The role of the shop steward : the link between union members and the management

Abstract

Richard Hyman in his book Industrial Relations A Marxist Introduction defined industrial relations as 'the study of process of control overwork relations' Hyman (1975):12. The emphasis of this definition is on the work relations. Industrial relations, work relations and employee relations are definitions of the interaction of the three main players of Industrial Relations that are the employees, the employer and the Government. In the industrial set up the employers are normally represented by the Human Resources Manager while the employees are represented by trade unions or some other form of worker representation structure. The governments regulate the work environment through legislation of labour laws and by the set up of Industrial Tribunals. In my essay I will focus on the role of the shop steward as a link between the union members and the management in the context of industrial relations. He is the workers' representative with management: a worker elected by fellow union members as their representative in dealing with the management. He is a front liner of the trade union answerable to the full time union official also known as the union secretary. Dr Godfrey Baldacchino describes the role of the shop steward as 'the ham between the sandwich', pressured from the top by the management and from beneath by his members. The shop stewards' duties as a representative of his union are to inform the members of the union policies and the union stand and decisions on the issues that can rise from time to time. He has to be the communicator between the Secretariat and the members. The shop steward has to be a good leader, the person who gives direction and motivate his members. A person with integrity and inter personal sensitivity and have a good degree of persuasiveness. He has to be persistent and sometimes he needs to be aggressive to achieve the desired results. The shop steward should strive to achieve the highest number of possible union members in his work place. These increase the union bargaining power with the management at his work place and help the union finances through the money collected via a check off system directly collected by him. The focus on education and information of the workers rights and responsibilities under their collective agreement is very important. Hugh Clegg (1979):1 argues that industrial relations is 'the study of the rules governing employment, together with the ways in which the rules are made and changed, interpreted and administered'. As a representative the shop steward has to defend the members of any grievance or charge they may have with the management. The shop stewards' contribution in the collective bargaining is mainly in the preparation of the union's proposals and the follow of the implementation and the interpretation of the final agreement. Finally the shop steward has to enrol as much members as possible to ensure the union recognition and to increase his bargaining power with the management. In other words the shop steward is the union on the shop floor.