Stewards across all regions make a difference as leaders in their worksites. Whether you work in the community, in an acute care setting or in long-term care facilities, BCNU stewards help
guide co-workers through work- and sometimes non-work-related
concerns. They help members address
problems and communicate crucial
information about issues concerning their worksite and their profession.
BCNU stewards also convey the ideals
of BCNU and articulate the vision
of improving the working life, well-being and
economic status of members while
being an advocate for public health care. In doing so, stewards inspire and
mobilize members at their worksite.
What Does Success Look Like?
Successful stewards are those who cultivate respectful relationships between members and employers. By doing this, trust is earned, conflicts are resolved quickly and members feel supported. Successful stewards make a difference in their worksite in the following ways:
- They're available to meet with members and
develop a deeper understanding of the
issues and concerns they face.
- They're able to assist members through the grievance
process in the event of a dispute with the
employer or support a member as they
return to work after illness or injury.
- They're available and ready to
lend a hand.
Why Become a BCNU Steward?
- You will help secure a safe, healthy
and respectful workplace
As a steward, you will be able to work
proactively with management and advocate
for BCNU members. You will gain knowledge
and develop skills to help you use BCNU’s
problem-solving tools (grievances, PR process,
JOHS committees, and union-management
meetings) and resolve workplace concerns.
You will feel the satisfaction of doing important
leadership work that directly benefits you and
your colleagues.
- You will create a more fair and equitable
workplace
As a steward, you have the power to make
a real difference in your workplace. Our
collective agreements are powerful contracts
that set the rules for fair and equitable
practices. Stewards are the leaders who
make sure these rules, and other rules related
to fairness and equity (like human rights
legislation), are respected in the workplace. - You will understand your rights —
and help others understand theirs
Your union has fought to include hundreds
of rights in your collective agreement.
Throughout the career of any member, these
rights can make a big difference, at work
and beyond. As a steward, you will come to
understand these rights and learn how to
advocate effectively for others. - You will act as a strong advocate
for patients
Good working conditions for nurses and other
health care workers help to ensure patients
receive the care they need. As a steward, you
do work that directly impacts patient care –
from monitoring safety concerns and ensuring
staff get the breaks and leaves they deserve,
to speaking out on staffing issues. - You will receive valuable education
and training
As a steward, you will receive a wide variety
of training that prepares you for the work you
do. This high-quality education, reinforced by
the leadership experience you will gain, will
increase your competence and confidence in
a number of areas that go well beyond your
steward work – from effective advocacy and
presentation skills to the ability to handle
conflict and communication well.
These educational opportunities are
accompanied by multiple opportunities each
year to gather with other stewards from
across your region and the province to share
ideas, support one another’s efforts and build
strong relationships that often last a lifetime. - You will receive support, mentorship,
and opportunities to grow
Stewards are asked to commit to a three-year
term. Over the first year you will learn the
basics of the steward’s role. During the second
year you may discover a passion and choose
to specialize in a particular area of steward
practice, growing your skills and knowledge in
new directions. By the third year, you will have
mastered many skills and be ready to take on
new roles and mentor others.
As you map out and travel on this journey,
you will receive support and mentorship from
others on your team, and from the labour
relations officer (LRO) assigned to your
worksite. LROs bring a wealth of experience
with grievances and any issues that are proving
hard to resolve, so stewards know they can
seek support in the work they take on. - You will contribute, whatever
your strengths
There is no one type of person who makes
the perfect BCNU steward. Every steward
contributes their own experience and skills,
and steward teams benefit from this diversity.
Some of our most effective stewards are quiet
people, with strong listening skills or creative
minds. They are very powerful
in grievance meetings.
Others are very social
– they are great at
networking, and
keeping their finger
on the pulse of the
worksite.
What is required of
those who step up
to the steward
role is a strong
desire to grow
and learn, to be
a role model
and leader at
the worksite
and to
advocate for
yourself, your
colleagues
and for safe
patient care.