Things you need to have.

You'll need to have a lot of information close at hand, both at work and at home. (Some stewards carry a notebook or a planner back and forth.)

You and your chief steward or union representative should check out your materials to make sure you have everything you need. Here are some possibilities:

• A list of the workers you serve as steward, including name, address, telephone number, email address, job title, and shift schedule.
• A seniority list of your workers (if applicable).
• The contract and any side letters.
• Local union constitution and bylaws.
• Management's personnel manual, if there is one (or any other employer policies in printed form).
• Civil service rules (if applicable).
• An organization chart of managers and supervisors.
• Organizing materials for new members, including authorization cards, copies of the contract, your union's Web site and email address, and your union' s constitution and bylaws.
• Grievance investigation forms.
• COPE (political action) materials.
• You probably know the different occupations in your unit, but if not, you'll need some job descriptions.

Of course, your local union staff rep and legal counsel will also have other valuable information including:

• Federal and state health and safety regulations.
• Federal and state labor laws and court decisions.
• Records of past investigations, grievances, and arbitrations.
• Lists of references, resources, and other helpful materials available from the International union.
• Links to use on the Web, such as SEIU.org for the latest updates across the country.
• Links to educational resources