Glossary of Union Terms
These are terms that we use when discussing Union functions.
| Title Sort descending | |
|---|---|
| Seniority | Seniority: A listing of workers in order of length of service or time worked. Employers often use seniority to decide who will be promoted, laid off or recalled. Seniority is usually applied across the bargaining unit, but it may be limited to a department or classification. |
| Shift Differential | Shift Differential: Extra pay you earn when you work outside your regular daytime hours. |
| Shop Steward | A union steward or shop steward is an official within the organizational hierarchy of a labour union. Rank-and-file members of the union hold this position voluntarily (through democratic election by fellow workers or sometimes by appointment of a higher union body) while maintaining their role as an employee of the firm. As a result, the Union Steward becomes a significant link and conduit of information between the union leadership and rank-and-file workers. |
