Flash Bulletins are paid for by members of the APWU.  Information contained in these bulletins is intended for APWU members.    Member questions and/or comments regarding any flash bulletin content are always encouraged.  Reading of publications prepared for and financed by dues paying members by those who do not is yet one more example of non-members accepting benefits that have been paid for by others! 

Retirement Seminar?

We have received recent inquires regarding the possibility of the Union scheduling and holding a retirement seminar for those members that are contemplating retiring.  We have and can schedule this type of training on behalf of our members provided there is enough interest for us to do so.

If you would like for the union to schedule and hold a retirement seminar, please call our NE office at 612-623-0677 indicating your most preferable day and time if training were to be scheduled.  If there is sufficient interest we will schedule a seminar(s) in the near future and inform you through a flash bulletin(s).

TACS System Watch your Pay Check!

All employees are reminded to be vigilant in being informed about all aspects of their postal pay checks and or pay stubs.  Specifically for those employees who have their supervisors administer their employees work time through the Time Attendance Control System (TACS).  We have been advised that in certain instances the system will not credit you with the proper pay rate unless the supervisor inputs data to make sure you are credited at the proper rate.

It has been our experience that management is extremely detail oriented when it comes to questions of possible over and/or erroneous payment.  However, their attention to those same details may wane when it comes to underpayment situations.  WATCH YOUR PAY!

Decentralization Staffing Projection Update(s)

The Union and management have continued meeting regarding ongoing and evolving plans to shift the processing of Incoming Manual letters and flats from the Minneapolis P&DC to the Stations.  We last met on Friday, December 2, 2005.

Defining the Transition – Although we were expecting more definitive news regarding management’s plans to be made available during the last meeting, there was some new information as a result of this meeting.  What we know at this time is as follows:

A Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed to and signed that gives retreat rights to anyone who has bid out of the Incoming Manual Tour 1 Section on or after November 1, 2005, and prior to the date of excessing from the impacted Section.   The excessing date or projected excessing date has not been revealed to us at this time.

More defined information – should be forthcoming at the next meeting that is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 20, 2006.  We have asked for a list of the sequence management plans on for moving the zones, and for management to let us know how many jobs will be created, and where they will be at, as a result of the decentralization action.  When more details of this massive change become known and/or revealed management has indicated they will be holding crew meetings with those affected in order to answer the many questions and address the concerns of those who will be impacted.  Stay tuned……

COPA 25/25 Club Has Another Winner!

On Friday, December 9, 2005, our Committee on Political Action (COPA) donations went over the $7,500 level on our COPA thermometer!  In accordance with our 25/25 COPA club rules we have drawn another name from the list of those who have contributed at least $10 to COPA in 2005.  Each time we go over a $2,500 level on our COPA thermometer we pick a name at random from the COPA list for a $250 cash prize!

And the $250 winner is:  Rick Nodland!  Rick is in the Maintenance Craft at the Bulk Mail Center!  Congratulations Rick!  Your COPA check is on its way!

COPA = Job and Benefit Protection!

Just pick up the paper or watch the news and you will see there is a full assault on decent jobs and benefits in our country.  Close to home we have seen Northwest Airlines begin to dismantle their work force and hire replacement workers at less pay and benefits.  This all happening while company executives continue to reap profits from what is left of the company.  General Motors has announced it will lay off approximately 30,000 of its workers and the assault continues.  Retirees from several companies have seen their annuities disappear or be reduced to pennies on the dollar by their former companies filing for bankruptcy.  Brothers and Sisters…this is just the tip of the ice berg and the US Postal Service, its employees, and retirees are fair game!

The days are gone when all we had to worry about is making sure managers honored our contract….our playing field is much bigger now and the doors are being pried open by those who want a piece of the revenue generated by the USPS.  The more revenue outside forces tap into, or are allowed to tap into, the more pressure there is to reduce (jobs and benefits) the unionized workforce.  Our long range survival will depend on us developing new representative tactics, of which coalitions and political connections are an integral part…..Your Officers and Stewards cannot do this alone, we need everyone’s involvement, even if it is by donating as little as $1.00 per pay period to COPA!

We have a lot of work to do, but on the positive side we have seen an increase in the number of contributors who are contributing to COPA through the USPS PostalEase option or Electronic Fund Transfers (EFTs) through their banking institutions!   Look in your Northern Lights newsletter for instructions on contributing through PostalEase and/or EFTs.  You can also call the NE office at 612-623-0677 and we will give you the information you need.

2006 is right around the corner and we will once again be working to build the Minneapolis Area Local’s COPA contributions to reach our goal of $10 per person…..Make it a New Years resolution to start your contribution……and watch for new details on how your contributions can place your name into drawings for cash prizes!

Thank You!

The Minneapolis Area Local union Family wants to take this opportunity to thank all of our hard working members, and their families for your long hours of dedicated service.  YOU are what makes the Postal Service strong and you keep on making it happen in spite of staffing changes you have no control over!  Happy Holidays to all from the Officers, Stewards, and Staff of the Minneapolis Area Local!

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