THE BULLETIN BOARD
March 2006
[March 28th]BEM Vacancies in Sacramento, California
We currently have two (2) vacant BEM (Building Equipment Mechanic) jobs in the Sacramento P&DC we are trying to fill.
We are a very large office and growing daily.
The two positions we are trying to fill are:
Tour One, Sun/Mon off;
Tour Two, Thur/Fri off
Apply thru E-reassign or call M.S.S. coordinator for Sacramento, Jim Gholson 916-373-8363, or Brandi Jentzen 916-373-8005
Thank you,
Jimmie Waldon
Vice President Sacramento Area Local
[March 24th]TSP System Appears Unharmed by E-mail Scam
excerpted from the FederalTimes.com website
The Thrift Savings Plan program is operating normally after plan operators halted transactions temporarily in response to an e-mail scam that targeted some of the 3.6 million TSP participants.
No one's TSP account appears to have been accessed illegally, even though a dozen or so participants duped by the bogus e-mail did give up their Social Security numbers and other personal information, TSP officials said. About 500 participants called the TSP customer service number regarding the e-mail.
Hours after learning of the bogus e-mail March 16, TSP officials shut down the portion of the TSP Web site that allows applicants to transfer funds among accounts, withdraw funds or apply for loans. Operations resumed within 24 hours, although TSP delayed processing loans and withdrawal requests until the following workday so they could review whether any appeared suspicious. None appeared suspicious, officials said.
Read the entire article on the FederalTimes.com website.
[March 22nd]Clerk Impact - P&DC
Our national agreement requires local management to prepare and present a comprehensive impact statement to the Union at Area/Regional Level when they intend on excessing employees.
We received such notice as a result of the USPS giving the Mail Handlers jurisdiction of most of the work on the four AI/ATHS AFSM 100 machines.
Management's notice states that they find it necessary "that seventy nine (79) level five full-time regular clerks in Pittsburgh P&DC be involuntarily reassigned..."
Local management's plan includes retaining thirty (30) clerk casuals.
Local management's plan would result in the involuntary reassignment of full-time regular clerks with thirteen years of service.
Local management's plan would place full-time regular clerks in residual Mail Handler assignments, and junior to the Mail Handler PTFs that they just converted to full-time regular.
PMAPWU's plan is to fight local management's plan tooth and nail.
This will be our "Voice of the Employee." What's yours?
We will keep you posted.
[March 20th]APWU Creates 'e-Team'
The APWU Legislative Department is establishing an e-mail alert system that is intended to help union members react quickly to important developments. "Legislative matters can change with very little notice," said Legislative Director Myke Reid. "And with the security measures that are in place on Capitol Hill, letters are often delayed until it is too late to affect a representative's actions on important legislative issues.
"We are introducing the APWU e-Team, to ensure that our members' voices are heard quickly and loudly on Capitol Hill. We are asking union members — as well as their family, friends and supporters — to join us by signing-up for the APWU e-Team."
Union members, retirees, and family members can register the union's Web site, www.apwu.org. When they enroll, activists will be asked to provide their e-mail address and home address. "This will enable the union to organize the list by congressional districts, which will provide an effective means of coordinating legislative activities," Reid said. Each time a member signs-up, the information will be forwarded to the state coordinator.
Read the entire article on the APWU Legislative Department's Home page.
[March 20th]PWAPWU Night at PNC Park
Friday, April 28th, 2006— 7:05 pm, Pirates vs. Phillies
Again this year, the Pirates will not be playing at home on Labor Day, so this game does not follow the Labor Day Parade. However, PMAPWU wanted to provide another opportunity for our members and their families to get together and join in solidarity with their fellow brothers and sisters of this great local, as well as other members of the APWU from across the state who will be attending the State Convention. Join everyone for an evening of Pirate/Phillies baseball and a small tailgate party before the game.
Reserved third base/left field Box seats for sections 125 through 128 will be available for purchase at $15 a ticket. Tickets are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of 4 tickets per member.
This game is also a "Fireworks Night" and "Hats Off Night"-- all members and guests will receive a Pirates hat. If you have any questions regarding the meaning of members or the size of your immediate family, please contact one of the Officers at the Union office for more information.
A tailgate picnic meal will be served from 5:00 to 6:45 pm in one of the ballpark parking lots, although the exact one has not been determined yet. Chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, pasta salad, watermelon, and hot and cold beverages will be served. We strongly recommend that you park your car early and walk over to the tailgate area. There is an indoor parking garage located only one block from the ballpark.
Final deadline to order tickets is Thursday, April 20th.
Send your check or money order to:
PMAPWU
1414 Brighton Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope so we can mail you your tickets. Include member's name, complete mailing address with zip code, and member's phone number. Thank you!
[March 8th]John T. Boxler Scholarship Applications Available
Applications are available for the Pennsylvania Postal Workers' John T. Boxler Scholarship.
This scholarship provides $1000 for each of four consecutive years of college.
Applicants must write an essay of no more than 250 words on a "Labor Union Related Subject."
Applications and scholarship rules are available by contacting the Local Union Office. Applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2006.
[March 4th]Maintenance In-Craft Open Season
During the month of March, all maintenance employees will have the opportunity to apply and qualify for any Promotion Eligibility Register for which they have not previously applied. This also applies to any maintenance employee considering a down grade who doesn't have a score for the lower level position desired.
This opportunity is only offered once every three years. If you have any desire to move up in the maintenance ranks, or if you are considering down-grading for a more preferred position, see your supervisor to apply during the month of March. For any questions or further information, contact your Maintenace union steward.
[March 3rd]AFSM 100's AI and ATHS Jurisdiction Decision
AWARDED TO MAIL HANDLER CRAFT
The Mail Handlers did not win jurisdiction of this work, Postal Headquarters gave it to them. Clerks only retain jurisdiction of the Feed Station, and Sweeping on the 109 machine until the ATHS is installed.
Neither Pittsburgh Management, nor PMAPWU, nor the Local Mail Handler Union had a voice in the decision. The walk-through(s) were for observation only, and the participants did not debate the matter, and our opinions counted for nothing.
NATIONAL DISPUTE
APWU has already filed a National Level dispute claiming that this is Clerk work. They have issued instructions to the Locals to initiate a local dispute (which we have) but all local disputes will be held pending the National level Award on the matter. The matter is taken out of our control.
LOCALLY
On February 10th, management told us, and together we told you, that the status quo would be maintained until the changeover would be implemented. That lasted less than a week. Management claims that they are now following USPS Headquarters instructions to immediately turn the work over to the Mail Handler Craft.
Another Labor/Management Meeting has been requested by PMAPWU for, among other things, discussions regarding matters of Local control such as defining the section, "redefining" duties of remaining positions, abolishment of assignments and excessing, daily staffing, safety concerns, and the larger overall work floor impacts.
Information will be posted as decisions are reached.
[March 1st]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.
Past Issues of the Bulletin Board
[February 2006]
[January 2006] [December 2005]
Use our Search function to look up further back-issues of the Bulletin Board.
