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! 

BMC APWU FIGHTING IMPROPER STAFFING

Outsourcing, contracting, work sharing, however you describe it, these are the biggest threats facing all Postal Workers.  These all have a net result of losing high quality APWU represented jobs to the private sector and it is presently the most pressing issue for your Union!  We are utilizing significant resources in order to thwart management’s insatiable appetite for reducing Postal jobs! 

The Union will use whatever tools necessary to try and ensure the Postal Service continues to be staffed with employees who benefit from decent wages and benefits.  The USPS and Postal Board of Governors will use every method possible to erode those jobs and replace them by lower paid non-unionized employees.

The Minneapolis Area Local has a very successful track record for exposing repeated instances where local management improperly staffs with casuals and contracts maintenance work to the private sector.

We are disappointed that management chooses to continue violating their Collective Bargaining Agreement with the APWU.  Management continues to engage in instances of contracting work that has previously resulted in Grievances and huge monetary settlements to the Bargaining Unit.

Unfortunately BMC management has once again been caught with their hands in the contracting cookie jar by your BMC Officers and Steward Force!  The BMC Grievance over contracting out work on phase two of the “equipment enhancement” project has been recently settled by our Maintenance National Business Agent, Troy Rorman.  In acknowledgement of this staffing violation the USPS will pay $90,000 to be divided among appropriate Maintenance Craft employees at the Bulk!

Management’s continued violations should be disturbing to everyone because they show repeated and deliberate attempt by management to reduce everyone’s work!  However, even more disturbing is the fact many who receive monetary gain from settlements such as this are non-members who actually contribute to the problem!  In this particular settlement it is reported that several non-members will receive thousands of dollars due to the Union calling management for violating work rules.

Once again the Union wants these non-members to reconsider and evaluate their reasons for not participating with all dues paying members in the constant and expensive battle to hold the line on postal jobs!   If that non-member you know really has a personal and/or moral conviction for not belonging to the Union they should be unable to accept these payments without compromising their convictions.  If many are just using excuses to give cover to greed.....They are only aiding the all out assault on their AND YOUR jobs!

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE SET TO BEGIN ON APRIL 1, 2007!

Members can receive $100 for every non-member they sign up from April 1st through June 30th.  They will also be entered into a grand prize drawing for $500 to be drawn at the drive’s conclusion.  Non-members who sign up will be eligible for a prize drawing of up to $500 and once they sign up they too will be eligible for $100 for every non-member they sign up!  See your Steward or Officer for more details.  Non-member lists and more details will be posted in most swing rooms!  Members can also call 612-623-0677 for more details such as non-member names etc.

PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE STEWARDS PLEASE NOTE!

STEWARD APPOINTMENTS - Please be advised that to facilitate the local in the various administrative processes we must undertake due to the upcoming term of office (May 1, 2007, through April 30, 2010) we are requesting the cooperation and assistance of all our activists in order to make the transition as efficiently and effective as possible.  Those who would like to be appointed or re-appointed as Stewards and/or Alternate Stewards should speak with their Assistant Directors or Assistant Coordinator.  The Assistants will then discuss and submit their recommendations to the appropriate Director or Coordinator.  Directors and Coordinators then submit recommendations to the President in advance of May 1st in order for a timely transition to take place.  Officers are also encouraged to speak with all former and/or prospective Stewards in order to ensure their areas of responsibility are adequately covered.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS – If you would like to serve on, or just want more information on one of the following committees please contact Jerry ASAP.  Legislative/Organization - Human Relations – Constitution – Safety and Health – Social and Recreation, or the Entertainment Committee.

TWIN CITIES METRO HUB STAFFING

The Union has been contacted and is presently in discussion with management regarding Clerk Craft staffing at the Hub.  To date we have been notified that employees on all three tours holding SPBS bids at the Hub will be impacted due to management locking out the remaining SPBS at the Hub.  To date the Union has been informed:  The remaining Hub SPBS will be “locked out” effective April 18, 2007.  There will be a “transition” period between April 18, 2007 and July 18, 2007.  After the transition/evaluation period the SPBS may be removed from the Hub.

To date it appears the most significant impact will be to Tour 2 employees and this was discussed with members of that crew on March 27, 2007.  While Tours 1 and 3 will suffer less impact there will be impact to a various degree.  We understand that management will also be setting up crew meetings with Tours 1 and 3 in the near future to discuss the proposed changes and field questions.  The Union will also be on hand when these meetings take place.

In addition, the Union has been and will continue to closely monitor this staffing issue to ensure management is contractually compliant and remains contractually compliant during and after the evaluation period.  Management is obligated to minimize the impact to employees and the Union will be involved to whatever extent necessary to ensure that happens.

PART TIME FLEXIBLE EMPLOYEES NOTE!

All Part Time Flexible (PTF) Clerk Craft employees at the Main PO, TCMH, and/or 554 Station and Branches should have received a list of up to 20 full time “residual” jobs from management in order to state a preference on the jobs.  PTF’s must state a preference to jobs they are currently qualified on and the current residual jobs (Art. 37) must be utilized by management in order to satisfy contractual conversion obligations.  Unfortunately, it appears local management will once again ignore contractual obligations which will result in costly and unnecessary (see staffing above) grievances!  See your Steward or an Officer for details and watch your Flash Bulletins!

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