2005 COPA Drive Underway
by Tina Desautels, Political Director
May 21, 2005 marked the official kick-off for our COPA drive. I know we have had appeals for COPA in this newsletter in the past with little results. The Executive Board decided at the last Executive Board meeting to establish a COPA Committee and to start getting creative with our efforts. With that in mind, we will be having a 50/50 drawing at every union meeting. Half of the money raised will be awarded as a prize in the drawing and half will be donated to COPA. At the May 21st union meeting, we raised $63.00 for COPA and Muriel Ponder was the winner. She then bought some of the candy bars we had for sale, so thank you Muriel! Our first effort netted $115.00. Not too bad for a start. Our next event will be at the June 22nd union meeting. Bring your best dessert to be sold at the COPA bake sale. The menu will be hot dogs and hamburgers. Let’s see if we can double the donation for the June union meeting!
Local Telephone System to be Updated
by Gary Scott, Executive Vice-President
Approximately five years ago the Executive Board reviewed the possibility of replacing or upgrading the phone system here at the union hall. At that time our lease was expiring and as we were exploring our options, we were informed that parts were no longer available and we were living on borrowed time. The decision of the board was to get as much mileage as possible and see what was available when the time arrived. The time has now arrived. As most of you know, if you wait, technology improves and even gets cheaper. The board decision five years ago now looks like a great decision. On June 13th we will be upgrading our system as well as reducing our cost considerably.
The change most of the membership will experience will be minimal, but to those of us who use the system a lot, the change will be noticeable. Unfortunately most of the officers, as well as a number of stewards, will have new extension numbers. All of the officers domiciled at the union hall will now have two digit extensions and seven stewards will be changing their extensions.
This system is equipped with a directory capability that should make it easy to connect to the person you need to talk to. There is no change to the phone numbers at the union office, only changes in voice mail boxes and the log-on options to retrieve, leave and forward voice mail. Please be patient as there will be about a 15 minute down period and we won’t be able to receive calls during that time. The remainder of the day, June 13th, will be spent programming the system to accommodate the options that come with the system.
If you have any concerns or questions please contact me at the union office. Thanks for your understanding on this matter.
Next Membership Meeting
June 22, 2005 – 5:00 PM
by Dennis Enderson, President
The next regular membership meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, June 22, 2005. One major item of business is the consideration and possible approval of a proposed change to the Local’s Constitution and Bylaws that would reduce the number of delegates to the APWU National Convention from 19 to 12. If approved the change would eliminate four Clerk Craft delegates, two Maintenance Craft delegates, one Motor Vehicle Craft delegate and the two automatic delegates represented by the Chief Stewards from the Boulder and Golden Associate Offices. The proposal would add two new general delegates elected by and from members in Associate offices only. This proposal, which is endorsed by the local’s Executive Board, has generated a lot of spirited debate and discussion. Please mark your calendar and make sure to come to this very important union meeting so you can make your voice heard and make your vote count!
The ABC’s of the CBA
by Paul Pearman, DIR
Understanding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) can be one of the most aggravating events we are faced with. So many questions are asked of stewards, and while they will sit down with you and discuss your concerns and questions, many more questions may still exist that were not asked. I will be adding a contractual Q & A when possible to the Union News Express. I hope this will answer questions you may have.
Q. What is a grievance?
A. A complaint of an employee or the Union which involves the interpretation, application of or compliance with the provisions of the CBA or any local Memo of Understanding not in conflict with the CBA.
Q. If I believe my contractual rights have been violated, is there a time limit that a grievance may be filed?
A. Yes. 14 days of the date on which the employee or the union first learned or may reasonably have been expected to have learned of its cause.
Associate Offices
Q. Do PTF hours worked in withheld duty assignments count towards maximization?
A. No. However, PTF’s must be working in withheld positions for their hours to be excluded from the terms of the maximization MOU.
MVS
Q. What is an example of a valid reason for abolishing a Motor Vehicle Craft duty assignment?
A. On the effective date of abolishment, the majority of the work assigned to that duty assignment would no longer be performed.
Maintenance
Q. Must an employee new to the craft or installation be assigned to a Preferred Duty Assignment?
A. Yes. Within 60 days the employee shall be selected from the Preferred Assignment Register to a Preferred Duty Assignment or be assigned in accordance with Article 38.5.A8.
Clerk
Q. What is meant when a duty assignment includes the phrase “other duties as assigned”?
A. It is simply an instruction to prospective bidders that they may be assigned to duties other than those specifically listed on the posted duty assignment.
All Crafts
Q. Is an employee’s light or limited duty status considered in excessing situations?
A. No. An employee in a light/limited duty status will be excessed in the same way that employees in a full duty status are excessed, based on the pay level of the duty assignment that they hold and their seniority. They will receive reasonable accommodation if necessary in their new duty assignment/installation.
Tips for Lifting
by Richard Romero, APWU Western Area Safety & Health Coordinator
Tips: Be kind to your back, follow safe lifting principles. Most back problems develop slowly over time. Careful attention to lifting on the job and at home, combined with regular exercise to maintain fitness and strength, can help keep your back healthy. Keep these safe lifting principles in mind to reduce your risk of back injury.
1. Size up the load. Test it to see if you can lift it safely. Can you grasp is securely? Good handholds (cut-outs, handles) will make the load easier to lift. Make sure the load is balanced in your hands.
2. Get as close to the load as possible before lifting it, and keep it close once you’ve lifted it. If possible, slide the load towards you before picking it up.
3. Keep the load as close to your body as possible. IF the load is large and cannot be placed between your knees as they are bent, bend at the hips and waist with your knees relaxed. It is more important to keep the load close than it is to bend your knees. One solution to lifting a larger load is to get another person to help you. A better solution is to use mechanical assistance (hand trucks, carts) to avoid lifting altogether.
4. Make sure your footing is secure. Do not lift objects that obscure vision and footing. Plan ahead and make sure that your travel path is clear of obstructions and that there are no slip hazards such as a wet floor.
5. Do not twist while lifting! Move your feet so that they point in the direction of the lift as you turn.
6. Lift smoothly and slowly. Do not jerk the load.
7. Organize the work so as to avoid lifting from the floor or above shoulder level. Items to be handled should be between knee and shoulder height.
8. If you have a lot of lifting to do during the day, try not to do it all at once. Alternate lifting tasks with lighter work to give your body a chance to recover. Remember, mechanical assistance is just as important for repetitive lifting as it is for heavy lifting.
9. Us the same principles when lowering or placing the load after lifting.
10. Try to avoid carrying a load more than ten feet without getting mechanical assistance. Use a dolly or cart.
AMC Registry Section Move
Postponed Until July 30, 2005
by Dennis Enderson, President
Management has now given notice that the move of the Air Mail Center’s Registry Operation originally scheduled for July 2, 2005 has been postponed until at least Saturday, July 30, 2005. The primary reason for the delay is a problem with completing construction of the new Registry cage at the General Mail Facility. We now believe the Postal Service has made a firm decision to subcontract the construction of the new cage. The union strongly believes that this work can and should be performed by career Maintenance Craft employees, and we will continue preparing a grievance to protest management’s improper action of subcontracting this project. Please stand with us as we fight this important battle to protect our job security.
Four Tractor Trailer Operators to be Hired
by Dennis Enderson, President
There is finally some good news with regard to our ongoing struggle with Motor Vehicle Craft staffing issues. Management has given notice that it will hire four new Tractor Trailer Operators in the near future. This is an important first step to help alleviate the severe shortage of drivers, and we thank management for responding to our concerns. However, we believe up to 15 additional drivers are needed soon in order to achieve adequate staffing. We appreciate this first sign of progress and we hope it is an indication of better things to come in the future. We will continue our struggle to ensure proper staffing in the Motor Vehicle Craft.
Local Officers Discuss Issues With Denver Postmaster Selwyn Epperson
by Dennis Enderson, President
Several local officers recently conducted a Labor/Management Meeting with Denver Postmaster Selwyn Epperson. One important matter we discussed was our ongoing concerns about staffing and scheduling issues in Denver Stations and Branches. Recently we have noticed a sharp increase in the number of adjustments being made to duty assignments in various offices around the city. We learned that Mr. Epperson has authorized individual station managers to implement such changes as they see fit. We expressed our concerns that this system was causing a breakdown in communications between the union and management and leading to unnecessary disruption to employees.
Mr. Epperson listened to our input and agreed to establish a more centralized approach to staffing issues that should ensure a more proactive and cooperative process. We were also pleased to learn that Mr. Epperson does not believe any stations are over-staffed, and that he does not anticipate any need for staffing reductions. Mr. Epperson also asked for the union’s input on how we can encourage employees to sell more postal products and improve Mystery Shopper scores. We explained our belief that the best approach would be to ask Window Clerks themselves how to accomplish these goals. We suggested that the parties agree to establish a joint task force to explore ways to improve sales and improve Mystery Shopper scores. We are looking for APWU members to volunteer to serve on this joint Labor/Management Committee. Please contact me at the union office if you are interested. We appreciate our positive and productive meeting with Mr. Epperson. We believe our concerns were heard and that there is good reason for optimism about where we are heading.
APPS Impact Looming Large
by Dennis Enderson, President
We continue to learn more about the Automated Package and Parcel Sorter (APPS) scheduled to arrive at the Denver MPA beginning in August 2005. Several officers recently visited the Denver Bulk Mail Center to view their APPS machine, which is installed but not yet operational. We found the APPS machine to be very large and very impressive. We saw how it will look and got a good feeling for how it will operate. We learned that it is easily expanded simply by adding more separators and more induction stations. We will soon learn more when a number of officers will visit the Phoenix office during our upcoming Denver Regional Conference. Phoenix has an operational APPS machine identical to Denver’s future unit. We have received reports showing that the Phoenix APPS machine is absorbing a lot of mail and will soon cause the elimination of two SPBS machines. SPBS Clerk Jerry Lautzenheiser has accepted our request to travel to Phoenix with a joint Labor and Management Task Force to study the operation of the Phoenix APPS operation. We are looking forward to Jerry’s report when he returns and we thank him for agreeing to serve as an APWU representative for this trip to the Phoenix office. We will continue to keep you informed as information becomes available.
Best Wishes to Judy Ford
for a Speedy Recovery
by Dennis Enderson, President
Labor Relations Representative Judy Ford was injured recently in an accident at home. The officers and stewards of the Denver Metro Area Local APWU, who have worked with Judy for many years, wish her a speedy recovery and a quick return to duty! Good luck Judy!
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