St. Paul, MN Area Local APWU

APWU APWU

Pat McCann, President St. Paul, MN Area Local November 30, 2007_

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 1, 2007 and ends December 28, 2007.

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.

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2008 LEAVE YEAR

The new leave year will begin January 5, 2008. For those that are out of annual leave, January 5, 2008 is the date that you can start using leave that you will earn in 2008.

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ANNUAL LEAVE CARRYOVER

The new leave year begins on January 5, 2008. 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 5, 2008, 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.

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ANNUA 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 2008. 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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CHOICE VACATION FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, 2008

Employees who submitted 1547’s (Choice Vacation slips) for choice vacation in the months of January, February, March of 2008 should have received an answer back from your supervisor by November 21, 2007. If you have not, please request a steward.

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CITY DIVISION DECENTRALIZATION CONTINUES

The union has been verbally notified that the remaining zones (1 & 2) will be decentralized in the near future dependent upon the completion of remodeling of the Riverview Station.

The particulars of the decentralization have not been shared with the union at this point. Further discussion with management will probably occur sometime in January, 2008. As we receive information, it will be shared with you.

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APWU St. Paul, MN Area Local APWU

Pat McCann, President October 31, 2007

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

January, February, March Choice Vacation Period

During the last LMOU negotiations the union negotiated a more structured procedure for requesting choice vacation for the months of January, February and March. Employees have always had the ability to take choice vacation for those months but never really had a procedure for accomplishing it. With more and more members taking winter vacations it was necessary to put some procedures in place.

Employees wishing to take choice vacation during the months of January, February and March must make their selection on Form 1547 between November 1, 2007 and November 21, 2007. Management must return the 1547 back to you no later than November 30, 2007.

Employees are granted (2) two selections as their first choice during the choice vacation periods unless you select (15) fifteen continuous days of annual leave which would count as (2) two selections.

If you select choice vacation during the months of January, February and March, it will affect the number of selections you can make during the March choice vacation selection period for the remaining months of the choice vacation period.

St. Paul Area Local Organizing Drive Kicks Off

The Local’s Organizing Drive will encompass a three month period beginning November 1, 2007 and ending on January 31, 2008.

All APWU Members are eligible and encouraged to participate as “organizers” in our new member drive. As an incentive, for each non-member you sign up on a membership form (PS 1187) you will earn $100.00 during the Organizing Drive.

Additionally, the name of the organizer will be placed into a drawing for each non-member signed during the drive. At the end of the drive there will be an “Organizer Grand Prize” drawing. The amount of the Grand Prize will be determined on the total number of 1187’s submitted as follows.

1-10 $100.00

11-20 $300.00

21 or more $500.00

Organizers are paid in the form of a St. Paul Area local check at the conclusion of the Drive.

Once a non-member completes an 1187 and becomes a member they are eligible to be an “Organizer” and obtain “Organizer” incentives.

Newly hired employees or transferred APWU bargaining unit employees who complete an 1187 are not eligible.

There is no better time than today to join the ranks of the dues paying members!

And the Winners are!

The following members who voted in the 2007 APWU National Elections made themselves eligible for the Local’s “Get out the Vote” drawing and were randomly selected from the ballot return envelopes. Congratulations to the following members.

Tom Smith

Terry Gallagher

Herb Schnobrich

Dan Anderson

Pat Riley

Each will receive a $100.00 check from the local. Thanks to all those who took the time to vote, your participation is what keeps this union strong.

APWU St. Paul, MN Area Local APWU

Pat McCann, President 10/12/07

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

Why Does the Union Allow Management to Staff Improperly?

(WE DON’T!)

The contract, handbooks and manuals give management the direction on decision making as to how they are going to staff and if and when the mail will be worked. Some employees believe the union controls the scheduling of employees, which creates short staffing. Nothing could be further from the truth. The union has consistently reported on this phenomenon but it continues to pop up. If management decides not to staff properly, by either reducing bids or not filling a vacancy when someone bids out, or is on leave, that does not now mean that it is up to the rest of the employees to fill that void.

Article 34.A of the Collective Bargaining Agreement states: “The principle of a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay is recognized by all parties to this Agreement.” what this means is you are obligated to work within your duty assignment, including scheduled breaks and lunches, no more, no less. So, for those employees who believe because management refuses to schedule properly that you now have to take up the slack and are responsible to do the work of two employees when only receiving pay for one, you are allowing management to take advantage of you. You as an employee do have some control of staffing by not performing the work of two employees.

If you believe it is your job to fill the void, you are only setting yourself up for possible injury, and proving to management that they can do more with less. Because if you are willing to do the work of two or more employees, why would management see a need to staff properly?

As a reminder, you, the member, are the union.

Judy Fricke

Industrial Relations Director

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(Over)

APWU “Wild” Night Out

The St. Paul Area Local has obtained tickets for two Minnesota Wild Hockey games for this season.

Team: Wild vs. Phoenix Coyotes

Date: Sunday 1/13/08

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Seats: Club level

Cost: $88.00

20 tickets available

Team: Wild vs. Dallas Stars

Date: Thursday, 2/7/08

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Seats: Upper Level

Cost: $44.00

20 tickets available

If you are interested in attending the St. Paul, MN Area Local’s “Wild” Night Out with other union members, please contact Vice President Dawn Ecker at 651-224-2639. Tickets must be purchased at least 30 days in advance of the game you wish to attend.

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Next Meeting – October 23, 2007 11:00 a.m!

APWU St. Paul, MN Area Local APWU

St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly AFL-CIO

Items needed:

Bottled water -- Gatorade/Iced Tea -- Long Heavy Duty Gloves -- Heavy Duty trash bags -- Clorox bleach -- Hornet/Bee repellent -- Heavy Face Masks -- Bath Towels/Wash Clothes -- Diapers (all sizes) -- Wheel barrels -- Shovels -- Tools --First Aid items -- 5 Gallon Buckets -- Mops -- Flashlights with batteries -- Fans--Rubber Boots (men’s sizes 10-12) -- Men’s and women’s socks (still in packages)--Disposable cameras

APWU St. Paul , MN Area Local APWU

Pat McCann, President 8/16/07

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

Non-Member List

Clerk Craft

M.O. Box – PL 110

Allan Swanson

Randall Starr

PL 125 Mailing Div

Timothy Dwyer

Pouch Rack – 129

David Giles

OCR – PL 130-132

Glen Anderson

Dawn Furrer

Robert Hodgkins

Donald Borash

Peggy Hoffman

Renee Katchmark

Thomas Kirshling

Chantel Larson

P. Lewandowski

Randy Mathisen

Wayne Nedry

Donna Norberg

Rafael Ruiz

Luann Schowalter

Thomas Schwandt

Brenda Swanson

Denise Danielson

Edward Parsons

PL 135

Sandra Brylski

FSM – PL 145

Mark Karels

FSM PL 146

Ken Bertozzi

Barbara Starr

James Wolter

Box Section - PL 210

Curtis Cormier

John Lecher

Robin Jasperson

OCR – PL 230

Thomas Hjelmgren

PL 231

Wendy Militano

Lance Schurhamer

Carl Seltz

Elizabeth Weiser

PL 237

Kelly Vezner

PL 245

William Selbitschka

PL 246

Kim Hjelmgren

Laurie Hjelmgren

Mailing Div– PL 324

Richard Hanson

Rodney Fredrick

PL 325

Sharon Amorosa

Young Lee

Thomas Lingenfelter

Pouch Rack - PL 329

George Finn, Jr

Jane Garrity

John Garrity

Automation Pl 331

Christine King

Larry Jacoway

Elizabeth Mathew

Scott West

PL 333

Georgia LaPierre

PL 334

Cathryn Meili

PL 345- FSM

Camila Maruska

Khamsuke Mua

Phan Mua

La Vang

PL 347

James Peterson

PL 338

Renee Ryan

PL 422

Mark Bye

PL 452- MO Windows

Kathleen Hebert

PL 550

Mary Stock

AMC – PL 601-603

Peggy Hoffman

Donald Koukal

Cheryl Lang

Dennis Ross

Victor Balagot

David Sax

Donald Stoc

PL 605

Czer Yang

PL 800

Sharon Bakka

Judy Ellsworth

MRC – PL 902 – 903

Terry Buetow

Thomas Haider

Elizabeth Haas

Bettie McGovern

Debra Peters

Judith Stevenson

Ray St. Germain

PL 002 – Uptown

Susan Boxrud

Como Station – PL 908

Annette Edeburn

White Bear Lake - 910

Patricia Gilpin

PL 918 - W. St. Paul

Michael Nilsson

Kerry Leier

Arlene Halverson

PL 919 – Eastern Heights

Joanne Weishaar

PL 921- Eagan

Gerald Brylski

PL 924

Thomas Ryan

Woodbury -925

Dan Berends

Michael Diaz

Michael Egge

Robert Gipple

Ron Scott

Shirley Klancke

PL927 – Vadnais Heights

Carol Rosengren

Associate Office

Non-Members

Afton - 260050

100% Members

Amery – 560200

100% Members

Bayport – 260630

100% Members

Bethel - 260830

Virginia Schulze

Braham -261090

100% Members

Cambridge - 261450

100% Members

Cannon Falls – 261480

100% Members

Cedar – 261580

100% Members

Circle Pines – 261710

100% Members

Cottage Grove

100% Members

Ellsworth – 562660

Brenda Schuster

Farmington - 263130

100% Members

Forest Lake – 263320

Jill Anderson

Glenwood City – 563260

Julie Pfendler

Hastings – 264230

100% Members

Hudson – 563960

100% Members

Hugo – 264650

100% members

Isanti – 264780

100% Members

Lakeville – 265330

100 % Members

Lindstrom – 265590

100% Members

Marine on St. Croix - 266100

Sandra Neutgens

Mora – 266500

Barbara Engebretsen

Teri Krier

Linda Olson

New Richmond – 565950

100% Members

North Branch – 266890

100% Members

Northfield - 266910

100% Members

Owatonna – 267230

James Lageson

Pine City -267450

100% Members

Red Wing – 267840

100% Members

River Falls – 567120

Rita Marrinan

Rich Timmerman

Rosemount – 268080

John Klaus

Rush City – 268150

Trudy Kruse

Scandia – 268510

100% Members

Somerset – 567690

100% Members

South St. Paul – 268800

100 % Members

St. Paul Park – 268370

100% Members

Stacy – 268890

Chevez Sandey

Sharon Brownfield

Stillwater – 268980

Jon Aton

Randall Boyle

Eva Lubke

Bradley Meinke

Jeffrey Olson

Dwight Roehl

Willernie – 269745

100% Members

Wyoming – 269860

Dorothy Spanovich

MOTOR VEHICLE CRAFT

Vernon Bakke

Michael Balzano

Robert Bukowski

Mark Kaufmann

Michael Kleman

William McDowell

Terry Neal

Lawrence Peters

Wayne Peters

Michael Santema

Gary Schwitzer

Mark Thorson

Bruce VonWald

Justin Paulson

Gary Zerwas

MAINTENANCE CRAFT

John Anderson

Doug Bifulk

Bernard Bjornsen

Donald Burbach

Greg Connell

Richard Dian

Mark Halfen

Dana Hebert

Richard Hassinger

Richard Hix

Robert Kane

Ronald Kjellman

Lark King

Michael Kobes

Jim Laughlin

Jeanette Melgard

Ken Nesheim

Thomas Novak

Tim Orlando

Greg Paulsen

Jean Sandberg

Peter Spinks

Paul Stegar

Jamey Theis

Gerald Turnquist

Tom West

If you feel your name is on this list in error, please contact the Union Office at 651-778-1637

APWU St. Paul , MN Area Local APWU

Pat McCann, President August 2, 2007

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

BOUNTY ON VOE’S INCREASES WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO WIN

For each quarter, the union will draw one $150.00 and seven $50.00 winners to those members who turn their VOE surveys into the union for the drawing. In addition, you may also turn in the in house surveys, doubling your chance to win.

If you have any problems with management not allowing you to take your survey with you, immediately request a steward. The survey is yours to do with as you see fit. Management CAN NOT force you to do otherwise.

COPA DRAWING TO BEGIN

Starting with 3^rd quarter (July, August, September 2007) those members contributing to COPA through Postal Ease or electronic fund transfer biweekly will be eligible for the drawing. The drawing will consist of three prizes, one $100.00 winner and two $75.00 winners.

If you haven’t signed up to contribute to COPA through Postal Ease or electronic funds transfer, now is the time to do so. Once you sign up through Postal Ease or electronic funds transfer for a continuous contribution, you become eligible for this and future quarterly drawings.

A REMINDER

Those full time and PTFS employees who have not utilized their administrative leave for President Ford’s National Day of Observance (National Day of Mourning) have until the end of the Postal fiscal year (Sept 30^th, 2007) to utilize the administrative leave. if your Postmaster/Manager or supervisor denies your request for the administrative leave, please request to speak with a steward.

TWINS NIGHT OUT

The Local is sponsoring APWU Night Out at the Twins Game, Friday night, September 14, 2007, Twins versus the Detroit Tigers. Come out and have a fun filled evening watching Twins Baseball!

We will be sitting in Section 116, rows 30 and 32, lower level by the visitor bullpen. Tickets are 23.00 apiece. We only have 25 tickets, so signup early.

This is open to members and their families. If you are interested stop by or call the union office at 651-778-1637 to reserve a ticket.

APWU St. Paul , MN Area Local APWU

Pat McCann, President June 12, 2007

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

Support the Employee Free Choice Act

The APWU stands in solidarity with millions of American workers who want union representation but find that the deck is stacked in favor of employers who intimidate, harass, coerce and even fire workers who try to form unions. The EFCA, now pending on Congress, would give workers a fair chance to form unions and improve their lives.

Join the Employee Free Choice Act

National Call-In Week

It’s Employee Free Choice Act National Call-In Week, and we need you to join with working families from across the country in calling U.S. senators today.

Sen. Norm Coleman still hasn’t said whether or not he supports the legislation—and there are only a few weeks left until he will vote on the bill.

Sen. Coleman needs to hear from you. We need his support in order to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (S. 1041).

Our goal is to have thousands of workers call the Senate as the vote approaches.

Together, we can help get this important legislation through Congress

Please take a few minutes to call Sen. Coleman toll-free now:
1-800-774-8941 or 651-645-0323

Tell him to support the Employee Free Choice Act that would put workers on a more level playing field and allow them to more easily form unions.

Thank you for continuing the fight for the Employee Free Choice Act.

In solidarity,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO

· You can stay informed about votes on this bill and all bills affecting postal workers by signing up for Mega-Vote at our national website: apwu.org (click on "locate your legislators" under "shortcuts" - you'll find Mega-Vote at the bottom of our Congressional Information Center page.

***Action to Defend the Middle Class***

Stewards and Activists Hold Last-Minute Statewide Events!!!

Minnesota union members countered misinformation being distributed by a business lobbying group (Federation of Independent Businesses) in statewide events this week. The NFIB is visiting several cities in Minnesota to drum up support for its efforts to block the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The group is part of the misnamed "Coalition for a Democratic Workplace," whose membership consists of deep pocketed national business groups and their affiliates.

At events held statewide Local activists and union stewards drew attention to the fact that the American middle class is under attack by corporate interests and the best defense working families have is to organize for a voice on the job.

Help support their efforts. Contact Sen. Coleman at 1-800-774-8941 and tell him to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act.

MN AFL-CIO, 6-5-07

Top Three Reasons Congress Should Pass

The Employee Free Choice Act

1) Most working Americans want to join a union. Six out of ten say they would join a union tomorrow if given the chance. The EFCA would reverse the trend of declining union membership and give more people the freedom to improve their lives through collective bargaining.

2) The current system does not protect worker's rights to organize. Employees are fired in one-quarter of private sector organizing campaigns and 78% of private employers require supervisors to deliver anti-union messages to their workers. Even after workers successfully form a union, one-third of the time they are not able to get a contract.

3) The Employees Free Choice Act levels the playing field. If passed, the new law would hold companies accountable for illegally coercing or intimidating employees. It would bring in a neutral third party to settle a contract when a company and a newly certified union cannot agree on a contract after 90 days. And it would establish a majority sign-up or card check, meaning that if a majority of the employees sign union authorization cards, their employer must recognize the union.

Union Advocate

APWU APWU

Pat McCann, President St. Paul, MN Area Local April 16, 2007

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

THE ELECTION IS OVER – THE WINNERS ARE:

UNCONTESTED POSITIONS

President Vice President

Pat McCann Dawn Ecker

Industrial Relations Director Treasurer

Judy Fricke Dave Westgard

Trustee Chairman Clerk Craft Director

Bruce Gutzke Jerry Jacobson

Maintenance Craft Director Motor Vehicle Craft Director

Roderick Renner Chris Stage

Motor Vehicle Craft Trustee

Dave Cook

ELECTED AS SECRETARY:

Jesse Lopez _____286________

Tina Jesinski _____251________

ELECTED AS CLERK CRAFT TRUSTEE

Karen Reynolds _____236________

Tom (Suds) Edwards _____193________

ELECTED AS MAINTENANCE CRAFT TRUSTEE:

Joe Vogel _____25________

Jim Pierce __ 31________

Karen Volkman _____41________

DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS:

Karen Reynolds ____313____ 1

Bruce Gutzke ____188_____11

Jesse Lopez ____285_____3

Ray Moore ____164_____14

Tom (Suds) Edwards ____278_______4

Karen Volkman ____181_______13

Keith W. Landsman ____112_______17

Dave Westgard ____288_______2

Jim Pierce ____140_______16

Rob Vance ____231_______8

Billie Dunn ____241_______6

Jodi France ____183_______12

Todd M. Elkerton ____256_______5

Terri Griner ____146_______15

Tina Jesinski ____239_______7

Mike Mazurkiewicz ____202_______10

Mary Kinser ____208______9

BALLOTS SENT AND RETURNED: Sent Returned

Motor Vehicle Services _____81____ ___28_______

Maintenance _____210____ ___97______

Clerks _____1157____ ___430_______

TOTALS

Spoiled: ___7____

THANKS TO THE ELECTION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE:

Co-Chairmen: Mark Sanchez, Pat Hawkins

Committee: Tim Strong, Stacie Gorman, John Footh, Theresa Helsper, Jim Kendall, Kim Olsen Gina Damiani, Kathy Fausone, Craig Carroll

APWU APWU

Pat McCann, President St. Paul , MN Area Local March 29, 2007

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

BALLOTS FOR THE LOCAL ELECTION WERE MAILED OUT MARCH 28, 2007.

IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A BALLOT BY APRIL 3^RD, CONTACT THE UNION OFFICE AT 651-778-1637 TO REQUEST A

DUPLICATE BALLOT

NO ONE MAY REQUEST A BALLOT FOR YOU!

IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED, BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE DESIGNATED POST OFFICE

NO LATER THAN

APRIL 14^TH, 2007 AT 8:00 A.M.

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APWU St. Paul, MN Area Local APWU

Pat McCann, President March 16, 2007

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

--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 1of each year. Employees must submit their Form 5147 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.”

“In the clerk craft, part time flexibles are considered part of their assigned section for leave purposes. Also, when a PTF requests choice vacation, the vacation will be in 40 hour increments with at least 2 scheduled days off.”

“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 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 and 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.

Pat McCann

President

APWU APWU

Pat McCann, President March 9, 2007

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!!

THE ELECTION COMMITTEE HAS STOPPED THE BALLOTING PROCESS.

A problem has occurred with the “Ballot Only” envelope. The label containing your name and address from another envelope imprinted your name and address onto the ‘Ballot Only” envelope during processing. This, thereby, compromised the secrecy of your ballot, and it will be necessary to conduct the balloting process again.

If you have not voted, please destroy all material from the first balloting. If you have already mailed your ballot, the Election Committee will collect and destroy the sealed ballots at a time and date selected by the Election Committee. In order for your vote to count, you must use the new ballots.

BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED ON:

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Time: Approximately 4:00 p.m.

BALLOTS WILL BE DUE BACK AND PICKED UP ON:

Date: Saturday, April 14, 2007

Time: 8:00 a.m (Picked up by Election Committee Chairman at 8:30 a.m.)

BALLOTS WILL BE COUNTED ON:

Date: Saturday, April 14, 2007

Time: Approximately 9:00 a.m.

Location: St. Paul , MN Area Local

654 East 6^th Street St. Paul , Minnesota

If you do not receive a ballot by April 3, 2007 contact the Union Office at 651-778-1637 to request a duplicate ballot. No one may request a ballot for you.

Pat Hawkins, Election Committee Co-Chairman

Mark Sanchez, Election Committee Co-Chairman

APWU APWU

Pat McCann, President St. Paul, MN Area Local February 28, 2007

www.stpaulapwu.org 651-778-1637

ST. PAUL , MN AREA LOCAL ELECTIONS

2007

The following are the results of the nominations for Local Office which took place at the February 27, 2007 General Membership Meeting. Ballots are to be mailed out by the Election Committee on March 7, 2007.

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

PRESIDENT …………………………………………… Patrick McCann

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

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR ………..... Judy Fricke

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

TRUSTEE CHAIRMAN ………………………....... Bruce Gutzke

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

MAINTENANCE CRAFT DIRECTOR ………........ Roderick Renner

MOTOR VEHICLE CRAFT DIRECTOR ………….. Chris Stage

MOTOR VEHICLE CRAFT TRUSTEE ………….. Dave Cook

THE FOLLOWING ARE CONTESTED POSITIONS:

SECRETARY: Tina Jesinski; Jesse Lopez

CLERK CRAFT TRUSTEE: Karen Reynolds; Tom (Suds) Edwards

MAINTENANCE CRAFT TRUSTEE: Joe Vogel; Jim Pierce; Karen Volkman

DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS: Karen Reynolds; Bruce Gutzke; Jesse Lopez; Ray Moore; Tom (Suds) Edwards; Karen Volkman; Keith W. Landsman; Dave Westgard; Jim Pierce; Rob Vance; Billie Dunn; Jodi France; Todd M. Elkerton; Terri Griner; Tina Jesinski; Mike Mazurkiewicz; Mary Kinser

Congratulations to those who were elected.

Good luck to the candidates.

APWU St. Paul , MN Area Local APWU

Pat McCann, President February 1, 2007

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

CASUAL SETTLEMENT UPDATE

On Friday, January 26, 2007, I received confirmation that our casual payout spreadsheet had reached the Accounting Services Center for processing. If everything goes well, payment should be on either the PP 3 or PP 4 checks.

It also looks as though two $25,000 grievance settlements that were resolved during pre-arbitration meetings will be reflected on either the PP 3 or PP 4 checks. The Local distributed the funds from these settlements in the same fashion as the casual settlement, which will result in about a $40.00 total payout to those eligible.

AMC CLOSING?

I have received some inquiries from members in regards to the status of the Air Mail Center . The inquiries appear to be driven by a letter received by the Mailhandlers from Western Area Labor Representative Dan Foster that listed a number of Air Mail Centers scheduled to be closed. The St. Paul AMC was not on that schedule, but it did make it appear as though Headquarters (USPS) may be considering a scheduled date for closing in the future.

I have made several inquiries both to management and the National APWU in an attempt to determine whether or not the St. Paul AMC is being considered for closure. The inquiries produced no solid answers. What I did find out is that management is studying all AMC’s for possible closure. Management has not made a decision on the St. Paul AMC to date.

Until the Union receives formal notices, which we will share with you, everything you are hearing is pure speculation which in the end, may or may not become reality.

THREE DAY WAIT FOR CONTINUATION OF PAY (COP)

As part of the new Postal Reform Act signed into law by President Bush on December 20, 2006, employees who suffer a traumatic injury will have to wait a period of three days before Continuation of Pay (COP) will be paid. COP is paid only for traumatic injuries (i.e. injuries that occur on a single day or workshift). A COP eligible employee may use annual leave, sick leave, or LWOP during the three-day period. If the inability to work extends beyond 14 calendar days, any leave will be restored, or if LWOP was used, the employee will be paid.

The rules relating to occupational injuries (i.e. injuries that result from work activity occurring over more than one day) remain unchanged.

The effective date for the new COP policy was December 20, 2006, the day the law was signed.

USPS NATIONAL REASSESSMENT PROCESS PHASE TO BEGIN

The Postal Service “National Reassessment Process” (previously called ‘outplacement’) was implemented nationwide effective November 6, 2006. Supposedly all USPS Districts are currently in Phase 1 of this National expansion.

I recently spoke with the Plant Manager in regard to Phase 1. It appears that St. Paul is a few weeks from beginning Phase 1.

Phase 1 consists of the following: Establishing a light duty sop; identifying all limited duty/rehab employees; updating medical information as necessary and verifying that the current written job offer accurately reflects the work being performed.

After the Phase 1 process is completed, Phase 2 will begin. I expect Phase 2 will begin sometime in 2007. Phase 2 consists of the following: Evaluating “the necessity” of specific job duties, interviewing the partially recovered employee and then either reviewing their existing job offer, providing a new job offer or referring the employee to OWCP.

In a nutshell, the USPS appears to be poised to start placing injured on duty employees for which they believe they can’t find work into the OWCP’s Vocational Rehabilitation program for re-employment into another federal agency or most probably, the private sector.

As you can see, the Post Office appears to be heading in the direction of ‘out placement’ of injured on duty employees. We will be actively monitoring the reassessment process for violation of the Contract and/or handbook language. If you have questions about the process, please ask to speak with a steward.

APWU APWU

St. Paul , MN Area Local February 6, 2007

LOCAL ELECTION CALL

FOR LOCAL OFFICERS

AND

DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS

OF THE

ST. PAUL , MINNESOTA AREA LOCAL APWU AFL-CIO

Nominations for the following positions will be accepted at the Tuesday, February 27, 2007 General Membership Meeting. The General Membership Meeting will be held at 6:45 p.m. at the Labor Center ( 411 Main Street in St. Paul ):

*PRESIDENT

*VICE PRESIDENT

*DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

*SECRETARY

*TREASURER

*CLERK CRAFT DIRECTOR

*MAINTENANCE CRAFT DIRECTOR

*MOTOR VEHICLE CRAFT DIRECTOR

*TRUSTEE CHAIRPERSON

CLERK CRAFT TRUSTEE

MAINTENANCE CRAFT TRUSTEE

MOTOR VEHICLE CRAFT TRUSTEE

DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS

(*Positions serve on the Local’s Executive Board)

THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, CRAFT DIRECTORS AND CRAFT TRUSTEES ARE AUTOMATIC DELEGATES TO STATE AND NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

PLEASE NOTE: PER THE LOCAL CONSTITUTION, THE MEMBERS AT THE JANUARY, 2007 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING PASSED A MOTION TO SEND A TOTAL OF TWENTY (20), (9 BY VIRTUE OF OFFICE, 11 AT LARGE) DELEGATES TO THE 2008 STATE CONVENTION AND FIFTEEN (15), (9 BY VIRTUE OF OFFICE, 6 AT LARGE) DELEGATES TO THE 2008 NATIONAL CONVENTION.

AT LARGE DELEGATES WILL BE ELECTED FROM LOCAL MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING FOR THE 2008 CONVENTIONS.

Excerpts from the Constitution of the St. Paul , MN Area Local APWU AFL-CIO are printed below in order to assist candidates and voters in understanding the election procedure.

ARTICLE IX

ELECTIONS

Section 1. The election of Officers, Trustees, and Delegates to Conventions of this Local shall be by the referendum system of balloting, and shall be elected by a plurality vote.

The elections shall be under the direction of an Election Committee appointed by the President consisting of a Chairman, and not less than five (5) nor more than ten (10) members immediately following nominations. Each candidate shall be entitled to an observer of their choice. No member of the Election Board shall be a candidate for Office or for Delegate to Conventions. Each craft should be represented on the Election Board.

Section 2. All Officers and Delegates to Conventions of this Local shall be elected for a term of two (2) years.

Three (3) Trustees shall be elected for a term of two (2) years.

Section 3. Nominations from the floor for Candidates for Office and candidates for Delegates to Conventions shall be held at the February Membership Meeting in odd-numbered years, and be eligible to hold Office and be Convention Delegates if they are in good standing, subject to the provisions of Article 10, Section 2 of the National APWU Constitution.

Candidates for any craft position must be members of the Craft in which they seek such a position, and they are to be elected only by members of that Craft.

At least fifteen (15) days prior to the February Membership Meeting, the Secretary shall post a call for nominations for Local Officers and Delegates to State and National Conventions. The posting shall include the date, time and place of the election of officers, the positions to be filled, length of term and any eligibility requirements.

No nominated member shall be a candidate for, or hold more than one (1) elected office in this Local.

Any member may nominate any eligible member as a candidate by; a verbal nomination from the floor at the February Membership Meeting, or signed, written notice to the Secretary at any time after the call for nominations and before the close of nominations for the desired position at the February Membership meeting, stating the position desired. The notice shall be read at the February Membership Meeting, and this shall constitute a nomination from the floor.

Those candidates nominated from the floor at the February Membership Meeting in odd-numbered years must be present to accept or reject said nomination or must have submitted a written acceptance in advance of the close of nominations in order to be eligible.

The Election Committee shall prepare a ballot for each member in good standing, and mail on or before the fifteenth (15^th) day following the February nominating meeting, together with two (2) envelopes. The position on this ballot bearing the names of all regularly nominated candidates for each Office, for Trustee, and for Delegates to Conventions, shall be determined by placing the names of the nominees to each position in a container and candidates’ names shall appear on the ballot in the same order in which the names are drawn from the container. The smaller of the two (2) envelopes shall bear the words “BALLOT ONLY”, in which the ballot, when voted shall be placed. The smaller envelope containing the voted ballot, shall be placed in the larger envelope, which shall be a stamped envelope, and returned to the Chairman of the Election Board in care of a Post Office Box rented for and by the Election Board. The voter should place their name in the upper left-hand corner of the larger envelope following the words, “BALLOT OF…” The balloting shall close at eight a.m. (8:00 a.m.) of the Saturday preceding the meeting in March of the odd-numbered years.

After the Election Committee has checked the returned ballots for eligibility, they shall mix the smaller envelopes and conduct the canvassing in such a way as to guarantee a secret ballot. After the tabulation and canvass of the ballots, the Committee shall prepare three (3) copies of their certification of the results of the Election; one (1) copy for the Local President; one (1) copy for the Secretary; and the third copy to be enclosed in the package containing the returned and counted ballots; envelopes used to mail in marked ballots’ tally sheets; and all related election documents must be kept for one (1) year.

Candidates for Delegates receiving the highest respective votes as to number to be elected shall be elected as such. In the event of a tie vote, candidates tied shall cast lots for the position. In the event of a tie vote involving a General Officer, Craft Officer or Trustee, a run-off election by referendum ballot shall be conducted, involving only those candidates that were tied.

No member shall vote by proxy, nor shall write-in votes be valid, considered or counted.

In the event of any unopposed candidates duly qualified for Office, after nominations have been closed for Office, the Secretary shall be instructed to cast a unanimous ballot for that candidate and that person shall be declared elected, and that candidate’s name and Office shall be so noted on an informational part of the General Ballot.

Successful candidates shall be sworn in at the regular March Membership Meeting and shall assume the duties of their respective offices on April 1^st of the election years.

Section 6. All elections shall be decided by a plurality of all votes legally cast. Convention Delegate candidates standing next to highest to the winning candidates for Delegate shall be declared the Alternate Delegate.

Section 7. Candidates are subject to Article 10 of the APWU National Constitution and subsequent amendments thereto.

No member shall accept nomination for Office or Delegate whose name appears on a list of supervisor eligibles, unless the member has requested in writing, to be removed from such a list and a copy of such request has been furnished to the union prior to accepting the nomination. At the March meeting of an election year, either in person or in writing, the newly elected Officers and Delegates shall make the following pledge to the membership:

“IN RECOGNITION OF THE HONOR AND TRUST THAT THE MEMBERSHIP BESTOWS UPON ITS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, I PLEDGE THAT FOR THE OFFICIAL TERM OF THIS OFFICE TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED, I SHALL ABSTAIN FROM SEEKING PROMOTION TO A SUPERVISORY POSITION, AND SHALL REFUSE TO ACCEPT SUCH A PROMOTION IF IT IS OFFERED. I WILL NOT RESIGN TO TAKE ANY EXAMINATION WHICH WOULD PLACE ME ON THE LIST OF SUPERVISOR CANDIDATES, BUT WILL DEVOTE MY EFFORTS TO THE OFFICE TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED.

For the purpose of this Article, a supervisor position shall be any position as defined by the National Labor Relations Board.

NOTE: This is to apply to all elections and vacancies following the 1972 General Elections.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION

ARTICLE 10

Eligibility to Run and Hold National, State or Local Office

Section 2(b.) Any employee eligible to be a member of the American Postal Workers Union who voluntarily holds a managerial, supervisory or EAS position with responsibility for issuing or recommending discipline, or applying or interpreting the National Agreement for the equivalent of a two-week period in a year shall be ineligible to hold office at any level of the APWU or to be a delegate to any convention held by the APWU or any subordinate body of the APWU, so long as the employee continues to serve in such position and for a period of one (1) year from the time the employee vacates such position.

Any member who has submitted an application to a managerial, supervisory or EAS position with responsibility for issuing or recommending discipline or for applying or interpreting the National Agreement shall withdraw such application prior to acceptance of nomination for any office in the APWU.

Section c. Any member who voluntarily, after August 31, 1984, holds, accepts, or applies for any managerial or supervisory position, EAS position or the PASS Program or any supervisory program, for any period of time, whether one (1) day or a fraction thereof, either detailed, acting, probationary or permanently after being elected or appointed to any office, shall immediately vacate any office held by that member in the national, local, area local, district council, state or regional organization, any department of the APWU, the Postal Press Association, or any subordinate body of the APWU which receives financial support or uses the name of the American Postal Workers Union.

APWU APWU

Pat McCann, President St. Paul, MN Area Local February 1, 2007

ATTENTION MEMBERS –

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

The St. Paul Area Local has the following scholarship opportunities available to its members. Applications are available in the Union Office on 6^th Street , the 5^th Floor Union Office or contact us at 651-778-1637 and we will mail them to you.

Also search over 100 union sponsored scholarships at this website: www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/scholarships.

ST. PAUL , MN AREA LOCAL APWU

HARRY WILLIAMS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Three $1000.00 scholarships to be awarded to son or daughter of an active, retired or deceased member of the St. Paul , MN Area Local American Postal Workers Union. Rules and application form printed in the January and February issues of the ‘Postmark’ or call the Union Office (651) 778-1637. Application must be postmarked by February 28, 2007.

MN AFL-CIO SCHOLARSHIPS

Information and forms for these scholarships can be obtained at the Union Office (651)778-1637, the fifth floor office, or at the MN AFL-CIO web site (www.mnaflcio.org). Deadline for scholarship application is May 1, 2007. These scholarships are for high school seniors graduating in 2007 with at least a “B” average.

David K. Roe Scholarship

(Two $1000.00 scholarships awarded for a post-secondary institution (within the State of Minnesota ).

Hubert H. Humphrey Memorial Award

(Two $1000.00 scholarships awarded for post-secondary institution (within the State of Minnesota ).

Donald Pilla Memorial Award

(One $1000.00 scholarship awarded for vocational/technical school (within the State of Minnesota ).

MARTIN DUFFY ADULT LEARNER SCHOLARSHIP

Two $500.00 scholarships. Winners to be selected by lot. Scholarships awarded to union members affiliated with the MN AFL-CIO not high school graduating dependents.) Deadline April 30, 2007.

APWU SCHOLARSHIPS

	E.C. Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship
	Vocational Scholarship

$1000.00 awarded to high school seniors of APWU members. Applications must be received by March 15, 2007. There are new forms this year – only forms marked ‘2007’ on the top will be accepted. Applications and further information may also be obtained at the National APWU website at www.apwu.org.

NELLIE STONE JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarships available for racial minority union member or child, grandchild or spouse of a union member. Deadline is April 1^st, 2007

APWU ACCIDENT BENEFIT ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

One $1,000.00 scholarship. Entrants must be a graduating high school senior. Winner is selected by luck of the draw. Deadline May 15, 2007.

APWU St. Paul , MN Area Local APWU

Pat McCann, President February 1, 2007

www.StPaulAPWU.org 651-778-1637

CASUAL SETTLEMENT UPDATE

AMC CLOSING?

Until the Union receives formal notices, which we will share with you, everything you are hearing is pure speculation which in the end, may or may not become reality.

THREE DAY WAIT FOR CONTINUATION OF PAY (COP)

The rules relating to occupational injuries (i.e. injuries that result from work activity occurring over more than one day) remain unchanged.

The effective date for the new COP policy was December 20, 2006, the day the law was signed.

USPS NATIONAL REASSESSMENT PROCESS PHASE TO BEGIN

I recently spoke with the Plant Manager in regard to Phase 1. It appears that St. Paul is a few weeks from beginning Phase 1.