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2023 CAL STATE CONVENTION
The upcoming State Convention for 2023
will be hosted by Sacramento Area Local 0066
and is set for MAY 20th - 21stThe State Convention is a training convention. The clerk craft, maintenance craft, and the MVS craft will have classes. There will also be a TSP class for everyone, Quick Books questions & answers. Sunday we will have an OWCP training session with Gini and Chris from OWCP Chats.
Below are links to the flyer for the hotel and registration for the convention. Please book your hotel rooms as soon as possible.
Yours in Solidarity,
Gaare R. Davis President-
California State APWUHOTEL INFO.PDF REGISTRATION.PDF
CONTACT CALIFORNIA STATE PRESIDENT GAARE DAVIS FOR MORE DETAILS
AT: CALSTATEGD@ATT.NET OR 626-487-4366.NBAs CORNER
The Times Are a ChangingThis isn’t your Grandma’s Post Office anymore. When I began my postal career, there was plenty
of letter mail and very few packages. We had a lot more clerks than we did mail handlers. Now
the Postal Service is moving to a parcel processing business model. We can’t turn back the hands
of time so we need to adapt and fight for our survival. The Postal Service is under attack from
outside companies as well as from within from the Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy. DeJoy
has destroyed mail delivery standards. In today’s world of instant gratification, who wants to
wait 5-10 days for a first-class letter to arrive? That is exactly what Postmaster General Louis
DeJoy is doing to the United States Postal Service and the publics mail. We need to work with
Congress to fire Postmaster General DeJoy. The next time the APWU asks you to call or write
your Congressional representatives, please do it.
State Convention
The California State Convention was well attended and a huge success. We were joined by
President Mark Dimondstein, Vice President Debby Szeredy, Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell,
Clerk Division Director Lamont Brooks, Industrial Relations Director Charlie Cash, Human
Relations Director Daleo Freeman, Legislative Director Judy Beard, Organizing Director Anna
Smith and Retirees Director, Nancy Olumekor. The training was focused on how to file
grievances to save Clerk Craft work. The Clerk Craft NBAs were joined by Lamont Brooks as
he addressed the Clerk Craft training session and updated the delegates on the current issues we
are facing. We thank all of our National Officers who contributed to the success of our
convention.
Protecting Clerk Craft Work
The Postal Service is hell bent on eliminating as many clerk craft jobs as possible. Management
is doing this by reverting jobs, cutting the hours of our PSEs, reducing overtime, issuing
discipline as aggressively as they can, having Carriers and Mail Handlers do our work and
having management perform our Clerk Craft work. We need to put a stop to managements attack
on the Clerk Craft. We can’t win this battle without everyone’s help. Just paying dues to the
Union is not enough in these troubled times. You don’t have to be a shop steward to help but we
do need you to be the eyes and ears for the Union in your office. Let your steward know what is
going on and write statements. The Union can’t win grievances and stop managements attack
without statements from our members.
ConsolidationsThe Postal Service has begun their consolidation plan to eliminate small offices and create super
plants. This will result in excessing of clerks from their offices as well as the elimination of
many career positions. The Postal Service is determined to cut work hours and eliminate
positions with no consideration for actually delivering the mail in a timely manner.
Supervisor Apprentice
The Postal Service has fought the Union tooth and nail on allowing Lead Clerks to actually
perform the duties of their bids. Lead clerks can run the operation and do everything a supervisor
can do except issue discipline and authorize overtime. Lead clerks are level 7 employees. So, in
the Postal Services wisdom they are now introducing a new supervisor position called an EAS-
16 Supervisor Apprentice. Why let a level 7 clerk do the work when you can pay someone level
16 to do the same thing. Then they wonder why the Postal Service is having financial problems?
If an employee enters this program, they immediately lose their bid. If an employee fails to meet
any of the requirements of the program, management must consult with local Labor Relations to
determine the next step. Sounds like the Postal Service doesn’t have a clue what will happen to
you if you go down this treacherous trail and they decide you failed to meet their requirements. I
didn’t know there was any requirements to be a supervisor.
Unemployment BenefitsIf you are a PTF or PSE and management has reduced your hours, you have a right to file
for unemployment. You don’t have to be fired to collect unemployment benefits. A reduction in
hours will qualify you for the benefits you deserve. Don’t let management get away with
reducing your hours and then not pay you for the benefits you earned.
Hostile and Abusive ManagementHostile and abusive supervisors have been a problem in the Postal Service since I began my
career over 36 years ago. The APWU has sent every member a Workplace Environment Survey
requesting your feedback. It is imperative that everyone takes the time to fill out this survey and
send it back. You can also fill out the survey on line. Make sure your coworkers fill out their
survey also. If you don’t fill out your survey, you have no right to complain about your abusive
treatment. The Postal Service is aware of our survey and they will be watching how many we get
back. If it is a small amount, the Postal Service will take the position that this supports that there
is not a hostile working environment since very few employees complained. We all need to stand
together to stop abusive management. This process begins with you filling out your survey!
HAVE YOU FILLED OUT YOUR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT SURVEY YET?
Chuck Locke, NBAHATCH ACT INFO
Hello APWU members, retiree members, and auxiliary members,
The link below is a Hatch Act fact sheet, we hope you continue to stand in solidarity with us as we fight for the betterment of Postal Workers and their families
APIS
POSTAL/FEDERAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST
APIS...ONE STEP AHEAD SINCE 1988
American Payroll Insurance Services provides APWU members with valuable benefits and services including CSRS and FERS retirement calculations, TSP counseling, financial planning, FEGLI evaluation and retirement applications review (Blue book).
APIS also provides TSP Counseling Workshops for APWU Locals as well as individual off the job benefits such as Dental and Vision Plans, Life insurance, Cancer policies, IRA’s and Annuities.
For more information about APIS services or to schedule a workshop for your local, Please, contact:
- Alain Gatignol (619) 887-3510 – ag@feasc.com or
- Kenny Gatignol- (619) 709-3258 – kennyg@feasc.com or
- Office: 1-888-647-8777
- Website: www.feasc.com