Floor Edition

September 13, 2010

Update by Jackie Engelhart

NWIAL Resolutions Passed at Convention

The following NWIAL resolutions were adopted at the state and national conventions: 1. Resolved, that the APWU negotiate that when there are multiple impacts affecting a craft, at the same facility, during the same period, management must combine the impacts. (Palatine had three impacts in a row that if combined would have allowed senior impacted clerks to choose from better jobs offered earlier to the junior clerks. 2. Resolved, that the APWU negotiate the live bidder option for Article 12 excessing. (In cases where an employee does not qualify for the position it would go to the next senior employee who bid on it) 3. Resolved, that the APWU negotiate that once a jurisdictional dispute is sent to the regional level it shall be heard in arbitration within one year if not resolved. (RI-339 Appeals often sit for years)

President Burrus Says He Expects to Negotiate a Fair Contract.

President Burrus is retiring in November and will be leading APWU in contract negotiations for the last time. Burrus told the convention delegates he is optimistic the parties can negotiate a contract that is fair to both sides, and expects to achieve more gains this contract. President Burrus invited NALC President Rolando to address APWU as he had addressed the NALC. NALe President Rolando brought the crowd to it's feet when he ended his speech by saying "If the Postal Service comes to the bargaining table with the intent to "gut our jobs and benefits, they will have a bloody fight on their hands because we can and will resist any such demands." He also thanked President Burrus for his many years of "dedicated service to the trade union movement." He said "You will be deeply missed for your skill and relentless passion to advance the cause of all postal employees."

National Election Ballots to be Mailed on 9-13-10

Members in good standing who have not received a ballot by 9-20-10 should notify their local or contact the American Arbitration Association between the hours of9am and 5pm Monday –Friday Eastern Time, at 800-529-5218 to request a duplicate ballot. You will be asked to provide your name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, along with your local, craft, mailing address and phone number. You may also request a ballot via e-mail to apwu@adr.org To be valid, ballots must be in the designated post box by Tuesday, 10-5-10 at 5 am. All APWU members who vote will send a message to postal management that we are involved and we support our union. A low turn out sends the opposite message to management.

Vice President to Part Time on 9-11-10

The Vice President is now part-time and on tour 1 at Palatine. This change was made to save money and was made in advance of the 2011 NWIAL budget which passed on 9-12-10.

Palatine Approves New MS-47 Custodial Staffing Package

Management at Palatine approved a new MS-47 staffing package based on empty floor space on the second floor that was cleared for the three FSS machines they knew were coming. This floor-space is no longer empty as the three FSS machines now occupy that space. The (Great Lakes) Area approved the new staffing package which calls for a reduction of fourteen custodians. We asked why management would create a “new” MS-47 staffing package based on empty floor space when they know this floor space was being readied lor three FSS machines? Greg Johnson said they cannot afford to pay extra employees until January even if the post FSS staffing shows them to be needed. He reminded me that this was his position when management sent Palatine Mail Handlers to Pittsburgh knowing they would be needed for FSS in January 2011. Greg Johnson thinks it's the right thing to do to excess employees to other states based on management delays in the start-up date of FSS. He would rather excess employees out of state than be temporarily overstaffed. Now another MS-47 staffing package will have to be done because the "empty" floor space is no longer empty and no custodian should be moved based on an (intentionally) flawed MS-47 staffing package.

No Mercy for Employees

Some AMC employees called us for help as they were supposed to be in Kansas City in August but needed time extensions. KC gave them more time but AMC-ISC will not give them details to work as they still need to work and mail is being worked at AMC O'Hare.

Carol Stream Casuals

Carol Stream continues to work Clerk casuals 7 hours per night on tour I, and must call overtime to get the mail out post-AMP. They use casuals and call overtime rather than return excessed Clerks. Tour 1 is understaffed as more Automation jobs were added on tour 3 due to the AMP, and some of tour 3 Automation start times have been moved up to 130. We are filing a grievance every pay period on the use of casuals while Clerks remain excessed out of the craft. We continue to ask A/Plant Manager Sciruba why management would rather call overtime than bring back injured Clerks who could be performing work in manual letters and flats. He has said he is looking at that. In the meantime these overtime calls are being used by the union to document that there is work available for injured CS Clerks put out by management under NRP. The union will arbitrate a Palatine grievance in September concerning management working Clerk casuals at Palatine while Clerks remained excessed out of the craft within the installation. Under Article 12, management is required to separate casuals to the extent possible before excessing.

Part-Time Regulars

Some of impacted Palatine Clerks who could not carry mail and/or relocate out ofstate "volunteered" to become Part-Time Regulars. They were immediately assigned to a four hour per week schedule by Palatine management. We asked Senior Plant Manager Greg Johnson (who is in charge of both plants) why he would hire casuals at CS while working Palatine PTR Clerks only four hours per week He said he will look at that.

MVS Withholding Ends. Most Part-Time Flexibles to Convert

NWIAL Motor Vehicle Director Nigel Thomas has been working hard to get PTF Drivers converted but could not due to withholding. The Craft has been in withholding since 2-13-09 due to impacts in Detroit, Racine and the NDC. These impacts have been lifted which means that PTF Drivers can now be converted to full-time. Craft Director Thomas reports that eight (8) PTF Drivers at CS should be converted and one PTF Driver at Palatine. This will leave only one PTF Driver at Palatine. Craft Director Thomas has been very persistent and we contacted MVS-NBA Merlie Bell as well as Central Region Coordinator Stone to complain that no drivers were being moved and the withholding was preventing MVS conversions. Conversions should happen soon.

5 Day No Way !

All postal employees should call their congressman against 5-day delivery which would cut 40,000 Carriers and allow competitors to take more business from the USPS by providing Saturday delivery.

VOE-No Way!

Do not give management any ammunition to use against us at the bargaining table. Our national leaders say do not participate in any VOE Survey.

American Income Life Calls

American Income Life is a union company that offers a free $2500 dollar policy to union members. We agreed to do a mailing at their cost regarding this free coverage. If you return the yellow card to name a beneficiary for the free $2500 policy they will call you to make an appointment to sell you more insurance, but you are under no obligation to buy insurance.