We Are All Stewards

Brothers and Sisters, 

I hope this message finds you well and safe on the job. I want to take a moment to talk about the vital role of our shop stewards and the role we all share as members. 

Your shop steward is your first line of defense. They are there to listen, guide, and help resolve issues before they grow legs. But they cannot help if they do not know what is going on. If something does not feel right, if someone is being mistreated, or if the contract is not being followed, speak up. Do not wait. Delays only slow the process. If you do not have a steward on your site or do not know who they are, call the hall. That is why we are here. 

Last month, over 20 members attended our Shop Steward training. Many were experienced stewards refreshing their skills, but we also welcomed new faces ready to step up. We thank them all for their commitment to protect our members, our agreements, and our jurisdiction.

But you do not need the title to act. We are all stewards of this Local. Each of us is responsible for ensuring that the rights we have fought for are respected, enforced, and never taken for granted. That means looking out for one another, speaking up when something is wrong, and sometimes holding ourselves accountable. If you see another member acting unprofessionally, call it out. If someone needs training in a critical skill, help them learn. Our work is constantly evolving, with new installation methods, changes to the codebook, and emerging technologies like battery storage systems for productions, so we must stay sharp. 

I do want to introduce three new Shop Stewards. Brothers George Evans and Seth Posner, both Sound & Video Technicians, recently stepped into alternate steward roles at Universal Studios Hollywood. In addition, Brother Brad Starbird stepped up as primary steward at the Fox Studio Lot. Get to know Brother Starbird in this month’s spotlight below.

We have built something strong here, but it only works if we are all rowing in the same direction. Our strength has always been in our unity, in standing shoulder to shoulder and speaking with one voice. 

Stay connected. Keep the lines of communication open. If something does not sit right, do not sit on it. Talk to your steward or call the hall. Together, we have the power to keep building a brighter future not just for ourselves, but for the next generation coming up behind us.  

In Solidarity, 

Stephan Davis
Business Manager
Financial Secretary