer. Harassment from the boss may be subtle and hard to prove and grieve.
A steward's best defence is to do your job well—both your regular duties and your steward work.
