It Pays to Have a Union! Members to Receive $90,000 From MVS Subcontracting Grievance Settlement
by Dennis Enderson, President
Congratulations to MVS Steward Buzz Knopp! Two years ago he filed a grievance protesting a management decision to subcontract MVS transportation work. This grievance was recently settled just prior to arbitration. Members of the MVS craft will share in the distribution of a $90,000 payment from the Postal Service. This payment was achieved through the hard work and dedication of steward Buzz Knopp and the excellent efforts of APWU arbitration advocate George Prusak. Many thanks to Buzz and George for achieving this hard won victory. It pays to have a strong union!
Fred Morin Elected as MVS Craft Director
by Dennis Enderson, President
On Wednesday, May 5, 2004, Denver Metro APWU Election Committee Chairman Steve Claeson announced that Fred Morin was the successful candidate in the runoff election for MVS Craft Director. The final totals were: Buzz Knopp - 47 and Fred Morin - 72. Congratulations to Fred. We look forward to working with him on the Executive Board over the next three years. We sincerely hope that everyone will get behind and support Fred as he works to represent the members of the MVS Craft.
Many Thanks to Local Union Volunteers
by Dennis Enderson, President
Dedicated Union activists are volunteering to serve our local union in a number of essential jobs. The union simply could not function without the tireless efforts of these individuals. Please join me by offering your gratitude to the following volunteers:
Martin Murphy – FMLA Coordinator and advisor. Martin will work with our stewards to help ensure that our members receive every right to which they are entitled under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Ric Lopez – Denver District APWU Scheme Committee Representative. Ric will work to ensure that scheme changes are fair and sensible and that our members’ contractual rights are protected.
Sandra Carruthers – Denver District APWU EAP Advisory Committee Representative. Sandy will work to help monitor and improve the implementation of the Employee Assistance Program throughout the Denver District. She will help to ensure that the program complies with contractual requirements and fulfills its mission to provide quality service to our members.
Jackie Fleming – Denver P&DC Light/Limited Duty Coordinator. Jackie will work with the Light and Limited Duty office in Denver Processing and Distribution to help ensure that our members’ rights are fully protected.
Chris Arellano – CFC Cabinet Member. Chris will serve on the cabinet of the Denver District Combined Federal Campaign. She will help oversee CFC’s fundraising efforts and work to ensure a successful campaign for 2004. Chris is also serving as the local’s Organizing Director. She will help to plan and execute the unions’ efforts to sign up non-members over the next several years. This function is critical to the continued success and vitality of our union.
Steve Claeson – Associate Editor of the Mountaineer. Steve will do the essential work of constructing and producing our local newspaper, the Mountaineer. The Mountaineer serves as a vital communication link to our members relative to our contractual rights and much more.
Rick Romero - Safety and Health Committee Representative. Rick will continue to serve on this extremely important committee. He will work to ensure that the Postal Service complies with its legal and contractual obligation to provide a safe working environment.
Phil Desautels – Human Relations Director. Phil will coordinate and effectuate the activities of our Human Relations Committee. This committee will oversee a number of functions not directly related to contractual enforcement such as OWCP, EEOC Redress, community relations, and much more. Phil will also continue to serve as our local OWCP advisor to members only.
Paul Pearman – Maintenance and MVS Craft Advisor. Director of Industrial Relations Paul Pearman will work closely with the Directors of the Maintenance and MVS crafts to help ensure that the rights of all members are protected.
Tina Desautels – Political Director. Tina will work with Executive Vice-President Gary Scott to plan and implement the local’s efforts relative to federal elections and legislation affecting the lives of postal workers. 2004 is an election year and there is no work more important to our future. Tina, Gary and the other members of our Legislative and Political Committee will be calling upon all of our members to help us protect our future.
All American Summer Picnic
by Gary Scott, Executive Vice-President
What better way to end the summer than with an All-American Picnic complete with games and festivities for all? We heard you loud and clear that you wanted a picnic. We haven’t had a picnic for the membership for four years and we are planning a membership picnic, the likes we have never seen before in this local. There is still work to do, but we are confirmed for September 12, 2004 at Clement Park in Littleton. This is a beautiful park with plenty of parking. We are planning on 800 members/family and hopefully as many as 2400. So mark this date on your calendars. Look for more information in future Union News Express.
Voluntary Retirement Packets Due Back By May 4th by Dennis Enderson, President
If you received a Voluntary Early Retirement Packet last month, please be aware that your Letter of Interest must be returned no later than May 14th to be valid. As previously reported in this news bulletin, returning your LOI does not obligate you to accept early retirement. If qualified, you will receive a formal offer later on. Please remember, in accordance with a national settlement, the Postal Service retains the right to select one of three possible effective dates.
Moe Biller Scholarship Application Instructions in the Next Mountaineer
by Dennis Enderson, President
The next Mountaineer will contain the rules and instructions for applying to receive one of five $500 academic scholarships named after former National APWU president Moe Biller. Denver Metro APWU members and certain family members are eligible to apply. Applications will consist of a letter to the Scholarship Committee accompanied by a 1,000 word essay. Please carefully review the rules and submit applications by no later than the published deadline.
Labor Management Meetings Very Successful
by Dennis Enderson, President
We have held a number of Labor Management meetings with top managers over the past several weeks. We have discussed a myriad of issues ranging from staffing in Customer Service offices to re-initiating the Maintenance Skills Development Program (MSDP). We will continue to meet with and discuss important issues with management on a regular basis. While we will never hesitate to file grievances when necessary, we believe it is often more efficient and effective to negotiate whenever possible.
Please Be Aware:
by Dennis Enderson, President
The local’s Trustees conducted our annual financial audit on Friday, April 30, 2004. The Trustees will deliver their report at the May union meeting.
The next union meeting will be held beginning at 9:00 AM on Saturday, May 15, 2004 at the Union hall. (The date of this meeting was changed to avoid a conflict with the Colorado Postal Workers Union Convention.)
We still need volunteers to deliver invocations (prayers) at union meetings. We are hoping that a variety of individuals from various cultures and faiths will step forward to enhance our appreciation of diversity at union meetings.
There is still no specific news relative to Postal Reform legislation, only a lot of rumors. We will keep you informed of any developments as information becomes available.
It appears that implementation of the new Integrated Voice Response (IVR) call-in system has been delayed for a few weeks. Employees should begin receiving stand-up talks relative to IVR very soon.
We were proud to have 7th District Congressional candidate Dave Thomas speak to our members at the April union meeting. Mr. Thomas was warmly received after revealing that he is a card carrying union member who supports us on all of our vital legislative issues. Our members voted unanimously to endorse Mr. Thomas’ candidacy after he spoke.
Please contact President Dennis Enderson on ext. 114 at 303-365-1524 if you are interested in serving on a committee. Please get involved and stay involved with your union!
Pulling Disciplinary Actions From Your OPF
by Paul Pearman, DIR
Upon taking office the end of March, I contacted the Manager of Labor Relations Paul Neumann to see if we could meet on grievances appealed to arbitration. He assured me there was interest on his part and hopefully we will meet sometime in June. I also asked what the members needed to do to have discipline purged from their OPF. His email response was: for employees of the Denver P&DC and others where the OPF’s are in the custody of the Denver District Administrative building. The simple process of removing stale discipline from an OPF is as follows: If a discipline that was issued to an employee has expired its retention, an employee should make a written request to Labor Relations as per Article 16.10 of the National Agreement. Labor Relations will verify the terms of the retention and remove the action from the employees OPF, if it meets the criteria.
Members may request purged files be mailed to the union hall where it will be mailed to the requesting member. It will take 10 to 14 days after labor’s receipt for this process to finalize.
News From the Political Front
by Tina Desautels, Political Director
We are gearing up for the upcoming political season; I have a few deadlines that you might be interested in. The deadline to be registered to vote in the August 10th Primary Election is July 12th. The deadline to be registered to vote in the November 2nd election is October 4th. We will be inviting several candidates to speak at our union meetings. If you have anyone you would like to hear from, please let me know on ext. 137 and I will try to arrange for them to speak at an upcoming meeting.
Human Relations Program
by Phil Desautels, Human Relations Director
The DMAL is putting together a Human Relations Program. This program will focus on all non-contractual issues to include OWCP, EEO, EAP, CFC, community involvement, and member assistance. If anyone is interested in becoming active in these areas. please contact Phil Desautels at 303-365-1524 ext. 339.
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