The Local Line
“A PPA Award
Winning Publication”
The Official Voice Of
The
American Postal
Workers
Phone: 630-833-0088 Fax: 630-833-0248
Jackie Engelhart – President Alan Czerwinski - News Director
January 15, 2007
Local Update by Jackie Engelhart
Rolando
(RO) Silva
It is with sadness
that we acknowledge the untimely passing of our beloved Union brother, Rolando
Silva. Ro passed on January 9, 2007 after a long and courageous battle with illness.
Ro has been fighting ill health for over ten years, but I never heard him
complain. He never gave up, and I'm sure that his strong will to live is what
allowed him to see his children grow to young adult-hood. Ro served the
Contract
is Ratified.
APWU members
ratified a four year contract by a vote of 84,486 to 12,016 in ballots counted
on Jan.12. The contract is retroactive to Nov 21, 2006and
expires on Nov. 20, 2010. Pres. Burrs sent out letters and ballots to all non
members, asking them to sign an enclosed application for membership that would
allow them to vote. 700 non members did sign up. Shame on the rest of the scabs
among us.
APWU
Still Largest Postal
In spite of the
concerted efforts of the USPS to downsize APWU represented crafts, by
subcontracting work in all our crafts, and assigning all new
automated mail processing to the mailhandler craft, we are still the largest
postal union, with over 260,000 craft employees. The NALC is second with
224,000, the Rural Carriers have 66,000 and the Mail Handlers have 57,000. We will
continue to fight to preserve every job that rightfully belongs to an APWU
represented craft.
Anti-Consolidation
Resolution Introduced
In a demonstration
of the growing level of concern over USPS consolidation plans, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann
Emerson (R MO) introduced a non-binding resolution on Jan. 7 seeking to ensure a "maximum degree of
effective and regular postal service to all communities." Emerson urges
the USPS to take “all necessary steps to ensure that post offices are not
closed or consolidated." The resolution was referred to the House Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform, which has jurisdiction over the USPS, and
is now under the leadership of Henry Waxman (D CA).
Postal Reform
Passed
After 11 years, a postal reform bill was passed by Congress on Dec. 9 and signed by the President on Dec 20 Provisions calling for reduced wages and benefits, elimination of no-layoff, outsourcing of jobs and reduced service to the public were rejected. A provision to prevent postage rates from increasing above, the rate of inflation was included. APWU and other USPS employee organizations were unable to block a provision in the bill that will force postal workers to use annual leave, sick leave or LWOP for the first three days of their absence from work due to a work related injury. This will create an unprecedented disparity in the way postal workers are treated in comparison to other federal employees. (The leave will be restored or be paid if the absence exceeds 14 days). A provision that would have slashed OWCP benefits for those on total disability to 50 % of the employee's monthly pay was not included.
"Worksharing"
Victory.
The APWU convinced legislators to include a provision in the bill that severely restricts excessive
"worksharing" discounts for major mailers that drain billions of dollars in revenue from the USPS.
Working with allies in Congress, we gained the inclusion of a provision that will phase out these subsidies, with limited exceptions. The new law will require that whenever the USPS establishes a worksharing discount, it must get approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. USPS must also provide a detailed report that explains the reason for and the data to justify the discount rate. It must also certify that the discount will not adversely affect rates or service provided to users of postal services who 'do not take advantage of the discounted rate.
Financial
Relief
The new law returns to USPS millions of dollars held in escrow, of overpaying to the Civil Service Retirement System, and responsibility for 27 billion in military related retirement benefits for postal workers to the Treasury. (No other federal agency has been required to pay these costs.) These financial burdens were imposed on the USPS in the Postal Civil Service Reform Act of 2003, in provisions that were supposed to be temporary. The Bush administration had wanted these provisions made permanent to make the deficit appeal smaller.
APWU
Files Suit on
Jurisdiction Disputes!
"The APWU has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, charging that the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the USPS have violated a national-level three-party agreement that establishes procedures for resolving disputes over work assignments. In the 1-5 years since the agreement was signed, only two national arbitration awards have been issued. Five years elapsed before Arbitrator Dana Eishen was appointed in 1997, and he issued only one ruling before his term expired. It was not until 2003 that Eishen was replaced by Arbitrator Joseph Sharnoff, who issued a single ruling in 2006, after his term expired. Although the parties agreed to reappoint Sharnoff on June 28, 2006, the suit notes, the MHU has refused to finalize the appointment. The MHU has obstructed and delayed the appointment of a national arbitrator, as least in part, because 12 of the 14 pending disputes concern claims by the APWU that the USPS has erroneously assigned work to the MHU which should have been assigned to Clerks. The USPS and the MHU have acted in tandem to delay and deny justice to APWU members. The suit was absolutely, necessary" per Burrus, RI-399 is being held hostage.
Automatic
Induction at C.S.
We met with management at Carol Stream on Jan. 12. On our side were myself, VP Baskin, CCD Taylor, Ray Wience, and Chief or Alternate Chiefs from each tour, Mike Cooley, Melanie Bellmon, and Danny Recinto. On their side was Sr. Plant Manager Ron Woodall, In-Plant Support Manager John Colao, Sr. MDO Mary Alexander and Labor Relations Manager Carol Dellutri.
Impact
is 32 Clerk
Jobs!