Well, I'm still learning. I know who the steward is and interact with him daily for brief periods of time. I interact with him because of where his truck is located on the sort (driver's load their own trucks in my center) relative to where the clerks work.
The closest thing he has ever said to me personally with regard to the union was ribbing me about how come I wasn't bringing in donuts for the drivers since I was a new guy and the contract says new guys bring donuts for a week (a joke of course) and he asked me earlier this week if I had gone out on road the previous day (not sure why he asked because I don't know nothing but I'm sure it was a valid reason).
I'm not suggesting he is a bad steward for one second, I just think he has bigger priorities than some new part-timer (perfectly understandable because most part-timers probably come and go with the seasons). I know a few things about the union, contract, and labor practices that I picked up from my driver during peak season as a driver's helper but I have a LOT to learn.
My personal observation is that I'm a newbie in the union, the union has negotiated what appears to be a very convoluted contract in some places, the union has never once made an attempt to provide me with a copy of the contract or explain how the contract affects me as a Teamster employed by UPS, my coworkers who have been working for a few months longer than myself are also uninformed, and UPS management knows that we (the new hires) are uninformed so what do you think is gonna happen?
For example, I only know that I can request my steward when I get in serious trouble because of this forum. Passing out some information may be helpful (e.g. a copy of the contract, an FAQ for new hires about the Teamsters, when and where the union meetings are or where the union hall is for that matter). I'm taking mental notes and maybe I can do something to improve the situation in the future.
I plan on going to next month's union meeting. I missed this month's because I was mistaken and I went on the first Thursday night of the month (the meetings are actually on the first Tuesday). I figure that should help start to demonstrate that I'm worth something.
Maybe life has made a cynic out of me - I don't expect anything out of him and figure any assistance or mentorship I get is gravy. I do appreciate the driver that I helped during peak season for his mentorship and the recommend so I could get hired on permanently.