Denver Metro APWU Executive Board Endorses Proposed Contract Extension
by Dennis Enderson, President
At our regular meeting on Friday, July 15, 2005, the Denver Metro Area Local APWU Executive Board voted unanimously to endorse ratification of the proposed one year extension of our national Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Executive Board conducted extensive debate and discussion on the various pros and cons of the proposed extension. After full consideration of all aspects of the situation, we are confident that the extension represents the very best interests of the members of the American Postal Workers Union.
Ratification ballots will be mailed to all members in good standing beginning Monday, July 18, 2005, and must be returned by no later than Friday, August 5, 2005, in order to be counted. The Executive Board strongly urges all Denver Metro Area Local APWU members to mark their ballots “Yes” and return them to the balloting firm as soon as possible. The following statements by various Executive Board officers serves to express their individual views as to why they support ratification of the extension.
Contract Extension: Yea or Nay
by Miguel Salazar, Maintenance Craft Director
In the current climate where companies are still down sizing in a slow economy, Unions for United Airlines are forced to take what is on the table or lose what they have by the hands of the Bush administration. My Brothers Union took pay cuts to bail out Qwest and for their contract, management is offering next to nothing but to increase the percentage of payment the employee would have to make for their health care benefits. Do we really have a choice? Yes. I am in support of the extension in spite of the rhetoric that is flying around nationwide. Yes! There are some aspects of the extension that may not appease some but this is a great offer on the table. Is all lost if your job was not upgraded? No. Is there a big plan in the future? Yes. The reality of this contract is that we still get a raise and two COLA’s. Certain jobs will receive an upgrade, no reduction in benefits, and we still have a no lay off clause. The Unions for the Postal Service are the only Unions that I know who have never had to give up anything in a contract. I may be wrong, but can you say that about the civilian sector? I think not! Vote yes for the extension! This is the right move at the right time!
1373 Reasons to Endorse
Contract Extension
by Steve Claeson, Coordinator
The extension will provide $1,373 in permanent salary/COLA increases over the next year. These are better raises than any other Postal Union will get during that period. Then, in 2006, the major unions will all be negotiating their contracts at the same time. This will improve our bargaining position and will also prevent other unions from piggy-backing on our successes.
This is the best deal we have gotten in years. It will make our union stronger and our wallets fatter. I recommend voting “Yes” when the ratification ballot comes in your mailbox.
My Vote ---An Unconditional YES!
by Sandy Carruthers, Administrative Aide
I have long said that my union membership is the best insurance policy and investment plan I own. This belief is reaffirmed by the success of our national leadership in bringing to us an offer to extend our contract for one year.
I am happy that the proposed extension not only includes a wage increase and two COLA adjustments, but also extends the no lay off provision, upgrades several positions, and continues most of the provisions of our current good contract. The fact that our health benefits and retirement options remain the same is enough to get my support. The tentative extension certainly includes other improvements.
I hope our health insurance and retirement options remain intact long past my last day of USPS employment until the day I die. The one year extension will mean that the contracts for the four largest postal unions will all expire on November 20, 2006. Thus increasing the collective strength to maintain our benefits.
You can say my opinion is a narrow, personal one---it is! But I also believe in a broader sense my opinion reflects the collective best interest of all APWU represented craft members and our families. I am looking forward to receiving my ratification ballot in my mail box through the best postal service in the world and returning it with U.S. postage paid fully from my union dues. MY VOTE---AN UNCONDITIONAL YES!!
The Right Deal at the Right Time!
by Dennis Enderson, President
For many years the American Postal Workers Union has done an outstanding job of representing the best interests of our members. This has been accomplished through the superb efforts of several generations of outstanding leadership. Our current group of leaders is no exception. President Burrus has successfully negotiated a proposed one year extension to our current Collective Bargaining Agreement. He has called upon our membership to support his efforts. We elect officers to lead us based upon their education, experience and wisdom. When a proven effective leader offers to lead us, I believe it is prudent to follow. President Burrus has fully explained why he believes the proposed extension is in our best interests, and it makes a great deal of sense to me.
The last national arbitrator put language right in his decision to the effect that postal workers “enjoy” what he referred to as a “significant wage premium” over our counterparts in the private sector. He went on to state that future interest arbitrators ought to continue to exercise “sensible wage restraint”. President Burrus is absolutely correct when he says that we cannot expect larger wage increases if we push our contract into arbitration. The two COLA increases, along with the proposed 1.6% general increase would yield almost $1400 in salary increases for every one of our members. In addition, 14 different craft positions would receive full one level upgrades. There is no way we could get this deal from an arbitrator!
Along with these outstanding wage increases, we would experience no reductions in our retirement and/or health benefits, and no cuts to any other pay premiums (such as Sunday premium, night differential and penalty overtime). Compare this with our sisters and brothers in other industries who are experiencing draconian reductions in all of these areas. Ask a current United Airlines employee how they feel about the deal we’re being offered. They’ll tell you we are nuts if we don’t take it!
Please read the materials you will soon receive with your ratification ballot very carefully. There are many other benefits connected with the proposed extension that are too numerous to mention here. After you have studied the proposed extension, I hope you will agree that it’s the right deal at the right time for all of our members. Please vote “YES” and return your ratification ballot right away!
The Best Yet
by Paul Pearman, Director Industrial Relations
Ballots to either accept or reject a one year extension are being mailed to all members’ homes on July 18, 2005. I have been stopped by many members on the floor and received numerous calls asking my opinion on the extension. I have put a lot of thought into what way I will vote. I had to remind myself that this is only an extension for one year. That helped me get another perspective on what is included in this extension. I have searched back prior contracts and here is the basic annual salary increases for these contracts:
1987 – 1990 – The basic annual salary for each grade and step will be increased by an amount equal to 2% of the base annual salary and additional increases through the remainder of the contract adding up to $1300.
1990 – 1994 – The basic annual salary will be increased 1.2% effective June 15, 1991, another 1.5% effective November 16, 1991, another 1.5% effective November 28, 1992 and a 1.6% effective November 27, 1993.
1994 – 1998 – November 25, 1995 a 1.2% increase, November 22, 1997 another 1.2% increase.
1998 – 2000 – November 21, 1998 a 2.0% increase, November 20, 1999 an increase of 1.4%
2000 – 2003 – November 18, 2000 a 1.2% increase, November 17, 2001 a 1.8% increase, November 16, 2002 a 1.4% increase.
Previous extension – November 15, 2003 a 1.3% increase, November, 27, 2004 a 1.3% increase.
The 1.6% for one year is above average over the last four contracts. Our union leaders have always fought to increase the pay and benefits due the membership and along with the pay increase this extension provides that:
The craft position upgrades – Unfortunately not everyone is happy if they were not included, but President Burrus phrases it best “The union sought a larger wage increase and upgrades of many additional job classifications, but we cannot arbitrate on extensions”.
A provision that VERA opportunities during 2004 – 2005 will be granted early-outs.
Yes, I am for the extension. I believe we are receiving gains that if we were to negotiate at this time would be unobtainable. Am I worried about where next year’s negotiations with all the postal unions will end? You bet!
Highlights of the Tentative
Contract Extension
reprinted from APWU Website
Listed below are the highlights of the tentative agreement to extend the 2000-2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The contract extension preserves the terms of the current agreement, with the following modifications.
Salary Increases, COLAs
- A 1.6 percent wage increase will take effect March 18, 2006, based on the wages in effect following the September 2005 cost-of- living increase. This percentage increase exceeds the 1.3 percent that will be granted to other postal unions in November. Because it is based on the higher wages of September 2005, the dollar value is enhanced.
- Wage increases at the same percent and under the same terms will be granted to Transitional Employees (TEs).
- Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) will be granted in March and September 2006. The contract extension will enable members to enjoy the full benefit of the six-month COLA increase that accrues between August 2005 (after the final measuring period of the current agreement) and January 2006. Typically, when a contract is negotiated, the COLA base measuring period is moved, and three months worth of COLA is lost. When contracts are arbitrated, at least one cost-of- living adjustment is lost entirely.
- The projected annual values of the increases are estimated to be as follows:
March 2006 COLA: Approximately $208
March 2006 1.6 percent increase (Level 5, Step O): Approximately $728
September 2006 COLA: Approximately $437
Upgrades
Effective March 18, 2006, pay levels for the following positions will be upgraded one level:
CLERK CRAFT: Air Records Processor, PS-5; TACS Time and Attendance Clerk, PS-5; Bulk Mail Clerk, PS-5; Ramp Clerk AMF, PS-6;
- MAINTENANCE CRAFT: Maintenance Mechanic, PS-5; Welder, PS-6; Carpenter, PS-6; Letter Box Mechanic, PS-6; Maintenance Electrician, PS-6; Painter, PS-6; Plumber, PS-6;
MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICES CRAFT: Automotive Painter, PS-6; Vehicle Operations Assistant, Bulk Mails, PS-6; Body and Fender Repairman, PS-7.
The upgrades will be based on a step-to-step upgrade, including credit for waiting period time already served.
As Maintenance Mechanic, PS-4, positions become vacant, if the Postal Service fills the vacancies, they will be as Maintenance Mechanic, PS-5, positions.
Other Provisions
No-layoff protection will be extended to all career employees who were on the rolls as of Nov. 20, 2000, for an additional year.
Employees who work in offices where there is excessing from the craft or installation will be permitted to transfer to any office that is filling vacancies through the hiring process.
A minimum of 18 Modified Work Week pilot programs will be established during the term of the extension.
Employees will be granted an additional opportunity to be declared a successful bidder during the extension.
Uniform and work clothes allowances will be increased.
The memorandum of understanding that provides career opportunities to TEs will be extended. This protection will apply to TEs working in REC sites for the life of the extension; for non-REC TEs it will apply until Dec. 31, 2005, when they will be phased out, in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Eligible employees who were denied VERA opportunities during 2004-2005 will be granted early-outs.
The USPS will increase the maximum number of voluntary payroll allotments (from two to three).
The USPS will provide information to the APWU at the national level regarding consolidation of installations.
Union Rights
- The union and management will each be granted the opportunity to advance two cases to the top of the national arbitration docket during the period of the extension. This will provide timely resolution of important national- level disputes between the union and management.
- In the 60-day period following ratification, the parties at the local level will be granted an opportunity to engage in local negotiations.
- The union will be provided all current handbooks, manuals, and published regulations that are on the USPS intranet in an electronic format on a semi-annual basis; reports that are currently provided to the union in hard copy will be transmitted electronically when possible.
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