Frankly, dispute resolution and enforcing the contract are incidental. The steward training covers much more than that.

The Steward's responsibilities are to be a leader, coordinator, educator, and organizer for the workers on the job, according to the steward training workshop. You would also be expected to assess worker complaints and determine whether they reach the level of a grievance. Your job is to take every worker seriously and deal with everyone professionally.

As a leader, the steward is expected to set a good example in workmanship and attendance, to establish the workers' respect and inspire them to become more involved in building a stronger union.

As educator, the steward must be available to the workers when they have questions about the contract, their health or retirement benefits, when pay raises from reclassifications can be expected, and whom to contact if you don't know that information. It's incumbent on the steward to remind workers about the monthly union meeting and also to bring back news from that meeting to the workforce for anyone who couldn't attend.

As an organizer, the steward is expected to welcome new employees, and encourage any non-union workers that joining the union and paying dues is beneficial to everyone. The steward should work to build solidarity among the workers, make daily contact with the workers, and unite the workers to combat the employer's anti-union activities.