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THE BULLETIN BOARD
March 2001





        pushpin[March 30th]

Postal Service Demands Repayment Of Anomaly Overpayment

Last year the Postal Service mistakenly overpaid more than 4,600 bargaining unit employees when it made anomaly payments in PP 02-2000. The overpayments ranged in amount from 31 cents to $1,572, with an average amount of $281. The Postal Service overpayments totaled $1.3 million. Employees who received a demand for repayment were informed that they should file individual grievances demanding the waiver of the claim for erroneous payments.

The APWU has attempted to get the Postal Service to waive recovery of the overpayments at the national level. However, by letter dated February 15, 2001, the Postal Service has refused to waive recovery of the overpayment.

The APWU has initiated a Step 4 dispute regarding these overpayments. The Step 4 provides a more detailed explanation of the APWU's position. It is requested that Regional Coordinators and/or National Business Agents inform National Advocates in their respective areas that cases involving the pay anomaly overpayments in PP 02-2000 should be referred to Step 4.



        pushpin[March 27th]

USPS-- Merchant of Shame?

"The National Organization for Women has labeled the Postal Service a 'merchant of shame' for its sexual harassment record, noting that the Postal Service routinely tallies more sexual harassment complaints than any other federal agency.

But Kristin Krathwohl, a Postal Service spokeswoman in Washington D.C., said the agency maintains its belief that its sexual harassment policies are valid."
Read more about it at the Boston Globe Online.



        pushpin[March 26th]

Contribution Limits Changed for the TSP

On December 21, 2000, President Clinton signed the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001. This law contains a provision that increases incrementally the contribution limits to the Thrift Savings Plan for participants covered by FERS and CSRS. FERS employees may elect to contribute up to 11 percent of their basic pay each pay period during the May 15, 2001, open season; CSRS employees may elect to contribute up to 6 percent.

These elections will become effective in July 2001. Effective January 2002 and each following year, the contribution limits will increase by one percent until January 2006, at which time the limit will be eliminated completely. The IRS annual deferral limit ($10,500 for 2001) remains in effect. There is also no impact on either the Agency Automatic (1%) Contributions or the Agency Matching Contributions.



        pushpin[March 21st]

At Last, Mechanics Upgraded!

The APWU has finally concluded the upgrading of mechanics and lead mechanics as prescribed in the 1998 National Agreement. It was very disappointing that the USPS refused to upgrade all of the mechanics. The APWU feels that most of the problem with hiring mechanics is the starting wage level.

However, the USPS is going to upgrade 70% of all automotive mechanics and upgrade all of the lead mechanics, vehicle maintenance analysis and junior mechanics. The vehicle maintenance analysis and junior mechanic were not part of the memorandum in the 1998 National Agreement, it was negotiated in addition to it.

The awarding of Level 7 Automotive Technician jobs will be done by seniority through the bidding process from the current Level 6 Automotive Mechanics. The APWU was able to maintain this as a senior qualified position when bid from the Level 6 Automotive mechanic's position despite strong pressure from the USPS to make it a best qualified position.



        pushpin[March 20th]

Are supervisors performing your work?

If you are a PTF or FTR window clerk, and your Postmaster/Supervisor is doing clerk work to reduce your hours, this is one way we can file a grievance on violations of Article 1.6A of the contract. If this is happening, I want to know about it!

No matter what size your office is--even if your
office is a level 1,13,15,18,20,21-- e-mail me (your CGO
for the Associate Offices) at ClydeLewis@pgh-metro.net, or call 724-938-8100.

To read more about this topic, click Lobby Sweeps.


        pushpin[March 16th]

DID YOU KNOW....?

... that you can receive information about all of the discounts, scheduled events, and other money-saving offers that the Pittsburgh Social and Recreation Comittee has for you, just by sending them your email address? It's true! Find out about discounted tickets, community events that affect postal employees, upcoming tournaments and trips, and even more! Just send an email to pghsrcom@aol.com today, with "ADD MY NAME" in the subject line, and in the body of your message, please put which installation you work at.
Why wait a minute longer?

(This list is an opt-in list only, and no spam will result from your name being added. You can be removed at any time by sending an email with the subject line REMOVE ME PLEASE.)



        pushpin[March 16th]

FERCCA (Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act)

For anyone who ever had a question as to whether they were placed into the wrong retirement plan, CSRS or FERS, this website gives them the opportunity to register with OPM online to find out. Visit Office of Personnel Management, Benefits Correction.

I'm not sure how the 2 past offers for CSRS to convert to FERS applies to this. I believe that since the President passed this into law on September 9, 2000, this might be something new.
(Contributed by a website visitor via email)



        pushpin[March 14th]


The USPS has finally changed it's stance on FMLA intermittent leave absences.

In compliance with a D.O.L. opinion letter, the postal service has amended its position. The required 1250-work-hour eligibility test will now be applied only once per leave year.

What this means is, in order to be eligible for FMLA protection, an employee must have worked 1250 hours prior to the absence. Once you are determined to be eligible for a particular medical condition, that eligibility is good for one leave year.

Example: If an employee meets the 1250-work-hour requirement for Diabetes in March 2001, the employee is protected for all absences related to his/her Diabetes for the remainder of the 2001 leave year.

This is a significant change for Management. They had been requiring employees to recertify for every absence regardless of previous certification. It should be noted that employees with multiple serious health conditions must meet the 1250-work-hour eligibility for each condition, each leave year.

Management has been instructed to resolve grievances in the system that violate the D.O.L.'s position.



        pushpin[March 9th]

POSTAL BONUSES PAID IN SPITE OF BUDGET CRISIS

Read about this hot topic by clicking here.



        pushpin[March 7th]

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE PRESIDENT:
During his election campaign, President Bush promised to be a "uniter, not a divider" and to place high priorities on such working family concerns as Social Security and education. Now you have a chance to separate Bush's rhetoric from reality with the AFL-CIO's new "Bushwatch" website. Visit this new page on the AFL-CIO's site to track President Bush and his administration on working family issues.



        pushpin[March 6th]

DEAR UNION LEADER:
In 1995 the American union movement faced an unprecedented crisis. We pledged to renew our spirit and make new organizing the top priority for every union.

At this time, local movements led by central labor councils embarked on a journey to build Union Cities - communities where no worker stands alone, where elected officials would be held accountable and where unions are organizing, mobilizing and reaching out to community allies - and building the power to change lives.

With this challenge, many labor councils - all of the affiliated unions in a community - stepped up and changed their priorities - focusing on supporting organizing and building a militant movement that would take the struggles of working families to the streets again. We see these new union movements everywhere we travel - from Seattle and the WTO to the mobilizations during Seven Days in June and Labor 2000.

We are going to challenge our local union movements again - to become even stronger and more effective - especially around support for organizing.

Together, through innovation, hard work and, most importantly, a rejuvenated union movement, we are making America a better place for working families. Join us in making every community a Union City.

In unity,

John J. Sweeney Richard L. Trumka Linda Chavez-Thompson
President Secretary-TreasurerExecutive Vice President




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