[November 23rd]

Transcript of President Bill Burrus's Testimony at Contract Negotiations

Would you like to read what our National APWU President said in his closing statements to the Arbitration Panel?

If so, click on over to Burrus Testifies, a page within our own site.

        [November 22nd]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

        [November 21st]

Two Important Messages from APWU President Bill Burrus

(1) The Anthrax Issue:

Since the anthrax crisis began, the union has attempted to do everything we can to protect the safety of our members. Regrettably, the union and the Postal Service have now come to a fork in the road regarding the appropriate response to the discovery of anthrax contamination at a postal facility.

It is the union's position that if anthrax -- in any amount -- is discovered at a postal facility, the facility must be closed, cleaned, tested and declared decontaminated before APWU members can work there.

Postal management does not agree. Postal management wishes to make decisions about closing facilities on a case by case basis and upon the advice of CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and local health authorities.

The USPS position on this most important issue is a total reversal of their earlier position. A postal document dated Oct. 24, 2001, said, "If there's evidence of contamination at an individual postal facility, we're closing that place and handling the mail elsewhere....When we have evidence that a postal facility has been contaminated, we have closed it immediately.

Since the outbreak of the anthrax infection among postal employees I have consciously refrained from stoking the fears and of the American public and postal employees. I have sought instead to develop a protocol that would best protect the safety of our members. I have met with top postal managers and representatives of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), along with the presidents of the other postal unions on a daily basis. We have had daily briefings on the latest developments, and we have developed strategies to respond to the attacks. We have been reviewing procedures constantly, seeking every available method to protect postal employees and the public.

However, I cannot, in good conscience, be party to any procedure that fails to uphold this basic principle: Postal workers cannot work in contaminated buildings.

Despite our commitment to serving the public, we will not put our lives at risk to continue the operation of a facility that is known to be contaminated. Medical professionals have informed us that the use of the terms "trace contamination" and "minimal contamination" have no scientific meaning. A facility is either contaminated or it is not. Inhalation anthrax cannot be controlled by the walls and floors of a facility.

We have watched congressional offices close when only trace amounts of anthrax were found. We have watched the Supreme Court close. We have watched the mail rooms of other agencies close where anthrax is only suspected. These locations all remained closed until they were certified as decontaminated.

We must ask, "Are the lives of postal workers less valuable than the lives of U.S. Senators? Are the lives of postal workers less valuable than the lives of Supreme Court justices? What value do our lives have?"

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Supreme Court have ruled that if employees believe working conditions in their workplace are abnormally dangerous, they may decline to work in them. If anthrax is found in your facility and you believe your safety is at risk, I recommend that you notify management using the appropriate forms that you are leaving work, and request administrative leave. If the leave is disapproved, you should contest the leave approval upon your return.

and (2) Contract Arbitration Update:

The arbitration regarding our Collective Bargaining Agreement has been finalized. The parties completed the presentation of their cases on Nov. 17, 2001, and agreed to waive the filing of post-hearing briefs.

The neutral arbitrator is out of the country and will return on Dec. 10, 2001, when he will convene an executive session to conduct final deliberations. I expect a decision during the week of Dec. 10, 2001.

I am extremely proud of the officers and staff of the union who, along with our attorneys, put forward a compelling case.

The Postal Service's principal argument centered around the economy and the reduced volume as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack and the anthrax contamination.

Our members deserve better. No matter the outcome of the arbitration, the struggle will continue.

        [November 20th]

Threat in the Mail is Not New
By Todd Richissin, Baltimore Sun

Contamination: Although anthrax is the first malady known to be deliberately spread in letters, the post office has a history of "disinfecting" mail suspected of being disease-ridden.

WASHINGTON - When women in long dresses and men in black ties ambled to the post office in days of old, they sometimes found their letters with holes whacked through them or their envelopes browned from smoke or covered in the peculiar smell of some nasty chemical.

Far from angry, the patrons were relieved. To them, it meant the mail had been sanitized.

The emergence of anthrax is the most serious challenge ever to the U.S. Postal Service, but history is replete with all kinds of attacks on the mail - and efforts to rid the system of biological threats go back decades, even centuries.

Smallpox sent through the mail? Leprosy enclosed in an envelope? The plague in the post office?

Today, scientists know the chances of transmitting those diseases through the mail were slim to nonexistent. But earlier generations, ravaged by illnesses, were deeply concerned about such possibilities, and extraordinary measures were taken to keep the mail safe.

"In a sense, I guess you could say history is repeating itself," says William A. Sandrik, a retired postal historian who has studied "disinfected" mail. "The difference with the anthrax is, it's obviously a real threat, and the medical professionals seem to know more than they did back when."

Another difference from "back when" is that up until this month nobody suspected that anybody would purposely try to transmit disease through the mail.

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Read the entire article at the Baltimore Sun website.

        [November 19th]

Carly Simon Helps Honor Postal Workers

Carly Simon was sleeping at her home on Martha's Vineyard earlier this month when she got an early-morning call from Jack Potter. "He said, 'This is the Postmaster General,' " she says. "You kind of sit up when that happens."

Advertising firm Grey, based in New York, were doing a TV spot for the U.S. Postal Service using Simon's Oscar-winning song "Let the River Run" from Working Girl. But a lyric had to be changed and a copy of the recording punched up.

"There are so many people to be respected, admired, applauded and encouraged in this drama," she tells Shoptalk. "The postal workers are the great unsung heroes."

In the 60-second spot, which broke Nov. 11, the song plays over sepia-toned shots of postal workers. Onscreen copy celebrates their "duty, honor and pride," and offers a variation on the USPS credo: "And neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor the winds of change, nor a nation challenged will stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. Ever."

The song's line "Come the new Jerusalem" became "Come, the day has just begun" so it wouldn't sound noninclusive, says Simon.

Asked if she feels safe living in the woods of Massachusetts, Simon replies, "If you're just concentrating on personal safety, yes. If you're a believer in destiny, no."

Excerpted from an article at AdWeek.com.

        [November 13th]

Campbell Scores a Stamp Victory
from DenverPost.com

WASHINGTON - Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., had a surprise for the nation's stamp collectors last week. It turns out he was the key player behind Congress' little-noticed decision to direct the release of another of those fundraising semi-postal stamps. Those are the commemorative-size stamps that raise money for specific causes through a surcharge placed on each stamp.

Campbell long has wanted such a stamp to raise money to combat domestic violence. But his legislation to create such a stamp died quietly last year without getting a hearing.

As a member of the House-Senate conference committee on the 2002 Treasury-Postal-General Government Appropriations Act, Campbell managed to revive his "Stamp Out Domestic Violence Stamp Act of 2000" and insert it in the bill, which easily cleared both houses.

No hearings. No fuss. No complaints.

Camden Hubbard, Campbell's press secretary, confirmed that the senator "was instrumental in making the stamp happen." He worked with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the lawmaker who sponsored the first semi-postal stamp in the U.S., to secure the stamp's approval, Hubbard said.

Campbell's stamp victory was something of a surprise since the bill had received little publicity since the senator introduced it on Feb. 9, 2000. It seemingly had died at the end of the 106th Congress in the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, where it was not acted upon.

In addition to creating the stamp, the bill also extended sales of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, the nation's first semi-postal stamp, through 2003 and created the "9/11 Heroes" semi-postal to raise funds for families of rescue personnel who were killed or permanently disabled in the terrorist attacks in New York and at the Pentagon.

Campbell had 14 co-sponsors for his stamp when he introduced it last year. It paralleled similar legislation in the House introduced by Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.

"In a country as blessed as America, the horrid truth is more women are injured by domestic violence each year than by automobile and cancer deaths combined," Campbell said when he introduced the bill. "The funds raised by this stamp will represent another step forward in addressing this national concern."

The legislation calls for Campbell's stamp to be issued in 2004 after sales of the breast cancer stamp end. It would be sold through 2006. Funds from the surcharge will be given to the Department of Health and Human Services for use in domestic violence programs.

While such fundraising stamps are popular with lawmakers and charities, they have generally been opposed by stamp collectors who view the surcharge as a "tax" on their hobby. The 40-cent breast cancer stamp, which went on sale in 1998, has raised more than $21 million for cancer research.

        [November 7th]

Excerpt from Bobby Donelson's Interest Arbitration Update

In his update of November 6th's proceedings, Bobby Donelson listed each of
the USPS's positions on the various numerical propositions, then continued:

"The USPS closed their direct testimony.

APWU began its rebuttal to USPS testimony. The APWU addressed wage comparability and the fact the USPS has changed the group being compared.

APWU showed films related to mail processing and restated its position that the mail processor should be upgraded.

The APWU also had a window clerk, Peggy Wise from Pittsburgh, PA, testify to rebut the USPS position that window clerks duties are easier because of the introduction of POS One equipment.

For the record, every window clerk and postal worker would have been very proud of Peggy Wise. Peggy is a 28 year postal employee and was a very excellent witness and very knowledgeable."

Yours in Union Solidarity,
Bobby Donelson, Maintenance Assistant Director 'A'

        [November 6th]

Do You Know What to do if You are Approached by a Postal Inspector?

Make sure that you do. You should periodically refresh your memory as to the proper course of action in case you are ever detained and questioned by a member of the Postal Inspection service.

Please visit the Union FAQ's page and look at Question Fifteen,
"What do I do if I am approached by a Postal Inspector?"

Not asking for help or not being aware of your rights may cost you your job!

        [November 4th]


Stamp of Unity-- USPS Celebrates Islamic Holiday
An NPR Weekend Edition news story

The United States Postal Service has issued a stamp celebrating Islam. Although the stamp was planned more than a year ago, it carries new meaning in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The stamp was issued September 1, 2001. It celebrates Id al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. It's part of a series honoring Christmas, Hanukkah, Cinco de Mayo, and several other international holidays.

"Id Mubarak," the stamp's gilt script reads. "It's basically shorthand for 'may your religious holiday be blessed'," explains Mohamed Zakariya, who designed the stamp.

Zakariya, an American convert to Islam who lives in Arlington, Va., says the stamp carries a lot more meaning in the post-Sept. 11 world.

"The concept that America is some kind of a diabolical country -- this one little stamp isn't going to repudiate that," he says. "But nevertheless, people ought to be paying attention. This is a country where amazing things can happen."

Listen as Scott Simon talks with Mohamed Zakariya about the Islam stamp.

You'll need Real Player to listen to this segment; it loads quickly and the sound quality is excellent.

        [November 4th]

Postal Union Criticizes Flour Mailing
The Associated Press

LONDON-- Given the anthrax scare that has swept the world, a British food company's decision to send 6,000 samples of flour through the mail was called "inappropriate" Tuesday by a postal workers union.

The Communications Workers Union, which represents 300,000 postal and telecommunications workers, said the small boxes of Glutafin Flour Mix could cause false security alerts as Britons guard against anthrax letter attacks that have struck the United States.

Glutafin's producer, Nutricia Ltd., defended the two-week mailing campaign, saying the flour was well-sealed and the clearly marked package sent only to homes that requested samples.

Union Assistant Secretary Kevin Shaw said in a letter to members that a complaint had been filed with Royal Mail's head of safety and senior postal management.

"In our view this contract is inappropriate and badly timed," Shaw said.

Royal Mail defended the deliveries which began on Nov. 1, saying it was not in the business of censoring mail.

"We act as a carrier of mail, not as a censor of mail and our duty is to deliver mail as addressed," a Royal Mail spokeswoman said on customary condition of anonymity.

        [November 4th]

Former Postal Supervisor Convicted in Marijuana Case
BOSTON, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ --

A former postal supervisor was convicted today in federal court following a six-day trial for his role in a long- running marijuana conspiracy. United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Kenneth Jones, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in New England, announced today that DOUGLAS TATRO, age 44, from Haverhill, was convicted by a federal trial jury sitting before U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel on marijuana conspiracy and related charges.

According to the evidence at trial, TATRO was a supervisor in the Topsfield and Rowley post offices. The evidence showed that TATRO assisted in replacing and altering postal documents used to open post office boxes to receive boxes of marijuana. Thereafter, according to the testimony, 20 to 30 pound packages were sent to those post office boxes. The evidence showed that TATRO ensured that if the packages were intercepted by law enforcement, his co-conspirators were warned. Thereafter, an alleged co-conspirator arranged to have those packages picked up at the post office by a third party. In August, 1998, that third party was arrested and one of the boxes was seized. It contained more than 25 pounds of marijuana. Thereafter, the Postal Inspection Service mounted an almost two-year investigation of the conspiracy.

Judge Zobel scheduled sentencing for January 30, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. TATRO faces a potential 40 year prison sentence, with a five year minimum mandatory prison sentence, followed by at least four years of supervised release, and up to $2 million in fines, in addition to other penalties.

TATRO's co-defendant, Sidney Smith, age 58, of Middleton, Massachusetts, is awaiting trial on these charges which Judge Zobel has scheduled to begin on November 13, 2001.

The investigation leading to the indictments was conducted by inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, in conjunction with Massachusetts State Troopers in the Essex County District Attorney's Office and special agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Ricciuti and Rachel E. Hershfang of Sullivan 's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit.

SOURCE: U.S. Attorney

        [November 3rd]

Fear Hasn't Delivered a Blow to Holiday Mail

By JAN NORMAN
The Orange County Register

Despite fears of anthrax contamination and threats of other terror attacks, America's major mail and package deliverers don't expect much impact on their traditionally heavy year-end holiday business.

U.S. Postal Service mail volume had already declined prior to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks because of the slowing economy and has continued to decline since, said spokesman George Marsh. Statistics are not yet available.

Domestic business declined 11 percent at Federal Express and 2.1 percent at United Parcel Service in their latest quarters, which included Sept. 11, but neither will break out numbers for before and after the attacks.

Under the federal Airline Stabilization Act, both companies will receive reimbursement for business lost because of the air-traffic shutdown ordered after the attacks.

The Postal Service delivers an average of 680 million pieces of mail each day, FedEx about 2 million packages, and UPS 2.3 million pieces.

Although some customers have told FedEx they are using that delivery service because of concern about anthrax in the U.S. mails, "we have not seen a significant increase," said spokeswoman Shirlee Clark.

All three delivery companies recommend that their customers notify recipients when packages are on the way, as well as the name of the sender if merchandise is ordered over the Internet or by catalog. Safety experts advise people to pay particular attention to deliveries they don't expect or mail from people or companies they don't know.

The three deliverers say they will put out their standard advice on mailing letters and packages between Thanksgiving and Dec. 31, when volumes double.

"The one thing we will really stress this year is the need to put a return address (on the package) and to put a duplicate address sticker inside," said UPS spokesman Bob Godlewski. "We always say 'ship early.' But we don't expect delivery to take any longer (this year) than usual. From Los Angeles to New York, that's five days."

Marsh, of the postal service, doesn't expect holiday deliveries to be delayed.He said the postal service probably will have its heaviest holiday volume Dec. 17, and FedEx and UPS expect to peak Dec. 19, which is about the same as last year.

        [November 2nd]

Interest Arbitration Update

The USPS presented more testimony to support their position we are not entitled to a decent wage increase. They admitted the result of their proposal would be a pay cut for many workers.

They have stated once again they want a four-year contract with $500 lumps sums annually. They want to eliminate COLA increases. In addition they want to change the Sunday Premium calculation to cover only hours actually worked on Sunday, and they want night differential to be one dollar per hour. Higher level workers pay will have a greater pay cut.

These cuts were not enough for the USPS. They want more! The USPS wants us to pay
more for health plan premiums and reduce leave for new workers.

We had some rank and file members in the room from Lehigh Valley Area Local. The USPS's actions were a disgrace. I can tell you I would be ashamed to present a case in the manner the USPS is presenting their case.

Once again, all Postal Workers should be aware of the USPS demands. The USPS proposals hurt every postal worker. This is why we are in interest arbitration.

I would also let the non members know what their employer wants. Non members only assist management in these times.

Everything I have written was placed on the record for the interest arbitration.

Yours in Union Solidarity,
Bobby Donelson, Maintenance Assistant Director A
1300 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202 842-4213 Phone
202 289-3746 Fax

        [November 1st]

The Allegheny County Health Department
to Provide Free Flu Shots to Postal Employees

The Allegheny County Health Department will provide FREE flu shots to Postal Employees of the Pittsburgh District, while supplies last.

To qualify, you must present your current Postal Identification Badge or a paystub.

The Health Department is located at 3441 Forbes Avenue in Oakland (Pgh 15213.)

Their hours of operation are as follows:

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Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9:00AM to 3:00PM

Thursday: 9:00AM to 8:00PM

Friday: 9:00AM to 3:00PM

        [November 1st]

Our Site is Now Searchable (Reposted from 10/29)

Have you ever come looking for something specific but didn't know where to start looking? Or maybe you came back remembering a particular story or news item, or maybe even someone's name, but couldn't remember which month's Bulletin Board you first read it on, or which issue of the online Metro News it was in?

Well, now you can relax and enjoy the new search function of our site! Just enter a keyword or keywords into the search bar and click... you're going to love this. Try it out.

We've been in operation long enough to amass quite a respectable amount of information, much of it of enduring importance, but some of it only pertaining to a particular time frame. Nevertheless, we're keeping it all, just for our member's benefit and memory. This site will become a sort of record of what we've accomplished and achieved in the past year, and hopefully in the years to come. Now that there is too much information to simply click around until you find what you are looking for, the search function will ease the task and make the time you spend looking to a minimum.

Enjoy!

        [November 1st]
Christmas Toy Drive (Repost)

As the holiday season approaches, we'd like you to know that the Christmas Toy Drive for the children of Caretta, West Virginia will is underway. Caretta is a small community in the middle of McDowell conty in West Virginia. We sponsored them last year, you may remember.

Denny is organizing the drive again this year, and is considering the possibility of increasing the gift list to include non-perishable food items and new clothing. We are also working on a better plan to accomodate the gifts collected from the AO's. Please check for notices in your facility and here on the website.

The list of children has expanded to over six hundred individuals, aged newborn to 16. Their wish lists are now available.

Please wrap each present and attach a gift tag including the child's name and ID#. gifts should be returned between now and November 30th. If you have any questions, please call Denny Riley at the BMEU, Monday thru Friday, 3:00PM to 11:00PM at 412-359-7666.

If you work in the GMF, return the gift to the BMEU (Acceptance Unit.) The BMEU is open between 8:00AM and 12:00 midnight Monday thru Friday, and on Saturday, 9:00AM to 6:00PM.

And Thank You in advance for your kind, loving and generous support!

        [November 1st]
Anthrax Policy Guidelines from the National APWU:

The National Union has established a system to correct any local interpretations of the national policy to provide maximum protection to every employee. Any employee having a complaint regarding any local decision on safety should contact their local president, who should pass on any unresolved issue to the National Business Agent, who will then pass it on to the Regional Coordinator.

The following are the established procedures local management must follow when a suspicious letter / parcel and/or suspicious material is discovered.

Supervisors and managers must immediately do the following if a letter, parcel or package is suspicious for anthrax:

--Direct all employees away from the suspected mail piece, immediately.

--Avoid further handling of the suspected mail, isolate it, and cordon off the immediate area (the local facility Spill and Leak Team may assist in this effort).

--Call 911 immediately for the Hazardous Materials or HAZMAT Response Team

--Call your supervisor/manager or any member listed on the Crisis Management Plan/Emergency Action Plan.

--Call Postal Inspectors.

--Call the Health Unit.

--Employees thought to have handled the suspect mail need to wash exposed skin with soap and water for three minutes and then rinse with water for one minute. These employees should remain in a safe area on postal premises until the HAZMAT team arrives and employees are processed through the decontamination line.

--After being decontaminated, employees may be interviewed by federal authorities (for example, the FBI) to determine the extent of the situation.

--Invoke the Emergency Action Plan, including mechanical shutdowns (air handling equipment, for example) and evacuation.

--Call the Postal Service Aviation Mail Security Office.

--Call the County Health Department.

Make sure your supervisor follows this procedure if something suspicious occurs in your facility and workplace!

        [November 1st]

Would You Like to Stay Current on USPS-related Anthrax Stories? (Repost)

PostalNews.com, "the daily news digest of the postal world," a website not affiliated with either the USPS or any of the major postal unions, is now maintaining a continuously updated webpage for just this subject. For those of you who are concerned with keeping up with the latest, breaking information, this is perfect.

Make sure to visit PostalNews.com's Anthrax Update page when you
want to know what's going on.

In addition to this material, PostalNews.com contains a wide variety of reporting on postal issues that affect mainly those who consider themselves customers or interested postal consumers, including the very powerful DMA, or Direct Marketing Association. It takes its news stories from all over the country, and sometimes international sources as well.

        [November 1st]

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) (Reposted)

There's a nice site on the Internet that will help you decide which charities you might want to give to. Included are links organized by charity types, ways to notify your charity and just about anything else you might want to know.

The site is run by the IGA, or Independent Givers of America, a non-profit, non-governmental organization.

Do your homework ahead of time this year by visiting Best of the CFC.