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Open Season
November 8 – December 13, 2021
by Tinamarie Vivens-Stafford, Human Relations Director
It’s that time of year to make changes to your Health Benefits. In order to do so, you must have your Employee Identification Number (EIN) and Password for LiteBlue, or your EIN and four-digit code for the Self-Service line. You can make changes as follows:
APWU - Sarah Barber, Health Plan Representative
(303) 365-1524 ext. 315
PostalEASE - Can be accessed through LiteBlue and will allow you to make changes to your Federal Employee Health Benefit plan (FEHB).
Self Service Line 1-877-477-3273 option 1
Benefeds.com - Dental and Vision plans
FSAFeds.com - Flexible Spending Accounts
(must be renewed yearly)
HRSSC Fax #’s - (336) 662-4070 or (336) 662-4073
If you do not have any changes, you will automatically be enrolled in your current plan(s). If you are a new employee and do not have access to LiteBlue, you need to fill out form USPS-24 (PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet) and return to HRSSC. If you need assistance, please contact your APWU Union Steward. Stay Safe!
Clerk’s Bid Annual
by Laviena Vargas, Director of Clerk Craft
Just a few reminders for all clerks while filling out the Bid Annual forms for the leave year 2022.
Please READ the Bid Annual form in its entirety to include all relevant dates and instructions.
Please remember to fill out the form in its entirety to include a good contact number. (This is only in case you need to be contacted regarding your leave choices.)
Start your choice vacation time on the day after your scheduled days off. Example: If you have Mon/Tues off- your bid annual should start on Wednesday and continue for 5 total working days.
Your choice must be in full week increments.
The section where you officially hold a Bid as of December 1, 2021, is the section in which you will bid your Bid Annual.
Choice weeks are awarded by seniority.
If you and multiple other clerks have the same seniority date then your Rank will determine seniority.
PSE’s do not participate in the Bid Annual Process.
Each day of your choice week must be in compliance with the percentage of clerks allowed off for that time. *Example…. If your days off are Mon/Tues and You request Wednesday March 16th off through Sunday March 20th, each one of those days cannot exceed the maximum number of clerks off for each day. If March 17th is at maximum number of clerks off, the week would be unavailable to award as a choice week.
There is one last round of a single “Special” day off. This single day choice too, must be on a day where the percentage of clerks off is in compliance.
No Bid Annual will be awarded during the blackout period.
The choice dates that are available to bid are listed at the top of the Official Bid Annual Form.
LWOP (leave without pay) is not guaranteed to be granted should you not have sufficient annual leave to cover your choice vacation time. Consideration will be given on a case by case basis.
You must turn in your Bid Annual form to your immediate supervisor by December 1, 2021.
Please make and keep a copy of your Bid Annual form.
Should you have any questions, please see your union steward.
Thank You to the clerks and union stewards who are helping do the Bid Annual this year, you are Appreciated!
Stay Safe and Stay Strong APWU Members!
ALWAYS IN UNITY!
Holidays and Peak Season
by Charles Quintana Assistant Director Clerk Craft
Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year approach! Our peak season is the entire month of December and usually gets going just after Thanksgiving.
The penalty overtime exclusion period is coming soon. In accordance with Article 8, sections 4 and 5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, penalty overtime rules are not applicable for a consecutive four-week period each year during December. This year, the December period begins Pay Period 26–21, Week 1 (December 4, 2021) and ends Pay Period 01- 22, Week 2 (December 31, 2021).
During this exclusion period there is no penalty. Any overtime is at the time and a half rate. But normally more overtime is available during the penalty exclusion period, and we know a lot of employees love the extra hours. If you decide to take advantage of any extra work hours, please work safe and rest up. The language in Article 8.5.G.1 states that excluding December (the penalty exclusion period) employees on the OTDL are limited to no more than twelve hours a day and no more than sixty hours in a week.
The past couple of Peak Seasons management has been calling everyone 12 hours 6 or 7 days a week and has not been holding non OTDL accountable for not working all the OT.
Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!
If you have any questions on the penalty exclusion period feel free to contact me @ 303 365 1524 ext. 17.
Scholarships
by Rita Burns Office Manager
If you have a senior in high school or someone in your family is furthering their education, don’t forget the scholarships that the Denver Metro Area Local and the American Postal Workers Union offer.
The National APWU offers two scholarships: a Vocational Scholarship and the E. C. Hallbeck Scholarship. These scholarships can be accessed at apwu.org. The deadline for these scholarships is March 31, 2022. Winners will receive notice by July 1st.
The Denver Metro Area Local offers the Moe Biller Scholarship. The scholarship award will consist of up to five (5) cash awards in the amount of $500. Each applicant must be a member in good standing of the Denver Metro Area Local, APWU for at least one (1) year prior to the date of application or must be the spouse or child of someone who has been a member in good standing of the Denver Metro Area Local, APWU for at least one (1) year prior to the date of application. However, current postal employees who are non-members of their union are ineligible to apply. You can access this scholarship at www.denverapwu.com.
Copies of these scholarships can also be obtained by calling Rita or Lindi at 303-365-1524 ext. 11 or 10.
Is Your Address Correct?
by Rita Burns, Office Manager
With local elections just around the corner, now is the time to update your address. Have you been receiving mailings from the Denver Metro APWU? If not, call Rita or Lindi at 303-365-1524 ext. 11 or 10 with your new address.
Santa Letters
by Rita Burns, Office Manager
HO! HO! HO! It is that time of year again! Do you have a child who would like to receive a personalized letter from Santa? If so, send the child’s name, address, something about the child and what he/she would like from Santa for Christmas, and of course the name of the DMAL member, and we will send a personalized letter to them! Send all letters to the below address:
Santa Letters
DMAL/APWU
15677 E. 17th Ave.
Aurora, CO 80011
Happy Holidays to all DMAL families!!
WEBSITE REGISTRATION
In order to access the November General Membership Meeting you must be registered on the DMAL website. You can register at www.denverapwu.com. Please register at least 48 hours prior to the meeting so the secretaries can activate you on the website.
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