Constitution & Bylaws Changes
to be Considered at
January 2005 Union Meeting
by Dennis Enderson, President
At our November 2004 meeting, the Executive Board considered and endorsed a number of proposed changes to the Denver Metro Area Local APWU Constitution and Bylaws. In accordance with the current constitution, these proposals were given a first reading at the recently completed November 2004 regular general membership meeting and will be given a second reading at the next membership meeting on Saturday, January 22, 2005. After the second reading, these proposals will be debated and voted upon at this same meeting in January 2005. If approved by three fifths of those members present and voting, these proposed amendments will be incorporated into the local’s Constitution and Bylaws. The five proposed changes are as follows:
1. Proposed New Language: Article 10 Section 1
President: An annual salary equivalent to PS Level 10, Step O, plus 10%
Executive Vice-President: An annual salary equivalent to PS Level 9, Step O, plus 10%
Director of Industrial Relations: An annual salary equivalent to PS Level 8, Step O, plus 10%
This would change the formula for calculating the salaries of the three full time officers (the President, the Executive Vice-President and the Director of Industrial Relations) so that the annual salaries of these officers are reduced by approximately $2500 each. (This would be accomplished by changing the percentage added on to the base amount of each salary from 15% to 10%.)
2. Proposed New Language: Article 10 Section 3
Stewards shall be compensated for their duties by receiving as expenses the equivalent of the monthly dues and assessments of a regular member, providing that the Steward complies with Executive Board policy concerning attendance at meetings of the Local. Payment shall be made on a semi-annual basis.
This would change the formula for calculating dues reimbursement payments to stewards so that the annual payments to these union officials are reduced by approximately $191 each. (This would be accomplished by eliminating the additional 35% currently added on to the semi-annual payments.)
3. Proposed New Language: Article 11 Section 7
By virtue of office, the President, Executive Vice-President, and each Craft Director shall be delegates to all appropriate special conventions of the A.P.W.U. By virtue of office, Executive Board officers are designated as potential delegates to the Colorado Postal Workers Union convention and the Denver Regional Conference. The Executive Board shall, based upon financial considerations, determine the actual number of delegates sent to each CPWU Convention and each Denver Regional Conference and designate which Executive Board officers will attend. At least one delegate from each APWU craft must be selected to attend each event. The Associate Editor, by virtue of office, shall be a delegate to the Postal Press Association convention, if approved by the Executive Board based upon financial considerations.
This would clarify the manner by which delegates are designated to attend the Colorado Postal Workers Union Biennial Convention. It would also give the Executive Board the authority to determine the number of delegates to attend the CPWU Convention, the Postal Press Association Conference and the Denver Regional Conference based upon financial considerations.
4. Proposed New Language: Article 7 Section 10
Associate Editor. The Associate Editor shall be responsible for the preparation, publication and distribution of the official organ of this Local, and he shall designate such assistants as he deems necessary for the successful completion of that work. The Associate Editor shall publish at least quarterly an issue of the Mountaineer.
This would reduce the required frequency for publishing the Mountaineer from bi-monthly to quarterly so that the total annual cost of producing the newspaper is reduced by approximately $7,000.
5. Proposed New Language: Article 8 Section 3
The Executive Board shall meet at least six (6) times per calendar year upon the call of the President or a majority of the Board members. The Board shall transact necessary business between regular membership meetings.
This would clarify the required frequency for Executive Board Meetings by changing the existing language of “every sixty days” to “six times per calendar year”.
As you can see, four of these proposals pertain to reductions in the cost of operating our local. For many years, especially during the times of rapid membership growth, our local has enjoyed the luxury of having ample resources to finance our operations. As I have been reporting to the members for several months, the Postal Service implemented a hiring freeze in 1999 and our membership has been declining by over 100 members per year due to normal attrition. In order to protect our continued financial well being, the Executive Board is offering these proposed changes for consideration by our membership.
Cost reductions are never easy. It goes against the grain of unionism to ask people to accept reductions in their pay and benefits. If adopted, we are asking our stewards to take an almost $200 reduction in their already meager annual compensation. We are asking our full time officers to accept approximately $2500 reduction in their annual salaries. Although we believe our local newsletter, the Mountaineer, is one of the finest publications in the country, we are proposing to cut it by a third.
We invite you to study and consider all of these proposals. Please attend the January 2005 union meeting and exercise your democratic right to debate and vote on these issues of vital concern. If you disagree with any of our proposals, we hope you will present your own ideas, amendments and constructive alternatives. Thank you for your continued support and active participation in your union.
Maintenance Skills Development
Program Qualifying Exam
Being Offered Local-Wide
by Dennis Enderson, President
The qualifying examination for the Maintenance Skills Development Program is being offered to employees in all offices represented by the Denver Metro Area Local APWU. This includes all Denver offices as well as all Associate offices within our jurisdiction. The MSDP was created as the result of an agreement between the APWU and the USPS to afford interested employees on-the-job training opportunities to help them qualify for promotion into higher level maintenance duty assignments. Qualified applicants receive up to 12 weeks of on-the-clock classroom training. Interested employees need to take the qualifying examination, Test 922. Please act fast because the tests are scheduled to be given only on the following dates: December 12, 15, 17, 2004. Various times are available. For more information please contact the union office at 303-365-1524 to request a pamphlet.
APWU Employees to Receive Contractual Pay Raise
by Dennis Enderson, President
APWU -represented workers on November 27th will receive a 1.3 percent increase in their annual salaries. The increase will be based on wages as of September 13, 2003. This is the second increase under the 2002 contract extension that is based on the 2003 salary level. All previous pay increases under the National Agreement had a “base-salary date” of September 9, 2000.
Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period Set
by Dennis Enderson, President
There are four consecutive service weeks each year during which penalty overtime regulations do not apply. This four-week period is referenced in Article 8 (Sections 4 and 5) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
For this year, the time period which the penalty overtime regulations are not applicable begins with Pay Period 26-2004, Week 2 (December 4, 2004), and ends with Pay Period 01-2005, Week 1 (December 31).
Reminder – Please Include a Return Address on Your Letters to Santa!
by Dennis Enderson, President
We have received a number of letters to Santa that we are faithfully forwarding to his address at the North Pole. However, please remember to include a return address so Santa can reply to your child! We have received a few letters missing this information. If you are not sure, please have your child send another letter!
Big Changes at the Air Mail Center
by Dennis Enderson, President
We have received notice that there is a national level initiative to reduce and/or eliminate Air Mail Centers across the country and that our AMC is being studied for possible changes. It is possible there could be significant job losses at our AMC if this occurs. We will keep you informed as additional information becomes available.
Golden Converts Eight PTF’s
by Paul Pearman, DIR
Congratulations to our locals newest regulars! Golden’s Chief Steward Gail Kirby had put a very thorough and complete grievance file together to present management. Golden’s Postmaster should also be commended for settling this grievance at a time when PTF conversions are few and far in between. This says a lot about the team work effort and cooperation between Labor/Management in Golden. Congratulations!
USPS Implements “Lite Blue” Web Site With Postal Ease for Employees
by Dennis Enderson, President
The Postal Service has implemented a new website with access to all Postal Ease functions on the public internet. This site may be accessed at: liteblue.usps.gov. You now have access to such items as TSP allocations, salary allotments, health plan designations, transfer opportunities and much more right from the comfort and privacy of your own home! All you need to get logged on are your eight digit employee number and your USPS PIN. We recommend that you give it a try – it works great!
Moe Biller $500 Scholarships
to be Offered Again in 2005
by Dennis Enderson, President
Start making plans now to submit applications for the five $500 Moe Biller Scholarships to be awarded by the Denver Metro Area Local APWU in 2005. At the November 2004 meeting, the membership approved a number of beneficial changes to the program. Next year, applications will be accepted from March 1, 2005 until May 31, 2005. A new, simple application form will be used. Topics for essays will be much more flexible, with the applicant able to select any topic relative to general subject of organized labor in the United States. Please contact the union office at 303-365-1524 to request a copy of the application packet.
/rb
opeiu #5
afl-cio
