Meaning & use
shop steward
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablebusiness
A union member elected by coworkers to represent them in discussions with managers and to handle workplace complaints.
Grammar: Countable noun. Can be preceded by 'a' or 'the' and has a plural form.
Patterns
- elect someone as shop steward
- the shop steward for a department
The shop steward negotiated a new overtime policy with the factory manager.
If you have a problem with your pay, talk to the shop steward first.
She was elected shop steward for the assembly line workers.
Word forms
| plural | shop stewards |
|---|
Common combinations
- union shop steward
- The union shop steward called a meeting to discuss the new contract.
- elect a shop steward
- The workers will elect a shop steward next week.
- shop steward's role
- The shop steward's role is to ensure fair treatment of employees.
Synonyms and how they differ
- union representative
- A broader term for any union official who represents workers, not necessarily elected by a specific shop or department.
- delegate
- General term for someone chosen to represent a group; less specific to labor unions.
Commonly confused: shop steward or shop manager?
shop steward vs shop manager
A shop manager runs a store or department and represents the employer, while a shop steward represents the workers.
Practice
What is the main responsibility of a shop steward?
Choose one answer.
A shop steward is elected by coworkers to represent them in dealings with managers, often handling complaints and negotiations. Managing operations, hiring, and pricing are typically management tasks.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shop steward”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.