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! 

MAIL HANDLERS PARENT AFFILIATE “LIUNA” WITHDRAWS FROM AFL-CIO

We have been advised that Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) has withdrawn from affiliation with the AFL-CIO.  The Minneapolis Area Local understands that this decision by LIUNA will present a number of decisions for our Brothers and Sisters currently represented by the National Postal Mail Handlers Union who are presently affiliated with LIUNA.

We are extremely sensitive to any actions that may serve to adversely affect any of our Brothers and Sisters in USPS bargaining units and will continue to pay close attention to this situation as it evolves.  In the interim, we invite any dialogue with our Brother and Sister Mail Handler, Members, Officers, and/or Stewards in the interest of enhancing representative quality for all Postal Workers.

VOICE OF EMPLOYEE – THE REAL DEAL!

We have always maintained that the only REAL collective voice of the employee (VOE) is your Union!  You may never be able to have a real say in what management does, but YOU control through elections who your Union Officers are!   Management’s true feelings about the bargaining unit can be seen daily in things such as supervisors who constantly perform bargaining unit work….right in front of you!  If threatened with a grievance they may even laugh at you and proclaim…Go ahead while feigning fear!  Work place injuries mount while management continues to short staff many units.

Double standards abound whereas Bargaining Unit Employees are subject to severe discipline (and in fact have been given removals) when “allegedly” committing an infraction!  Meanwhile, managers (who should actually be held to a higher standard) actually commit like violations and receive no more than a slap on the wrist…if that!  Brothers and Sisters, this type of behavior by your managers on the floor happens BECAUSE THEY ARE ENABLED TO DO SO BY UPPER LEVEL MANAGEMENT!

Upper level management would like you to think they care about you, but observe the way your floor manager operates and you will quickly see the only REAL voice of the employee is your UNION!  Your union is constantly working to develop new methods to deal with what becomes rampant unaccountability by management when they feel there is no consequence when abusing their authority!

 $160,000 TOUR 1 INCOMING MAILS – CROSS CRAFT SETTLEMENT!

During the time period of 1998 through 2001, management improperly assigned a non Clerk Craft employee to perform Clerk Craft work in the Minneapolis P&DC Tour 1 Incoming mails section.  A grievance was promptly filed and subsequently denied at all steps of the Grievance procedure.  This Grievance proceeded to arbitration with a hearing on April 5, 2005.  Finally on May 6, 2005, the Arbitrator proclaimed in his award:  Clerk Craft employees in the area where “John Doe” was assigned are awarded compensation equal to the hours “John Doe” worked in that Craft.

After the date of the award it was necessary for your Union to commit many more hours of work in order to ensure local management honored this award.  Please be advised that those Clerks who were on the Tour 1 Incoming Mails OTDL(s) during the time period of the infraction will receive a share of a monetary award of over $160,000.   Each Clerk’s share will be dependent on how many quarters they were on the Section’s OTDL during the time period the infraction occurred and these amounts should appear on your pay checks within the next three pay periods!

We want to recognize National Business Agent, Willie Mellen who was the Union’s Arbitration Advocate in this case with special recognition to Executive Vice President, Mark Pietsch who, assisted by Officers and Stewards on Tour 1, provided the leadership and driving force necessary to ensure managerial compliance!     Finally, we want to thank all the Clerks who were impacted by this violation for your exceptional patience in waiting for a resolution that is long overdue!

WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICANTS TO BECOME STEWARDS!

The life blood of any Union is INVOLVEMENT!  Do you like the way your union is representing you?  Would you like to see improvements in your Union’s representation?  How can YOU become part of improving things and making a difference?

Attend your Union meetings, talk to the Officers who represent the facility, area, craft, and/or tour you work on and let them know you would like to become a Steward!  All you need is the desire to help your Union, the ability to learn, and a minimal amount of time!

Our Union has been carefully nurtured and passed on from administration to administration in order to continue participation in the extreme honor of representing the greatest Postal Workers in the world!  Your present administration is intent on making the Minneapolis Area Local the best it can possibly be….We need you in order to make that happen!   Contact your immediate Officer or a steward in your area today and let them know you are interested!

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 17^th, APWU Valley Fair Day – We are ordering up a full day of sun and fun for all members of our APWU family as they prepare to spend the day with their families and friends!

June 20^th, NE Minneapolis Parade - This parade is an annual event and takes place in the early evening hours down Central Ave approximately fourteen blocks.  We need volunteers to walk with us and pass out candy during the parade.  All volunteers get an APWU hat and T-Shirt.  Family members are welcome to participate.  For security reasons the minimum age for parade participants is 8 years.  Call 612-623-0677 for details, questions, and/or to volunteer!  Or just come out to watch the APWU 24/7 “Our Service Sizzles” rolling BBQ grill and 24/7 entourage woe the crowd!

August 4^th 7:30 AM, The Annual Faust-Terwedo APWU Golf Tournament will take place at Sundance Golf course.  This tournament features a shot gun start, great prizes, and coordinated finish to ensure all participants can enjoy a free meal and awards presentation while they socialize and enjoy the day!  This is open to all APWU members, immediate family and invited guests of the local!  Watch your future issues of the flash for tournament entry forms, or go to www.minneapolisapwu.org and click flash bulletins where you will find our April 26, 2006 flash which contains the entry form and details!

September 16^th, APWU COPA Appreciation and Casino Night – Have you contributed to APWU COPA?  Participation through PostalEase, EFT, or at least $10 check or cash makes you eligible for hundreds of dollars in prizes AND members who belong to the club will be treated to free food and beverages while they last during this event!  Call PostalEase, or send those checks made out to APWU COPA in today!

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