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
May 17, 2006
Local Update by Jackie Engelhart
Palatine Medical Unit
On 5-11-06 a
grievance was appealed to step 2 for the closing of the Palatine Medical Unit. The
next day a tragedy occurred at Palatine, when tour 3 Mailhandler Veronica
Washington was found unconscious in the Security Office. I am told a co-worker was
able to revive her, but only temporarily. I did not know Veronica personally,
but I remember her smiling and waving from the
Security Office. I know she will be missed by many of her co-workers, as
well as family and friends. My first
thought upon hearing of this tragedy, was "we need a medical unit at
Palatine." Of course I do not know if the outcome would have changed, but I know most of us would feel better
knowing we had a trained professional in the building, just in case. Senior
Management of the Northern Illinois District has assured us that they are in
compliance with al1 federal rules and regulations, and we do not doubt it. Being
in compliance is not the point, the point is for the price of a nurse (or two)
we could have trained medical personnel on site, as they do at Carol Stream. Carol Stream and
Palatine have always had approximately the same number of employees, but
Palatine does not need a Medical Unit?
Other Priorities
The Postal Service
must operation efficiently to stay in business, but I question some of the
priorities in the Northern Illinois District. How is it that we can afford to pay
two "VOE Coordinators" for two years each, but we cannot afford to keep
one nurse at Palatine? I have asked this question and received no response.
Human Resource Manager Phyllis Lingenfelser maintains the Medical Unit was closed
on April 21, 2006 based on a letter sent to Mark Tovey in 1998. I have requested information as to what prompted the
closing eight years later, and I have received nothing. I believe
this is nothing more than management trying to save a few dollars. They would rather
invest those dollars in VOE Coordinators than a Medical Unit. Whether they are
in compliance with al1 laws and regulations is not the point, the point is what
are their priorities? On May 8, 2006 Vice President Baskin and I met with new A/District Manager Nancy
Rettinhouse, and one of the issues we discussed was the closing of the Palatine
Medical Unit. We asked her to take another look at it and she said she would.
Supervisors to Write
Restrictions for Job Offers
The Union was
informed that al1 medicals for Palatine employees should be sent to the Carol
Stream Medical Unit. Shortly thereafter we became aware that the Carol Stream
Medical Unit is too busy to write out restrictions for job offers, and that
this will be done by the supervisors. This was formerly done by the Palatine
nurse, Chris Hoffman. Does this mean the supervisors will have access to
employee medicals? Medicals should not go to Supervisors.
Carol Stream Low Cost
Operation of the Carol Stream Low Cost Tray Sorter #2-4 began on May 11,2006. The APWU will be filing grievances by pay period and tour for the violation of Article 7.2, crossing crafts until this issue is resolved. This Dispute was sent to the Regional Level on May 2, 2006. While more and more and more clerks are being forced onto machine jobs, the LCTS would have provided manual distribution jobs that are sorely needed. This is a major loss to the clerk craft thanks to the "decision" of Plant Manager Ron Woodall. Safety Concerns After a tub fell off the overhead conveyor belt for the new tray transport system to the LCTS, section of guard rail was installed at the spot where the tub fell from. Management has stated “hat the new system does not require guard rails, but that if any tubs fa11 off they will look at installing guard rails for the entire system." CCD Taylor responded "One tray falling is one too many " and "Safety first, no matter the cost."
Carol Stream Key Handling
Maintenance Craft Director Chuck Olson is currently reviewing all information for the Carol Stream Key Handling grievance. He informed me that this review will take many hours of his time, but he wants to make sure the settlement is correct. Once he has arrived at the distribution of the 16,000 hours he will share the information with myself and Vice President Baskin before submitting to management. He has been in communication with National Business Agent Vance Zimmerman for guidance of the implementation of this settlement.
Chicago Metro
Information
Clerk bids were
posted on May 2, 2006 at Chicago Metro Surface Hub. On the last day of the
posting (May 11th) management gave out abolishment letters to SPBS and FSM
clerks. Clerks should have received their abolishment notices prior to the
posting of these bids, not on the last day of the posting. We discussed the
possibility of reposting these bids in June because the employees did not know
their bids were abolished until the last day of the posting. Plant Manager Anderson
stated he would check with Labor and Human Resources to see if this was
possible. On May16th I spoke with the Barbara
Singleton, the Manager of Labor Relations for the Chicago District, and she
informed me that the bids had been awarded and they would not be reposted.
Plant Manager Anderson was cooperative in his efforts to see if the bids could
be reposted. The abolishment letters should have come first so employees would know
their status, but the contract has not been violated by their failure to do so.
Cooperation at
Metro
Mr. Anderson
informed us that he wants to improve communication with the Union, and he wants
our input on issues affecting our crafts. He informed us that he will meet with
employees who have attendance discipline of 14 days or more to tell them they
should to talk to him if they need help, before, not after,
they get more discipline.
Tour 3 MDO Problems
Tour 3 MDO Hudson continues to generate complaints from both Unions. Most recently
she put an employee out of "my building" for failure to follow
instructions & asking why she was moved.
Rockford
The IPWU state
convention was hosted by the Rockford Local this year and they deserve a lot of
credit. The Rockford Local (and Plant) is fighting for it's life, due to the
AMP (Area Mail Processing Study) that would consolidate Rockford's outgoing mail
to Palatine P&DC. Rockford President Greg Voiles and Vice President Art
Haws stated they do not want to offend
our Local or the employees at Palatine in their fight to keep their mail. We
told them we fully support them in their fight and we do not want to see
Rockford lose their mail and the jobs that go with it. On May 5th many of the
delegates joined the Rockford Local in a peaceful picket outside the Rockford Post
Office.
APWU Files Complaint on
"END"
The APWU filed a
complaint in US District Court on April 21, charging that the USPS violated the
Postal Reorganization Act in implementing its "network realignment"
plan known as Evolutionary Network Development (END), and asking that these consolidations
be put on hold.
Retirement Seminar May
20th!
Human Relations
Director Mimi Jackson reports we have 70 members registered for the NWIAL
Retirement Seminar on May 20,2006 at the Elmhurst Union Building. The hours are
from l0am to 2pm,
and lunch will be served. The
seminar is free to al1 members with a $10.00 donation requested for COPA.
Thank You Bob Tunstall
Former national
Secretary-Treasurer Robert L. Tunstall died on May 12 at his home in Oregon. Mr. Tunstall, who had diabetes, was 64. He was loved and admired for his
humanity and his tireless service to the APWU. His failing health forced him to retire from the work he loved. Thank
you Mr. Tunstall.