Union Shop Stewards are local union members who help members solve problems and organize within the local. A stewards key role is to be a vital link between the membership and the local’s elected leaders.

Some of a stewards duties include: day to day contact with members, handling and investigating members’ complaints, filing grievances for contract violations, supporting members at grievance hearings, meeting with other stewards, documenting problems in the workplace and informing the executive. In order to assist our Shop Stewards in performing their function more effectively, CUPE Local 500 offers a Steward Orientation and Basic Effective Stewarding Course.

Are you interested in becoming a Steward?

If you are interested in becoming a shop steward, you should contact a member of your unit executive or the Local 500 office at 942-1001or complete the 'get active' form and register today.

More advanced levels of Shop Steward Training are offered through CUPE's Union Development Department. For more information, contact the CUPE Regional Office at 942-0343. For a listing of CUPE's Educational Courses, visit http://www.cupe.ca/www/unioneducation.

If any member has a specific problem or requires more information in regards to a collective agreement matter, please contact a Union Shop Steward in your area, a member of your Unit Executive or your National Representative. If you do not know who your union representative is, please contact the Local 500 office at 942-1001 or email us at union@cupe500.mb.ca.

Steward Resources:

Generic Grievance Form

Grievance Fact Sheet

The Grievance Fact Sheet is designed to assist Grievance Officers to keep a written record of what the grievance is about and what happens to it as it is processed through the various steps of the grievance procedure.

It is an important document and should be completed with care and accuracy. This document will provide the union representative with a complete history of the case. It will provide details of the grievance which may otherwise be overlooked or forgotten about.

When the grievance is finalized, the completed form should be placed in the local union’s file for future reference. Copies should also be given to the CUPE Representative.

Stewards Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to give newly appointed stewards an outline of their duties, where they can turn for advice and the names of CUPE Education Department courses that will help them to be more effective. This handbook is an introduction to stewarding. It is not an exhaustive guide

Union Education

Click the above link for more information about the educational opportunities available through CUPE.