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! 

$734,000.00 Casual in Lieu of Settlement!

The local is pleased to announce that we have recently received a pre-arbitration settlement for staffing violations that occurred in the Minneapolis P&DC between the time period of November 2003 and September 2006.  The violation occurred when management hired and then utilized clerk craft casuals in lieu of career workforce clerk craft employees.

Clerk craft employees with assignments in the facilities that comprise the Minneapolis Installation (Minneapolis P&DC, TCMH, and 554 Stations) will share in the award.  Provided a career clerk craft employee was on the rolls as of the date of the settlement, September 29, 2006, they will be eligible to receive payment dependant upon how many pay periods they were on the rolls during the infraction period.  Payments are expected to vary from under $100.00 up to approximately $550.00 per eligible clerk.

Clerk craft officers and stewards are currently involved in determining the final details regarding proper payout of the award. After these details are reviewed and authorized by your general officers a list will be sent to management in order for them to effect payment.  We will be working as expeditiously as possible in order to facilitate timely payment, ensure accuracy, and proper eligibility.

The Union prefers staffing be administered in accordance with our Contract.  However, management ultimately calls the staffing shots and many times leaves the union no avenue to resolve improper staffing and hiring practices other than the grievance procedure. 

Non-Members are always invited to join the organization that protects the fruit of their labor, or. . .

We are concerned that non-members who have personal and/or moral convictions for not belonging to the Union may be unable to accept these payments without compromising their convictions.  Unfortunately we are required by law to turn your names in to management for payment just as we are for our conscientious dues paying members.

However, we are sensitive to the fact this may pose a dilemma for those non-members who want to maintain the convictions that prohibit them from paying Union dues.  Therefore - in a good faith effort to help all non-members maintain their convictions we have developed what we think is an excellent plan!  This plan will satisfy the honest convictions of non-members who do not pay dues because of these convictions by ultimately directing this money to worthy charities in the Minneapolis area!

Those non-members who receive money as a result of this settlement can mail a check made out to the Minneapolis Area Local – APWU.  These can be sent to our Northeast Office or given directly to an officer or steward.  We will then donate money we receive as a result of this to local charities in the Minneapolis Area!  We will maintain a specific record of this and report in a later flash bulletin of how much money was paid out to non-members, how much was sent back to the local, and what charity(s) the local donates the money to!

2006 COPA Club Yields More Winners!

As our 2006 COPA club year draws to a close we are pleased to announce we have went over the $12,000 level as we work our way toward our $20,000 yearly goal!   We have drawn more names and are pleased to announce we have six more winners of $100 each!

Congratulations to:  Randy Freeman (MVS), Kathy Walker (Clerk), Mike Thesing (Clerk), Steve Nimz (Maint), Rich Haley (Maint) and David McCutchen (Family Member).   Your checks are on their way!

COPA contributions are always an excellent way to help maintain our benefits!  In addition we expect to announce that our COPA Club will be continued in 2007!  Postal Ease (PE) or Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) donations continued into 2007 will immediately qualify you for incentives the local provides in our anticipated 2007 COPA Club.  In addition, donations to COPA has enabled your local to develop many valuable contacts with community members and legislators who have influence on decisions made that can effect the Post Office!  This job insurance alone is invaluable! 

CHARLOTTE SPENSLEY BENEFIT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2006
4:00 PM TO 10:00 PM
MURZYN HALL
530 MILLS ST NE
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN  55421

Minneapolis Area Local APWU Auxiliary Activist Charlotte Spensley (Ruder) - the daughter of Jim & Becky Spensley - experienced a life-altering diving accident injury on August 24, 2006.  This tragedy has left Charlotte paralyzed from the armpits down.  On November 1 Charlotte is scheduled to move from Unity Hospital to Courage Center for 3 to 12 months of therapy.  Her progress will determine when she can go home.

Needless to say, Charlotte, her husband Charlie and their two young children face over whelming expenses and a long road of change and challenge.

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THE DECEMBER 10 BENEFIT TO SURROUND THEM WITH LOVE, SUPPORT, & MUCH NEEDED FUNDS

The December 10 Benefit will include:

$10 Donation at the Door
Spaghetti Dinner from 4 PM – 6 PM
Cash Bar
Silent Auction
Prize Raffles

Additional Donations for the Benefit raffle/silent auction can also be made by contacting Charlotte’s sister, Carrie Spensley (Hlivka) at 763 464-6943.

Financial Donations are being held in the:

Charlotte Spensley Benefit Fund
City/County Credit Union
3651 Central Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN  55418

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