NATIONAL ISSUES

Effective February 16, 2008, all APWU employees will receive an upgrade of one pay level. This upgrade includes the adoption of a new pay schedule. Due to the timing of printing,  the new pay scale does not include the latest September ‘07 COLA which was $686.  You must add this amount to the given total in the pay scale. Thus, a level 5 employee upgraded to Level 6 will earn $49,884 plus $686 for a total of $50,570.

                 In March 2008,  we will receive another COLA increase.  If the COLA were calculated today it would amount to $333 per year, which works out to $12.80 per pay period or 16 cents per hour. 

LEGISLATIVE

Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) has introduced a bill, H.R. 4236, that would affect private contracts involving mail processing, mail handling, and surface transportation of mail. If signed into law, the bill would require the USPS to bargain with the affected unions before awarding such contracts.

Currently the language in Article 32 requires the USPS will give “due consideration” to public interest, cost, efficiency, availability of equipment and qualifications of employees when evaluating the need to subcontract. Basically, all the USPS has to do is say they gave consideration to keeping the work in-house.  Then they can contract everything out.  Earlier this month, the USPS announced they are accepting bids from companies interested in taking over work performed in the Bulk Mail Centers.  Can outsourcing of mail processing plants be far behind? 

I have contacted House Representative Charlie Dent asking his position on this bill. I am waiting for his response.  I urge all members to contact their  Congressmen.

 CENTRAL PA DISTRICT

Since becoming part of the Central District, we have been experiencing a pattern of policy issues that have not been very positive. It seems that all Family and Medical Leave requests, some which have been approved for years, are now being denied.

 If your FMLA request is denied, or you receive a letter from the FMLA Coordinator, call the Union office and let us know.  I have also heard that some employees were instructed to call the FMLA Coordinator after calling the 1-800 number to request time off.  This is absolutely wrong!  You are required to call the 1-800 number or your Postmaster/Supervisor and that is it.!

The Central PA District has instructed Postmasters to ensure that their window clerks Up-Sell or “Right Sell” postal products.  There is nothing wrong trying to increase revenue; this will benefit all of us in the future.  However, it has become a nightmare for window clerks.  The Postmasters receive charts showing how each office is doing. Consequently, the Postmasters on the bottom of the list are embarrassed and begin harassing their clerks to improve. Most clerks know their customers and what type of service they prefer.  Pressuring  clerks to up-sell or recite a menu of options is stressful for the clerks and annoying to the customer.

We have received numerous complaints from clerks on this very subject. One particular clerk was pressured into selling an Express Mail rate to a senior citizen that she knows is having trouble paying their rent. We have Postmasters who have instructed their clerks that they are forbidden from offering parcel post. The last time I checked in window training and on the postal rate charts, the USPS still offers parcel post as a service option.

The bottom line is:  If you are being harassed about up-selling, give the union office a call. There is a right way to increase revenue, but this avenue will be a failure.

LOCAL ISSUES

PARS II – The CIOSS machine (DBCS #20) will be shut down on February 5, 2008.  Over the next few weeks it will be removed from the building and sent to Harrisburg. There will be no impact on jobs at Lehigh Valley.

CFS – Will stay for the time being. However, management is reviewing the operation and will determine if it will stay at Lehigh Valley. Management would not commit one way or the other at this time.

T-III Annex Operations – Management is in the process of studying the viability of re-routing all outgoing destination parcels from manual rack sortation to the APPS machine.  One unknown is whether the parcels will be processed on the LV APPS or the Harrisbsurg APPS.   They are looking at the transportation end to see which facility would be more feasible. At this point it is still in the fact finding mode. Any new developments or information will be expressed to the membership.

Allentown DBCS’s – Management has informed us that they are also contemplating bringing four Allentown DBCSs to Lehigh Valley P&DC.  The main reason is that BCS #4 & #5 are obsolete and parts are no longer available. There has been no definite decision at this time. Once we are informed we will keep you posted.

 Your in Solidarity,  

Bernie