APWU Slashes Employees’ Costs
For Consumer Driven Health Plan
APWU News Bulletin #10-2007, Sept. 18, 2007
APWU members who enroll in the Consumer Driven Health Plan will pay much lower premiums for health insurance in 2008, plan administrators announced Sept. 18. Union members will pay just $7.77 per pay period for self-only coverage, and $17.48 for self-and-family coverage next year. The new rates represent a reduction of $10.63 and $23.92 respectively, per pay period from 2007 fees.
“This is great news for APWU members,” said union President William Burrus. “Our members can give themselves a nice raise simply by switching to — or staying in — the Consumer Driven Health Plan.” Beginning in 2008, the union’s 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement requires the USPS to increase the share of premiums it pays for the APWU Consumer Driver Health Plan to 95 percent, leaving only 5 percent of premium costs to employees. “This accounts for the substantial savings our members will enjoy,” Burrus said. “The reduction in premium costs will take place despite a provision of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that decreases the USPS share of healthcare premiums by 1 percent each year from 2008 to 2011,” he noted.
“Union members who switch to the Consumer Driven Plan from costlier health plans will realize even greater savings,” Burrus said. The premiums for the APWU High Option Health Plan also will decline slightly in 2008. Premiums for self-only coverage will be $24.01 (56 cents less per pay period) and self-and-family coverage will cost $54.30 per pay period (6 cents less than in 2007). “In light of the nationwide trend of skyrocketing health insurance costs, these decreases in premium costs are significant,” Burrus said. The benefits offered by the Consumer Driven Plan and the High Option Plan remain unchanged. William J. Kaczor Jr., Director of the APWU Health Plan, said, “We held the line on premiums this year, and our members will enjoy the benefits.”
Postal retirees and other federal workers who enroll in the APWU Consumer Driven Plan or the High Option Plan also will experience a reduction in premiums. Postal and federal employees and retirees can enroll in a plan or change their enrollment during Open Season, which is Nov. 12 through Dec. 10. For more information about the APWU Health Plan, visit
www.apwuhp.com.
Progress of Denver Stations
Staffing Proposal
by Gary Scott, President
I reported to you last month that a station by station staffing review for the Denver installation was underway. The union is proceeding with the goal of minimizing adverse impact on the career work force and balancing managements’ needs within the confines of the CBA. The information management has presented for us to work with is very outdated and I believe station managers are playing games to affect targeted clerks. Numerous questions remain unanswered and is preventing us from moving forward. The biggest unanswered question is; the placement of bidless rehab clerks and carriers. The contract clearly requires all those who don’t hold bids be removed prior to excessing the junior bid clerk. Management clearly lacks a plan on where the seven rehab clerks at the Downtown Station are going to be sent. They act as if they hadn’t even discussed that concept. This union will not agree to any abolishing and excessing that allows any non-bid clerk to remain in section after someone who has a bid is sent out.
The union has also drawn a line in the sand as to when a job with consecutive non-scheduled days can be changed to split non-scheduled days. Split non-scheduled days is not a new concept around here. A number of jobs have been split for years. Our position is simple. Just because we have jobs with splits doesn’t mean we are going to lay down and allow all jobs to go split. Management has to meet their burden and create jobs with consecutive non-scheduled days as much as possibly feasible. If a job has split now, we want to see if it is practicable to go to consecutive and, if we can’t agree, we will move past that job since our time limits have expired to shift that burden to management. So now the ball is in management’s court regarding the Downtown Station. Don’t believe the rhetoric out there that we’re waiting on the union. We don’t want to delay this any more than you do. We just are demanding that it’s done right the first time.
APWU Officers’ Election to End Oct. 5
APWU Web News Article #88-07, Sept. 26, 2007
Time is running short for members who have yet to vote in the APWU National Officers election. Ballots were mailed Sept. 12-15, and must be returned to and received in the designated post office box by 2 PM (Eastern Time), Oct. 5. A small number of APWU members have reported that their completed ballots were returned to them. If you have already voted and your ballot is sent back to you, please draw an “X” through your return address and bar code, and mail the ballot again. The APWU Election Committee will take custody of the ballots on Oct. 5, and the counting will begin. Unofficial, preliminary results will appear on www.apwu.org as they become available; official tallies will appear in the November/December issue of The American Postal Worker.
Medical Documentation for
Absences of Three Days or Less
By Gary Scott, President
It has come to my attention that management has been improperly requesting medical documentation for absences of three days or less. The union sent management a letter inquiring as to whether or not there is a disagreement on when medical documentation can be required for three days or less. A response received last week confirms no disagreement exists. There are only two circumstances under which supervisors may require medical documentation for absences of three days or less: 1.) When the employee is on restricted sick leave (pursuant to part 523.39 of the ELM), or 2.) when the supervisor deems documentation desirable for the protection of the interests of the Postal Service (part 513.361 of the ELM).
In summary, in the absence of an employee being on restricted sick leave pursuant to part 513.39 of the ELM, it is improper to require an employee to submit medical documentation for absences of three days or less involving abuse or excessive use of sick leave. Also, in the absence of an employee being on restricted sick leave pursuant to part 513.39 of the ELM, it is improper for management to deem documentation desirable for the protection of the interest of the Postal Service because of alleged abuse or excessive use of sick leave for absences of three days or less. In the GMF and other facilities using RMD/eRMS, the Postal Service’s Resource Management Database and its web based enterprise Resource Management System (eRMS), it is the APWU’s position that in the absence of an employee being on restricted sick leave pursuant to part 513. 39 of the ELM, it is improper to flag or enter the employee’s name into RMD/eRMS (or similar system of records) requiring an employee to submit medical documentation for absences of three days or less. If you believe your contractual rights have been violated please contact your steward or your craft director.
Colorado AFL-CIO Hires Mike Cerbo as its First Executive Director
by Gary Scott, President
On September 27th, the Colorado AFL-CIO announced the hiring of its first ever Executive Director. After an exhaustive nationwide search, the process ended where it started when former Colorado State Representative Mike Cerbo took the reins of the Colorado labor movement. Mike has agreed to take the job through January 2009, and will work under the direction of the ‘sweet 16’ Advisory Counsel.
There was a ton of work on Mike’s desk at the time of hiring so he hasn’t had much time to meet and greet everyone. The State AFL-CIO has scheduled an afternoon BBQ and unity celebration for Saturday October 6th, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Pipefitters Local #208 located at 6350 N. Broadway, Denver 80216. Come meet the Colorado AFL-CIO’s new Executive Director as well as other members of the Advisory Council. Also, information will be available about upcoming events, labor campaigns and membership involvement activities.
It Pays to Attend
by Sonda Goss, Executive Vice-President
On September 29, 2007, at 9:00 AM, we held our first General Membership Meeting since June. Had you been there, you might have won one of our great door prizes.
It’s Denver Nuggets season again and seven of our members were awarded two tickets to attend one of the upcoming games. In addition, our cash prize went unclaimed. The names drawn to win $250 were as follows:
Cecilia Trujillo | Randy Aguilar | Loan Nguyen |
Josephine Villalva | Bernie Duran | Rosetta Garcia |
MicheleJeffrey-Herz | Marion Harsell | Deborah Ashley |
Joan Koch | Thu Huong Tran | Matt Johnson |
Gerry Shafer | Uyen Dang | Ron Elliott |
James Williams | Thomas Jones | Kalaya Koreen |
Marlene York | Faauli Faauli | |
Each time the cash door prize goes unclaimed, it increases $25. At our next meeting on October 24th at 5:00 PM, the prize will amount to $275. Be sure to attend. Not only will you have the opportunity to win one of our door prizes, but you will leave better informed of the many issues that affect your job and future with the Postal Service.
Welcome New Members!
by Sonda Goss, Executive Vice-President
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome 17 new members to our local.
Robert Harrington | Chet. Snell | Leslie McElroy |
Connie Shappaugh | Tom Loyd, Sr. | Antony Lucido |
Ariel Tran | Stephen Lee | Larry Brown |
Sandra Cisneros | Laura Gomez | Jeff Pecosky |
Patricia Alvarez | James Carter | Brian Thompson |
Michele Jeffrey-Herz | Kanda Baum | |
As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers. I congratulate you on your decision to join and invite you to attend the General Membership Meetings and become involved in your union. As with all members, you’re invited to stop by the hall so that your officers can introduce themselves and answer any questions you may have.
by Phil Desautels, Human Relations Director
When an on-the-job injury claim is filed, the entire claim is dependant upon the proper medical evidence. This holds true to get the claim approved to have wage loss compensation, and everything else that happens within a claim. Too many members are not getting the proper medical reports, in the proper format. Talk to your doctor, and make sure he/she is willing to write a medical report in the proper format and context that OWCP requires. There are five (5) elements to a report;
- A complete and accurate medical history
- A definitive diagnosis
- Medical opinion arriving to the diagnosis
- Medical reasoning for the opinion
- A definitive course of treatment
These are must haves in all medical reports. If possible, have myself or Bobby Rollins look at the report before sending it in. Realize that we’re not doctors, or Claim Examiners, but we can ensure that all of the elements are in the report.
If you have a denial of any OWCP decision, and wish to appeal that decision, please contact myself or Bobby immediately. Don’t wait three weeks or three months. We can’t help you if you don’t give us time to prepare a case for you. If you want me to represent you at an oral hearing, I need to know immediately. I’ve been trained by the Department of Labor as an advocate, but building a case requires records and a lot of time to prepare. I urge everyone who needs to file a claim to consult us from the beginning to get it right.
Political Action Time!
by Muriel Ponder, Organizing Director
In just under a month, Colorado will be holding elections. The fact that it is not a presidential year does not lessen the significance. In fact, if you are interested in attending the Democratic Convention next year, now is the time to step forward and start participating. Below are a few volunteer opportunities the APWU is encouraging members to attend.
Saturday, October 6
Walk to educate members (AFL-CIO) on endorsed candidates Eva Henry and Eric Tade as well as CD2 candidate Joan Fitzgerald. Coffee and doughnuts will be available beforehand. This walk will be 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 PM, followed by a UNITY BBQ to welcome Mike Cerbo as the AFL-CIO’s new Executive Director. Arrive at the Pipefitters Local #208, 6350 N. Broadway, Denver, before 8:45 AM for the walk and return at noon for the BBQ, which lasts until 4:00 PM. APWU President Gary Scott and Political Director Tina Desautels will be present so you won’t be alone!
Saturday, October 13
Walk to educate our members on Westminster candidate Faith Winter CD2 candidate Joan Fitzgerald. 9 :00 AM to 12:00 PM at ATU Local 1001, 3315 W. 72nd Avenue. Organizing Director Muriel Ponder will be present. Coffee and doughnuts will be available. Please come at least 15 minutes early.
Saturday, October 20
Walk to educate members on endorsed candidate Alfonso Nunez (retired Aurora Firefighter 1290). It will be held at9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Aurora Firefighters Hall, 1010 S. Joliet St., Aurora, located near Mississippi and Havana. Please meet us in the parking lot, coffee and doughnuts will be provided. President Gary Scott will be there with Tina Desautels and Muriel Ponder.
Come on! You know you’d love to be part of history at next years Democratic Convention!
/jd
opeiu #5
afl-cio
