Thursday, June 5, 2025

Union Stewards Provide the Kind of Leadership We All Benefit From

At recent conferences held earlier this year, CLAC stewards had a chance to deepen their knowledge, build connections, and be recognized for their commitment to their fellow members

Blogs National

By Melanie Sykes, Representative/Ontario Member Education Coordinator

If you’re a CLAC member, chances are your steward is the first person you’ll turn to when there’s a question about your rights, a concern on the job site, or something just doesn’t feel right at work.

Stewards are the front-line workplace leaders of CLAC and most unions. They’re elected by their coworkers to be the voice of their team, a resource on workplace rights and responsibilities, and a vital bridge between members and union representatives.

Stewards respond to concerns early, support colleagues during a tough situation, sit in during difficult conversations, accompany coworkers through workplace investigations, and help ensure the terms of the collective agreement are being followed. And, yes, they answer a lot of questions—sometimes the same one more than once—with patience.

To support stewards in this important work, CLAC hosted a series of regional and provincial conferences across the country in the early months of 2025. Over 500 stewards gathered for overnight events in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario where they deepened their knowledge, built connections, and were recognized for their commitment.

The theme of this year’s conferences, Lead Together, came to life in hands-on workshops, thoughtful exchanges, and the generosity with which stewards shared their time, questions, and experiences. The conferences featured practical, skills-based training to help stewards feel more confident and equipped in their roles.

Topics varied among the provinces but included assisting coworkers injured at work, interviewing skills to ensure they are obtaining helpful information through productive conversations, mental health resources, communication tools, safely navigating social media use, and gaining a better understanding of their specific industry challenges, among others.

In addition, stewards engaged with CLAC staff and partners through our services and vendor villages. There, they connected with staff from various CLAC teams, including benefits, retirement, alcohol and drug case management, training, apprenticeships, and jobs to gather information and resources to bring back to support their coworkers.

One of the most meaningful parts of the conferences was recognizing stewards for their years of service. Many CLAC stewards have served for 5, 10, 25, and even 35 years! That’s decades of helping fellow members navigate challenges, celebrate wins, and be heard.

These stewards’ long-standing commitment speaks volumes. It reflects their coworkers’ trust in them and, in turn, these stewards’ trust in CLAC. They know that the role of the steward matters, not just to the union, but to the well-being of their workplaces.

While these conferences are a chance to equip stewards, they’re also a chance for the union to show its appreciation for them. These leaders give their time, their energy, and their attention—often outside of paid hours—because they care about their coworkers and want to ensure they are treated fairly.

The next time you see your steward, whether on a break or around the workplace, take a moment to say thank you. Much of what they do involves navigating tough conversations and handling conflict on behalf of others. A simple, genuine “thanks for what you do” can mean more than you realize.

Stewards make their workplace stronger, safer, and fairer, often without being asked. That’s the kind of leadership we all benefit from.

CLAC stewards attending the BC conference

Union Stewards Provide the Kind of Leadership We All Benefit From

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