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Union stewards are an important part of the union's work, and suggestions from them about various matters concerning the wages and working conditions of staff often make their way into the bargaining platform for collective bargaining agreements. It is also clear that where there are active union representatives, there are generally fewer disputes that reach the office, as it is easier to resolve issues within the workplace. Various courses are available to union representatives, and the union ensures that information is communicated to its members through its network of representatives.

 

 

Are you a union representative at your workplace? Are you interested in working with us?

 

It is permissible to elect one union representative at each workplace with 5-50 employees, and two union representatives if there are more than 50 employees. If there is no shop steward at the workplace, Báran, the trade union, encourages its members to elect a shop steward for the workplace.

The union office provides all assistance with the election of shop stewards. The office phone number is 480-5000 and the email address is baran@baran.is.

Main tasks and duties of the trustees

A union steward is the union's representative in the workplace and, as such, is the liaison between the union and the employees.
This is the main role of union representatives: to ensure that the union's collective bargaining agreements are upheld in the workplace. Employees should turn to the union representative with their complaints. The union representative should investigate the matter immediately. If he finds that the complaints are justified, he shall approach the employer or their representative with a complaint and a demand for a remedy. The union representative does not have to wait for a complaint to be filed; if he suspects that an employee is being violated, he can begin to investigate the matter. Union representatives must report complaints to the union as soon as possible.
Social rights are today, among other things, defined in the European Social Charter. They can be divided into two categories. On the one hand, working conditions, including a ban on forced labor, equality in the workplace, the right to join a trade union, a ban on the employment of children under the age of 15, and the protection of working people between the ages of 15 and 18, equal rights for migrant workers and others, etc. and on the other hand, social cohesion, including the right to health, social security, healthcare, the right of the elderly to social protection, etc. The civil rights that are also inviolable are simpler and are public rights, such as the right to vote and the right to run for office, and it would be strictly forbidden for an employer to prevent employees from exercising their right to vote or to pressure them in that regard.