Pictured above, some of the stewards from Local Lodge 1998 in Hawaii that participated in the lodge's annual Steward Summit for 2008.
Local Lodge 1998 in Honolulu, Hawaii, held its annual Steward Summit December 4-5, 2008, preparing about 25 stewards for their hard work in the coming year.
Marie Box, the Grand Lodge Education Representative for the Western Territory, presented in-depth coverage of the roles and responsibilities of a steward, oftentimes deemed to be the hardest, yet perhaps most thankless job in any union. Topics covered included investigations, grievance handling, just cause for discipline, past practices and Weingarten rights.
Additional presenters in the two-day session were Janice Yamamoto-Burigsay, an expert on Social Security and Elbridge Smith, Esq., who covered the EEOC under the federal system. A three-member panel comprised of Meredith Burns, Jeff Bierman and Dale Yashiki, discussed the National Labor Relations Act (NLRB).
Local Lodge 1998 is an amalgamated local, representing both private and federal sector employees.
"Thanks to GLR Maria Santiago Lillis for her efforts in coordinating the training again this year, and to GLER Marie Box for her excellent presentation," commented Western Territory GVP Lee Pearson. "Training like this is such a fundamental part of our stewards' success in their respective worksites and has helped strengthen Local 1998 in the process."
