To NALC shop stewards
First, let me congratulate you and thank you for taking on the job of an NALC shop steward. It is truly a worthy cause and a very important position in our union. There is no greater calling and no greater responsibility in our union than that of NALC shop steward. It requires courage, study, intelligence, and hard work. It also takes a lot of heart.
When you become an NALC shop steward you become responsible to the men and women you represent. They count on you to enforce their rights on the job. As a union official at the branch level, you also become responsible to the NALC.
The shop steward’s job is difficult and demanding. That’s why we have created NALC Shop Steward’s Guide. It discusses many of the roles you will play as a shop steward, especially your role in enforcing the collective bargaining agreement.
When the contract is violated, an NALC shop steward must research the facts and the contract before constructing an effective grievance. Then he or she needs to articulate the correct arguments at the very earliest steps of the grievance procedure. To do these jobs well a shop steward requires deeper and more detailed information than either the National Agreement or the Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) provide.
NALC created this guide to help union representatives find that in-depth information and put it to work defending our contract. It explains the key principles, contract language, national settlements and arbitration decisions that one must know to effectively represent letter carriers and the NALC.
We trust you will find this booklet a helpful and informative guide to your job as a steward.
Sincerely and fraternally,
President, National Association of Letter Carriers
