Vol. XXV, No. 25 / Jerry Sirois, President / October 01, 2004.

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GET OUT THE VOTE! LABOR 2004!

We are pleased to announce that our very own John Goodman, a driver in the Motor Vehicle Craft, is presently serving in conjunction with the Minnesota AFL-CIO to GET OUT THE VOTE on November 2, 2004! John is knocking on doors, phoning, and educating potential voters in all aspects concerning the upcoming elections. How do I register to vote? Where is my polling place? Who supports issues important for my job? How have candidates voted on issues important to the working family?

You or someone you know can get these answers by calling us at 612-623-0677 and stating you have some voting questions! We will either answer your question on the spot, or take your contact information, a good time to call, and have someone contact you to answer your questions.

We are very excited and proud to be sponsoring John who is working full time in an effort to educate Union members in what will be the most important election of our lifetime! John, who is also a member of our local Legislative Committee, has extensive background in the election process and is working tirelessly on our behalf! Thank You John! Once again, you can contact John by calling us at 612-623-0677 and leaving a message for him. In addition, Jerry and/or Peggy are always happy to field your call regarding our Union’s stake in this election! If you have Internet access you can get a wealth of voting info by going to: http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/ simply type in your zip code, follow the prompts and away you go!

OPERATION UP-LINK!

What is it? Operation up-link is a program that funds the purchase of phone cards for our veterans overseas so they can call home free of charge. If you know a Postal Worker who is serving our military and would like to get them a free phone card please contact us at 612-623-0677 and leave your contact info. Tour 1 MPO Steward Len Gudmunson is our contact for this program and we will get any requests to him. Please leave enough contact info so Len can make a determination on the request and get back to you with any information that may be necessary to provide this service.

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

NO NEW TAXES YOU SAY! Sept. 22—Nearly one-third of the nation’s largest and most profitable corporations paid no federal income tax between 2001 and 2003—yet still received billions of dollars in tax rebates, according to a new study.

Corporate Income Taxes in the Bush Years, released Sept. 22 by Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ) and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, finds 82 of 275 companies CTJ examined enjoyed at least one year in 2001–2003 in which they paid no federal income taxes yet received billions of dollars in outright tax rebates. In 2003 alone, 46 of the companies paid no federal income taxes and in some cases, received tax rebates.

The companies, all on the Fortune 500 list, were profitable in each of the three years analyzed.

General Electric Co., which lobbies extensively for tax breaks, topped the list of corporate tax-break recipients, receiving nearly $10 billion in tax subsidies over the three-year period, according to the report.

Commentary – Please keep in mind, when you as middle class tax payer pay $300 less in federal tax but pay $1000 more for State, City, and/or school taxes or levies, it is a net result of money out of your pocket! This is often referred to as “corporate welfare” and who suffers?

MEDICARE FOR SENIORS CHANGES! – It sure has, but who really benefits? In November 2003, Congress passed a Medicare prescription drug bill that threatens the health benefits for Medicare’s 35 million seniors and people with disabilities, does nothing to control drug prices and was written to benefit big drug companies, not consumers. Under the new bill, seniors and people with disabilities face a huge gap in coverage: They must pay out-of-pocket expenses between $2,251 and $5,100. (AFL-CIO)

Commentary – Have you seen the consumer ads that tell seniors to get their new card and save money? Do they actually save money? Well—Yes and No! Here is how it can now work since there is no control on pricing. It probably won’t happen because we all know that drug companies don’t care that much about their profits, but - - -Smith & Smith Drug Company charges $80 for their drug per prescription. The senior gets their drug card and can save $20 for that particular prescription! A $20 savings right? Not so fast my friend! If Smith & Smith now charges $100 for that same prescription or more! Who has really saved and who has profited? Not our seniors! Not us Taxpayers!

Postal Automated Redirection System (PARS) Update

The Union will be meeting with local management again on October 6, 2004, regarding PARS and all issues related to it. We will give everyone involved all the information we have that we can be sure is accurate as soon as we have it.

At this time we do not think it will be necessary for management to invoke out of craft or installation excessing! Total numbers are still uncertain and we will get that info clarified in as timely a manner possible. Stay tuned….

Automated Package Processing System (APPS)

Whoops – In the first snafu regarding the staffing changes associated with the APPS, management has found it necessary to delay the preference selection process for residual jobs that have been held for assignment to those who are being excessed from their TCMH sections.

As we understand at this time, they are assigning work schedules to all affected and will then go into the assignment of the residual jobs once everyone is on the same page. If you have any questions regarding this as it evolves, request of your supervisor to see a steward. Our stewards and/or their craft officers can answer your questions, and/or investigate your situation if a grievance may be in order! We requested that management proceed at a measured pace so as to get it all straight, some insisted on expediting the process and the initial result can go into the…we told you so category…stay tuned!