THE BULLETIN BOARD
February 2006
[February 23rd]Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Update
In January, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) rose to 577.7. The ninth Cost-Of-Living Adjustment under the extended 2000 National Agreement and the 2000 Operating Services Agreement (the first COLA under the 2005-2006 extension agreements) will be $457 per year. The adjustment amounts to a 22 cents per hour increase, or $17.60 per pay period. The ninth COLA will take effect March 18, 2006 (pay period 07-2006, pay date April 7, 2006).
Pay charts reflecting this COLA and the 1.6% pay raise— also effective March 18, 2006— are available inPDF form at the APWU national website. They will also be included in the next issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.
[February 16th]PMAPWU Local Elections 2006
Each of the following nominees, by virtue of running unopposed, will be declared elected to their respective positions in accordance with our Local Constitution and By-Laws.
| President | Chuck Pugar |
| Executive Vice President | Bill Jones |
| Secretary-Treasurer | Desi Neurohr |
| Recording Secretary | Dawn Brewer |
| Director, Clerk Craft | Bob Lucas |
| Director, Maintenance Craft | Ed Devey |
| Director, MVS Craft | Walter Evans |
| Trustee A | Scott Thompson |
| Trustee B | Greg Katchmark |
| Trustee C | Pam Ank |
| Trustee D | Joe Pcola |
On behalf of the entire Executive Board, we pledge to continue to provide second-to-none representation during what is expected to be the most trying of times ahead of us.
[February 14th]USPS Assigns Jurisdiction For Enhanced AFSM-100 Machines
from the APWU Web News Article #10-06
The USPS has assigned craft jurisdiction for staffing on the Automated Flat Sorting Machine 100 (AFSM-100) with Automated Induction (AI) and Automatic Tray Handling (ATHS) system enhancements, awarding most of the positions to the Mail Handler Craft.
The APWU believes that the duties associated with AI and ATHS enhancements on the AFSM 100s are Clerk Craft duties, and has filed a national-level dispute claiming jurisdiction over this work.
In a letter dated Feb. 8, 2006, the USPS wrote that of the 534 AFSM-100s currently in operation, it is anticipated that 184 AFSM-100s will remain without either AI or ATHS enhancements; 144 will have ATHS but no AI, and 206 will have AI and ATHS enhancement.
For those with AI and ATHS, management designated primary jurisdiction of the Feed Station to the Clerk Craft. The Mail Handler Craft was identified as the primary craft for employees working at the Load Station, Prep Station, and for operating the ATHS. The Feed Station and Load station will be occupied by a single employee; the Prep Station will be staffed by up to four employees.
On non-AI AFSM 100s with ATHS, staffing will be four Clerk Craft employees. Three clerks will manually induct mail and one clerk will operate the ATHS. This will allow for a rotation of clerks on the non-AI AFSM 100s, to accommodate ergonomic relief.
What Locals Should Do
The APWU contends that the duties associated with AI and ATHS are mail processing duties related to distribution of mail, and therefore properly belong to the Clerk Craft. Locals where AI and ATHS enhancements have been installed should take the following steps:
- Locals should file a dispute with their Local Dispute Resolution Committee (LDRC) making the claim of jurisdiction.
- Locals should meet with the LDRC and seek agreement in writing to hold the dispute at the LDRC level pending the outcome of the national dispute. Once the national-level dispute is settled, the LDRC will apply the national decision.
- If the parties at the LDRC level cannot agree to hold the dispute at the LDRC level, the local union should appeal the dispute to the Regional Dispute Resolution Committee (RDRC). The RDRC will enter into an agreement either to hold the dispute at its level pending the outcome of the national dispute or remand the dispute to the LDRC level where it will be held pending the outcome of the national dispute.
[February 10th]USPS Issues Staffing Jurisdiction On Modified AFSM-100 Sorting Machines
"After full review of the duties associated with the Automated Induction (AI) and the Automatic Tray Handling 100 (ATHS) systems on the Automated Flats Sorting Machine 100 (AFSM-100), the USPS has issued its primary craft jurisdiction determinations for each of these machines. In accordance with these determinations, on any AFSM-100 with AI, the Mail Handler craft has been assigned as the primary craft for employees working at the Load Station, for employees working at the Prep Station, and for employees operating the ATHS.
The clerk craft has been assigned to the one employee working the Feed station on the AFSM-100 with AI. For non-AI AFSM-100s with ATHS, the staffing will be four clerks to allow for ergonomic relief.
Read the Craft Determination Letter from USPS Official John W. Dockins to NPMHU President Hegarty
[February 7th]Fund Established For Shooting Victims' Families
The APWU has established a memorial fund to benefit the families of APWU members who were killed Jan. 30 in the shootings at the Santa Barbara P&DC in Goleta, CA.
Donations can be made by check or money order and mailed to:
APWU Memorial Fund
Human Relations Department
1300 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20005.
One hundred percent of the donations will be distributed to the immediate families of the slain APWU members.
We encourage APWU members to contribute to the fund," said APWU President William Burrus, "and to continue to give prayers and other support to the victims' families and to the postal workers who have suffered." To express the solidarity of APWU members, Burrus joined Postmaster General John E. Potter, representatives of the Mail Handlers Union and the Postal Supervisors, and APWU Western Region Coordinator Omar Gonzalez in Santa Barbara shortly after the tragedy.
[February 8th]2006 Convention Eligibility
Article X, Section K of the Local Constitution and By-Laws states:
No member shall be eligible to be a delegate to any Convention unless the member is in good standing and has been a member of the Local for at least one (1) year prior to the election and has attended four (4) or more regular meetings within the twelve (12) months preceding and not including the meeting of nomination.
Our records indicate that the following meet the eligibility requirements:
| Ank, Pamela Armstrong, John Bish, Bonnie Campana, Nancy Chichester, Chuck Clinebell, Bill Colega, Sam Cupp, Audrey DeHaven, Keith Devey, Ed DiSalvo, Joe Espositio, Mike Evans, Walter Feola, Kellie |
Law, Larry Lewis, Karen Lucas, Bob Lynn, Roberta McBurney, Paul Meehan, Gary Mihelich, Joy Molanick, Tom Neurohr, Desi Owens, Steve Paugh, David Pcola, Joe Plummer-Jones, Blanche Pugar, Chuck |
| Fine, Irene Gerenyi, Andrew Gleason, Walter Goldblatt, Mary Golphin, Valerie Gray, Denise Hoyt, Lisa Jones, Bill Jones, David Kaduck, Matt Katchmark, Greg Kello, Kim King, Curtis Kremmel, Joyce |
Richards, Charlotte Riggs, Rich Rogozinski, Tim Rush, Zora Schaefer, Mark Schram, Albert Schulte, Duane Sokac, Anthony Taylor, Bruce Thompson, Scott Thornhill, Rich Willhide, Doug Wilson, Marcia Wooldridge, Fred |
If you believe you meet the eligibility conditions and your name is not listed, please contact Secretary-Treasurer Desi Neurohr at (412) 321-4700.
[February 3rd]Next Membership Meeting: Saturday, February 11, 2006, at 7:30 pm
*This is the meeting of nominations for upcoming Local elections.*
In order to be eligible to vote in this election you must be a member in good standing on February 11, 2006.
To be eligible to run for office, you must:
- Be a member in good standing for one year.
- Be present at meeting of nominations to accept nomination or have previously submitted a letter to the recording secretary accepting a nomination.
- Not run for more than one office.
Any member who has taken the most recent and/or current supervisor examination will not be eligible to be elected to any office. (Article 10, Section K).
During the meeting, the Judge of Elections, Board of Tellers, and number of convention delegates will also be decided.
Past Issues of the Bulletin Board
[January 2006]
[December 2005] [November 2005]
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