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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Below, are a host of issues, which are of general interest to all members. If there are any issues which a member would like to see incorporated into this publication please discuss them with me. Picnic I would like to extend a special thanks to Ron Lucero for coordinating this year’s picnic. Also, a big thanks to the various mail handlers from the different facilities who assisted in this year’s picnic. The amount of volunteers was wonderful. If not for the volunteer time these employees put in, the picnic would not happen. Training Training continues to be one of the major focuses of the Local. Since the beginning of the year we have been able to make some great strides in this area. Arbitration Advocacy: In January we were able to send the AVP from the GMF (Ron Lucero) and BMC (Richard Lujan) for arbitration training. Since this training program, Richard Lujan has had the opportunity to put on a case for the Local. It is anticipated that Ron Lucero will probably put on his first case in the next month or so. In July we were able to send two additional people to arbitration training, Treasurer Jeff Morgan and State Representative John Meding. As cases move forward these gentlemen will also begin doing hearings for the Local. How each person performs as an advocate for this Local can only be determined over time. With this completion of the last training program, we now have a compliment of 5 individuals with the ability to represent us in arbitration. This is a necessary accomplishment for this Local as we are no longer dependent on one person to always be available for representation in a hearing. In addition to the above-indicated arbitration training the Local also had the opportunity to send myself for some advanced arbitration training. This training dealt with a multitude of issues, which are relevant to arbitration. I feel the training offers considerable insight into how to write briefs and develop fact through the use of witnesses. Stewards training: As always, when new stewards are brought on we are providing them with some initial level training. Earlier this year we completed giving the advanced stewards training to most all of the stewards. This training was to bring the stewards some reality on how evidence and witnesses are handled in arbitration. Additionally, is should have given a better understanding on how to develop an effective grievance. Later this month it is intended to roll out a new training program on Discharge and Discipline cases. This training will hopefully offer considerable gains in the area of how we write discipline and discharge cases. Obviously with management’s move to increase the amount of discipline rolled out we need to be prepared to deal with it. The biggest problem in the rolling out of this training is the issue of whether a given office utilizes a computer in the writing of grievances or not. Training will very considerably based on this issue. Additionally, incorporated into this training will be familiarization with the use of the resources contained on the Internet (i.e., Arbitration tracking system, Employee and Labor Relations Manual as well as the National agreement. Equipment/Major Expenses The Local continues to expand its electronic resources.
Grievance Activity The grievance activity for the Local has been on the incline in most offices, with the largest increase in grievance activity being within the GMF structure. This is attributed to several factors ranging from a more persistent staff of stewards to the increasing abuse being dealt out by management toward the craft. One of the largest areas of abuse currently being experienced is one of cross crafting. This is not a single office issue nor is it even a single state issue. The Postal Service is once again experiencing a shortage in Mail Handler compliment. The current solution as management sees it is not to hire what is needed but to supplement our craft with clerks as well as managers. These issues are being dealt with in the grievance process and have resulted in some very substantial settlements for our craft. Minimal relief is beginning to be seen in the way of hiring, yet the small numbers being hired will not solve this problem in its entirety. At one point in time the GMF appealed 1 grievance to step 3 for every 7 appealed at the BMC. This imbalance has now been corrected and the GMF is currently appealing more grievances to step 3 than the BMC. This is not meant to be an attack on the BMC but a pat on the back for the GMF. The volume from the BMC has not declined it is a matter that the volume at the GMF has increased considerably. I would like to pay a special thanks to the AVP form the GMF, Ron Lucero and all of the stewards which work for him either at the AMC/TA/GMF/Warehouse for a job well done. Previously when meeting at step 3 on grievances I would have an average of 45 grievance prepared to be met on per meeting, that average has now increased to approximately 60 grievances with a peak around 90 grievances. The cooperation level, which we experience from management, has not improved nor has it deteriorated. Simply put, we are not filing more because management is responding less, we are just letting less violations slip through the cracks. Just a note on the arbitration front, the new arbitration panels are now in place and it appears that the arbitration activity of the local will soon be back on track. For several months dates have been very hard to obtain which resulted in a backlog of cases. With the new panel in place and increased ability of our Local to advocate cases we should be caught up within a few months. Keeping current (allowing for more expedient hearings) is a benefit to all our members. Finances As you can tell with some of the recent purchases of the Local, we are still doing very well with our finances. Our income continues to be over budget while our expenses (as a whole) are under budget. We only have two payments totally less than $67,000.00 remaining on the IRS settlement of back taxes (for years 1982 through 1992). This money is scheduled to be paid in remaining installments, one in March of 1998 and the final payment in March of 1999. In total the Local will have shelled out more than $300,000.00 in back tax liabilities in less than 6 years. Please feel comfortable in knowing that currently our Local is ahead in the payment of our current tax liabilities. The status of being debt free and making more than we spend is finally become a reality for our Local. We all owe the Treasurer, Jeff Morgan a big round of applause for a job well done. Upcoming Council Meeting The next Local Union Council Meeting has been set for ___________. Any member interested in submitting items for discussion during this meeting should provide their issue in writing the Local Union hall before November 1, 1997. Pay Increases Below, is a summary of the pay increase provisions, which are applicable through November of 1998:
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