IBEW 1837 Stewards Receive Training from Renowned Labor Educator

July 1, 2010 - Stewards from eight of our represented companies enjoyed a daylong advanced training from Charley Richardson, an award-winning labor educator and former teacher for the UMass Lowell Labor Extension Program. Gathering at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Hall in Augusta on June 14, IBEW 1837 stewards talked about some of the challenges and concerns facing our Union, and they developed strategies we can all use to help deal with them.

Brother Richardson led a great discussion about how the difficult economic landscape facing workers impacts all of us – even though we enjoy many benefits by belonging to a Union. All workers feel some stress and uncertainty during these tough times, and those feelings can have a real impact both on our ability to enjoy our jobs and, more importantly, on our relationships with our family and friends.

Stewards also explored the pros and cons of the grievance process. While everyone agreed that the grievance and arbitration process plays a vital role in the representation of our members and the defense of our collective bargaining agreements, they also recognized that resolving problems outside of the process can have real benefits on our relationships with employers and for actually building solidarity within our Union.

Brother Richardson designed and conducted an exercise to help stewards to improve communications with members on the shop floor. He also facilitated a roundtable discussion about the challenges we are facing at each of the companies that were represented by stewards at this training: Bangor Hydro, Central Maine Power, New Hampshire Electric Co-op, Maine Public Service, Public Service Company of New Hampshire, Sea-3, Unitil, and WGME-TV.

“Charley Richardson’s presentation was a clear call to action,” Assistant Steward Anthony Zeli from WGME-TV said. “Stewards must engage our members in new ways if we are to beat back management’s constant assault on our rights. We cannot wait for contract negotiations to activate the workplace.”

IBEW Local 1837 conducts beginning and advanced Steward Training sessions every year. You don’t have to be a steward to attend. You just need to have an interest in becoming more active in your Union. Contact your steward or the Union Office for more information.