Stewards (2022)

McLaughlin -  Janet Macchione
McLaughlin - Jessica Leslie
Northview  - Vacant
Delpark - Chris McDiarmid  

If a Steward is unavailable to help you, please contact a member of the Executive Committee.

Information about Stewarding

The Steward is a cornerstone of union activism. A Steward must be a role model in the workplace.

The Roles of a Steward
  • Union Representative: Stewards are organizers, educators, leaders, communicators, and advocates.
  • Advisor: A steward is there to provide advice. When a steward is helpful and addresses members’ issues, the members know that the union is working for them.
  • Investigator: A steward investigates complaints by listening carefully, taking notes and asking questions. A steward is discreet. Their role is to clarify a problem and ask what solutions are possible.
  • Problem Solver: There are always two points of view. Management may have one and the member may have another. A steward’s job is to bring the two together to effect a resolution.
  • Advocate: The steward is the “watchdog” of the collective agreement. This could mean meeting informally with a supervisor to address a concern, submitting a grievance, or referring a problem to another committee of the union. Stewards are on the front line.
  • A Resource: They are also a resource for information on issues such as health and safety, harassment and job placement.
  • Employees & Members: Stewards are library employees and dues-paying union members who volunteer their time to help us when we have issues in the workplace.

Stewards’ Rights
  • The right to be recognized by the employer as a representative of the union, an equal with management when stewarding.
  • The right to take time off from regular duties to investigate, process and settle grievances.
  • The right to take educational courses to assist in carrying out their duties effectively.
When a steward meets with the library or its representatives, it is on paid library time.

Stewards’ Obligations
  • Stewards serve Union members by protecting the Collective Agreement, and works towards ensuring that positive Labour Relations are maintained.
  • Stewards are expected to have knowledge of and abide by the CUPE Constitution and the By-laws of Local 960, and to comply with the terms of the Collective Agreement, Provincial Labor Laws, and Human Rights legislation.

Benefits Stewards Bring to the Members & the Employer
  • Stewards are resources for management and members, helping to create a better work environment.
  • Stewards answer members’ and management’s questions about the collective agreement language and how it applies in the workplace.
  • Stewards learn new skills that can be applied in the workplace to resolve differences before they grow into conflicts or grievances, e.g., conflict resolution, anti-harassment training, health and safety, etc.
  • Stewards bring insight into how the library operates overall, seeing the bigger picture, instead of being focused solely on their branch or department.

Want to be a Steward? 
Stewards need to apply knowledge and refer members to resources in the following areas and more:
  • Roles, Responsibilities & Rights                                   
  • Return to Work                                         
  • Health & Safety / WCB

What are the COMMITMENTS?
  • Stewards meet with members, record pertinent details and report immediately to the executive.
  • There are Steward Committee meetings that take place.
  • Stewards are provided with information on various issues as well as given an opportunity to discuss current issues.
  • Steward training is provided at various times throughout the year. This may range from a lunch hour, or a half (½) day to two (2) days at a time.

What kind of TRAINING will be provided?
CUPE Ontario and CUPE Local 960 offer a variety of training including workshops on Health and Safety in the Workplace, Discipline and Discharge, Harassment in the Workplace; and Duty to Accommodate, among others.

Resources for stewards: http://cupe.ca/resources-stewards


We have a steward at each location of the library, check the union bulletin board at your branch for the most up-to-date information on who your steward is!