Roland Fuentes Appointed Acting Plant Manager at Denver’s P&DC
by Dennis Enderson, President
On Monday, December 27, 2004, Senior MDO Roland Fuentes was appointed as Acting Senior Plant Manager for the Colorado/Wyoming Cluster. Former Senior Plant Manager Tal Middleton has announced that he will retire effective February 3, 2005. Tour 1 Lead MDO Steve Amos will serve as Acting Senior MDO and MDO Jackie Segrest will assume the duties of Tour 1 Lead MDO.
As you may recall, Tal Middleton took the place of the now infamous Sam Ruden several years ago. Mr. Middleton has done an outstanding job of leading the Colorado/Wyoming Cluster from its formal dismal position at the bottom of the pack to its current standing as one of the finest and most successful offices in the entire Postal Service. This has not happened by accident. We believe Tal Middleton’s success may be attributed to the fact that he has proven that he values the employees who get the work done every day. He has shown the kind of dignity and respect that many postal managers fail to exhibit towards the work force. The Denver Metro APWU has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Tal Middleton throughout his career in Denver. We thank him for all he has done and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
We also welcome the arrival of Roland Fuentes as the Acting Senior Plant Manager. Roland Fuentes also appreciates the value of having an excellent working relationship with the workers and the unions who represent them. Roland has played a major role in helping the Denver office to realize its recent string of successes. He has proven that he is always willing to reach out to the union to ensure that the contract is honored and that the needs and desires of employees are respected. We fully expect Roland Fuentes to enjoy a successful future as Plant Manager. While we do not expect to agree on every issue, we know we will be working with a person of high integrity.
We also welcome Steve Amos and Jackie Segrest in their respective new roles. We look forward to working with them as well. 2005 promises to be a tumultuous and challenging year. Both management and the union will need all the good faith and mutual cooperation we can muster to successfully face these challenges.
APPS May Be Delayed Again
by Dennis Enderson
Speaking of the challenges that lay ahead, we have received notice that the implementation of the Automated Package and Parcel Sorter (APPS) may be further delayed by approximately six weeks. Formerly we expected APPS to arrive near the end of July 2005. The new date appears to be mid-September 2005. This is based upon a similar delay in the installation of APPS at the Denver BMC from February until April 2005. APPS will eventually eliminate the need for SPBS machines at the Denver MPA and may result in the abolishment of at least 120 clerk duty assignments. Once a firm date is determined, the Denver Metro APWU will take every necessary step to ensure that every impacted employee receives every contractual protection to which they are entitled. We will do everything in our power to minimize the adverse impact on these employees.
Robert Helmig Appointed
as MVS Craft Trustee
by Dennis Enderson, President
Robert Helmig has received the unanimous approval of the Executive Board to serve as the MVS Craft Trustee. This officer position was vacated by the resignation of former Trustee “Red” Millard. Congratulations and many thanks to Robert for his appointment to this position. The three Trustees, one from each craft, are responsible to perform an annual audit of the Local’s finance to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. I am confident that Robert will serve the members with dedication and distinction.
2004 Organizing Drive Concludes – Winners Announced
by Dennis Enderson, President
Our 2004 Membership Organizing Drive concluded on December 31, 2004. Due to the extraordinary efforts of our tireless organizers, we signed up 57 members during this drive. As you will recall, there were a number of prizes available to the members who signed up the most new members. The winners of these prizes are as follows:
1st Prize - $500 – Charlie Garcia – 4 New Members
2nd Prize - $300 – Tinamarie Vivens-Stafford – 3 New Members
3rd Prize - $100 – (to be divided)
Frankie Gonzales – 2 New Members
Jerry Oates – 2 New Members
Shane Allen – 2 New Members
Congratulations to these prize winners. In reality, we all win when new members join our union! Every new member means more strength, more solidarity and more resources to help us do the essential work of contract enforcement. The end of this drive doesn’t mean our work is done. While the Denver Metro APWU remains one of the best organized large locals in the union at over 81%, we still have several hundred individuals who are taking a free ride and serving to weaken our union. Soon I will meet with Organizing Director Chris Arellano to begin planning our next Organizing Drive. There is never really a good reason for anyone to be a non-member. While we may never achieve 100% solidarity, we must never stop trying!
Executive Board Continues
$100 Incentive Awards
to Sign Up Non-Members
by Dennis Enderson, President
As part of the 2004 Organizing Drive, members who recruited new members whose names appeared on the latest official list of non-members received $100 incentive awards for each new member signed up. The Executive Board has approved continuing these $100 incentive payments throughout 2005. To claim your $100 reward, sign up a non-member on Form 1187 and include a note with your name as the organizer. Forms and non-member lists may be requested by contacting the union office at 303-365-1524. Please help us to remain union strong by signing up a non-member today!
Potential Future Retirees – Check
Your Personnel Records!
by Dennis Enderson, President
When Long-time union member Liz Scriffiny recently retired from the Postal Service, she discovered that there were problems with her personnel records that could have reduced her retirement annuity. Liz recommends that all members nearing retirement eligibility take the time to review their personnel folders as soon as possible to make sure that their retirement information is complete and correct. It’s your future you are protecting!
Gambling With Your
Social Security Benefits
by Steve Claeson
White House talks focused on “reforming” Social Security were held in December. I’m sure it was just an oversight, but labor unions, including the APWU, and senior groups were not invited to these talks, although Big Business interests were well represented. The Administration commented that the privatization plan could require taxpayer debt of up to $2,000,000,000,000.00 (two trillion dollars, or in other words, two thousand billion dollars); however the President did say that the benefits of current retirees would not be cut. Unfortunately he did not offer any proof of how this statement would be different from his many other failed promises.
Furthermore, what George Bush did not mention was what would become of benefits for future retirees, such as APWU members who are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Let’s think about this for a minute… Social Security was already on the road to bankruptcy, and if Bush has his way, it will now be bled by Wall Street for another deluge of million dollar bills…and after that disaster, where will the money come from to pay benefits to our FERS members when they retire?
If you were hired after January 1, 1984, or switched to FERS when that option was available, you might want to get active in this battle. Some groups opposing the Social Security rip-off are: the AFL/CIO, NAACP and NOW. Nationally, efforts are being coordinated by the Alliance for Retired Americans at: www.retiredamericans.org.
Window Clerk Polo
Shirts Nearing Approval
by Jim McCarthy, APWU Clerk Craft Director
After two years of discussions, the inclusion of polo shirts as part of a window clerk’s uniform is nearing reality. Details regarding what type of shirt will be authorized and whether all employees in an installation must wear the shirt on specified days were released in November. The shirts will first be worn during the spring at the earliest. Uniform manufacturers will need a few months lead time to arrive at proper uniform specifications and to be able to guarantee costs and delivery.
This Year’s Santa Calls
Were a Huge Success
by Paul Pearman, DIR
I thank Alcott’s Ric Lopez for his help in connecting Santa’s phone calls to over sixty children of our members. We appreciate the requests from the parents that let Ric and I know what time your child would be available to receive Santa’s call. With your help, all the calls were made over two nights. Ric and I both enjoyed working the Santa switchboard and listening to the children tell Santa their wish list. Santa relayed that Rita Burns and Jean Daniel were a great help in getting the children letters to him, so he had time to respond back to the children.
Other News Items
by Dennis Enderson, President
- Please mark your calendar for the next Regular Membership Meeting scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday, January 23, 2005. At this important meeting we will be considering our 2005 budget proposal and a number of proposed changes to our Constitution and Bylaws. Please be there!
- The USPS Health Benefits Open Season has been extended until January 7, 2005. Changes can be made via Postal EASE at 877-477-3273 or on the web at www.liteblue.usps.gov.
- Free Home Buyers Seminars are scheduled at the Denver Metro APWU Union office on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM. These seminars, co-sponsored by the APWU and the NPMHU, are conducted in association with the AFL-CIO Union Plus membership benefits plan. Please RSVP and/or direct any questions to Randy Schofield of Chase Mortgage at 303-759-6755.
- In accordance with a recent grievance settlement, three additional Denver PTF Clerks will be converted to full-time regular status in the near future. We remain committed to pursuing this issue until every PTF within our jurisdiction makes regular status!
/rb
opeiu #5
afl-cio
