DMAL Reaches Agreement
with Denver P&DC on
Reverted Clerk Duty Assignments
Gary Scott, President
The DMAL recently reached an agreement with the Plant Manager on a number of recently reverted clerk vacant duty assignments. Since the Bid Migration to Shared Services, management has been hell-bent on reverting all vacant positions in the system. Three bid cycles have occurred, and each DPM includes a number of clerk positions that the union believes are necessary since the principle assignment areas remain. These positions, management deemed, were no longer considered necessary for the needs of the service. Article 37 of our CBA allows for local union input prior to a decision to revert. On a number of vacancies, no union input was considered. On other vacancies, the time line for decision to revert had expired. A good number of the reverted bids were duplications. Several jobs that had been vacated years ago resurfaced as well in the cleansing of vacancies that Shared Services required.
The CBA also requires all vacant duty assignments be posted within 28 days unless such vacant duty assignments are reverted. Bottom line, we had management by the kahunnas and could have required all vacancies that had lingered beyond 28 days to be reposted. Management could have responded in a way that could have been harmful to the craft. I chose to opt for a compromise that results in a structure where the DMAL will be positioned to mold duty assignments that are meaningful. Immediately, the DMAL will be given ten (10) preferred duty assignments of our choosing. We chose that five of the ten be posted on Tour 1 with Sunday/Monday as Scheduled Days Off. The other five preferred duty assignments are to be determined after consultation with the clerk craft officers. Furthermore, a constant review of casual positions that could result in preferred duty assignments throughout the installation is in place. I am requesting that the clerk craft officers create a spread sheet so accurate tracking of duty assignments can occur. This will help maximize the ability to provide timely input on whether a duty assignment should be reverted or reposted. It would be especially helpful for members as well to provide input whenever you think a job posting is necessary or even if changes may need to occur. Please communicate your thoughts with your union steward.
December 24th Executive
Order Excludes USPS
USPS Newslink Extra
The Executive Order President Bush issued yesterday excusing executive branch employees from duty Monday, December 24th, does not include postal employees. The day is to be treated as a normal business day for USPS.
Office of Personnel Management Director Linda Springer said the Executive Order “does not affect Postal Service workers, nor does it include Executive Branch employees whose agencies determine they cannot be excused for reasons of national security, defense or other essential public need.”
2008 DMAL Children’s Christmas Party a Huge Success By Gary Scott, President
The DMAL held its annual Children’s Christmas Party on Saturday, December 8th. Excitement was in the air! Fifty-five children or grandchildren of DMAL members joined us as we welcomed Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves into our house of labor. Santa wanted me to pass on to you his thanks to all of you who move the mail that keeps him busy at the North Pole. He also wanted me to remind you that it still is not too late to have all of our children or grandchildren send him a letter with your phone number and he will personally call each and every one of them. He promised to leave sign-up forms at the P&DC union offices and he also promised to leave some extra forms with DMAL Office Manager, Rita Burns and Secretary, Jean Daniel in case you don’t work in Denver. Santa has reserved the dates of December 18th and 19th to make calls to postal kids. Please get the forms filled out and sent to the hall to make sure your child gets a call from Santa. Santa also promised to write a personalized letter in return for all letters he receives from children.
Constitution and By-Laws
Second Reading to Occur at the
January 26, 2008 Membership Meeting
By Gary Scott, President
Three proposed amendments to the DMAL Constitution and By-Laws will be read a second time at the January 26th union meeting; then discussion and vote will occur. The adoption of proposed amendments shall require a 3/5 majority vote of all regular members present and voting.
Proposed Amendment #1:
Establishes pay for the three (3) Full-Time Officers that includes the 2.6% increase due on February 8, 2008.
Proposed Amendment #2:
Updates current dues structure and changes monthly deposits into the Building Corporation.
Proposed Amendment #3:
Modifies the standing committees of the local.
Please attend this and all meetings of the local as important business occurs at all meetings.
Early Out (VERA) Rumors Again!
By Gary Scott, President
NO, the Colorado/Wyoming District has not received approval from OPM to offer early out opportunities for postal employees. There have been districts identified around the country that have planned excessing of clerk craft employees and they have been granted approval by OPM, but we are not one of them. I do not anticipate excessing out of the Denver installation in the foreseeable future. If anything changes, you will be the first to know.
Nominations for 2008 APWU
National Convention Delegates to
Occur at the January Membership Meeting
By Gary Scott, President
On January 26, 2008, nominations from the local to be delegates to the 2008 APWU National Convention will occur at the regular membership meeting. Delegates to the APWU Convention is determined by the DMAL Constitution and By-Laws. Nominees for the two (2) general Associate Office delegates, elected from and by members employed in Associate Offices within the jurisdiction of the local will occur as well as nominations for the four (4) additional general delegates (from no specific craft) will be accepted. Nominations will be from the floor and the election shall be by ballot at the regular February membership meeting. Alternates to the requisite number of general delegates shall be taken from those candidates for general delegates who pull the next largest number of votes.
Electronic Delivery of
Net-to-Bank Earnings Statements
Greg Bell, National APWU Director of Industrial Relations
In response to an APWU inquiry concerning Electronic Delivery of Net-to-Bank Earning Statements, the Postal Service has advised us that the union will be notified if and when a plan for implementation of electronic net-to-bank earnings statements for bargaining unit employees is finalized. For now, electronic delivery of net-to-bank earnings statements applies to PCES and EAS employees only.
Merry Christmas from the DMAL…
Please Be Safe
By Gary Scott, President
From the Officers, Stewards and Staff of the DMAL, we send our wishes to all members for a happy holiday season. Already this season, several serious accidents have occurred and I want to remind you to work and drive in a safe manner. Our families are counting on us to return home safely. The hectic pace of the season pushes us to do more in less time. Slow down and pay attention to everything going on around you. Without you there is no union.
Colorado AFL-CIO
Legislative Conference Report
By Gary Scott, President
On December 1st, the Colorado AFL-CIO held its Annual Legislative Conference at the Sheet Metal Workers Local #9. In attendance were 25 elected officials and over 100 union members. Highlights including hearing from the new Senate President-Elect Peter Groff who spoke of some of last year’s victories and stressed the importance of fighting ‘Right to Work’. House Speaker Andrew Romanoff also addressed the group and spoke of the need to create real health care reform in the state. The Speaker also expressed his commitment to help us fight ‘Right to Work’. Though the Governor was out of town, Don Mares, his Director of Labor and Employment, came to speak about the new Employee Partnership plan. He talked about the importance of involving workers so as to increase efficiencies and reduce turnover amongst state workers. We also talked about our plan to make sure no legislation succeed that would create a ‘Do Not Mail’ bill. Representative Sara Gagliardi apologized to the postal workers for even suggesting such a creation in the last legislative session and promised she will support our efforts. She acknowledged her ignorance and pledged to get informed before stepping out there and angering so many union members again. It was hinted that a freshman Senator has been rumored to be supporting ‘Do Not Mail’ and the Senate President committed to attending a meeting with the Postal Alliance (NPMHU, APWU, NALC, NAPS) to meet with his freshman senator and discourage any measure that is harmful to working families.
And finally, the Colorado AFL-CIO in coordination with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is hosting a Political Action Training Seminar on Saturday, December 15th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Pipefitters Local 208 union hall (6350 N. Broadway). Learn to help working families win victories in your own neighborhood. Some of the skills that will be taught include how to defeat ‘Right to Work For Less’, Precinct Caucus Training and how to elect working family – friendly candidates. We are mobilizing a force that will be on the front line fighting for the issues most important to the membership.
It Pays to be Union
By Gary Scott, President
Open Season for the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) has concluded and the numbers have been staggering. We have seen a vast number of new members join the union to take advantage of the new benefit of the APWU Health Plan and a large number of current members thought the APWU Health Plan was a good decision for you and your family. The benefits of our union didn’t just start with Open Season. We often fail to appreciate the long-term effect of the raises we earn over the life of a contract. The raises in the 2000-2006 CBA, when combined with cost-of-living adjustments, have amounted to more than $19,000. The raises, although they often seem modest when viewed individually, add up over time and help our members to make steady progress.
So even though open season has closed for FEHBP, it is still open season on scabs.
Union Action Averts Safety Hazard
APWU Web News Article #112-07, Dec. 10, 2007
(12/10/07)An objection by the APWU to a change in postal policy regarding the use of biohazard detection equipment has averted a potentially serious safety hazard.
Management instructions issued Oct. 4, 2007 [PDF], noted that the installation of biohazard detection equipment on Advanced Facer Cancellation machines had been completed, but went on to say that stamp mail could be cancelled on alternate equipment during peak cancellation periods or when volume exceeded capacity on AFCS machines. The Biohazard Detection System (BDS) was developed in the aftermath of the 2001 anthrax attacks.
When word of the new policy made its way to the APWU national office last week, the union took immediate action. In a strongly-worded letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter, APWU President William Burrus objected to the change. “These instructions will increase biohazard exposure to employees, customers, facilities, and mail,” he wrote. “The instructions represent a major change in the USPS policy, which previously assured that all stamped mail would be processed on the AFCS and screened for possible exposure.” Burrus requested that Potter rescind the policy and “continue to apply unqualified protections” to the mail system. The following day new instructions were issued, indicating that “it is imperative to ensure that at AFCS sites, all collection letter mail meeting the processing specifications for the AFCS, be processed on the AFCS.” Burrus said he was pleased that the Postal Service responded quickly to the union’s objection. “The safety of APWU members — and the American public — must always be a top priority,” he said.
Dates to Remember
By Gary Scott, President
- December 14, 2007: Executive Board Meeting at 8:00 AM
- December 14, 2007: DMAL Office Holiday Party at 12:00 PM
- December 18-19, 2007: (from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM) Santa Calls
- January 26, 2008: General Membership Meeting at 9:00 AM
/jd
opeiu #5
afl-cio
