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! 

URGENT! STATUS UPDATE ON POSTAL REFORM – CRITICAL LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS NOW IN PLAY!

Postal reform bills have now been passed by the House (H.R. 22) and as of February 9^th the Senate (S. 662).  The bills will now enter a very critical process before they can become law!  Because there are differences in the bills they will now go to a “conference committee” which is a temporary panel of House and Senate negotiators created to resolve differences between versions of similar House and Senate bills.

Two key provisions of the bills are to release from escrow approximately $3 billion the USPS saved by ending overpayments to the Civil Service Retirement System; the other would return military retirement-benefit obligations to the U.S. Treasury. No other federal agency is required to pay these costs.  President Bush wants Postal Reform to represent a significant savings…but not with the key provisions mentioned!  How else do you generate savings without having the escrow and military retirement provisions in a Postal Reform Bill he would not veto?  There is only one other way Brothers and Sisters….through savings in labor costs, health insurance costs, and retirement benefits!  PS: The President’s Commission on The Postal Service (remember them?) have now weighed back in sending a February 7^th letter to key Senators and Representatives urging them to include labor cost reductions in any final Postal Reform Bill!   We are extremely concerned as to what the “conference committee” will agree to in order to achieve a Postal Reform Bill that they think will be acceptable to the White House!

2006 APWU STATE AND NATIONAL CONVENTION CALL!

The 2006 State Convention will be held in Duluth, MN, April 27-29, 2006.   The National APWU Convention will be held in Philadelphia, PA, August 14 – 18, 2006.

If there are any delegates who will be attending the Convention(s) at their own expense and want credentials they must contact Sheila at 612-623-0677 to let us know!

Additionally, if members have any work place issues, contract proposals, etc, they would like our delegation to propose and discuss at the conventions, let your Steward or Officer know giving them as much detail as possible about your idea.  The business of the conventions includes a major focus on attempting to identify items we want to advance in contract negotiations and we want your input!  The conventions also give our organization a chance to gauge which issues seem to be affecting the majority of locals, throughout the State and Country, and thus a sense of priority for the hundreds of proposals that will be debated and ultimately acted upon!

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ATTENDING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAUCUS?

The first official event to herald the upcoming election season is the Precinct Caucus. They will convene this year on March 7, 2006, at 7:00 PM in neighborhoods throughout the state. The neighborhood caucus is where citizens go to help shape their party’s stand on issues. It is also where party members start to decide who they would like to endorse for office in the upcoming elections.

When you enter your caucus you will be asked to sign in and then resolutions will be adopted or voted on which can become part of the party platform. You will also elect local party leaders and will be given ballots to vote for whom you would at this time prefer to get the party endorsement in the state races. This is just a poll of where party members stand and you are welcome to change your mind later on any candidate for office.

To find the location of your caucus site call your county auditor or go to your state party’s website.  Give your Supervisor as much notice as possible that you are planning to attend your precinct caucus and they must make every effort to allow you the time off.

Provided there is sufficient interest, the Union will conduct caucus training at our 1234 4^th Street office on Wednesday February 22^nd at 6:00 PM and/or Thursday February 23^rd at 11:00 AM.  To attend your Union’s caucus training contact Legislative/Organization Committee members, Bill Usher by phone at 763-442-1361, e-mail at billsueusher@msn.com or John Goodman by phone at 612-834-0453.

APWU MEMBERS!  HAVE YOU CONSIDERED TOASTMASTERS?

If you would like to:

• Learn better communication skills!
• The ability to speak effectively in front of crowds!
• To learn organization and leadership skills!

Have we got a deal for you!  Representative(s) from Toastmasters have inquired as to the Minneapolis Area Local’s interest in starting its own Toastmasters Club.

If you are interested in joining a club if it were created for the Minneapolis Area Local, please contact Sheila at 612-623-0677 with your contact information, hours, and off days.

Why do Postal Workers need to communicate better?  All members have issues we need to talk about with friends, families, and the public in general. Stewards need to be able to communicate well with members and management and techniques can be learned to do this. Union Officers or anyone interested can improve leadership and speaking skills.

Toastmasters offer a proven and inexpensive step-by-step program for beginners, accomplished speakers, and leaders. We have a great opportunity to have our own club for the benefit of our members.  Again, call 612-623-0677 if interested!

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

In addition to the Scholarship Applications highlighted in a previous Flash Bulletin, we now have the Martin Duffy Adult Learner Scholarship which is a $500 tuition scholarship available to Union members-not high school graduating dependents.  Please call Sheila at the APWU Office if you are interested in this scholarship.  Your application deadline is April 1, 2006.

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