Recent Update From Your Director of Associate Offices

I took a phone call from a steward in the field who asked about crossing crafts in their office. The fellow clerks made them aware, unfortunately, almost a month after the fact. For the stewards out there and the members in general, the rule is 14 days to notify the union. The CBA clearly states:

“Any employee who feels aggrieved must discuss the grievance with the employee’s immediate supervisor within fourteen (14) days of the date on which the employee or the Union first learned or may reasonably have been expected to have learned of its cause.”

This is further defined by the JCIM:

“The grievant or the union must discuss the grievance with the employee’s immediate supervisor within fourteen days of when the grievant or the union first learned, or may reasonably have been expected to learn, of the alleged violation.”

I’m currently chasing down a clerk in another office who called me last week stating they received a letter of warning who still hasn’t faxed me a copy.

Being a steward is a hard, thankless job. We need to educate our membership to help us (the stewards) to our jobs to the best of our ability.

I also found some basic Q and A on mileage. The original source is found on the Postal Clerk website. Below, is the viewable/downloadable document. All credits to this information goes to the Post Clerk website for putting this information together.

Michael J Wright
Director of Associate Offices

2018 Contract Campaign and Slogan Contest!

(This article was first reported on August 18, 2017 on the National website Web News Article #: 77-2017)

The APWU’s national headquarters is gearing up for the upcoming 2018 Contract Campaign! And you can get involved by entering our contest to help us come up with our campaign slogan (click here for flyer and and see details below).

Background

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), also known as a union contract, between the APWU and the USPS expires on Sept. 20, 2018 – just a little over one year from now. The contract determines wages, benefits and conditions of employment.

In June 2018, the APWU will open formal negotiations with management, and preparations are already underway. Some of the APWU’s major goals for upcoming negotiations include:

  • Ensuring job security, including protecting no lay-off provisions and limiting sub-contracting;
  • Providing fair pay raises that reward postal workers for their hard work and contributions;
  • Bridging the gaps between the divisive “three tier” wage and benefit structure;
  • Protecting and expanding career jobs;
  • Uplifting the Postal Support Employee (PSE) workforce;
  • Holding abusive managers accountable;
  • Expanding and enhancing postal services.

Negotiations are never easy. Especially in the current political environment, they will be extremely challenging. The APWU’s success will depend on how much power and leverage can be mustered with member involvement and support from the public.

By successfully doing this in 2015, the union made real progress in the last contract.

Over the next year, the APWU will be building momentum, establishing contract action teams, wearing union gear and educating postal customers. There will be many opportunities – and much need – for members to get involved.

Enter the Contract Campaign Slogan Contest!

APWU headquarters is having a contest to determine what the 2018 Contract Campaign slogan/theme will be. The contest deadline is Sept. 20.

The theme of the APWU’s last contract struggle was Good Service, Good Jobs, Good Contract!

All members are encouraged to submit their ideas by filling out the form on the back page of the Sept-Oct issue of the American Postal Worker and mailing it in. Or just click here to download the form. The contest rules are on the submission form. Another way to enter is to email ideas to nccc@apwu.org.

The winning entry will receive either an expense paid three-day trip for two to Washington, D.C. to coincide with the opening day of negotiations or will be guests to the four-day 2018 APWU National Convention in Pittsburgh, PA.