NALC-Branch1296 Shop Steward Introduction
Channel: Margaret Oliver
Date: 2023-11-03

@MargaretOliver shares a quick video introducing NALC Branch 1296 membership to the role of Shop Steward and what it means on the ground in Pullman, WA.
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** TRANSCRIPT **
So what does it mean that I'm your Shop Steward? Well, there is no greater responsibility in our union than that of an NALC shop steward. It is my job to enforce our rights and to educate members of your rights and benefits under the National Agreement. I am also responsible to NALC leadership above me. People like Nick, Frank, and Debbie at the NBA office for Region 2. When the contract is violated, I'm here to investigate. So, the better my investigation and research, the more effective my grievances will be. Think of the grievance process as the core of my job as Shop Steward. So, I study more and more of the National Agreement every week, as interpreted in the JCAM (Joint Contract Administration Manual).

I listen to podcasts from experienced Shop Stewards, I've joined an online forum where I speak regularly with other steward and union presidents across this nation, and I search online frequently for the latest news posted through the NALC's various publications and more.  But that's not all.

To be the best help I can be to all of you, I've attended 3 of the 4 steward college training bootcamps offered by our NALC leadership team. I'm hoping to attend the last one as soon as it is available, which is around September of 2024. This will make me the most trained shop steward we've had in Pullman in decades.

But of course, training isn't enough.

To be most effective I need your trust. To that end I'd like to reach out to you, like in this video, to offer opportunities for you to express what you need to feel supported and valued within our union. To know a little about me, please know this, your opinions and thoughts matter. I want to hear from you. Every day, you see me at work please know that I strive to improve the lives of all of us on the job. So, that means I wear a few different hats. I'm your representative, advocate, organizer, educator, and activist. I value technology and the tools we can use to communicate and help one another as well. Like this Zoom recording tech I'm using right now. I also value the Internet and our ability to use resources online to learn more about the job, USPS, NALC, and one another.  

Do you have interest in learning more about the NALC? I'm happy to point you in the right direction. Having trouble with LiteBlue? Please ask.

Do you want your own copy of the NALC constitution, a copy of the National Agreement, or a copy of the JCAM itself? Let me know. 

Meanwhile, I know we all work hard and strive to do our best and I appreciate that you've taken the time to listen to this recording. 

Next time I see you, remember, I've got your back. Be safe out there!

** NOTE on SOURCES**
** Much of the info included in this video comes from resources such as the Shop Steward's Guide provided by the NALC, experience working on the ground here in Pullman, experience and training from the generous support of prior Branch1296 leadership like Greg Donaldson and Taylor Moore, and forums hosted by the team behind From A to Arbitration.