Postal Reform Legislation Appears Doomed
by Dennis Enderson, President
Based upon reports from numerous sources, including the national APWU, the NALC, the NPMHU and the government news website Govexec.com, it appears that proposed postal reform legislation is once again doomed to defeat in the current congressional session. Many interest groups worked together for years to carefully craft proposed bills that would correct obvious deficiencies in the current system without alienating key constituencies that could render final passage unlikely, if not impossible. As expected, the Bush administration has once again demonstrated a complete unwillingness to compromise on any of its demands, greedily insisting on stripping employees of many of their collective bargaining rights, and on protecting the financial interests of its wealthy corporate benefactors. One by one, the bush administration has dropped poison pills into the process that have caused one co-sponsor after another to withdraw its support of the proposed reform package.
In one sense, APWU members feel grateful towards Mr. Bush, because his insistence on a total victory has scuttled any chance of a bill achieving final approval, a fact that at least shields us from any harmful changes. The APWU remains willing to support sensible postal reform legislation that does not seek to gut the rights and benefits of our members. However, so long as our enemies remain dedicated to the destruction of our hard won collective bargaining rights, it is unlikely that a compromise will be reached on a final postal reform package anytime soon. However, we must remain vigilant because things sometimes move fast in Washington. Please stay turned.
Board Rules Federal Employees
With Reserve Service Due Back Pay
from the MSPB
A Merit Systems Protection Board decision could mean thousands of dollars for about 100,000 National Guard and reserve members who were also government employees during much of the 1990’s. A 2003 court ruling said nearly everyone who took military leave from federal jobs before December 2000 was shortchanged on leave days and eligible for back pay.
In implementing the ruling, the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees federal employment policies, limited its back-pay claimant period based on a 1940 ruling that allows such claims going back only six years. Thus, someone filing a claim today under OPM’s rules would be eligible only for lost pay from August 1999 to December 2000 – and that would gradually have narrowed until closing in December 2006.
But MSPB’s July decision lets reservists file back-pay claims for military leave as far back as October 1, 1994. A reservist employed by the federal government from that date through December 2000 would be eligible for about 24 days of back pay. On December 21, 2000, Congress changed the law so only regular workdays counted against military leave. On July 24, 2003, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the employees should have been required to take military leave only on workdays instead of every calendar day of their duties. The ruling is known as Butterbaugh v. Department of Justice.
Last October, OPM issued a memo outlining how back pay would be processed for anyone affected by the appeals court’s ruling. It said back pay would be processed for both current workers and those who have left government service. However, the memo cited a 1940 law that provides a six-year statute of limitations on leave claims against the federal government.
In effect, that meant OPM would process back-pay claims only for the six years proceeding the date a claim is filed. But MSPB’s latest 15-page decision, issued July 15, agreed that under USERRA, no six-year statute of limitations exists on such claims.
2005 Snowstorm Grievance Settled
by Dennis Enderson, President
Clerk Craft Director Brian Thomason reports that he has reached a settlement on a grievance the Denver Metro APWU filed last year requesting administrative leave for employees who were unable to report to work because of a blizzard that occurred on Sunday, April 10, 2005. The settlement awards annual leave reimbursement or administrative leave to employees on Tour 3 at the GMF, MPA or AMC. Many thanks go to Brian for this excellent and hard won settlement. It pays to have a strong union that fights for your rights!
Post Office Information Official Departs
from the Associated Press
Azeezaly Jaffer, the Postal Service’s top public affairs spokesman, has left the agency under a cloud. Jaffer left his post unexpectedly June 30. He has declined to discuss his reasons for leaving or accusations against him.
A longtime head of the stamp section for the postal service, Jaffer was in charge of public affairs when he left. A Postal Inspection Service report dated June 19 includes accusations of Jaffer running up an excessive $8,252 hotel bill at a three-day event in Washington, of bypassing the Postal Service travel agency in order to obtain travel promotional benefits and spending extravagantly on meals and drinks. The report also included allegations of excessive drinking, using crass language in mixed company and commenting on the appearance of female co-workers.
Union Launches Ad
Campaign to Combat Consolidation
APWU News Bulletin #08-2006, July 26, 2006
The APWU is taking its grassroots campaign against USPS “network realignment” to a new level by airing radio and television ads that warn of week-long delays in mail delivery. Broadcast advertising began July 26, with radio and television commercials running in Beaumont (TX), Bloomington (IN), Cumberland (MD), St. Petersburg (FL), and Yakima (WA), cities where APWU activists have already taken steps to inform citizens about the negative effect USPS network consolidation plans will have on mail service for individual postal customers and small businesses.
APWU activists in these cities have enlisted support from elected officials, community organizations, commercial enterprises, and individual citizens.
“The radio and TV ads are only the opening salvo in what promises to be a long campaign,” said APWU President William Burrus. “The USPS plan was created without any input from the American people, whose mail service will deteriorate. The plan is the result of an effort by big mailers to reduce their own postage costs at the expense of all others.
While the ads are aimed at the general public, the campaign is also designed to reach decision-makers and “opinion shapers,” such as elected officials, local business leaders, and journalists, as well as USPS management.
“We must use all the tools at our disposal to involve the residents of the affected communities in this effort,” Burrus said. “The Evolutionary Network Development plan is part of a dangerous mindset that has been embraced by top-level managers of the Postal Service. The commitment to serving the nation’s citizens is history: High-ranking postal officials now feel free to act as agents for the major mailers’ and their special business interests.”
Since October 2005, more than 40 postal facilities have been identified for consolidation of “some operations,” or for Area Mail Processing feasibility studies.
APWU Firm in Opposition
to Employee-Opinion Surveys
from www.apwu.org
With contract negotiations set to begin next month, APWU leaders and members are being asked to remind co-workers not to participate in management efforts to seek their opinions on workplace issues.
“The subjects addressed in ‘Voice of the Employee’ and other employee-opinion surveys should be discussed in labor-management meetings, where the concerns of all represented employees are considered,” said Greg Bell, APWU Industrial Relations director. “That is the purpose of these meetings — for workers to speak with a united voice, so that their message cannot be manipulated against their own interests.”
The Postal Service has misrepresented survey results in the past, Bell noted, by claiming during contract talks that workers’ responses supported management’s wage proposals.
Discipline for Mystery Shops is Prohibited
by Dennis Enderson, President
We have recently received reports that management may once again be attempting to issue discipline based upon the results of Mystery Shopper scores. The union and management agreed long ago at the headquarters level that such discipline is strictly prohibited and will not be issued. However, it appears that some supervisors are determined to challenge this headquarters level policy and push forward anyway. We are in the process of addressing this issue with Denver District management and will do everything in our power to put a stop to this practice. However, in the meantime, it is imperative that you report any such discipline to your steward so that an appropriate grievance can be initiated within contractual time limits.
Some individuals in management believe they can circumvent the headquarters policy by using undercover supervisors as opposed to the “official” Mystery Shoppers to conduct the surveys. This reprehensible and dishonest practice has been challenged by the union and consistently won in arbitration. We will not hesitate to pursue all such cases into arbitration in the future.
Although we are confident that we will prevail against this latest effort to trample on your rights, we strongly encourage you to follow any instructions from your supervisor relative to your duties as a Window Clerk. Also, we fully support the G. I. S. T. protocol (Greet, Inquire, Suggest, Thank) for retail transactions. It is vital that we all do everything in our power to enhance and protect postal revenues. After all, that’s where we get our salaries and benefits!
PARS/CIOSS Staffing Impacts Looming
by Dennis Enderson, President
As we have repeatedly reported, we still do not have a specific impact statement for the CFS unit relative to PARS/CIOSS implementation. However, we have received recent information that Denver may receive additional mail from surrounding offices that could significantly lessen adverse impacts on our employees. While nothing is certain, this could help to explain some of the uncertainty surrounding our situation, and could prove to be very good news. We hope to have more specific information very soon and will share any news with potentially affected employees as soon as possible.
AI/AFSM 100 Staffing
Impacts Rapidly Approaching
by Dennis Enderson, President
There is much more certainty about staffing impacts to current AFSM 100 employees relative to AI implementation. The retrofits are progressing on schedule and we continue to anticipate excessing and abolishing by no later than the end of September, when the seventh and final machine is converted. We are currently working to ensure that we have current and accurate staffing information that will be essential to ensure the excessing process is conducted with full contractual compliance. It is impossible to predict the actual numbers of employees who will either be excessed or be required to re-bid in-section at this time because of the unknown impact of the ongoing voluntary monthly bidding process. We are also still waiting on a final staffing package from management. We will meet with affected employees in the near future as soon as sufficient information becomes available.
Delegates to Attend AFL-CIO COPE Convention
by Dennis Enderson, President
At the same time our fifteen elected delegates will be attending the 2006 APWU National Convention in Philadelphia next week, we will also have seven delegates attending the Colorado AFL-CIO’s COPE Convention in Denver, Colorado.
The AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) holds conventions during election years to conduct official business, and to consider endorsements of political candidates and ballot issues. The Denver Metro Area Local APWU is one of the largest union locals in the state, and we are entitled to seven delegates based upon our current membership level of about 2,300. Our seven delegates will be Political Director Tina Desautels, Associate Editor Steve Claeson and stewards Alphonso Barker, Martin Murphy, Monica Lipscomb, Charlie Garcia and Muriel Ponder. Needless to say, 2006 is proving to be a very busy year!
Union, Management Agree
To Restore Retirement Counseling
APWU Web News Article #45-06, Aug. 4, 2006
The APWU and USPS signed an agreement Aug. 4 requiring the Postal Service to restore individual and group retirement counseling, which management had discontinued. The counseling sessions were suspended beginning in April 2005, when management applied the Human Resources Shared Services program to retirement and separation activities. Under the Shared Services plan, personnel activities were moved from local postal facilities to a centralized site in Greensboro, NC.
According to the
settlement, previously established local counseling methods will be reinstated. The settlement is in accordance with provisions of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), which outlines management’s obligation to provide retirement counseling to employees
.
Cookbook Sales Are Hot!
by Dennis Enderson, President
The Denver Metro APWU Human Relations Committee cookbook, “Cooking With Your Union Family” is off to a great start. Hundreds of copies have sold already. Member feedback has been very positive. Sandra Medina says “very delicious!” and “I can hardly wait for the 2nd edition!” Saundra Calderone says “I love this cookbook!”
The cookbook is 100% handmade by DMAL/APWU members and staff. Funds raised from the sale of this cookbook will help members who are in need and carious charities as approved by the members. You will like this cookbook, and we hope it will find a special place in your kitchen!
To get your copy, contact one of the
following members of the Cookbook Committee:
Sandy Carruthers–303-853-6646/303-365-1524 ext. 433
Phil Desautels – 303-365-1524 ext. 339
Tina Desautels – 303-365-1524 ext. 437
Pam Burrell – In person at the MPA
or
Come in person to the DMAL Office at 15677 E. 17th Ave. in Aurora and ask for Rita Burns or Jean Daniel. Cost is $10 per book.
26th Annual Easter Seals
Colorado Softball Marathon
by Lawanda Davis, Asst. Director Clerk Craft
Hit a Home Run for Easter Seals Colorado at Highline Park in Aurora on August 26, 2006, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For more information and sign-up sheets, contact Lawanda Davis at 303-365-1524 ext. 17.
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