APWU                                                                      APWU

Tom Edwards, President   St. Paul, MN Area Local    November 25, 2009_

www.stpaulapwu.org                                                         651-778-1637      _

PENALTY RATE OVERTIME

          Article 8.4.C. of the National Agreement states:

“Penalty overtime pay will not be paid for any hours worked in the month of December.”

          Each leave year, a four-week period is designated “the month of December”.  This year’s period for the penalty rate exclusion begins on December 5, 2009 and ends January 1, 2010.

          The exclusion of the penalty rate of pay during this four-week period does not impact other aspects related to the use of the Overtime Desired List.  The Overtime Desired List still exists in December.  It is only the penalty rate of pay that is affected.

******

2010 LEAVE YEAR

          The new leave year will begin January 2, 2010.  For those that are out of annual leave, January 2, 2010 is the date that you can start using leave that you will earn in 2009.

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ANNUAL LEAVE CARRYOVER

          The new leave year begins on January 2, 2010.  You may carry over 440 hours of annual leave into the new leave year.  If you have more than the 440 hours as of January 3, 2009, you will lose ALL leave hours in excess of 440 hours.

          So, if you currently have more than 440 hours allowed for carry over, use that annual leave before the new leave year begins.

          If you are having problems with a supervisor approving the use of excess leave, request to see a steward.

          LMOU Article 10, Section Z:

          There is no A/L quota for the month of December, December 6, 2009 through January 2, 2010. However, employees may request A/L in December.

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ANNUAL LEAVE EXCHANGE OPTIONS

            (Reprinted from the National Agreement)

“The parties agree that APWU career employees will be allowed to sell back a maximum of forty (40) hours of annual leave prior to the beginning of the leave year, provided the following two (2) criteria are met:

1.       The employee must be at the maximum leave carry over ceiling at the start of the leave year; and

2.       The employee must have used fewer than 75 sick leave hours in the leave year immediately preceding the year for which the leave is being exchanged.”

Note:  The leave you are exchanging is leave that you will earn in leave year 2009.  You cannot exchange leave that is in excess of the 440 hours that you are carrying over.

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CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY WORKED PAY

          Employees required to work on his/her Christmas Holiday (Christmas Day, or the employee’s designated Christmas Holiday), will be paid one and one-half times the base hourly straight time rate for each hour worked.  It is not paid for work performed on December 25^th unless it is the employee’s holiday.  This is in addition to the Holiday Leave pay the employee is entitled to receive.  Those requesting annual leave in lieu of the Holiday Leave pay will still be paid one and one-half (1 ½) times the base hourly straight time rate for each hour worked on the holiday or their designated holiday.

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APWU                                                                                          APWU   

Tom Edwards, President                St. Paul, MN Area Local           October 29,   2009

www.stpaulapwu.org                                                               651-778-1637__

          Well, it has begun.  Management has started to implement their National Reassessment Program (NRP).  This program affects all limited duty employees.  The first meeting of this program took place on 10/7/09.  The following is reprinted from the 10/18/09 Flash Bulletin:

“Postal Service Now Targets ALL Limited Duty Employees for Its National Reassessment Program

In October 2008, the St. Paul Area Local was informed that the Northland District will be entering into Phase 2 of the National Reassessment Program for MMI employees. This program is designed to develop limited duty employees with permanent medical restrictions resulting from a work related injury rehabilitation job offers.   At this point Phase 2 has been in place for 10 months with no meeting being scheduled with employees.  The APWU has just been informed that the USPS has developed a companion process that will target all limited duty employees.  This process is not intended to replace the first program but run in tandem with the new program.  This will mean that the limited duty employees who have reached MMI will be subjected to both processes.

Postal Service’s National Reassessment Process – Limited Duty

On May 29, 2009 the USPS concluded its NPR-LD pilot program.  The APWU has been informed that the USPS plans to implement this program nationwide starting July 13, 2009 with “work status meetings” beginning no sooner than July 27, 2009. The National APWU has raised significant concerns about the process and its compliance with existing law and the USPS manuals.  The National APWU has met with the Department of Labor DFEC concerning what it sees as clear violation of the law and procedures developed by OWCP.  As of yet, there have been very few answers provided.

Therefore, the St. Paul APWU is asking all limited duty employees when contacted by USPS Management concerning their work status to immediately ask for a Union Steward to ensure that all rights are being asserted from the beginning of the process.

The St. Paul Area Local expects this new process to negatively impact our injured workers.  To illustrate how many employees can be expected to be impacted we are sharing the statistics that were provided to the APWU concerning the pilot program for this new process.  There were 2230 employees who were reassessed as part of the two and a half month pilot period.  Only 41% (912) of these employees received “full day” job offers, just 30% (667) were assigned “partial day” work (even though they were medically able to work more hours), and a devastating 29% (651) were told that there was not work available.”

PVS Short Staffing

          As I am sure you are all aware, St. Paul PVS has been running short staffed lately. As a result, PVS management has been utilizing TTO’s from Minneapolis to staff our vacant runs and keep the mail moving.  The understaffing is due to bargaining unit employees on extended sick leave, TTO’s who are retiring, vacant TTO bids which are currently being held for possible placement of excessed TTO’s from other installations and bargaining unit employees taking 204-B details.

          Most of the above reasons are out of our control, but there is one practice bargaining unit employees can take control of and help eliminate the understaffing of our operation.  That practice is accepting 204-B details in the St. Paul dispatch office.  For some reason, a handful of TTOs think it is their obligation to step up and fill temporary or permanent EAS vacancies in the St. Paul PVS operation.  They do these by accepting 204-B details.  These employees must not realize that by accepting these details they are causing a staffing shortage of TTOs.  Management’s response to the shortage of TTOs is to utilize TTOs from other installations to do your work!

          To make the situation even worse, I have been made aware that your manager has instructed PVS supervisors and the same 204-Bs in question to utilize Postal Fleet Services as needed to fill your vacant runs!  Why would a bargaining unit employee help staff a management shortage and then allow someone else to come in and do their work?  Without bargaining unit work, there isn’t a need for a supervisor or a 204-B.

          MVS employees need to STOP adding to the problem and start being part of the solution!  We need to fight for every piece of our work.  If management is understaffed in the dispatch office, let them figure out how they are going to staff it.  Manager Raddatz gets paid a nice salary; let him stay late to fill the spots of his absent supervisors.  Let one of the supervisors come in on their off day and staff the dispatch office.  If you allow another entity to get their foot in the door, they will take your work.

          I think it is time we hold ourselves and our fellow employees accountable for adding to the demise of our operation.  If you see one of your fellow employees doing a 204-B detail, remind them that they are TTOs, not supervisors. As soon as management is done with them, they will be thrown to the side, along with the work they have lost and given up!

In solidarity,   Dave Cook, MVS Director

Attention Soon to be Retirees

          Shortly after retirement, a letter will be sent to your from the St. Paul APWU regarding dues as a retiree.  Yearly dues are $12.00 and will be prorated your first year of retirement. You are also eligible for a death benefit of $800.00 for an additional $6.00 per year.

          Congrats and good luck in your retirement.

APWU              St. Paul, MN Area Local                   APWU

Tom Edwards, President                         October 26, 2009

 www.StPaulAPWU.org                             651-778-1637_

UPDATE ---            UPDATE --              UPDATE --

The next bid sheet which comes out on November 10, 2009 should have quite a few bids on it.  Along with the October 31^st retirements (provided management does not revert all of them), some of the station jobs will be on this bid sheet also.

          Management intends to issue letters the week of October 26, 2009 to the following stations:  Rice Street, New Brighton, Riverview and Woodbury and Main Office Pool.  Positions at Rice Street and New Brighton will be reposted in section.  The rest will be posted installation wide.

          The next round of changes, which require 60-day notification, due to abolishments and excessing (stations), are scheduled to be getting letters issued to them sometime in November, 2009 and be effective sometime in February, 2010.  Depending on the number of retirements at these stations, the number of positions to be abolished could change.  We should have a stable number of abolishments after the retirements have been made official – sometime during the first week of November.  

          Employees in the following sections who have already received letters:  Pouch Rack Tour 2; FSM Tour 2; Mailing Tour 2; Mailing Tour 3; and SPBS Tour 2 are scheduled for abolishment and excessing in January of 2010.  Some of these may change depending on if any retirements happen in these sections.  There may be issuance of different letters or none at all, depending on the outcome of these retirements.

          We are hoping to get the staffing package for the new Eagan facility within the next couple of weeks.  During the Town Hall meeting on October 22, 2009, Erica Brix stated that it should be done in a couple of weeks.

          As more news and issues are brought to our attention, we will put out another bulletin.

Dawn Ecker

Vice  President

St. Paul, MN Area Local

American Postal Workers Union

APWU             St. Paul, MN Area Local               APWU

Tom Edwards, President                                                        10/21/09

www.StPaulAPWU.org                                                  651-778-1637

OPEN SEASON  11/9-12/14/09

          Open season for health insurance is rapidly approaching.  There will be a Health Fair at the St. Paul Main Post Office on November 25 from 7:00-10:00 a.m. and 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.  There will be representatives from most of the health plans, including the APWU’s plan.   

          This year the APWU’s High Option health plan offers a new enhanced dental benefit (the plan will cover 70% of the plan allowance for routine dental care with no deductable),  and management programs for both diabetes and hypertension. Under these management programs, members who participate as required may be eligible for $0 co-pays for in-work office visits, lab tests and mail order generic drugs for these conditions.

          The High Option is switching preferred providers to the Cigna network, which will include all the Health Partners Clinics. To see if your provider is in network, go to www.apwuhp.com.

          The Consumer Driven Option offers a management program for Diabetes and no premium increase for 2010. 

Biweekly cost                Self             Self and Family

High Option                   29.84          67.47

Consumer Driven                     7.77           17.48

Fare for All Express

          Fare for all express, a cooperative food purchasing program, offers food packages to the public at below retail prices. There are no income requirements to participate. Participants are encouraged to volunteer in the community 2 hours each month.

 Packages are available for pickup at the Labor and Professional Centre, 411 Main St from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on 11/17/09 and 12/15/09.

Packages Available:

Regular Pack $17 – The Regular Pack contains 2-3 fresh fruits, 4-5 fresh vegetables and 3-4 frozen meat items.

Meat Only Pack $12 – The Meat Only pack includes a variety of 3-4 meat items such as beef, chicken, fish, or pork.

Vegetarian Pack $10 – The Vegetarian pack contains a generous amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, often accompanied by a dry food item such as beans or pasta.

November Package $25.00 – 1 frozen turkey (10-12 lbs), 1 package of chicken breasts, 1 pork tenderloin, 2 packages of frozen corn, 1 loaf of bread, 1 frozen peach pie.

December Package $25.00 – 1 frozen ham (family size), 1 pack of frozen chicken breasts, 1 other meat item, 2 packages of frozen veggies, 1 loaf of bread, 1 peach pie

          For more information, call 1-800-582-4291

Email List

In an attempt to come up with a process to notify our members of issues that need immediate attention/action by our members, the Saint Paul Area Local APWU is initiating an e-mail notification system.  This type of notification will not replace the Flash Bulletins or the Postmark; it will be in addition to these publications.  This system is a read only document and the local will not respond to replies.  Members should also be reminded that the appropriate way to request a steward is to ask your supervisor.  The Saint Paul Area Local, APWU will not be liable for grievances that go untimely due to an attempt of e-mail notification of a contractual violation to the local.

          If you wish to get on this notification list, please see a union steward or drop by the union office and request a form.  The form must be filled out completely if you wish to get on the list.  Also, this list is for Members only!

*******************************************************

I wish to participate in the St Paul APWU E-mail list

Full name: __________________               Craft: ____________

(please print clearly)

Employee EIN #: ________________         Tour: ____________

Section: __________               Signature: _____________________

E-Mail address: _________________________

Confirm E-mail address: ______________________                   

*********************************************************

Dawn Ecker, Vice President APWU

APWU                                                                                          APWU   

Tom Edwards, President                  St. Paul, MN Area Local        

   August 18,   2009

www.stpaulapwu.org                                                               651-778-1637__

Special Bulletin from APWU Headquarters

Union Negotiates Monetary Incentive for Retirements, Separations

Moratorium on Excessing through October 9, 2009

APWU-represented employees who retire or separate on or before Nov. 30, 2009, will receive a monetary incentive of $15,000, in accordance with an agreement negotiated by the union. The incentive will be paid in two installments to eligible employees.

“This agreement achieves a long-standing objective of the APWU,” said union President William Burrus.

The incentive will be offered to eligible career full-time employees who terminate their service through regular retirement, Voluntary Early Retirement, or voluntary separation. (Eligible PTR and PTF employees will receive proportional percentages of the incentive.)

To qualify for regular retirement, employees must have at least 30 years of service and be age 55; must have at least 20 years of service and be age 60, or must have at least five years of service and be age 62.

To qualify for early retirement, employees must have at least 20 years of service and be 50 years of age or must have 25 years of service at any age. (The annuity is reduced for employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System [CSRS] by 2 percent for each year employees are under age 55.)

Employees who do not qualify for regular or early retirement but wish to receive the incentive may resign.

Not covered by the agreement are employees who were issued a notice of discharge on or before Aug. 24; MPE 9s, ET 10s, and ET 11s who cannot be replaced without training; Operating Services employees; employees in the Accounting Services section of the IT/ASC bargaining unit, probationary employees, and Transitional Employees.

Eligible full-time employees may, at their option, end their service on or before Sept. 30, or they will be assigned a date of Oct. 31 or Nov. 30 by management, based on operational needs. Employees will be paid $10,000 within two pay periods after separation, and will receive an additional $5,000 on Oct. 29, 2010. Part-time employees will be assigned a date of Nov. 30.

Negotiations over the agreement, which was finalized Aug. 24, took two months, Burrus said. “Our goal was an incentive of 50 percent of a year’s salary. Because of the difficult economic times, however, the agreement had to be structured to avoid adding to the deficit. Nonetheless, we feel that the settlement will provide a modest incentive to employees to end their service.

“The USPS financial condition is precarious,” Burrus said. “The congressionally-imposed obligation to pre-fund the retirees’ health insurance fund has caused tremendous deficits over the last two years, and without legislative relief, improvement is not in the forecast.

“Management has been forced to reduce costs, but unfortunately, the cuts have been applied disproportionally to bargaining-unit employees, especially to those in mail processing,” the union president said.

“Because our contract prohibits layoffs, the only means for cutting work hours have been to reassign full-time employees and to reduce the hours of PTFs,” Burrus noted. “Excessing and work-hour cuts cause severe hardships for our members,” he said, “so finding a way to make voluntary complement adjustments became an urgent matter.”

There will be a moratorium on excessing from Aug. 24 through Oct. 9 to allow time to assess the vacancies created by the retirements and separations. During this period, excessing notices that have already been issued will be reviewed.

(Continued on other side)

If more than 25,000 employees indicate they wish to accept the offer, the parties will discuss implementation, based on a proportion of the number of employees in the complement of the APWU and Mail Handler crafts. Mail Handlers are expected to receive an offer virtually identical to the APWU-negotiated agreement.

The agreement includes the following:

·   There will be a $10,000 payment to eligible full-time employees who terminate their service through regular retirement, Voluntary Early Retirement, or voluntary separation, to be paid as soon as administratively possible, but no later than two pay periods after separation;

·   Each full-time employee who terminates employment also will receive a $5,000 payment on Oct. 29, 2010;

·   Part-Time Regular and Part-Time Flexible employees who terminate their service will receive a proportional percentage of the $10,000 and $5,000 incentive, as follows:

·   The agreement applies to all non-probationary career postal employees in the APWU bargaining unit employees, including employees in the Clerk Craft, Maintenance Craft, Motor Vehicle Services Craft, mail equipment shops, material distribution centers, occupational health nurses, with the following exceptions or limitations:

o  Employees who were issued a notice of discharge on or before Aug. 24, 2009, are excluded;

o  MPE 9, ET 10, and ET 11 employees will be eligible if the residual vacancy created as a result of their retirement or separation can be filled by a qualified employee who does not require additional training to fill their vacancy;

o  Operating Service employees are not eligible;

o  Employees in the Accounting Services section of the IT/ASC Collective Bargaining Agreement are not eligible.

A signed copy of the Memorandum of Understanding is available in the 5^th floor union office if you would like to view it.

APWU                                                                                          APWU   

Tom Edwards, President                  St. Paul, MN Area Local           August 18,   2009

www.stpaulapwu.org                                                               651-778-1637__

Postal Service Now Targets ALL Limited Duty Employees for Its National Reassessment Program

          In October 2008, the St. Paul Area Local was informed that the Northland District will be entering into Phase 2 of the National Reassessment Program for MMI employees. This program is designed to develop limited duty employees with permanent medical restrictions resulting from a work related injury rehabilitation job offers.   At this point Phase 2 has been in place for 10 months with no meeting being scheduled with employees.  The APWU has just been informed that the USPS has developed a companion process that will target all limited duty employees.  This process is not intended to replace the first program but run in tandem with the new program.  This will mean that the limited duty employees who have reached MMI will be subjected to both processes.

Postal Service’s National Reassessment Process – Limited Duty

          On May 29, 2009 the USPS concluded its NPR-LD pilot program.  The APWU has been informed that the USPS plans to implement this program nationwide starting July 13, 2009 with “work status meetings” beginning no sooner than July 27, 2009. the National APWU has raised significant concerns about the process and its compliance with existing law and the USPS manuals.  The National APWU has met with the Department of Labor DFEC concerning what It sees as clear violation of the law and procedures developed by OWCP.  As of yet, there have been very few answers provided.

Therefore, the St. Paul APWU is asking all limited duty employees when contacted by USPS Management concerning their work status to immediately ask for a Union Steward to ensure that all rights are being asserted from the beginning of the process.

          The St. Paul Area Local expects this new process to negatively impact our injured workers.  To illustrate how many employees can be expected to be impacted we are sharing the statistics that were provided to the APWU concerning the pilot program for this new process.  There were 2230 employees who were reassessed as part of the two and a half month pilot period.  Only 41% (912) of these employees received “full day” job offers, just 30% (667) were assigned “partial day” work (even though they were medically able to work more hours), and a devastating 29% (651) were told that there was not work available.

APWU                                                                                        APWU     

Tom Edwards, President                  St. Paul, MN Area Local           August 12,   2009

www.stpaulapwu.org                                                               651-778-1637__

Hello Everyone,

            As of 8/10/09 the Union has been informed by District Manager Anthony Williams that NONE of the Stations/Branches that were being considered for consolidation/closure will be closed or consolidated at this time.  There may be future consideration for consolidation/closure.  If this occurs, your union will notify you.

            Management has informed your union during the weekly withholding meeting that it intends to provide the new staffing package for the new facility by 8/18/09.  This is the end of the 2 week time frame which management told the union the staffing package would be provided by.  I am not overly optimistic.

            The United States Senate is set to vote on Bill S1507 by the end of September.  The APWU urges all members to contact their senators via letter opposing this bill in its current form.  Attached is a sample letter for you to use (see reverse of bulletin, or you can print a copy off the local’s website).   This bill would be destructive to the union/postal workers collective bargaining rights.

Respectfully and in Solidarity

Tom Edwards, President

***********************************************************************

Contact info for our Senators

Senator Klobuchar

United States Senate

302 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510-2304

DC phone 202-224-3244

DC fax 202-228-2186

Email  http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm

Senator Franken

United States Senate

302 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510-2304

DC phone: 202-224-5641

Email infofranken@senate.gov

Herb Kohl

United States Senate

330 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

DC phone 202-224-5653

Email  kohl.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Russ Feingold

United States Senate

506 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

202-224-5323

Email – Feingold.senate.gov/contact.opinion.html

APWU                                                                                        APWU     

Tom Edwards, President                  St. Paul, MN Area Local                July 29,   2009

www.stpaulapwu.org                                                               651-778-1637__

            By now everyone is wondering what’s going on?  There are many rumors as to what management is doing to the service.  As I have stated in the past, as the union is made aware of things, you the member will be made aware.

            As of today, I can tell you that management is still proceeding with the downsizing of the Tour 2 FSM 100’s, the removal of the CSBCS machines and possible excessing from Circle Pine and possibly St. Paul Park.  In addition, management is in the process of station function 4 reviews, station consolidations and closings, implementation of a new withholding for Minneapolis and St. Paul which could involve excessing outside of the installations, cancelling the MRC withholding, but remaining under a withholding for Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

            Your union is being informed on a daily basis of a pending action by management.

            Many of you have questions about the move to Eagan with regard to staffing.  I can tell you that at this time we have had preliminary meetings with District Level Management and that the union has learned that the new Eagan facility will acquire 2 hew FSS machines and that the current machinery deployed at the St. Paul PDC will be moved to the new facility.  As always, this is subject to change.  Management has yet to release their staffing package for the new facility. 

            As you can see, we are under attack on all fronts.  For now, this is the news and as more concrete information becomes available, it will be forwarded to the membership.

Tom Edwards, President

APWU                                                                                        APWU     

Tom Edwards, President                  St. Paul, MN Area Local          June 17,   2009

www.stpaulapwu.org                                                               651-778-1637__

Station Update

            Management is once again reviewing staffing at all stations and branches, and looking at the possibility of abolishing some more jobs.  Staffing packages need to be into the district manager soon, so some definite answers should be forwarded to the union this summer.  We are currently working behind the scenes, pulling up data, grievance settlements, etc in an attempt to reduce the impact any way we can.  As we get final information, it will be forwarded to the stations that are impacted for input.  At first glance, it does not look good, some jobs that proposed to be abolished and replaced with PTR positions.

            With that, the union would like to reiterate what happens when you bid a PTR position.  When a FTR bids into a PTR position, it is very difficult to bid back to a FTR position.  A PTR can only bid on a new FTR position and must be currently qualified on that position.  A PTR can bid on residual FTR positions, but only after all unencumbered (unassigned regulars) have been involuntarily assigned first.  Also, we must not be under withholding for possible excessing outside of the installation. (Which in fact St. Paul is under a withholding right now, and may continue to be until after the move to Eagan.)  Therefore, upon becoming a PTR clerk, it remains extremely difficult to go back and be a FTR clerk.  Also, both the amount of annual leave you earn and your retirement is affected by becoming a PTR clerk.  Use careful consideration before you bid into a PTR position.

            Another issue that seems to be a problem is out of schedule premium pay.  Some people are not aware of what pay they are entitled to when working outside of their schedule.  Primarily this affects station relief and pool relief clerks.  You are entitled to premium pay for all hours worked outside of your bid duty hours, unless you are replacing one vacancy for 5 days or more, with proper notification.  It seems that employees are showing up on an hour deviation report, because they are a relief, their scheduled hours are being changed to reflect the hours worked, which wipes out the out of schedule premium pay.  If you are entitled to out of schedule premium pay, keep this documented and check your pay stub to make sure you are being paid correctly, it will show up on your pay stub as a “p”. You could request an employee everything report and make sure you are credited with the TACS code of 073 for premium pay.

If you have any questions, please contact the union office.

Yours in solidarity,

Vice President Dawn Ecker

APWU                                            APWU    

Tom Edwards, President          St. Paul, MN Area Local          June 17,   2009

www.stpaulapwu.org                                                                        651-778-1637__

Attention: Eagan Move Update!        

On Wednesday, 6/17/09, Vice President Ecker and I attended a meeting at the Minneapolis P&DC with District Manager Anthony Williams and Lead Plant manager Erica Brix concerning the move to Eagan.  Also present were representatives from the the Minneapolis Area Local APWU, Mailhandlers union both St. Paul and Minneapolis, the BMC, Labor Relations and respective management officials.  As of 6/17/09, I am happy to report, the new facility will be named the St. Paul Processing and Distribution Center Eagan Minnesota.  This is a positive outcome for the employees of St. Paul.  Several questions remain concerning staffing issues, what type of equipment (machines) will be deployed to the facility, and an array of Article 12 issues.  All of these questions will be addressed at future District Level meetings.  So for now I can say to you the new facility is St. Paul.  I will continue to forward updated information as it becomes available.  If you have questions this bulletin does not address, please contact a union steward.

You’re Invited to the St. Croix Labor Assembly Annual Family Picnic 

            The St. Croix Labor Assembly picnic is being held Wednesday, 6/24/09 from 5-8 pm at Valley View Park in Oak Park Heights.  There will be children’s games and prizes, pop, beer, hot dogs and chips provided by the St. Croix Valley Labor Assembly of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO and its affiliates.  Dessert donations are welcome, and raffle tickets are available 3 for $5.  For more info contact Jeanette at 651-222-3787, ext 20 or jrebar@stpaulunions.org

Valley View Park, Highway 36 east towards Stillwater, south on Osgood Ave to park.

APWU              St. Paul, MN Area Local      APWU

Tom Edwards, President                                              6/8/09

www.StPaulAPWU.org                                               651-778-1637

Attention!!!!      Parking Changes!

Due to the recent closing of the Mail Recovery Center and the expiration of the lease, trailers previously staged in the MRC lot will need to be relocated.  Management has investigated several options and the decision has been made to create parking for approximately 12-14 trailers in the P&DC lot.  The union has been informed throughout the decision making process.

In order for management to do this, the employee parking lot will be reconfigured. The change will impact approximately 70 parking spots along the north and east end of the lot.  Efforts have been made to minimize the reduction in parking spots.  Handicap parking will not be impacted and you will continue to be able to use the north walkway along Kellogg.  A temporary barrier will be installed and signage posted this weekend to reflect the changes.  Once the change has been reviewed to make sure it will work safely, a permanent 6 foot fence will be installed.  Management will also be restriping the lot during this process. The installation of this permanent fence is scheduled for mid-June.

The changes will not impact entering or exiting the lot.  There will be changes to traffic flow along the new fence with all employee traffic being directed one way.  Signage will be installed for guidance.  The driver training course located in the northeast corner will be relocated to the south east corner.  This course is used only during tour 2 so management would like tour 2 employees to refrain from parking in that area.

There is a map of the proposed new lot layout is included on the back page of this bulletin. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and if you have any concerns or comments, please contact a steward.

Eagan Move Update

Unfortunately as I write this update, I am unable to forward to you any new information concerning the move to Eagan other than that construction continues.  I have had discussions with District Manager Anthony Williams, Lead Plant Manager Erica Brix, Plant Manager Greg Pobuda, and Representative McCollum’s office.  Management states that they are as uncertain of the move as the union is.  The union has been told that as soon as any new information becomes available it will be forwarded to us via district level meetings with all affected parties.  As information becomes available it will be forwarded to the members. Rest assured that the union will do everything in its contractual power to preserve the St. Paul Area Local and to minimize potential impact to her members.

2008 Senate Election

            This election must end, for info on how to help, see our website, www.stpaulapwu.org, or check out www.seatoursenator.com

MERSC Nights with the Lynx -  MERSC members are entitled to a discount at select Lynx games.  See the Social and Rec displays for info and an order form.

APWU             St. Paul, MN Area Local       APWU

Tom Edwards, President                                                    5/6/09

www.StPaulAPWU.org                                           651-778-1637

FSM 1000’s Update!

          Management has started holding abolishment meetings with the FSM 1000’s clerks.  Abolishment letters have been distributed on all three tours.  Additional meetings will be held to distribute the remaining letters and to answer any remaining questions employees my have.

Eagan Update

          Management has not produced any new information regarding the move to Eagan.  Information will be forwarded to you, the members as it becomes available.

MRC Update

          Well, it is official; the Mail Recovery Center closed its doors on Friday, April 24, 2009.  Ten clerks have now jointed the ranks at the P&DC Tour-3 automation.  Please take a moment to welcome your brothers and sisters.

Letter Carriers Food Drive

          The annual NALC Food Drive is Saturday, May 9^th.  Remember to place your non-perishable donation at your mail box and your carrier will collect it.  A big thank you in advance.

Annual Blood Drive

          “Give a Gift that is Priceless”.  The American Red Cross is holding its annual blood drive Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.  To schedule an appointment, please call Lynne at 651-222-3787, ext. 16

           From the ELM,

Time Allowed:

a.       General Allowance.  Postal employees may be excused for that period of time deemed reasonably necessary to cover any absence from regular tours of duty to make voluntary blood donations, without remuneration, to the Red Cross, the community, or other nonprofit blood bank.  This regulation does not apply to those employees who participate in this program on their own time, off duty. 

b.       Additional Time.  In the case of employees in occupations for which the blood bank recommends additional time off following the blood donation, the time necessary includes the additional time recommended by the blood bank. Every effort should be made to have blood donations for such employees scheduled near the end of their tour of duty.

Restrictions. 

            The following provisions concern restrictions on time allowed for blood donations:

a.       The time allowed may in no instance exceed 8 hours.  A full day’s administrative leave may be granted only when there are unusual circumstances, such as in rural areas where considerable travel may be involved.  In is not intended that a full day’s administrative leave be granted any employee for donating blood when the blood bank or facility is nearby.

b.       Administrative leave for blood donation may be granted during a regular tour of the employee’s basic workweek, but only on the date of the blood donation.  It is not granted to employees on suspension or in any non-pay status.

Golf Tournaments!!!

          The St. Paul Postal Employees Social and Recreation Committee is sponsoring a Golf Tournament at Applewood Golf Course on May 31^st.  If you are interested further details are available at the Social and Rec displays throughout the main post office, or on your offices bulletin board.  If you have further questions, contact Lisa Sunderland at 651-293-3365.

          The Twin Cities Area Labor Management Council is hosting a tournament on June 5^th.  For more details call the TCALMC at 612-676-3725

APWU              St. Paul, MN Area Local                   APWU

Tom Edwards, President                           April 16, 2009

 www.StPaulAPWU.org                           651-778-1637_

ATTENTION –

FSM 1000’s UPDATE

            THE UNION WAS NOTIFIED APRIL 15, 2009 THAT THE FSM 1000 SECTION WILL BE ABOLISHED AND EXCESSED EFFECTIVE JULY 17, 2009.  THIS ABOLISHMENT WILL AFFECT 26 BID POSITIONS ON ALL THREE TOURS.  ALL 26 BID POSITIONS WILL BE ABOLISHED AND ALL EMPLOYEES WILL BE EXCESSED.  MANAGEMENT WILL POST 26 NEW BIDS.  THE NEW BREAKDOWN OF THE 26 NEW BIDS IS AS FOLLOWS:

·        6 NEW FSM 100’S                                 TOUR 1

·        7 NEW FMS 100’s                                  TOUR 3

·        11 NEW POUCH RACK                         TOUR 3

*6 P.M. – 2:30 A.M. Sunday/Monday Days Off

·        2 NEW LETTER AUTOMATION          TOUR 1

FUTURE INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED.

IN SOLIDARITY,

TOM EDWARDS

PRESIDENT

APWU              St. Paul, MN Area Local                   APWU

Tom Edwards, President                           April 15, 2009

 www.StPaulAPWU.org                           651-778-1637_

ATTENTION                      ATTENTION

TOUR 1, TOUR 2 AND TOUR 3 FSM 1000 CLERKS

THE UNION HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT ALL 26 POSITIONS IN THE FSM 1000’s WILL BE ABOLISHED AND EXCESSED EFFECTIVE

JULY 17, 2009.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.

IN SOLIDARITY,

TOM EDWARDS

PRESIDENT

APWU                                                                     APWU

Pat McCann, President      St. Paul, MN Area Local                   March 23, 2009

www.St. PaulAPWU.org                                                                    651-778-1637_

THE  ST. PAUL AREA LOCAL ELECTION IS OVER

ELECTION RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

UNCONTESTED POSITIONS

Vice President                                                                     Industrial Relations Director

Dawn Ecker                                                              Judy Fricke

Treasurer                                                                              Trustee Chair

Dave Westgard                                                        Bruce Gutzke

Clerk Craft Director                                                                       Clerk Craft Trustee

Jerry Jacobson                                                                   Karen Reynolds

Motor Vehicle Craft Trustee

Craig Carroll

ELECTED AS PRESIDENT

          Tom (Suds) Edwards                                        _____402_________

          Patrick McCann                                               _____351_________

ELECTED AS SECRETARY:                                                            

            Tina Jesinski                                                   ______316________

          Jesse Lopez                                                   ______411________

ELECTED AS MAINTENANCE CRAFT DIRECTOR

            Don Tambornino                                             _____    20   ______

          Daviid Geissinger                                              _____    68   ______

          Roderick Renner                                              _______65________

ELECTED AS MAINTENANCE CRAFT TRUSTEE:                                   

            Keith W. Landsman                                            _______16________

          Karen Volkman                                               __     __77________

          Rob Vance                                                     _______60________

ELECTED AS MOTOR VEHICLE CRAFT DIRECTOR

          Dave Cook                                                     ________28_______

          Chris Stage                                                     ________27_______

APWU                                                              APWU     

Pat McCann, President           St. Paul, MN Area Local               February 26, 2009

          www.stpaulapwu.org                                           651-778-1637     

ST. PAUL AREA LOCAL ELECTIONS

2009

            The following are the results of the nominations for Local Office which took place at the February 24, 2009 General Membership Meeting.  Ballots are to be mailed out by the Election Committee on March 4, 2009.

          The following offices had only one candidate nominated and, therefore, those candidates are duly elected:

        VICE PRESIDENT ……………………………..    ..        Dawn Ecker

          INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR ……. Judy Fricke

          TREASURER ………………………………………  Dave Westgard

          TRUSTEE CHAIR        ……………………………….     Bruce Gutzke

          CLERK CRAFT DIRECTOR ……………………. Jerry Jacobson

          CLERK CRAFT TRUSTEE ………………………          Karen Reynolds

          MOTOR VEHICLE TRUSTEE …………………. Craig Carroll

          THE FOLLOWING ARE CONTESTED POSITIONS:

            PRESIDENT:  Patrick McCann; Tom (Suds) Edwards

            SECRETARY:  Jesse Lopez; Tina Jesinski

MAINTENANCE CRAFT DIRECTOR: Roderick Renner; Don Tambornino; David Geissinger;

MAINTENANCE CRAFT TRUSTEE:  Karen Volkman; Keith W. Landsman;  Rob Vance

MOTOR VEHICLE CRAFT DIRECTOR:  Chris Stage; Dave Cook

DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS:  Mary Kinser; Mike Mazurkiewicz; Rob Vance; Ray Moore; Don Tambornino; Bruce Gutzke; Jodi France; Kathy Letendre; David Westgard; Billie Dunn; Tina Jesinski; Steve Letendre; Elizabeth Blackwell; Bob Severson; Keith W. Landsman; Karen Volkman; Karen Springborn; Tom (Suds) Edwards; Terri Griner; Todd M. Elkerton; Jesse Lopez; Chris Stage

CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO WERE ELECTED

GOOD LUCK TO THE CANDIDATES

APWU                                           APWU

Pat McCann, President          St. Paul, MN Area Local                               February 24, 2009

--REMINDER—

CHOICE VACATION FORM 1547 DUE

Note:  If you have not yet received your Form 1547 for selecting choice vacation, please request to see a steward.

          It’s that time of year again.  You all should have received your vacation period selection forms.  The following is information taken from the Local Memorandum of Understanding and a few reminders on completing your Form 1547:

          “Periods for  requesting choice vacation will commence no later than March 1 of each year.  Employees must submit their Form 1547 to management no later than March 21^st.  Normally, management will complete and return Form 1547 to the employee no later than March 31^st of each year.”

          Section 3.B.  “During the months of January, February, March, April, the first 21 days of May, September, October and those dates in November not covered in Section C. 10% of the complement will be scheduled on annual leave in each section or unit.”

          Section 3.C.  “From May 22^nd and including June, July and August, and the 1^st Saturday in November and continuing for a total of 21 calendar days, 14% of the complement will be scheduled on annual leave in each section or unit.”

          “Choice vacation period shall begin with the new leave year and end on the last Friday in November.”

          “It is agreed that all employees shall be granted 2 (two) selections as their first choice during the choice vacation periods.  If an eligible employee requests 15 (fifteen) continuous days of annual leave, such request will be counted as 2 (two) selections.”

          “Employees changing their assignments shall have their vacation periods honored in the new assignment, and such annual shall not be part of the quota of the gaining section or losing unit for choice vacation.”

          “No exchange shall be permitted of vacation choices.”

          When filling out your 1547, make sure you enter under “First Choice” all weeks that you want annual leave.  “Second” and “Third” choice areas are for designating an alternate choice if you are not able to receive the leave requested under “first” choice. These forms also ask for “inclusive dates”.  This means to include all days that you want, including days off and holidays.

          “The vacation period shall start on the first day of the employee’s basic work week”, unless otherwise agreed upon and in 40 hour increments.  After this basic requirement is met and management has reviewed all 1547’s they can go back and review 1547’s for dates that are in conjunction with the choice week but beyond the service week and less than 40 hours (e.g. 40 hours plus 8 hours).  This leave can be approved as long as it does not prevent anyone from receiving their 40 hour choice vacation period.

      Note – The above choice vacation process doesn’t apply to the associate office.  Each associate office has their own local memo which addresses choice vacation.