Guides for stewards and officers.
Practical, plain-language help with the work of running a local: grievances, members' rights, dues, meetings and records.
StewardsThe duty of fair representation: what it requires and how unions stay protected
What the duty of fair representation requires of a union, what counts as a breach and what doesn't, the six-month deadline, and how reps stay protected.
OfficersHow to take minutes at a union meeting, with an example
How to take meeting minutes at a union membership or board meeting: what to include, how to record motions and votes, a full example, and a free template.
StewardsSeniority, bumping and layoffs: a guide for union reps
How union seniority works: seniority dates and lists, layoffs by seniority, bumping rights, recall rights, superseniority, and what reps check before layoffs.
StewardsLast chance agreements: what stewards should know before a member signs
What a last chance agreement is, when it makes sense, what to negotiate, a sample agreement, and what happens if a member breaks one, for stewards and reps.
StewardsUnion contract terms: a glossary for stewards and officers
Plain-English definitions of the union terms stewards and officers hear most: bargaining, union security, contract clauses, pay, discipline and seniority.
GrievancesLabor arbitration: how a union arbitration hearing works, step by step
How union arbitration works: binding arbitration, arbitrability, choosing an arbitrator, preparing the case, the hearing itself, costs, timing and the award.
OfficersPublic employment relations boards (PERBs) by state: a guide for public-sector unions
What a public employment relations board (PERB) does, which state board covers public-sector unions where you work, and when to go to the NLRB or FLRA instead.
StewardsWhat does a union rep do? Stewards, business agents and staff reps explained
What a union representative does, the kinds of union reps from shop stewards to business agents, staff reps and organizers, and how to become a union rep.
OfficersUnion officer positions: what the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and trustees do
The officer positions most unions have, what the president, vice president, recording secretary, treasurer and trustees do, and how union officers are elected.
OfficersWhat is a collective bargaining agreement? A guide to your union contract
What a collective bargaining agreement is, what a typical union contract covers, how to read one, and how contracts are bargained, enforced and renewed.
StewardsInsubordination at work: obey now, grieve later, and when members can refuse
What counts as insubordination at work, the obey now, grieve later rule, when members can refuse an order, and how stewards defend an insubordination charge.
StewardsProgressive discipline and written warnings: a guide for stewards
How progressive discipline works, what a written warning means, how long it stays on a member's record, and how stewards respond to each step of discipline.