Steward Duties

A steward is required on all engagements involving four or more members. The VMA shall appoint a side player who is not an Officer to act as steward on the engagement.

As per 30.3 of the VMA bylaws, the duties of a steward are:

Ascertain the standing of each member who is part of the orchestra or musical group and of any travelling AFM members performing with the orchestra or musical group.

Assist the Board in maintaining compliance with the Bylaws, Tariff and AFM Bylaws by informing the President or Secretary when they become aware of members or non-members associated with the engagement who discriminate against members for supporting and upholding the Bylaws, Tariff or AFM Bylaws, attempt to disrupt relations between the VMA and any of its members or to subvert the objects and principles of the Bylaws, or conduct themselves in a manner that is not consistent with the image of members both as professionals and as artists;

Record information about services including (as applicable) date, location, times, conductor, soloists, numbers of musicians, recording, tardiness, absences, breaks and intermissions, step-ups, doubles, overtime, disputes, unusual occurrences, issues with facilities, working conditions or safety, and any violations of the Bylaws, Tariff, and AFM Bylaws; and act generally as official representative of the VMA while keeping in mind the steward’s role as an observer, recorder, and reporter; and

Submit a true written report, on a form provided by the VMA, to the Secretary within seven (7) days of the engagement, or at the end of each week of an engagement of two (2) or more weeks.

FEES

Stewards are paid 10% step-up from the scale rate outlined in our Tariff of Fees.

STEWARD REPORT

Members can download the fillable steward report in the Association Documents Section of the Member Portal.

SPECIFIC COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT STEWARD ARTICLES 

All Orchestra Collective Agreements can be found in the Association Documents Section of the Member Portal.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) – ARTICLE 17, PAGE 27

Kamloops Symphony Orchestra (KSO) – ARTICLE 15, PAGE 11

Prince George Symphony Orchestra (PGSO) – ARTICLE 5.3, PAGE 14