The upcoming State Convention for 2023
will be hosted by Sacramento Area Local 0066
and is set for MAY 20th - 21st

Being a member is not a none participation sport. Just paying dues to your Union is not enough

anymore. You need to take action. The Clerk Craft is under attack and management is attempting

to eliminate Clerk Craft jobs and reduce staffing. Your Union needs help. Not everyone needs to

be a shop steward but you do need to be the eyes and ears for the Union. When you see

violations, write a statement. When you see management doing our Clerk Craft work, ask them

to stop. If you know someone is retiring, let your Union President know so the Union can ensure

the job gets filled and doesn’t just disappear. If you have carriers performing Clerk Craft work in

your office, let the Union know. The job you save might be your own. If you have not attended

one of your local union meetings, I encourage you to attend a Union meeting this year. Come

meet your representatives and learn what is going on first hand.

The Union has filed numerous successful grievances when management attempted to revert full-

time jobs. This opened the door for many of our PSEs to be converted to career status. The

Union has been successful in getting numerous new full-time bids posted in many levels 18

offices as well. The Union has also been successful in winning hundreds of thousands of dollars

for management having carriers performing clerk work and having injured carriers returned to

their craft.

These are the battles we need to be fighting. Protecting our Clerk Craft work is everyone’s

responsibility. So, the question is, “are you in or are you out”? If you chose to be out, don’t

complain when you are excessed out of your bid or facility or when your leave is denied because

of the needs of the service. Remember your needs are just as important as the needs of the

service but are you willing to fight for them? You should be treated with dignity and respect by

management at all times. Asking you to do twice the amount of work or miss your child’s

birthday party because they are short staffed it not treating you with respect.

Management is cracking down on attendance in another attempt to eliminate clerk craft jobs. If

you or one of your family members has a condition that qualifies under the Family Medical

Leave Act (FMLA), make sure you get it certified by your doctor. You can not be disciplined for

utilizing time off for absences covered by FMLA. Watch your call ins and lates. Management is

just looking for a reason to fire you. Don’t be their next target.

The California Postal Legislative Coalitions meeting in Sacramento was well attended. This is

the only coalition in the country that is made up of all the postal organizations from both labor

and management. Their goal is to fight legislation that would have a negative impact on postal

employees and the post office. This is the arena that we have the most to loss as postal

employees. Congress can change our health plans and retirement systems with a simple vote. So,

the next time the Union asks you to make a call to your congressional representative on an issue

affecting the post office, please make the call.