APWU Members Urged to Take Action As Senate Reviews Postal Reform
Postal reform is a hot topic in Congress as the Senate prepares to vote on the 21st Century Postal Service Act, and APWU President Cliff Guffey is urging union members to contact their senators and let them know: Senate bill 1789 is unacceptable in its current form.
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As lawmakers review the bill, Guffey is asking union members to let their senators know that S. 1789 must be amended. “Supporters of the bill are also weighing in on the legislation, so it is crucial that we get our point across,” he said.
In its current form, the bill would give the USPS some short-term financial relief, but also would inflict long-term damage to the nation’s mail system, Guffey said.
“The bill would force the Postal Service to close hundreds of mail processing centers, shut thousands of post offices, and cause massive delays in mail delivery,” Guffey said. “By failing to give more substantial financial relief, the bill would weaken the Postal Service, kill jobs, and drive customers away,” he added. Read more
APWU: Movement on Maintenance Craft Jobs Memo
Finally!
Finally, we have some movement in the Maintenance Craft on implementation of key provisions the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement! On Feb. 1, 2012, President Cliff Guffey and postal management signed a Questions-and-Answers document [PDF] regarding specific sections of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Maintenance Craft Jobs. The document does not address all outstanding items, but resolves items 1a, 1b, 1c, 2 and 3 of the Jobs Memo.
Under the terms of the Q-and-A document, the Postal Service must return custodial duties to stations, branches and other facilities of an independent installation no later than May 23, 2012. Read more
OWCP Issues Statement Regarding USPS, Align Networks Partnership For Physical Therapy Services
Apparently , APWU is not alone with our concerns regarding the partnership between the Postal Service and Align Networks.
Recent communications from the United States Postal Service and Align Networks generated enough distress among OWCP officials that its Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation issued a statement earlier today on its website that asserts OWCP as the only authority with the power to determine what medical care will be authorized. It emphasizes medical providers are not required to refer claimants to Align Networks for authorization for physical therapy and that postal employees are not required to use Align Networks, or affiliated physical therapists for scheduling or treatment of a condition approved by OWCP under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. The posting clarifies the authorization and billing processes, and deflates the Postal Service’s notion that utilization of Align Networks will save employees money. Read more
Senate to Vote on Postal Bill: APWU Members Must Take Action NOW!
The APWU has learned that the Senate will consider postal legislation very soon, and President Cliff Guffey is asking union members to contact their senators immediately and tell them that the 21st Century Postal Service Act (S. 1789) is unacceptable in its current form. “The stakes couldn’t be higher,” Guffey said.
As currently written, the bill would give the USPS some short-term financial relief, but also would inflict long-term damage to the nation’s mail system, he said.
“The bill would force the Postal Service to close hundreds of mail processing centers, shut thousands of post offices, and cause massive delays in mail delivery,” the APWU president said. “By failing to give more substantial financial relief, the bill would weaken the Postal Service, kill jobs, and drive customers away,” he added.
“APWU members have done an outstanding job of expressing our concerns to their senators and representatives,” Guffey added. “At this critical time, union members must continue to let them know where we stand.” Read more
APWU Discourages Members from Participating In Align Networks Physical Therapy Services
The Postal Service has notified [PDF] the APWU that it has established a relationship with Align Networks to provide physical therapy services for employees with work related injuries and illnesses. APWU strongly discourages member participation.
It is our understanding that as a contract provider, Align Networks and their therapists can share information with the USPS that would otherwise be protected by doctor-patient confidentiality, including information that is unrelated to workplace injuries.
In addition, Align Networks strives to achieve reduced costs for its payor companies. Read more
APWU Safety and Health Specialist Criticizes USPS OIG Report
An audit report conducted by the Postal Service’s Inspector General’s Office (OIG) on the USPS Health and Safety Program, released Nov. 14, is limited in both scope and depth and is thus of little value in assessing the agency’s overall efforts to promote a safe workplace, the union has determined.
“The report should not be viewed as a comprehensive audit of the Postal Service’s safety program but rather as an unfocused snap shot of the Postal Service’s application of a piece of its safety program,” said APWU Safety and Health Specialist Corey Thompson.
“Based on the identification of numerous hazards and problems found by study, in such a small sampling of the overall USPS safety program the report can only be viewed as evidence that many more unsafe conditions would be discovered by the OIG if it were to perform a more comprehensive audit,” he added.
Thompson also noted the OIG did not consult national union officials for their views and expertise, and it overlooked a broad range of electrical and automation related hazards at USPS facilities.
OIG Issues Report on USPS Health and Safety Program
APWU Warns Members: Beware of Risks in USPS Campaign for Voluntary Transfers to Letter Carrier
The APWU is warning union members of risks associated with a management campaign to encourage career Clerk, Maintenance and Motor Vehicle Craft employees to volunteer for reassignments to the Letter Carrier Craft.
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In a letter dated Jan. 3 [PDF], management notified the union that it will mail a letter to all career employees in the three APWU-represented crafts (and employees in the Mail Handler Craft) touting the benefits of voluntary reassignments to the Letter Carrier Craft.
But there are disadvantages to the voluntary reassignments — which management is not divulging to employees.
Seniority:
When employees transfer voluntarily to another craft, they begin a new period of seniority.
Limits on Excessing:
The APWU negotiated strict limits on excessing during bargaining over the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement [PDF]. As a result, employees in crafts represented by the APWU cannot be excessed beyond 50 miles.
Our brothers and sisters in the National Association of Letter Carriers are currently bargaining with the Postal Service over the terms of their contract, but, as of now, the USPS is not bound by these limits for employees in the Letter Carrier Craft.
Protection Against Layoffs:
The 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the APWU and the USPS includes a Memorandum of Understanding that grants protection against layoffs [PDF] to all regular workforce employees that were on the rolls as of Nov. 20, 2010. Our brothers and sisters in the Letter Carrier Craft do not currently enjoy this coverage; their protection against layoffs applies to Letter Carrier Craft employees who have accrued six years of “continuous service.”
The APWU asserts that once employees obtain protection against layoffs, they retain it. However, the USPS disagrees with the union’s position and contends that once employees transfer from a craft represented by the APWU to a craft represented by another union, they lose the protection against layoffs granted by the Memorandum of Understanding.
According to the Postal Service’s reasoning, employees with less than six years of continuous service who transfer to the Letter Carrier Craft could be subject to layoffs. The APWU has a pending national-level dispute [PDF] challenging management’s interpretation. However, until the dispute is resolved, employees who voluntarily transfer (or are involuntarily reassigned by management) may be in jeopardy.
The loss of seniority and the potential for excessing and layoffs are not abstractions, the union points out. The Postal Service is planning workforce changes with the goal of eliminating tens of thousands of Letter Carrier positions.
“Transferring to another craft is an important decision,” said APWU President Cliff Guffey. “I encourage union members to think long and hard before they make such a major change. And I urge employees to be aware of the risks as well as the benefits when management promotes the transfers as a great opportunity.”
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USPS to start campaign encouraging Postal Employees to become Letter Carriers
Filed under: APWU, postal, postal employees, postal news, usps
Reassignment Opportunities to the City Carrier Craft
January 3, 2012
Mr. Cliff Guffey
President
American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
1300 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005-4128
Dear Cliff:
As a matter of general interest, the Postal Service will initiate an awareness campaign regarding bargaining unit reassignment opportunities to the city letter carrier craft. The program is intended to provide career clerk, mail handler, maintenance, and motor vehicle craft employees with information on volunteer reassignment opportunities to the city carrier craft. Read more
The Reality of Non-Traditional Full-Time Assignment
From 21st Century Postal Worker
San Diego (California) Stations & Branches to Post Hundreds of NTFT Jobs.
Tammy Yorysh
San Diego Area Local 197
Clerk Director
Thursday, January 12, 2012
We are now neck deep into the decimation of our traditional full time clerk bid staffing. On Friday the 13th of January, a 72 page vacancy notice will be posted, with a handful of traditional positions, and hundreds of NTFT jobs. The majority are 6 day 30 hour positions. The plant jobs are mostly 5 day, 35 hour positions. My question: For a 7 hour a day position there is a lunch. But how many breaks are the clerks entitled to? The contract is silent of course, except for the “foot-in-the-door” statement in the NTFT memo about 9 hr assignments including a 3rd break. Anyone out there who already has a 7 hour job–are you getting 1 break or 2 in addition to a lunch. Read more
USPS’s Quasi-Moratorium On Post Office Closings
Filed under: APWU, politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, usps
Below is text of letter from USPS to APWU President Mr. Cliff Guffey
President
American Postal Workers
Union (APWU), AFL-CIO
1300 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005-4128
Dear Cliff,
This letter responds to your inquiry concerning the impact of the Postal Service’s December 13 announcement to delay the closing of any Post Office or mail processing facility until May 15, 2012 on those Area Mail Processing (AMPs) where a decision to consolidate has been made.
Please be advised that, for the following seventeen (17) sites, as implementation of the consolidation has begun, the implementation will continue:
• Frederick, MD P&DC into Baltimore, MD P&DC;
• Hickory. NC P&DF into Greensboro, NC P&DC;
• Bristol, VA P&DF Into Johnson City, P&DF;
• Lancaster. PA P&DF into Harrisburg, PA P&DC;
• Ashland, KY P&DF into Charleston, WV P&DC;
• Pikesville, KY CSMPC Into Charleston, WV P8cDC;
• Saginaw, MI P8cDC into MI Metroplex P&DC;
• Oshkosh, Wi P&DC Into Green Bay, WI pane;
• Flint MI P&DC into Ml Metroplex P&OC;
• Bronx, NY P&DC into Morgan, NY P&DC;
• Industry, Cf\ P&DC into Santa Ana, CA P&DC;
• Huntsville, AL P&DF into Birmingham, AL P&DC;
• Mobridge. SD CSPMC into Bismarck, NO P&OF;
• Butte, MT CSMPC into Great Falls, Mr P&DF;
• Helena, MT CSMPC Into Great Falls, MT P&DF;
• Lincoln, NE P&DF into Omaha, NE paDC; end
• Jamestown, ND CSMPC into Fargo, ND P & DC
The following ten (10) sites are affected by the announcement:
• Mansfield, OH P&DF into Cleveland, OH P & DC;
• Bluefield, WV P&DF into Charleston, WV P&DC/Johnson City, TN P&DF;
• Martinsburg,WV CSMPC Into Balt!more, MD P&DC;
• Wheeling, WV, P&DF into Pittsburgh. PA P & DC;
• Springfield MA P&DC mto Hartford, CT P&DC/Central MA P&DC;
• Utica, NY P&DF into Syracuse, NY P&DC;
• North Bay CA P&DC into Oakland, CA P&DC;
• Gainesville, FL P&Df into Jacksonville, FL P&DC;
• Bemidji, MN CSMPC into Saint Cloud, MN P&DF and
• Yakima, WA CSMPC into Pasco, WA P&DF.
If there are any questions concerning this matter please contact me at (202) 268-5421
Sincerely
Patrick Devine
A/Manager
Contract Administration (APWU) :
The following is information sent out to APWU members:
Impact of Moratorium on Approved AMPs (Area Mail Processing Study)
BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND ALL OTHERS CONCERNED:
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE OUR JOBS, BUT WE HAVE HELP NOW.
SO IF YOU EVER TALKED ON THE PHONE YOU BETTER PLAN ON LIVING ON THAT THING FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND MAYBE THE SENATORS WILL COME TO OUR RESCUE.
As you know the USPS on 12-13-11 boldly told all of America that any and all consolidations and post office closing were stopped until May 15, 2012. With this news many of us jumped for joy only to have the rug pulled out from under us when we got the news the USPS had lied to America when they stated the moratorium did not apply to Ashland, Pikeville, Bristol Tennessee, and Harrisburg Pennsylvania post offices. A few Day later on Friday, 12-16-11 after our national union representatives and myself raised a little hell we were told that the USPS was going to honor what they originally stated and that absolutely no post office would be consolidated or closed until after 5-15-12.
However, on the following Monday the USPS sent out the above attached memo identified as doc 44 above stating that Ashland and the other 3 were back on the chopping block.
The USPS on 12-21-11 expanded on their lie by sending a memo to the union stating that 15 more post offices had been added to the chopping block and that the moratorium did not apply to them either.
This is where our help comes from. We should all stay on the phones to ever congressman and senator you can for the next few days. With us and the other now complaining about the lies the USPS have told something may be done.
We should all ask they be charged with fraud in a government matter which is criminal.
To tell a lie this large giving people false hope is terrible and even worse when you consider they did it at christmas.
The PMG needs to be removed immediately if not sooner.
Some have said it is not worth the bother cause we are going to go anyway, but this is not true.
Remember, the longer you delay the better chance you have to stay.
Life turns on a dime. If we stay till May anything could happen. There might be an earthquake the gobbles up Charleston or the 75 billion could be released to the USPS which would stop all of this.
Senator contact info below or go to the link below for more senator congressman info:
http://capwiz.com/apwu/home/
Lance Coles
Statement on Delay of Closing or Consolidation of Post Offices and Mail Processing Facilities (Dec., 13, 2011)
The U.S. Postal Service, in response to a request made by multiple U.S. Senators, has agreed to delay the closing or consolidation of any Post Office or mail processing facility until May 15, 2012. The Postal Service will continue all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities during the interim period, including public input meetings. The Postal Service hopes this period will help facilitate the enactment of comprehensive postal legislation. Given the Postal Service’s financial situation and the loss of mail volume, the Postal Service must continue to take all steps necessary to reduce costs and increase revenue.
APWU is urging its members to contact the following Senators
Contact WV Senator Joe Manchin III
Washington, D.C. Office:
303 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-4801
Phone: (202) 224-3954
Fax: (202) 228-0002
Charleston Office:
300 Virginia Street East, Unit 2630
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Phone: (304) 342-5855
Fax: (304) 343-7144
Contact Kentucky Senator Rand Paul
Washington, D.C. Office:
208 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1703
Phone: (202) 224-4343
Fax: (202) 228-6917
Bowling Green Office:
1019 State Street
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101
Phone: (270) 782-8303
Contact Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell
Washington, D.C. Office:
317 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1702
Phone: (202) 224-2541
Fax: (202) 224-2499
Louisville Office: (more district offices)
601 West Broadway, #630
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Phone: (502) 582-6304
Fax: (502) 582-5326
Contact Ohio Senator Rob Portman
Washington, D.C. Office:
338 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-3504
Phone: (202) 224-3353
Fax: (202) 224-9075
Columbus Office:
37 West Broad Street, Room 300
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 469-6774
Contact Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown
Washington, D.C. Office:
713 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-3503
Phone: (202) 224-2315
Fax: (202) 228-6321
Cleveland Office:
1301 East Ninth Street, Suite 1710
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Phone: (216) 522-7272
Fax: (216) 522-2239