The Local Line

“A PPA Award Winning Publication”

The Official Voice Of The Northwest Illinois Area Local

American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO

194 W. Lake Street Elmhurst IL 60126

Phone: 630-833-0088 Fax: 630-833-0248

Jackie Engelhart – President Alan Czerwinski - News Director

Floor Edition

May 06, 2007

Local Update by Jackie Engelhart

Management by Stress

I am sharing the following article written by the President of the Olympia Local in Washington State. (His Local fought hard to stop the Area Mail Processing (AMP) of Olympia mail to Tacoma, while Tacoma sends theirs to Seattle.)"In case you have not noticed yet, management is understaffing operations in order to get employees to work faster than they would with more people present. Management takes full advantage of the fact that workers will work extremely hard to get the mail delivered to the community. Instead of yelling at workers or using whips, management simply reduces the amount of people scheduled/assigned to the facility. The method is sometimes called "management by stress.” The employer will reduce or stress the workforce until the breaking point. Upper management control seven local management by reducing the complement for the installation. In addition, upper management has instituted a reward system whereby local management is rewarded for increasing the productivity of the Plant. Management raises productivity by having fewer employees do more work For upper management, it appears the breaking point is when the mail is delayed. Therefore, complaints of not enough people or having to work hard will fall on deaf ears until the mail is actually delayed. In fact, understood properly, it is in the interest of the Plant Manager to work you to exhaustion… Employees generally will give that extra effort when called upon to do so. However, at the Post Office, employees are expected to give that extra effort every day, delaying their break, going without their lunch, going without their break, working by themselves for 15 minutes, then 30every day in a crisis. At some point, every worker has to ask "how far will they go?" We ask that same question today.

Follow the Instruction

Recently we have had several employees issued Removals for not failing to follow an instruction. In one case we have resolved the discipline as the manager simply wanted & correct the problem. At Palatine P&DC we see something all together different. We have two employees with clean records and excellent work records, who admittedly failed to follow an instruction. They should have followed the instruction and they were wrong. They should be corrected. Instead, they were humiliated and walked out of the facility with a Notice of Removal in hand. They were placed on administrative leave for the 30days until the Removal takes effect. Management states they were insubordinate and should be fired. These employees have a spotless record and are both in a state of shock. They were never given a direct order, to warn them of the severity of the situation. Palatine P&DC is sending a message with this action. Be warned.

IPWU OFF-YEAR CONFERENCE

Hosted By Northwest Illinois Area Local

APWU/AFL-CIO

Schedule for Off Year Seminar

Thursday May 17, 2007 Chicago Room

9:30 Welcome Jackie Englehart, NWIAL President

and Linda Turney, Illinois President

Posting of colors, VFW Arlington Heights

Pledge of Allegiance, Bob La Foe, NWIAL Veteran's Committee

10:00 Plenary Session Contract Issues Panel

James McCarthy, Mike Morris, Sharyn Stone, John Clark, Percy Harrison,

Lynn Pallas Barber, Vance Zimmerman, Merlie Bell

12:00 Lunch Break - on your own

1:30 Resume Plenary Session for Contract Issues

3:30 COPA CANDY Break $1.00

3:45 Resume Plenary Session

5:00 End

6:00 Cocktails Cash Bar

6:30 Dinner -- Paramount Ballroom

Key note Speakers

D.J. and Hospitality #1428 If you are drinking do not drive.

Friday May 18, 2007 Chicago Room

9:00 Alice Crawford, EAP, Anna Schwarzwalder, Chair DAC, Hope Quilt

9:30 Legislation, Myke Reid Legislative Director

12:00 Lunch Break - on your own

1:30 Tom Maier and Lynn Pallas Barber, RI399, Woodfield Room I

1:30 Vance Zimmerman, Maintenance, Woodfield Room II

1:30 Percy Harrison Office of Inspector General, Woodfield Room III

3:30 COPA CANDY Break $1.00

3:45 Resume Sessions, Stay in same Session

5:00 End

Hospitality Room #1428 If you are drinking, do not drive.

Saturday May 19, 2007

9:00 Raffle Chicago Room

9:00 John R. Smith, Retirement, Woodfield Room II

10:00 ABA, Chicago Room

10:15 APWU Health Plan, Chicago Room

11:30 Wrap up, Final Questions.

Auxiliary Meeting in Woodfield IV

Be Safe Driving Home