From the President’s Desk
By John A. Ancona, President
It’s been a long hot summer and I hope everyone made it through safely. Now the weather will start to cool down some, but not our work in the union. The last two weeks, Mark Kirby and myself met with management to try and finally indentify employees who did In-Section Bidding at the stations. I have written in the past that we had employees who were out-of-schedule because management changed their hours before sending them to training. These employees were pending on their jobs, which caused them to be out-of-schedule. We had station employees who were sent to training that should not have been, and that has been corrected. All employees at the stations, who did not have scheme training and were never properly notified, will receive official letters informing them of their new hours. This should have been done a long time ago, but was not completed by management. I believe with the cooperation from both sides, we have put closure to this issue.
We recently came back from the APWU National Convention, where once again the topic was jobs and the future of the Postal Service. If you have not been involved in the past, now is a good time to step up. It’s your job that's being threatened by greedy politicians who would love to see the Postal Service privatized.
I would like to welcome back our PSE's who recently had their five day break after serving one year with the Postal Service. You now can apply for health insurance for you and your family. The APWU plan is the best option, since management will pay 75%. This was negotiated in our new contract.
We recently came to an agreement to eliminate 204B Details. This was a grievance filed by Dennis Enderson, DMAL Steward on Tour 1, and we will carry this agreement to the other tours and facilities under Roland Fuentes. I believe it is what our National Agreement intended. Thank you Dennis for your hard work on this issue!
We have a long hard road ahead of us. There will be many changes coming down the pike, but your union will be up for the challenge! I want to thank our members for standing by us during these trying times with so many changes. You have not let us down and we will not let you down.
MVS Update
By Robert Helmig, Director MVS Craft
I have just returned from the National Convention that was held in Los Angeles, CA. While there, we passed many resolutions. Two resolutions of importance were;
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Giving our National APWU more flexibility in filling vacancies while retaining final authority for any decisions the National Executive Board may make.
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The second resolution was to give Retirees voting rights for electing the top three National Officers.
While at the National Convention, we spoke and dealt with many issues facing the MVS Craft. California being contracted out along with 18 other cities was the HOT topic! We were included in that 18. I believe, as do most of the National Officers, that this is a ploy to get the union back to the bargaining table. The National APWU is working hard with local officers to fight this attack on our craft. I met with Bob Pritchard, Javier Pineras and John Ancona at the convention regarding our status. We came to the conclusion that this notice has to be about the renewal of the Arvada and Aurora’s. So for now, we’re safe.
We are all worried about November. Simply said, if the Republicans get elected, we are done. Not just the union, but the Postal Service as we know it. This is the most important election we have ever faced. Get informed and vote!! Vote by mail. All of this fighting will do no good if the Republicans take over. They want to do away with the unions and government workers. Remember, small government means no you and I.
I have given my stewards training CDs from the Convention. These CDs have some useful information to help in the grievance procedure.
I have heard from some of you regarding rumors you have heard. Make no mistake…there are those out there who are friends with supervisors and management that want you to believe these rumors. These baseless rumors revolve from this guy who is owed $10,000, to how the union doesn’t do anything. These are the same supervisors and managers that cause the problems in the first place. The supervisor has the authority to fix the problem they caused by settling the grievance at Step 1. Instead, they chose to ignore the contract and start rumors and belittle your union. Instead of admitting they were wrong, they want to blame the union for something they did. If you are ever in doubt about your union, call me and we will address all your concerns! I will not lie or mislead you. You may not like the answers I give you, but it will be the truth as I understand it.
Clerk Happenings
By Dave Coker, Asst. Director Clerk Craft
ATTENTION ALL ON-LINE BIDDERS!!!!!
This has been around for a little while now, but as a reminder, the on-line bidding system has been creating confusion for those using the LiteBlue when it comes to Tour 1 bids. The bids shown on the paper DPM will list one set of days off (being timecard) and the on-line system may list the days off (actual). Please be clear what you are bidding before hitting the submit button.
If you have questions or need help, please see your Steward or Coordinator.
We just wrapped up the National Convention in Los Angeles, and I can report back to you that the delegates that were there, did their jobs well. We managed to clear all business ahead of schedule, and broke the Convention down early, saving the members money in the process. Of chief concern were resolutions to both clarify, and attack the abuse of excessing, creating NTFT positions, and the use of PSE’s; as most of the discussions revolved around trying to limit NTFT jobs to desirable schedules, that would be attractive to members who would otherwise want a PTR position under the old contract. 4/10’s being an example. There were resolutions concerning rules for PSE scheduling and resolutions to protect PSE’s from starvation. These resolutions are now the bargaining points for the National to seek in the next contract, and in-between then and now.
What was expected to be a rancorous debate, was actually swiftly dealt with, in a very unified manor. The delegates spoke loudly and firmly that there needs to be a reduction in National Officer positions (and their salaries), and how that would be accomplished. We managed to change the National Constitution to allow for that reduction, as vacancies occur. The old language required each vacancy to be filled, and posted for election at the next election cycle. We are adapting to the realities of today and the future, and the APWU is financially sound. Ready to continue the fight in arbitration, fight in court, fight in Congress, and fight in the streets to save the Postal Service from carpet bagging politicians!
Locally, we continue the everyday struggle to enforce the contract; from bad NTFT schedules, to excessing, to overtime, to safety.
I write this article instead of Ron Malunat, as he is enjoying a much needed vacation. And in filling his shoes, and the work we have done together, I can tell you that your Craft Director has been working very hard with other officers to thwart and turn back the wave of excessing and abolishment, that we just had in all the Stations and AO’s. The dispute papers are growing every day as we prepare a case for almost every Station and AO. Management knows they will lose these cases, since in almost every instance, the overtime and the PSE usage prove the need for the jobs they abolished.
I wish I could tell you that it is fast and easy to correct such an obvious mistake, but it isn’t. For more details, and the chance to ask questions and help direct your officers in their jobs, I encourage each and every one of you to please attend your next Union Meeting this September (9-22-12 at 9:00 AM).
Elections Have Consequences, My Friends!!
By, Tina Desautels, Political Director
Legislative Lifeboat
Ok folks, I have been hinting around for awhile about getting politically active. Well, I’m done hinting!
If you want to keep your job, GET ACTIVE.
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If you want to keep your health care, GET ACTIVE.
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If you want to retire, GET ACTIVE.
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If you want to afford your kids college, GET ACTIVE.
On August 17th, I was privileged to attend legislative training prior to the National Convention. Myke Reed, the Legislative Director, taught the class. Some of the things he said were very profound. Among them, “The only way we will find our way out of the problems with the USPS is through Political Action.”
Between the voter suppression laws being passed throughout the country, and continual onslaught we hear over the airwaves, this is not the time to “sit this one out”.
What can just one person do? That’s easy.
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Register to VOTE! Go online to GoVoteColorado!!
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Make sure your family registers and votes!
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Volunteer (even a little bit)
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Talk to your neighbors and friends.
Remember what George Washington said, “We do not have a government of the majority...we have a government of the majority of people who participate.”
2012 National Convention - A Maintenance Perspective
By Miguel Salazar, Director Maintenance Craft
The National Convention is always a good time to learn what is going on across the country with other APWU Locals and union members. The Maintenance Conference was held the two days prior to the National Convention and in our conference we debated many resolutions, many that make good common sense, some that are pie in the sky ideas, and others that have already been achieved or are just not achievable.
Some of the more controversial resolutions had to do with what I call Universal Seniority. Denver has been fortunate that we are a large facility, which makes us a gaining facility for those who have been impacted by excessing. Article 12 of the contract addresses how seniority is dealt, which is, if you are excessed, you carry your maintenance seniority with you to the gaining facility. The proposed resolution would allow for impacted employees (where excessing would occur) could volunteer to transfer and carry their maintenance seniority. That resolution was not adopted because Article 12 already addresses seniority, and the delegates did not want to make the changes. Another resolution that deals with maintenance excessing was adopted; which address the order for filling vacant maintenance positions. The resolution will allow for maintenances employees who are excessed to another craft, the ability to have preference over non-maintenance employees to transfer into a vacant maintenance duty assignment. On the convention floor, when the maintenance resolutions came up there was some debate, but ultimately the wishes of the delegates of the Maintenance Conference were upheld.
/jd
opeiu #5
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