Vol. XXVI, No. 02 / Jerry Sirois, President / January 18, 2005.

SSN USAGE FOR EMPLOYEE CALL IN PROCEDURE!

With identity theft becoming a growing problem the APWU has objected to what we consider unnecessary use of employees Social Security Numbers. We are pleased to announce that the Postal Service will increase employee identity security, as the eRMS IVR system and Call Center Agents are to no longer take your Social Security Number when you call to request an unscheduled absence.

Effective at eleven o’clock am, Pacific Standard Time, one o’clock p.m. Central Standard Time, and two o’clock Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, January 23, 2005, the IVR system and Call Center Agents will begin accepting your Employee ID instead of your SSN when you call to request an unscheduled absence.

If you do not know your Employee ID, it can be found on your earnings statement each payday. It is the third entry from the left of the statement on the top line. This is an important identification number for Postal Employees to remember, as it is used to access other self-service systems, such as PostalEase.

BIOLOGICAL DETECTION SYSTEMS - THEY’RE ALMOST HERE!

Minneapolis Plant to Receive Biological Detection Systems
Bio Detection Alarm Simulation Scheduled For Tuesday January 25, 2005

Beginning on or about May 2004 Minneapolis Management met with the Unions and other officials for the purpose of discussing the implementation of Biological Detection Systems (BDS) in the Minneapolis Plant. The implementation schedule for Minneapolis was originally scheduled for September of 2004 but was delayed. The deployment is now scheduled to take place around the middle of March this year!

There have been several meetings since then and although things are starting to accelerate there are still many questions that remain. The parties will continue to chip away at all issues concerning this endeavor and with any undertaking of this scope there will undoubtedly be a few speed bumps on our highway to enhanced safety.

After the initial anthrax attacks back in October 2001 it was painfully clear that as a nation we were unprepared to effectively deal with that particular act of terrorism…The Union was extremely vocal as to insisting the USPS safeguard its employees and opinions as to what was being done, who should be doing it, etc. were all over the board! After the heat of the crisis had subsided, the Minneapolis Area Local wanted the USPS to begin developing strategy and a “Game Plan” in the event there were any subsequent attacks that would compromise the safety of Postal Workers, their families, and Postal Customers! Our opinion is that when things seem to be relatively normal it is not time to relax; it is time to prepare and reduce the possible risks in the event there is another attack through the mail stream.

While there are many concerns and questions that will have to be answered, the union feels we should all embrace efforts that are made for the purpose of minimizing the risks to employees, their families, and the public we serve. We understand that at least part of the goal here is to detect the introduction of anthrax in the mail stream ASAP, isolate those who may be affected, take steps to treat those who may have been exposed, and reduce the possibility of secondary exposure to family members and/or the mailing public! While this appears it will be a learning process as it progresses, and the actual sounding of an alarm will have a significant impact on all employees should they be on the premises when one occurs, we support all efforts that are aimed at making our workplace safer, our product better, and will serve to ensure the public confidence in their mail system! In an effort to show our support we urge all APWU members to give your full cooperation to postal, public health, fire/rescue, and law enforcement officials who will all be working to develop an effective Emergency Evacuation Plan in the event a biological agent is detected in our mail stream!

A decontamination walk thru is scheduled for January 25th at 1500 where management is seeking 20 to 30 volunteers. If you would like to volunteer call 612-349-6318. Official employee training is scheduled to begin the first two weeks of February with a total building evacuation scheduled for February 16th at 1500. Stay tuned….

IF YOU ARE A COLLEGE STUDENT, HAVE A COLLEGE STUDENT, OR HAVE A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR NOW IS THE TIME TO WORK ON YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS!

Every year at this time the Minneapolis Area Local has a number of scholarship opportunities that become available to our members or the children of our members. If you have a high school senior graduating this June or you are interested in scholarships for continuing education for yourself or a family member, you may wish to consider the following opportunities:

Minnesota AFL-CIO Scholarships

The Minnesota AFL-CIO offers:

• Two David K Roe College or University $1,000 S~holarships
• Two Hubert H. Humphrey College or University $ 1,000 Scholarships
• One Donald Pilla Vocational $1,000 Scholarship

The winners of the above are chosen by lot, must be a graduating high school senior with a straight "B" or better average and the dependent of a Minneapolis APWU dues paying member, and must attend a post-secondary institution or trade school within the State of Minnesota.

In Addition the Minnesota AFL-CIO offers:

Ten Bill Peterson Post-Secondary $1,000 Scholarships available to High School Seniors, College Students, OR Adult Learners that are Members or a dependent of a member of the Minneapolis Area Local, APWU. Winning essay applications are chosen by committee.

The AFL-CIO deadlines are April 20, 2005. Since the Minneapolis Area Local must certify that APWU applicants are members in good standing, please request your application by calling the Union Office at 623-0677. Note, these applications are also available on line, however, you will want to be cautious to apply only one time as duplicates will invalidate the applicant.

The Nellie Stone Scholarship for Racial Minorities

Scholarships ranging from $500-$2500, as determined by Committee, are available for the racial minority Union member or the child, grandchild or spouse of a Union member. Deadline is April 1. Please call the APWU Union Office at 623-0677for this application.

Minneapolis Area Local, APWU Scholarships

The Minneapolis Area Local, APWU offers four $1500 scholarships to graduating High School Seniors of our members. The rules and application appear in the February and March issues of THE NORTHERN LIGHT. Drawing at the April GMM will choose the winners.

National APWU Scholarship

The National APWU offers 1 Vocational and 1 College Scholarship to graduating high school senior students of APWU Members. Winners are chosen on the basis of academic achievement. These are lengthy applications and require a number of enclosures to be provided by the applicant. Please request the forms soon to allow adequate time to apply. The deadline to postmark these applications is March 1. Please call the APWU office at 623-0677 for the applications.

Martin Duffy Adult Learner Scholarship

Two $500 Tuition Scholarships for Minnesota AFL-CIO affiliated Union members to be used at any post secondary institution within the State of Minnesota. Deadline is April 30.