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Unions Improve the Lives of All Working People Truth Exposed in New Report by the Economic Policy Institute

Fri, 09/01/2017 - 9:47am
WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
82-2017

08/31/2017 - Postal workers know first-hand that union jobs are good jobs. Unions help workers join together and bargain with their employer for better wages, benefits and working conditions. However, unions also stand up for the rights of workers who are not currently in a union. They are a rising tide that lifts all boats.

According to the Economic Policy Institute’s report How Today’s Unions Help Working People, unions are under attack at a time when they are needed more than ever. “Unions raise workers’ wages and strengthen their rights at work, but they also give working people a voice in our democracy,” said EPI President Lawrence Mishel.

Union Strong

A union’s strength comes from its members. The report explains that “working people in unions use their power in numbers to secure a fairer share of the income they create.” Union members earn an average 13.2 percent more in wages than non-union workers with similar education, occupation and experience in the same sector.

However, unions also help raise wages across entire sectors of the economy. “Workers who are empowered by forming a union raise wages for union and nonunion workers alike. As an economic sector becomes more unionized, nonunion employers pay more to retain qualified workers and norms of higher pay and better conditions become standard,” says the report. 

Additionally, unions raise the fortunes of groups who are often economically disadvantaged in the U.S. According to the report, as of 2016, about 10.6 million of the 16.3 million union members are women and/or people of color. More than a third (35.8 percent) are black, Hispanic, Asian or other nonwhite demographic. Almost half (46.3 percent) are women. 

 
 

 

Solidarity and Support to Victims of Hurricane Harvey

Wed, 08/30/2017 - 11:01am
WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
81-2017

08/29/2017 - Our thoughts and hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Harvey, especially our fellow APWU members. Texans are reeling after getting slammed by the Category 4 hurricane, resulting in intense flooding over the weekend. The storm has left at least 14 dead and hundreds, if not thousands homeless, as more than 30,000 seek refuge in its wake. Louisianans are also now bracing themselves for Harvey’s heavy rain on the 12th anniversary of Katrina.

“We want all of our brothers and sisters affected by Hurricane Harvey to know they are not alone,” President Dimondstein said. “We stand together with them and all the families during this crisis.”

In solidarity, all APWU members are encouraged to continue to donate to thePostal Employees’ Relief Fund (PERF). PERF provides relief grants to assist qualifying active and retired postal employees impacted by natural disasters, to help re-establish residence and replenish necessities in the aftermath of a devastating loss. Secure donations can be made by credit card using Pay Pal or through payroll deduction by designating #10268 during the Combined Federal Campaign, which is set to kick-off on Sept.1. PERF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Members can also make donations to the Texas Workers Relief Fund (Texas AFL-CIO).

 

2017 Peak Season Exception Period MOU Reached

Tue, 08/29/2017 - 12:54pm
WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
80-2017

08/25/2017 - The APWU and the USPS recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), RE: Peak Season Exception Periods – 2017 Date Changes, modifying the Peak Season (Holiday Season) Exception period for 2017 to “ensure adequate coverage” and “accommodate customer service.”

Peak Season Dates

The start of the Peak Season Exception Period will be from Nov. 11, 2017 (Pay Period 24), and will go through Jan. 5, 2018 (Pay Period 1).

Holiday Clerk Assistants

All Holiday Clerk Assistants (HCAs) will be paid at the PSE rate of $16.98, reflecting the 2.3% PSE pay raise that will go into effect Nov. 25. Function 4 HCAs will be hired for three consecutive pay periods within the exception period: either Nov. 11 – Dec. 22 or Nov. 25 – Jan. 5, 2018. The MOU does not change the length of the exception period.

The MOU carries forward the Peak Season Exception Periods memo signed by President Mark Dimondstein and the USPS Vice President of Labor Relations in Sept. 2015.  Retirees have the opportunity to be rehired as temporary HCAs.

The MOU also extends the deadline for the HCA applications to Sept. 25. Retirees Department Director Nancy Olumekor is sending letters to APWU retiree members to notify them of the opportunity and provide additional information about the application procedure.

As with previous memorandums and questions & answers regarding HCAs, the parties agreed that, “the Postal Service will provide the APWU at the national level with the names of annuitants who applied to work as a HCA, their former craft and their retirement date. The Postal Service will also indicate whether they were accepted or rejected for employment and the reason for the decision.”

 

Let Your Member of Congress Know How You Really Feel About the 2018 Budget

Wed, 08/23/2017 - 12:10pm

 

Call your legislator today at 844-402-1001
WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
79-2017

08/22/2017 - Members of Congress are home for a couple weeks during their summer recess. We are asking you to reach out to your Representative and urge them to reject the proposed federal budget!

Call your legislator at 844-402-1001 and tell them NO on the House budget.

Say NO to Moving the postal Service "On Budget"

The House bill includes a recommendation to put the Postal Service “on budget,” making it part of the overall federal budget. The Postal Service currently operates “off budget,” relying solely on the sale of postage and other postal services for funding. 

Moving the Postal Service “on budget” could potentially:

  • Put caps on Postal Service spending
  • Subject the Postal Service to Federal shutdowns

Moving the Postal Service “on budget” could severely hinder Postal operations and is an obvious attempt to move the Postal Service closer to privatization. 

 

Second Significant COLA Increase of 2017 Announced

Thu, 08/17/2017 - 4:49pm
WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
75-2017

08/11/2017 - In accordance with the 2015-2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement, career employees represented by the APWU will receive a 13 cents per hour cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) effective September 2. The increase is the result of an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). The increase will appear in paychecks dated September 22, 2017 (Pay Period 19-2017), and will total $270.00 per year.

The next COLA increases will be based on the January 2018 CPI-W and July 2018 CPI-W effective the second pay period following the release of those indexes. The cost-of-living adjustments are in addition to general wage increases.

This is the fifth cost-of-living increase under the 2015-2018 contract:

  • $0.00      The first COLA would have been effective September 5, 2015
  • $0.00      The second COLA would have been effective March 5, 2016.
  • $21.00    The third COLA was effective September 3, 2016.
  • $333.00  The fourth COLA was effective March 18, 2017.
  • $270.00  The fifth COLA increase effective September 2, 2017.
Postal Support Employees do not receive cost-of-living increases, but they have five general wage increases under the 2015-2018 contract. On May 13, 2017 PSEs received a $0.20 per hour pay increase. Also on November 25, 2017, PSEs will recieve a pay increase of 2.3%. 
 
Updated pay scales are available.

 

AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic 2017

Wed, 08/16/2017 - 4:42pm

IB Image

House Budget Goes Beyond White House Blueprint

Mon, 07/24/2017 - 9:38am
WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
71-2017


On July 19, the House Budget Committee advanced its Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution. As anticipated, the 2018 House Budget is in the same mold as the White House budget – it punishes workers and the working-class, while giving big payouts to the rich. The resolution instructs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (which has jurisdiction over the Postal Service and postal/federal employee annuity benefits) to cut $32 billion in the programs and agencies they oversee during ten years.

Like the White House proposal, the House budget recommends big pay cuts to postal workers through increased Federal Employee Retirement System pension contributions and eliminating the special retirement supplement (which helps federal retirees who retire before they are eligible for Social Security benefits). These two proposals alone will take thousands of dollars out of the pockets of postal workers and retirees.

 

National Update

Fri, 07/21/2017 - 3:40pm

Update on the Fight Back Against USPS Reductions in Service and Jobs

WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
70-2017

07/20/2017 - Following strong resistance from the APWU - and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) - USPS management agreed to a five-month delay in implementing forced reassignments and excessing of employees out of their installations.

However, this may one be a temporary reprieve as the USPS is planning to move ahead with their outrageous and misguided plans to gut the workforce and service, targeting over 12,000 jobs with their three-pronged assault:

  • First, in most facilities postal management is automatically reverting (i.e. doing away with) vacant positions in violation of the contract. Job reversions reduce the workforce and slow or stop conversion opportunities for Postal Support Employees (PSEs) to career jobs.
  • Second, management is targeting thousands of bid jobs currently occupied by career employees for abolishment.
  • Third, job abolishments can lead to the excessing of career employees out of their facilities and possibly out of their crafts. Furthermore, PSE hours will be significantly reduced if management's ill-conceived actions are fully implemented.

"Management's proposed plans will severely disrupt the lives of career and non-career employees alike. We are in a big fight," said President Dimondstein. "If we stick together and stay united, then I am confident that - just like with the Stop Staples and contract struggles - we will be victorious in stopping these new attacks on the workforce and on customer service."

USPS Actions are an Attack on Service.

 

IMPORTANT Make the Call on Tuesday July 18th Day of Action

Fri, 07/14/2017 - 12:55pm

Local Union Officers, Stewards and Members:

 

Please open the attached flyer, copy it, and post it on your union bulletin boards. We encourage you to send this email to all of the offices that you represent and ask a member or steward in that office to post it on the union bulletin board.

 

Also, please distribute this flyer to your friends and family. Ask them to take just a few minutes to call their respective representatives and ask them to vote down these budget proposals that slash Postal Worker’s pay and benefits.

 

This assault on our benefits and wages is real and will negate any strides that we have made over the years through Contract negotiations.

 

As President Dimondstein stated, this budget cut is “Robin Hood in reverse.”

 

Stop what you are doing right now!   Put the number in your cell phone contacts and on your calendar now!

 

Don’t let the day of action come and go on Tuesday, July 28th .

 

We are all so busy with work and family issues. It’s our job to protect ourselves and our family by taking a few minutes to make an impact and have our voices heard.  

 

Remember to MAKE THE CALL!   1-844-813-4060 and 1-844-402-1001  

 

In Union Solidarity,

Bob Bloomer, Pat Davis-Weeks, Mike Sullivan

Clerk Craft NBA – ATL Region

Tampa NBA Office

813-855-7023

Maintenance Defines Custodial Staffing in POStPlan Clusters

Fri, 07/07/2017 - 12:35pm
WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
67-2017

07/06/2017 - On June 30, Arbitrator Stephen Goldberg issued a national award for Case No. Q10T-4Q-C 15206030 concerning custodial staffing in POStPlan office clusters (a group of postal facilities consisting of at least one Remotely Managed Post Office [RMPO] directly reporting to the postmaster located at the Administrative Post Office [APO]).

Arbitrator Goldberg’s award certified that a POStPlan office cluster, is an installation as defined in Article 38.2.B and the custodial staffing formula outlined in the Maintenance Craft "Subcontracting Cleaning Services" Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) applies. This means the USPS cannot continue to freely subcontract out bargaining unit work in these small offices.

“This MOU requires applying a formula which adds together the gross interior and exterior square feet of all facilities within an installation to determine if the Postal Service can subcontract custodial work,” Maintenance Director Steve Raymer explained. “Locals and state organizations representing POStPlan ‘clusters’ should determine whether the MOU is being complied with. If the result of applying the formula is 1 or greater, then management is prohibited from contracting out the Maintenance Craft’s work.”

 

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