THE BULLETIN BOARD
September 2005
[September 15th]Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Mileage Reimbursement Rates
GSA has increased the mileage reimbursement rates for federal employees who use privately owned vehicles while on official travel. However, the Postal Service claims that it will not implement this until January 1, 2006. The APWU's Greg Bell is investigating the possible violation of the 60 day limit.
The rates for the use of these modes of transportation, made effective by the GSA on September 1, 2005, are as follows:
Privately Owned Vehicle Reimbursement Rates:
Automobile Rates
* 48.5 cents per mile (if no Government Owned Vehicle available)
* 28.5 cents per mile (if Government Owned Vehicle available)
* 10.5 cents per mile (if committed to use Government Owned Vehicle)
Motorcycle POV Rate ..... 30.5 cents per mile
Airplane ....................... $1.07 per mile
For more detailed information, visit the Travel Management page at GSA.
[September 14th]Request for Annual Leave Donations
The following PMAPWU members are eligible participants in the leave share program:
David W. Yura LSP Case Number- LSP 05-2F-150-013
Daniel P. Fox - Steward LSP Case Number - LSP 05-2F-150-012
Eleanor R. Kelly LSP Case Number - LSP 05-2F-150-0l0
Any career or transitional employee who is interested in donating annual leave, should contact the Personnel Office or a PMAPWU representative and request Form 3970-D to Donate Leave.
Forms 3970-D with completed Parts I and II should be sent to:
Leave Share Program
U S Postal Service - Room 2337
1001 California Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15290-9421
[September 13th]USPS Outplacement Program For Limited Duty Employees Going Nationwide
from APWU.org
The Postal Service aggressively monitors limited-duty and rehabilitation assignments, and in May 2005 notified the APWU that the USPS would begin a reassessment of rehabilitation jobs and limited duty assignments. The "reassessments" will be implemented nationwide, by District. San Diego has become the initial site, and is set to begin late this summer. A pilot program was initiated in April 2004 in the Long Island (NY) District.
The Postal Service contends that the program is necessary because there are a declining number of jobs available for injured employees who have substantial medical limitations. If there is no medically-suitable job available for such an employee, the Postal Service will refer the employee to OWCP for placement in OWCP's vocational rehabilitation program and eventual re-employment in the private sector.
The Postal Service has stated that the program does not establish new policy, nor does it apply any new rules or regulations. The USPS has made a commitment that any action taken as a result of the outplacement protocols will be in compliance with the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the Rehabilitation Act, and all other applicable rules, regulations, or statutes.
Every limited-duty and rehabilitation assignment should be made on a case-by-case basis after an individual assessment. Decisions regarding the availability of medically-suitable employment must be based on the specific fact circumstances unique to each employee. Blanket or wholesale reassignments violate federal law and postal regulations.
APWU has prepared a set of guidelines, USPS Withdrawal of Limited Duty/Permanent Rehabilitation Assignments that may be useful in determining what action to take if the Postal Service withdraws an injured employee's limited duty or rehabilitation assignment.
Read this same information, and accompanying commentary online at PostalReporter.com: IOD Program.
[September 9th]Help For Postal Workers Affected by Hurricane Katrina
A reminder!
Due to the overwhelming devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, donations to the Postal Employees Relief Fund (PERF) are needed and will be greatly appreciated.
The Postal Employees Relief Fund is a jointly formed charitable organization that offers long-term benefits to active and retired postal employees who incur significant losses in property damage resulting from natural disasters. APWU supports and urges contributions to this Fund.
All contributions are tax-deductible. Please mail check or money order to:
Postal Employees' Relief Fund and send to
PERF, PO Box 34422, Washington, DC 20043-4422,
or they can be sent in care of the APWU,
Att: PERF, 1300 L Street NW, Washington DC 20005.
Or if you prefer, the AFL-CIO's Union Community Fund has established a special Hurricane Relief Fund for brother and sister union members. Contributions can be made by accessing Union Community Fund: Katrina Relief
[September 7th]Mutual trade Wanted in Pittsburgh, PA Area
Current Position: CFS, level 5 Clerk, Oakland, CA.
Seniority 8/8/79
Please reply to:
Susan German
P0 Box 14256
Berkeley, CA 94712
Interested parties please contact the above named member.
[September 6th]Union Label Week 2005
from the APWU Web News Article #41-05
Union Label Week 2005 began on Labor Day and runs through Saturday (Sept. 10). The message this year is: " Add Value to Your Life - Buy Union!"
The special week is coordinated by the AFL-CIO's Union Label and Service Trades Department, the nearly century-old entity founded to promote union-made products and services, especially those products and services identified by a union label.
"We work to promote the union label," the federation's Union Label Web site explains. "When you see a union label it signifies quality goods and services. These emblems demonstrate that the employees who make the product or provide the service are skilled workers who are treated fairly and decently by their employers."
We hope you shop for union-made products during "Union Label Week", and we urge you to do more of the same later this year, during "Buy Union Week" (Nov. 25-Dec. 4). The day after Thanksgiving opens the holiday shopping season and leads into the most important week of the year for the retailing industry, and for union families who depend on their products and services "selling well."
Other sites you can visit to Buy Union include ShopUnionMade.org and BuyBlue.org
[September 4th]Next COLA Raise Will Be Biggest in 25 Years
APWU members will receive their largest COLA increase in more than 25 years next month. The annual raise of $728 will be the biggest Cost-Of-Living-Adjustment since mid-1980, when inflation was raging at an annual rate of approximately 14 percent.
The latest adjustment for APWU-represented postal workers will take effect Sept. 3. The eighth Cost-Of-Living Adjustment period in the National Agreement ended July 31; the adjustment amounts to a 35 cents per hour increase, which equals $28 per pay period.
The COLA increase will be reflected in Sept. 23, 2005 paychecks (PP 19-2005). As of that date, Level 5-O postal employees will earn approximately $46,000 per year in base salary. Since Nov. 18, 2000 , Grade 5 employees have received COLAs and raises totalling $5,525.
The ratification of the one-year contract extension means there will be two additional COLA adjustment periods, in March and September 2006, and an annual raise effective March 18, 2006.
[September 2nd]Help For Postal Workers Affected by Hurricane Katrina
"We are deeply saddened by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina," said APWU President William Burrus. "We mourn the tragic loss of life and the deprivation so many are suffering."
"APWU members— and locals— are encouraged to help their fellow workers who have suffered tremendous losses by contributing to the Postal Employees' Relief Fund."
The fund is a charitable organization established by postal unions and the USPS, which benefits active and retired postal employees who incur a significant loss in property damage as the result of a major natural disaster.
Contributions can be made to the Postal Employees' Relief Fund and sent to
PERF, PO Box 34422, Washington, DC 20043-4422,
or they can be sent in care of the APWU,
Att: PERF, 1300 L Street NW, Washington DC 20005.
[September 1st]Modified Work-Week Update
excerpted from the APWU Web News Article #38-05
The APWU's five regional coordinators are asking local presidents who are interested in developing modified work-week programs to complete one of the forms below and return it to their respective coordinator no later than Sept. 30, 2005.
The contract extension agreement, ratified Aug. 5, provides for the establishment of a minimum of 18 pilot sites during the term of the extension. Modified work-week programs allow employees to select work schedules of four 10-hour days.
The regional coordinators will be working with management to formulate rules for implementation of the program. The coordinators will use the completed forms to provide USPS management with a list of potential sites.
After the first six months of operation, the union and management will review the pilot programs. However, they will continue for at least six more months unless both parties agree to terminate them.
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