Target Audience

Aviation Union Stewards – Office and Professional Employees International Union organized under the Railway Labor Act and National Mediation Board

Course Level

Intermediate – Active Steward Skills

Course Description

As a steward, you are often the first line of defense when a pilot is called into a meeting that could lead to discipline. Under the Railway Labor Act, members do not have statutory Weingarten rights. Our authority to represent comes from our Collective Bargaining Agreement.

This course teaches you:

  • When representation rights attach
  • What the CBA actually guarantees
  • Your proper role inside the meeting
  • When to escalate to the Business Agent
  • How to protect the member without obstructing the process

This is about professionalism, preparation, and protecting the integrity of our Agreement.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, stewards will be able to:

  1. Identify when Article 9.2 and 9.3 rights apply.
  2. Explain the difference between RLA minor disputes and disciplinary investigations.
  3. Properly assert representation rights under the CBA.
  4. Conduct themselves appropriately during investigatory meetings.
  5. Recognize escalation triggers (administrative leave, potential discharge, serious misconduct).
  6. Document meetings properly for grievance purposes.
  7. Avoid common steward mistakes that undermine credibility.

Course Structure Overview

Lesson 1 – The Legal Foundation: Where Representation Rights Come From
Lesson 2 – What the CBA Says vs. What It Means in Real Life
Lesson 3 – The Steward’s Role Inside the Meeting
Lesson 4 – Escalation Triggers and Risk Management
Lesson 5 – Scenario Lab: Short Verification Drills
Lesson 6 – Progressive Simulation: Full Meeting Walkthrough
Final Knowledge Check

Sensitive Topics & Risk Flags

  • Investigatory interviews
  • Paid administrative leave
  • Suspension without pay
  • Discharge
  • FAA or drug/alcohol allegations

Escalation guidance included throughout.