The objective of the policy which gave rise to the Health and Safety Committee is to provide appropriate levels of health services, facilities and programs designed to sustain the good health of employees and maintain healthful working conditions.
The value and importance of the good health of the membership is a matter of primary importance to the Alliance. As a Local Officer you wig be called upon to provide leadership in the Local in matters affecting the health and safety of the membership.
The success of joint Health and Safety Committees in carrying out the policies and ensuring that health and safety guidelines are respected depends on the active participation of Stewards and Local Officers.
The PSAC Regional Office and/or the Component should be contacted for advice and help in setting up and keeping the Health and Safety Committee operating effectively. You can also consult The Canada Labour Code Part 11 and T.B. Standard 2-20 where the procedures for the organization and operation of joint Health and Safety Committees are outlined.
The objective of the Stewards’ Committee is to provide stewards with an opportunity to discuss grievances and problems that have arisen over the interpretation of collective agreements with more experienced stewards.
Stewards’ Committee meetings also provide an excellent educational forum to understand union policies, discuss how to implement Alliance Campaigns and labour legislation, recent adjudication/ arbitration decisions, and prepare a report for the local negotiation committee on needed contract improvements.
Having an effective Stewards’ Committee can prove invaluable to you as Local Officers, in the organization of the Local, in providing services to the membership and in planning strategies and actions to counteract managements tactics.
As a Local Officer, you should provide this Committee with all the necessary material resources the Local can afford, as well as the human and moral support any committee needs to function effectively. By supporting the stewards and their activities, it gives them the prestige and motivation to do a good job and this in turn establishes the credibility of the union at the workplace.