TO ALL MAIL HANDLERS

FR Michael J Hora, Vice President, Local 321

Date April 16, 2000

RE: Labor Management Meeting

On April 13, 2000 your Local 321 union representatives met with management for discussions on the Denver Air Mail Center staffing changes. These discussions were continued in a labor management meeting on April 14, 2000. The discussions brought about the following points and concerns:

· During the meeting, Sam Ruden spent a significant portion of the time discussing The USPS financial report addressing AP' figures YTD (Year-to-date) figures and SPLY (Same-period-last year) figures. In addition, a mail volume verses revenue report was presented.

· Management presented a picture that Illustrated nationwide mail volume is down. These reports also showed a significant trend to cheaper methods of utilizing postal service delivery, E.g. Our less expensive product –automated presort volume is up. Unfortunately, this volume does not help our craft. Other then dock-to-dock transfers this mail bypasses GMF (P&DC) level processing.

· Management described one plan to combat the loss revenue intending to consolidate smaller facility operations. Starting April 22, 2000 all Saturday and Sunday letter mail collections from Colorado Springs and Cheyenne will be processed in the Denver GMF.

· Upon delivery of the new FSM 1000 sorting machines, the same theory will be applied to flats. It is proposed that all flats from COS and WYO will be processed in the Denver GMF during weekends at that time.

Other issues were addressed during these meetings. Management has requested additional talks regarding Article 12 withholding and notifications. Management was not prepared to provide craft impact reports for the G\IF \IPA or TA. The union was presented with an impact report for the Air Mail Center.

· As it stands now, management has proposed to reduce AMC staffing by seven mail handlers. This reduction includes one (Level IV) mail handler from tour one and six (Level IV) mail handlers from tour two. No reductions will occur on tour three.

· The obvious sticking point of the talks was the same sticking point that existed when an AMC reduction occurred nearly two years ago. CASUALS !!

Understand your union will do everything in their power to protect each and every job. Article 12.6B states in principle: in order to minimize the impact on employees in the regular workforce, the Employer agrees to separate to the extent possible, all casual employees, working in the effected craft and installation prior to excessing any regular employee in that craft out of the installation.

The tentative date for these changes seems to be early May of 2000.

 

· Management stated it is their intention to fully utilize and continue operation on Concourses "A" & "B"

· Concourse "A" is currently operating under a (Denver / DIA) contract extension through August 20, 2000. At this time, the future of "A" Concourse has not been legally resolved and is unknown.

· Management is currently addressing the AMC. Discussions will continue into next week. AMC Manager Lujan stated it was his intention to restrict airport casuals to five hours per day under "normal" circumstances. Rest assured the union will aggressively protest all casual employment as appropriate, especially while excessing and or abolishing career mail handlers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~General Mail Facility~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

· It is clear that management plans to adjust and reduce staffing in the GMF. Management has tentatively sent a meeting with the union for early May to discuss the GMF/ PMA! TA mail handler craft impact.

· Other GMF staffing changes seem to be hinging on AP-10 or about May 20 2000. There are reports on the floor that the AFC's and mail prep are being looked for this period. Management has committed to presenting this information to the union in early May. The information will be put out to the craft immediately thereafter.

· The union addressed changes-of schedule during this tumultuous period. Sam Ruden stated management would commit to working with employees giving consideration to individual circumstances, time will tell...

The union presented other concerns to management regarding attendance control and blatant cross craft violations.

· It appears our disagreement on the attendance control issue will be addressed through the grievance process. As you are probably aware, effective April 15, 2000 attendance related disciplinary action will be generated in attendance control. More information and advice on this issue is forthcoming...

Cross-craft violations were also discussed. The banding violations in the flats unit will also be resolved through the grievance process. There was no significant progress made on this front. The violations are currently being tracked, recorded and the grievance filed. Please remember to offer a statement upon every incident of cross craft violations. As you can see, we are overwhelmed with contract violations and we need your eyes, ears and statements.

· This is the first labor management meeting in sixteen months. In the past, the mail handler's agenda was tossed aside and Sam Ruden monopolized the discussions In this meeting, other then one amateurish outburst from AMC Manager Lujan (in which he threatened to walk out if the union didn't stop picking on attendance control managers), this meeting was the first real opportunity to communicate and exchange information in some time.

· The union raised concerns about the Priority Mail Annex. Management stated this facility was currently operating under a month-to-month lease. If Bulk Mail Center mail volume continues to drop, an option to process a portion of priority in the BMC has been put on the table. More information on this proposal will be made available to the membership as it becomes available.

· Sam Ruden stated recent mail volume increases at the BMC were not financially beneficial in that the ground carriers have passed on their higher fuel and transportation costs to the postal service by dropping at the BMC. I say we will take the work. The craft impact fuel costs are having in currently unknown.

· The BMC mail volume is a major factor in the ability and decision of whether or not to process priority in the BMC. More on this as information becomes available.

It is crystal clear that the union and management will not agree on most decisions made. Sam Ruden will not be here forever. Numerous staffing changes in management's Human Resources and Labor Relations arenas made this meeting worthwhile. Although we do not agree on many issues, it is beneficial to know their opinion. As these changes continue (and they will), your union representative will take every action possible to minimize the impact on the membership.

Rest assured, as more information is made available - it will immediately be made available to you. The union will present every contract violation to the grievance process. If you have any question, do not hesitate to contact a union official.

In Unity,

Michael J Hora

Vice President, Local 321