Your Union Stewards

Your union representative or steward is your first point of contact with the union when you need advice or support. Stewards are ordinary Trust employees who have volunteered to do work for the union and are supported and/ or elected by their work colleagues.
Ideally there should be a union steward in every department or for each group of staff. If this is a role you are interested in, ask an existing steward (see list). Stewards attend union training courses in works time in order to fulfil these duties and they have a right to time off during working hours to perform union activities connected with the work of the Trust.
Stewards may hold meetings with their members to discuss issues and pass on information. They can represent members in disputes with management whether this is about a disciplinary matter, a re-grading claim or a grievance.

Unions may also elect separate Health and Safety Representatives to sit on the joint Safety Committee.