Recently, some drivers came to me because they had heard that smoking in postal vehicles was not allowed and they wanted the rule enforced. I researched if this rule existed and found that smoking in GSA vehicles is not permitted and I wrote in the Union News Express that smoking in postal vehicles could lead to discipline. After further research, the GSA language does not apply to postal vehicles. The NALC had also taken the smoking issue to Step 4 of the grievance procedure. The following was the outcome: The purpose of the revised smoking policy is to prevent non-smokers from having to breathe secondary smoke for reasons of health. If a smoker is in the vehicle alone, then smoking would be permitted, since no one else would be affected. If, however, the vehicle is carrying more than one person, then there should be no smoking in that vehicle unless everyone in the vehicle is a smoker. Sorry for any alarm I may have caused my fellow smokers. So as the saying goes, “Smoke em’ if you got em’, but as always, continue to show courtesy to those that do not smoke.

Recently, the Human Relations Committee published a “Human Relations Resource Guide”. The resource guide is posted on the local’s web site (www.denverapwu.com). I encourage everyone to go onto the web site and access the Resource Guide. There you will find easy links to various union benefits from both the APWU and the AFL-CIO. Also listed are businesses of APWU and AFL-CIO union members. This service is for the benefit of both the union business member to advertise his/her business, and for all union members to use. To place an advertisement, all the owner has to do is offer a discount when their services are sold to union members. Anyone who wishes to post an advertisement, please feel free to use the benefits listed, and use the Resource Guide as a tool to sign up new members.

Retired APWU Secretary-Treasurer Robert L. Tunstall died May 12 at his home in Oregon. Mr. Tunstall, who had diabetes, was 64.   “It is with sorrow and deep regret that we acknowledge the passing of our friend and fellow officer, Bob Tunstall,” said APWU President William Burrus. “We have been notified by his family that at approximately 11 a.m. today, Brother Tunstall departed this life; he now lives on in our memories. “Each human being is unique, but Bob will hold a special place in our memories. His wit and charm were legendary; he never failed to amuse and inspire us. The American Postal Workers Union and the many thousands of postal employees we represent have been enriched in many ways through their association with Bob. “The APWU, its Executive Board and Council, its employees and staff, all salute you and wish you Godspeed! Thank you Bob, for being, and thanks for sharing. We shall miss you!” Bob Tunstall’s service with the APWU began in 1963 at the Portland (OR) Post Office, when he was “fresh out of the Marine Corps.” “My first postal assignment was as a distribution clerk,” he wrote after he announced his retirement. “I also worked as a stamp supply clerk, bulk mail clerk, postage due clerk, box section clerk, and pouch rack clerk.” In 1974, Mr. Tunstall was elected president of the Portland Area Local. He also held elected positions as national representative (1976-1978), national vice president/business agent for the Seattle Region (1978-1985), assistant director, Clerk Division (1985 to 1992), and director, Clerk Division (1992-1998). In 1998 and again in 2001, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer. He retired in early 2004.

As an American citizen, your most precious possession is your right to vote! Unfortunately, far too many people, simply throw in away this right. As a group, members of the Denver Metro Area Local APWU appear to value their voting rights much more than the average American. During the 2004 election, over 86% of our members were registered to vote, and over 80% actually cast ballots on election day. Both of these numbers far exceed national averages. What this means is that our relative clout during such elections surpasses our actual numbers. Your vote carries a lot ofweight, and we are once again calling upon our members to participate in the political process.   If you are not yet registered to vote – the time is now to get registered. Forms are available from the union office by calling 3030-365-1524. When the time comes to actually vote, please make sure that your voice is heard loudly and clearly. Postal Reform legislation is still pending, and it is vital that we elect candidates that will support our interests in the halls of Congress.  Our local has already formally endorsed two candidates by virtue of votes by the membership at union meetings. One is Ed Perlmutter, who is running for an open seat in Colorado’s Seventh Congressional District. The other is Jay Fawcett, who is running for an open seat in Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District. These candidates received our support because they appeared in person at union meetings and pledged to stand with us on the issues that matter most to our members. In the coming months, we will share much more information with you about the coming elections. We will ask you to join us in our efforts to support labor friendly candidates. While we are proud of our past accomplishments with regard to voter registration and participation, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. We must stand together in the future to ensure that our interests are protected. Your vote counts now more than ever!

Motor Vehicle Craft Director Robert Helmig reports that the Denver office is currently hiring a total of nine new Tractor Trailer Operators. The Denver Metro Area Local has long pushed for more driver hiring, so this is very welcome news. Please join us in thanking Robert Helmig for his outstanding efforts on behalf of our members that helped bring about this much needed hiring of new TTOs.

With election season in full swing, we need to be aware of the various deadlines for voter registration and vote by mail. The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is July 10, 2006. Remember, if your address has changed since the last election, you must re-register. You cannot simply go vote in your old precinct. You must request an absentee ballot, by July 28, 2006. You can mail it back or you can turn it in at your polling place on primary election day which is August 8, 2006. The deadline to register for the general election is October 10, 2006. Your request to vote absentee must be received by October 27, 2006 and again, it can be mailed back or dropped off at your polling place on election day, Tuesday November 7, 2006. Make sure your voice is heard, register and vote!

Tip of the Week: Our Safety tip of the week is courtesy of American Academy of Dermatology for Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Monthly. Generously apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days and after swimming or sweating. Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible. Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM. Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn. Protect children from sun exposure by applying sunscreen. Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.

After months of straddling organized labor’s two deeply divided sides, the Laborers Union on Monday said it was quitting the AFL-CIO, effective June 1^st. With little public fanfare, the union notified the labor federation that it would be aligned solely with the Change to Win Federation, the competing group that the Laborers helped create last year with six other unions. One of the Laborers’ concerns reportedly was over the impact of its departure on its 50,000 mail handler members. That will divide them from the nation’s other postal worker unions, which belong to the AFL-CIO.

For those considering any home improvement repairs such as roof work, exterior painting, landscaping, fencing, tree trimming or building a patio, following a few simple precautions can help avoid a painful and costly accident. “When starting summer projects, it is critical to be aware of the locations of overhead power lines, and to stay at least ten feet away from them when working outside” said David Powell, PG&E’s public safety manager. “This is especially important when working with any long-handled tools like tree pruners or loppers”. Following are a few simple safety tips to help homeowners work safely:

Pruning Trees: Check for power lines that may run through or near trees. Branches may have grown too close to a power line, and you or your tools or ladder may come into contact with an overhead line. Be sure to use extension cords marked for outdoor use. An indoor extension cord used outdoors can result in electric shock or cause a fire hazard. If the job is too advanced for your skills, call a qualified and licensed professional to perform the job for you.

Deployment of the Automation Induction (AI) retrofits for Denver’s AFSM 100 machines has been delayed for at least two weeks. This delay impacts AI installation on all seven of Denver’s AFSM 100 machines. As previously reported, AI deployment will result in the eventual transfer of jurisdiction for these machines from the Clerk Craft to the Mailhandler Craft. (This USPS determination has been grieved at the national level, along with the earlier assignment of APPs jurisdiction to the Mailhandler Craft). As each machine is modified, the craft transfer will occur and displaced clerks will be sent to work in other clerk craft operations within the Denver installation. Once all seven machines are fully modified, (sometime in late September) then an appropriate number of clerk craft duty assignments will be abolished and displaced clerks will be permanently excessed into other sections. During the gradual transition, all AFSM 100 clerks will remain in their current duty assignments, with the same schedules and days off. However, as previously explained, junior clerks will be sent to work in other operations as the machines are modified and the need for clerk staffing diminishes. Based upon the two week delay, the actual abolishing and excessing should occur by no later than September 30, 2006, at which time all impacted AFSM 100 Clerks will become unassigned and assume FLSA work schedules in other units. Under current plans, between eight to ten AFSM 100 clerks will remain on each tour to perform various duties on the modified machines. Many of these remaining employees will likely need to bid “in section” depending upon management’s operational plan and the employees’ current schedules. Excessed employees occupying FLSA schedules must eventually acquire new duty assignments to ensure schedule stability, because they are subject to involuntary assignment to residual vacancies if they do not voluntarily bid. All of this information was recently shared with AFSM 100 employees via stand up talks on all three tours. We will continue to pass along new information to impacted employees as it becomes available.

The APWU has been notified that the proposed consolidation of “certain operations” at five postal facilities in the Northeast Area has been cancelled, because they because they present no substantial opportunities to improve efficiency or service. The five facilities are:

• Utica (NY) Processing & Distribution Facility
• Plattsburgh (NY) Post Office
• Burlington (VT) P&DF
• Springfield (MA) Processing & Distribution Center
• Portsmouth (NH) P&DF