The key to any strong, effective union is our steward system. Stewards play an essential role in the day-to-day operations of unions around the world. In a word, stewards are the cornerstone of every union. At NAPE, we’re thankful to have over 100 stewards serving at the various State of Nebraska agencies. These state employees represent our union at worksites all across the state. It’s our stewards who make our union strong. They truly are the backbone of everything we do. Our dedicated NAPE stewards play a variety of vital roles at the workplace in service to their union. Most notably, every steward is by definition a leader, communicator, organizer, and representative.
Our stewards are our member-leaders. Though leadership can be a difficult quality to define, taking on the role of steward makes them natural leaders at their worksites. Stewards are often the first point of contact between employees and NAPE. As such, they are an important part of any problem-solving process at their worksite. There are a number of ways in which stewards demonstrate their leadership. Typically, union stewards are active listeners who constantly work to build credibility and motivate others. By being attentive and conscientious of what others are saying, stewards lead by example and build effective relationships. As a leader, stewards constantly work to gain credibility through honesty, reliability, and knowledgeability.
We know there are members all across the state who would make great new stewards. Many of our active, engaged NAPE members are accomplished state employees with vast institutional knowledge and experience. If this sounds like you, we’d love to have you come to a steward training session to learn more. Similarly, we have newer NAPE members and state employees who are just starting to get involved. They, too, are ideal candidates for steward training. Sometimes our newest members are able to bring important and unique perspectives to the table. Coming to training does not commit you to become a certified steward, so feel free to come just to learn more. Help make our union stronger!
We have steward training coming up in Lincoln, Norfolk, Omaha, Kearney, Scottsbluff, Wayne, and Chadron in October and November. We also plan to hold future training sessions in Beatrice, Grand Island, Hastings, McCook, North Platte, and other locations all across the state. We hope to see you soon. Sign up today or indicate interest by clicking here.