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
August 12, 2005
Report from National Craft Conferences by: Jackie Engelhart
President Burrus Addresses the Conference
On the fast day of
the first All Craft Conference in Las Vegas, President Burrus spoke to the
approximately 2500 union
officials in attendance.
Burrus’ Achievements
President Burros
reported that the national backlog of APWU grievances has been reduced from
100,000 to, 25,000. He thanked
the Business Agents and credited the Joint Contract Interpretation Manual
(JCIM) for clarifying grey areas of the contract. He stated the finalization of
the, JCIM is good for APWU members .
APW Court Victory!
President Burrus
announced a major FMLA victory by APWU that affect all Postal employees. APWU
paid the legal fees for the appeal of a court case filed for APWU member from
Illinois. In an unanimous ruling from the Seventh Circuit of U.S. Court of
Appeals the court ruled that the USPS cannot require employees returning from
FMLA absences of more than 21 days to provide a detailed medical with a
diagnosis and a prognosis, The court ruled that such employees are not required
to submit to a medical examination selected by the Postal Service in order to
return to work. President Burrus stated, “We have fought long and hard to protect
our members under the Family and Medical Leave Act and this is a very sweet
victory.” He stated this victory is important to thousands of postal workers
across the country, but he stated the Postal Service has stated they will only
honor this decision in the states covered by the Seventh Circuit. Illinois is
covered.
Contract
Extension is Approved.
President Burrus
reported that the contract extension was approved by the members. Out of 78,000
who voted, 69,000 voted yes and 9,000 voted no. He stated this is approximately
the same number of members who voted on the last two contracts. 69,000 voted
out of a total of 280,000 members. He asked why do Postal Workers have a hard
time voting?
Extension
Highlights
The contract
extension continues all current contractual benefits, including a continuation
of the no-layoff protection and no increase in employee costs for health
benefits. All APWU members will receive a 1.6 percent Salary increase
effective: March 18, 2006 and two 1 COLA’s (in March and September of 2006):
Salary upgrades of one level were provided for 14 positions. President Burrus
states that the Postal Service does not want to up-grade anyone but the more
employees in the position the more difficult it becomes. Positions that he will
seek upgrade for in the 2006 contract negotiations include Sales and Service
Associates (Window Clerks), Bulk Mail Technicians, Data Conversion, and
Custodians. He points out that the largest job category is no longer mail
processing clerks, but the 80, 000 window clerks. He will tight for these
upgrades!
APWU Transitional
Employees to end in December of 2005
This will be the
end of TE.‘s for APWU but Mailhandlers and Letter Carriers will still have them.
They will most likely demand the same thing. TE.‘s were imposed on the Union by
an arbitrator in 1985, and it has taken 20 years to end.
Last 5 Years a
Success!
In the five years
covered by the 2000 contract and extensions, a level 5 step 0 employee’s salary
has risen from 40,472 to 47,245 dollars per year, without any premium or
overtime pay! We have achieved holiday leave in lieu of pay, resolved most
work-related travel pay issues, and are now able to move important cases to the
top of the arbitration docket. Excessing has been limited to a 50 mile radius
and 7,000 APWU members had the opportunity for early retirement. He called the
VER a major accomplishment
Challenges Facing
APWU
Over the last 5
years APWU has lost 60,000 jobs as the Postal Service continues to downsize. As
our bargaining unit continues to shrink the Union must reduce’ expenses. He
stated we must liver within our means and we have done what is necessary. He
opposed any dues increase in 2004 and will do, so again in 2006. By constant
budget cutting APWU headquarters has achieve a 4 million-dollar surplus!
Must Break 80%
Organized!
President Bnrrus
said APWU has never achieved over 75% organized on a national level. He stated
“We need to maximize the membership of those that remain.” Every non-members
who refuses to pay for the benefits paid for by the rest of us weakens the
Union.
Union’s Success Benefits ALL
As Burrus stated,
we as Postal employees have become complacent. We see our Union brothers and
sisters being laid off in other industries; losing their pensions, and or
taking wage cuts to save the company. We as Postal Workers continue to prosper
and we take it for granted because the Union has been successful. President
Burrus is sending back a message to the rank and file, we cannot afford to take
what we have for granted.
Whose job is Organizing?
The answer is it’s
everybody’s job. We all should be talking to our co-workers about the
importance of Union membership. Reasons I have heard from non-members for not
paying their fair share, are I don’t like who won, they lost my grievance, or I
can’t afford it. These are your coworkers who are also making 47,250 dollars
per year because most of us are members. We can and must do better. Organizing
Director Leonard Morgan has prepared a proposal for a 50/50 Organizing Drive to
be held this fall. Sign someone
up and you each get 50 dollars. More details soon.
Legislative Issues Affect Us.
In 1970 Congress
passed the Postal Reorganization, Act which conferred collective bargaining rights
to Postal employees. We have come a long way since then because the Union was
able to bargain with the Postal Service to improve pay and other working
conditions for employees. APWU has a legislative department which contacts
congress on issues of importance to us. Dues money cannot be used for political
contributions. COPA $ can. Our Local has not done it’s share for COPA.
New Legislative
Director Horan Adds New Committee Members
Nkwly appointed
Legislative Director Nancy Horan has generated new enthusiasm for this very
important committee. I have received over a dozen letters from members
requesting to be added to her committee. She attended the Craft Conference in
Las Vegas at her own expense and attended the Legislative Class taught by
National Director Mike Reid. We know the Legislative Committee must be much
more active than it has been in the past, and it will be. We urge all APWU
members to support COPA through payroll deduction. Payroll allotment% allowed
have increased from 2 to 3. If we want to continue to enjoy the benefits APWU
has negotiated for you we all need to support COPA.
Union Wins OWCP
Removal!
Once again, our
newest Clerk NBA, Lynn Pallas-Barber has won an major grievance in arbitration
for our Local. For the past 18 months management has been on somewhat of a
witch-hunt for OWCP fraud. With enthusiasm they expanded their efforts and
began firing employees who were unable to work but were able to perform normal
functions of daily living. The term “performing activities inconsistent with
your claim of total disability” was the charge and they were looking for
anything. The grievant is one of the fist caught in management’s dragnet and is
coming back with full back pay. Thank you Lynn!
Costco
Representative will be at Union meeting Sunday, 8-14-05 with membership
information.