On Monday, January 14, 2008, Tour 3 Expeditor Eric Smith was buried at Ft. Logan Cemetery. Eric passed away from injuries suffered in an on the job accident that occurred at the MPA on December 15, 2007 at approximately 2330 hours. Eric was working the south docks and was on the pad directing truck traffic to the docks when he apparently slipped and fell, striking his head against the curb. Help arrived immediately and the Aurora Fire Rescue was on the scene within five to seven minutes and Eric was transported to University Hospital in Aurora. Eric’s family had been in contact with coworkers and the DMAL. We had all hoped for a full recovery, unfortunately, Eric passed away several weeks later. An investigation into the accident was conducted by the Postal Service and OSHA has been notified and their report is expected in several months. A lot of rumblings about the cause, whether preventative measures had been taken and even whether craft persons could have contributed to this fatality will be heard on the work room floor, but none of that will bring our good brother back to his family or his job. At his funeral I committed to his family to participate in the investigation and to do everything I can to make sure no other family has to endure the pain of losing a loved one due to an on the job injury.

Long time member and Clerk Gabe Macias passed away on January 2, 2008. Gabe will be remembered for his long time presence at the TA and GMF on Tour 1 working Zone 3 and 18. Gabe was the light of the tour and never seemed to have “bad” days or night. Years ago when we were younger and playing softball all day and working all night you could always count on Gabe to rib you and laugh at how some of us needed stability and a set schedule of rest. Some of us never found that rest, but Gabe finally has. Rest in Peace my brother!

A special request has been made of me, by APWU President Bill Burrus, to encourage the membership to write their U.S. Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor and support the Mail Network Protection Act. (H.R.4236). This bill would require the Postal Service to bargain with postal unions before it engages in significant subcontracting.

Don’t forget the membership meeting coming up this weekend, Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 9:00 AM. This meeting promises to be the most event filled meeting ever. In addition to the regular order of business we will have the 2008 budget presentation, which is always exciting, 2008 APWU National Convention nominations will be accepted for the two (2) AO delegates and the 4 General delegates that will be voted on at the February 26, 2008 Membership Meeting. Also a second reading of three proposed Constitution and By-Laws changes and then a discussion and vote to occur. DMAL endorsed candidate for Congressional District #4 Betsy Mackey will be in attendance to thank the membership for our endorsement. With Super Tuesday fast approaching on February 5, 2008, one presidential has asked permission to be in attendance. When I get a call from the Secret Service, that will confirm the possibility of a special guest due to appear. I’ll give you as much advanced notice as I can, but you should be here anyway to speak your mind on the business of this local. See you on Saturday!

They can’t do that! It is being suggested that some supervisors out there are instructing craft to do work beyond the times scheduled and later going in and deleting overtime rings. Watch your pay closely and report any discrepancies that you suspect. We will investigate and ensure you get paid for all the time you are entitled to be paid for. Don’t assume your friendly supervisor would never do that to you. There is a lot of pressure to eliminate overtime legally or illegally.

As most of you know, Super Tuesday will be February 5^th. This is a great opportunity to discuss the very important issues of healthcare reform, retirement security, the economy, the war in Iraq, and other matters of importance with your neighbors. I am pleased to inform you that both the Democratic and Republican party websites offer a caucus finder tool so you can find where you need to go.   Now we just need to hope for good weather. 

With the holidays behind us now, there remains issues that we never seem to be able to resolve. Reverted bids that have complicated the staffing and scheduling matrix in the plants remain an issue. Bid annual disputes where juniority trumps seniority; improper holiday mandating, and worst of all, supervisors performing bargaining unit work seems more rampant than ever. Management all over has committed to eliminating over time wherever and whenever they can. The CBA now gives them casual usage throughout the year and adjustments are taking place to assign casuals wherever overtime shows up. Supervisors doing our work is strictly prohibited and not within the rules of our contract. We need a full out attack on management doing our work.   In a meeting with management, I intend to review grievances where we have succeeded in paying monies to craft for management doing our work. When added to monies for overtime violations, more dollars are being paid than before the casuals were full time. In the last six months on Tour 1 alone, over $45,000 has been paid to the Clerk Craft for management doing our work and for overtime calls that were improperly made. Tour 1 stewards Kathy Prusak, Carolyn Molock-Shipp, Lawanda Davis and Rudy Apodaca had been working hard to reward the craft for management’s mistakes. They are to be applauded for their efforts. They can achieve more money if all of us work to provide statements whenever you see management doing our work. Let’s apply as much pressure as possible to convince management that doing their jobs right will leave them no time to do our work. I need you to be the eyes of the contract and report when you see management doing our work.

The US Postal Service now provides basic employment and income verification information to requestors through the TALX Corporation. The Work Number provides automated employment and income verifications. The Work Number provides our employees with quick turnaround service on information. You, the verifier, benefit by receiving immediate access to information that is convenient, accurate and secure. Our standard procedure for verification request is to provide the following instructions to verifiers on how to use The Work Number. You have two options to get the information you need.

Bear Valley Steward Connie Archuleta has been appointed to the Customer Service Safety and Health Committee. Connie will serve as the DMAL’s representative and be directly involved in the implementation and/or enforcement of the policies and procedures describe in Postal Service Handbook EL-809. Connie will receive formal training on the duties and responsibilities of committee members, on the basic elements of the safety and health programs, on identification of hazards and unsafe conditions, and on reports, statistics reviewed and analyzed by the committee. The local Safety and Health Committee will meet at least quarterly with additional meetings at the request of a committee member. The next scheduled quarterly meeting is January 29^th at 1:00 PM at the GMF Administrative Building. I want to thank Connie for accepting this appointment and for her personal commitment to make accident prevention a part of her daily work. As a member of the committee she will be playing a major role in making our workplace safe for all employees.

We have been receiving notification of management’s intent to implement findings of their Function 4 Surveys throughout the area. So far none of the changes management has suggested will result in abolishment or excessing of positions. Although, many of these changes will result in reposting, management has assured us that they will stay within the bounds of the contract during this process. Be assured that your union will be monitoring these proposed changes to insure management sticks to their word. Employees in the affected areas will be informed throughout this transformation period.

The DMAL COPA Committee will kickoff our 2008 drive at the upcoming membership meeting. A laptop computer, portable DVD player and an APWU union made watch, will be in the raffle drawing at the June Membership Meeting. The tickets are available at $2.00 each and can be purchased from your steward. Don’t miss out, purchase freely and often for a chance to win one of these great prizes.