Over the past few weeks we have experienced the loss of four of our good union brothers; Elisha “Buck” Jones, Michael Baird, Joseph P. Kruchowski and Jeremy Trejo. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the loved ones of our departed comrades. They were loyal union members, and we will greatly miss them. In accordance with our local’s Constitution and Bylaws, the Denver Metro APWU has issued checks for $500 to the appropriate beneficiary in each family, where appropriate. Please remember these individuals and their families in your own way.

It’s a sad time when someone dear to us passes on and even more devastating when we witness a death. I’m speaking of our dear friend Elisha “Buck” Jones. We want to thank those who reacted by calling 911 and those who immediately started CPR. In a situation like this we sometimes want to blame everyone and anything. By doing this we sometimes express negative feelings. There are going to be times where we have no control of certain situations even though we try our best to make things work. The Safety Office did what they could in the time it was notified. Management shut down operations and had contacted EAP for those who might need assistance. The union took immediate action to meet with management on expressing the needs of what should take place in the future. CPR will be offered to employees on a voluntary basis. There are ongoing discussions about possibly installing (AED) Automated External Defibrillators in our facility, and possibly others as well. We all have to understand that even by taking these measures it will not always be possible to save someone’s life.

MVS Craft Director Fred Morin and I recently had a labor/management meeting with Tom Martin. We shared our concerns on the possibility of another THS contract being issued. Fred is working diligently to show this work can and should be performed by MVS. A number of times throughout the meeting Tom told us MVS was servicing Denver in a exceptional manner. Yet sub-contracting still faces us! This struggle not only lies heavily on us as union leaders but on you, the drivers. Attendance is a major factor thrown at us, so I ask you to help us help you. Taking that chip away from their argument, increases our chance of success against sub-contracting. The arrival of the new 11 tons is still set for September, Tom Martin reminded us that the Security Act requires all trailers to be locked while in tow. Please take the time to do so, avoid the possibility of any discipline being issued. MVS does and always will move the mail faster and more efficiently than any other organization.

A contract dispute between the union representing hotel workers and their management counterparts in Los Angeles has caused concern about the possibility of a strike or lockout during the APWU’s 17^th Biennial National Convention. I have been in contact with both parties, offering the APWU’s support to the hotel workers, and demanding assurances from hotel management that our delegates would not be subjected to any repercussions of the labor dispute during our convention. (The Los Angeles Convention Center is not affected by this conflict.) I have received written assurances that the labor dispute will not disrupt our stay in the Los Angeles area. The APWU National Convention will convene as scheduled in the reserved hotels.

The American Postal Workers Union and the U.S. Postal Service reached an agreement recently to jointly promote OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs in every postal facility that chooses to participate. The agreement endorses the VPP goals to improve safety and health practices at worksites in ways that demonstrably reduce the severity of and number of accidents and on-the-job injuries. The agreement provides Joint Area support for sites participating in VPP that will include monitoring the process and assisting in the resolution of issues that are brought to light, and reviewing and evaluating VPP site-specific reports. The evaluation will identify “best practices” that will be shared with other local sites. The Voluntary Protection Program is a long-standing program with a proven record of reducing injuries and illnesses – OSHA data show that the average VPP worksite has a lost-workday incidence rate more than 50 percent below the industry average.

An increase in the Consumer Price Index in June means that if the adjustment were made based on the fifth month of the six-month measuring period, the sixth Cost-of-Living Adjustment period under the National Agreement would give employees an annual raise of $686. The adjustment, which is subject to fluctuation in the next month of accounting, would amount to a 33 cents per hour increase, which works out to $26.40 per pay period. The sixth COLA will be based on the July index point and will take effect in September.

The Postal Service is in the mode of challenging anything it can when an OWCP claim is filed, or claims within the case as it progresses. To increase your chances of a claim being approved, loss wages, leave buy-back etc., you must have the proper medical evidence. This evidence must be dated at the time of the occurrence. Medical evidence cannot be back-dated. In other words, if you fail to obtain the proper medical evidence, you will not get lost wages, or be able to buy back any leave taken after the fact. This is what OWCP recommends. If you call in sick for your accepted condition, go to your doctor immediately, obtain the proper medical documentation, and submit it with your CA7. You can also call your doctor, follow his/her instructions, and have your doctor send in the report to OWCP at the London, Kentucky Scanning Center. Again, the Postal Service and OWCP will not tell everything you need to do during the life of your claim. Get the correct information first. If you work at the GMF, see Bobbie Rollins. If you work at the MPA, see Peggy Broulette. If you work at the Denver Stations and Area Offices, call me.

There is some confusion among our members as to what is available and what is required with regard to Light Duty. If you apply for light duty, there is one danger that you should be aware of. If you have less than five years seniority with the Postal Service, you are not eligible for permanent light duty. If you don’t have five years with the USPS, don’t apply for permanent light duty. You can apply for temporary light duty if you doctor feels that it is appropriate. Light duty is a modified work assignment to accommodate the medical restrictions of an employee who is injured at home, or anywhere other than at work, and is available to both full time and part time clerks. Those employees with Veteran’s Preference, those hired with known disabilities, or who become injured or ill at work have different rights. If you have any questions about your light duty rights and responsibilities, see your APWU stewards before you submit anything. Solidarity!

On July 21, 2004 Executive Vice-President Gary Scott and his lovely wife Sherrie welcomed Malcolm Xavier Scott into the world. Both mother and newborn son are doing fine. (However, we’re not so sure about the father, who seems to come into the office looking a little tired these days.) Congratulations and best wishes to the Scott family! We look forward to the day when we can appoint young Malcolm as a steward for our local!

The rodeo is coming to the United States Postal Service. The Postal Service Black History Committee, in conjunction with the Social & Recreation Committee and Doyal Thompson, invite you to join them in their focus on the history of the Black Cowboys and Cowgirls of the west. The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo has entertained families from the east coast to the west coast and features top local and national black cowboys and cowgirls from across the nation. Make plans to be there Saturday, August 21st at 7:00 PM and Sunday, August 22nd at 3:30 PM. For tickets contact Black History Committee at 303-853-6938 or Doyal Thompson at 720-217-3954.

The Executive Board has scheduled a special membership meeting on Wednesday August 18, 2004 beginning at 5 PM at the union office. The sole purpose of this special meeting is to discuss issues relative to the upcoming National APWU Officer Election. In accordance with the local’s Constitution and Bylaws, no other business may be conducted at this special meeting.

Please remember to vote in the primary election scheduled on Tuesday, August 10, 2004. If you are not yet registered, please request a form from your union representative, or contact the union office. The general elections is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Please watch your mail for lots of information about all the candidates and be prepared to cast your well informed and labor friendly vote this fall! Your job security depends on it!

Postal Reform legislation has been introduced in both houses of Congress.  However, neither bill has been sent out of committee for a floor vote. It is unclear whether any action will occur until after the election. Please remain alert and be ready to take action on short notice by contacting your legislators if the need should arise. We will keep you informed as information becomes available.

The Louisville Labor Day Parade will be on Monday, September 6, 2004. Please join us to walk with the Boulder Area Labor Council and hand out balloons along the parade route. We will be meeting at the Post Office located on the corner of Front Street and Pine in Louisville between 6 AM and 8 AM or you can join us along the parade route on Lafayette Street. Bring your family and be prepared to have a great time!

Many of you have asked us why there are casuals being trained to work in the SPBS operation at the Denver Mail Processing Annex. As previously reported, the new APPS machine is scheduled for deployment in Denver during April 2005. It is apparent that this device will trigger the elimination of up to 80 duty assignments in the SPBS operation. After careful internal analysis and extensive discussions with management, we requested a freeze on any future postings of vacated SPBS duty assignments. As attrition occurs, it is necessary to backfill vacancies with non-career employees to maintain the operation during the transition. While this situation is undesirable, it will help to cushion the adverse impact of APPS implementation next spring. Our members should be aware that there is no contractual prohibition against training casuals to work in the SPBS operation. Please try to understand that we are doing everything in our power to minimize the need for excessing and abolishing in the future. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work through these challenging issues.  

The following new stewards recently attended Basic Steward Training at the union office: Shane Allen, Rudy Apodaca, Paul Blackburn, Terryle Martinez, Carolyn Molock-Shipp, Yu Lan Mullinax, Kathy Prusak, Michael Richardson and Barbara Wolf. Basic Steward Training is an essential part of our steward selection and appointment process, Many thanks to Executive Vice-President Gary Scott, Director of Industrial Relations Paul Pearman, and former National Business Agent John Kelly for planning, organizing and conducting this excellent training! Congratulations and the best of luck to all of our new stewards!

The union and management have agreed that all employees who have left the SPBS operation at the Denver Mail Processing Annex since July 7, 2003 will be given retreat rights to future SPBS vacancies. In addition, each impacted employee will receive an “extra” bid during the current contract period. This is based upon a recognition that once employees are informed about an upcoming excessing and abolishing event, any bid is considered to be an “involuntary” action, resulting in retreat rights. All affected employees will receive an appropriate notification letter in the near future.

We are pleased to announce that Phil Desautels has successfully settled the maximization grievance for Lafayette. Lafayette has no PTF’s, as their last PTF was converted to regular on July 31^st. We are also working on maximization in Longmont, Golden, Mead and Lyons and we hope to have success in those areas too. 

Snap a few photos of APWU members for the Mountaineer! We have a diverse membership and you may find a good opportunity to catch some of them in action. It only takes a few minutes, then you can send photo prints or high quality digital photos along with a brief description or caption to:

As photographer you will get a byline and a union T-shirt if your photo or photos are used in a 2004 issue of the Mountaineer (union members only, of course). The deadline for the next issue is August 20, 2004.

• Please remember the Membership Appreciation Picnic scheduled at Clement Park on Sunday, September 12, 2004 from 11 AM to 3 PM. Members and immediate family are invited. Please be there!
• The Easter Seals Softball Tournament is scheduled for August 15, 2004 at the Schaeffer Athletic Complex in Littleton, Colorado. Please contact Paul Pearman at 303-365-1524 ext. 113 for more information about how to participate and/or make a contribution.
• The Denver Metro APWU Membership Golf Tournament is scheduled for August 8, 2004. Please contact Paul Pearman at 303-365-1524 ext. 113 for more information. 
• Please watch your mail for information about the upcoming National APWU Officer Election. The Denver Metro APWU is sponsoring a “Get Out the Vote” drive with huge prizes for some of those who vote in this election!
• The next regular membership meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 25, 2004 from 9 AM to 11 AM at the union office. We’ll see you there!