photo by Drew Stevenson

PHILADELPHIA BMC LOCAL 7048 LEADS THE FIGHT TO SAVE OUR BMCs
“Study after study shows how outsourcing Bulk Mail Center work would hurt service,” Vince Tarducci (Philadelphia BMC Local president), told aides to New Jersey’s U.S. Senators, Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg. “If they get away with privatizing there, they will go on to the next group.”  Tarducci is chairman of the newly formed "Defend Our BMCs" Committee.  The committee was formed at a BMC Conference just prior to the National Convention in August, and held its first meeting, via teleconference, in late September.   Accompanying Tarducci to the October 2nd meeting with lawmakers were Eastern Region Coordinator Michael Gallagher, National Representative-at-Large Idowu Balogun (national BMC coordinator), Clarice Torrence (president, New York Metro Area Local, the committee’s vice chair) and representatives of the National Postal Mail Handler Union. Clerk Craft NBA Robert Romanowski was instrumental in arranging the meeting.  Read the full story

DUAL APPOINTMENT LIST UPDATED as of PP18
A listing of all dual appointment casuals throughout Pennsylvania is available.  Click the button (left) to access the list.

APWU Health Plan Training Seminar
The PPWU will be hosting a Health Plan Training Seminar on November 19, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  This is not a health plan seminar for members.  It is a training session for local representatives that is designed to familiarize  them with the APWU health plan so they can go home and better educate their members.  For more information contact PPWU President Fran Friel.

 How to amend, or remove documents from, your on-line Personnel Forlder
If you want remove, or amend, a document from your eOPF, make your request in writing on PS Form 8043, specifying exactly what document(s) you request be removed / amended, and mail or deliver it to your district personnel HR Generalist. Note: Discipline can only be removed in accordance with collective bargaining agreements. Also, documents placed in your OPF by another agency cannot be removed or amended by the USPS without special authority to do so.  If you haven't yet check out your eOPF you may do so by logging on to liteblue.usps.gov and clicking the eOPF hyperlink.  You will need your employee Id an PIN number.  All documents are stored in PDF format, so dial-up users should be patient while documents load.

 Article 12 Withholding update
We have received notice that the Article 12 withholding for excessing from the Medford (NJ) Post Office has been lifted.  Also the withholding radii for the Philadelphia and Cleveland (OH) impacts have increased from 100 miles to 250 miles.  For a full listing of Article 12 impacts affecting Pennsylvania click HERE.

That Ain't No Diet COLA!
Thanks to a cost-of-living adjustment that will be the highest in APWU-bargaining history, postal workers represented by the union will be receiving an annual raise of $1,477 at the end of the month. The increase is the result of the Consumer Price Index rise during July, the last month of the most recent six-month Cost-of-Living measuring period under the 2006 National Agreement. “This is not only the largest COLA increase under the current contract,” said APWU President William Burrus, “but the largest such raise we’ve ever achieved.”

The Cost-Of-Living Adjustment will be effective Aug. 30, and will be reflected in Sept. 19 paychecks (Pay Period 19-08). The adjustment will amount to a 71-cent per hour increase, or $56.80 per pay period. more...

USPS Releases VERA Details
This offer is open to clerks in those positions who meet the OPM conditions, and who are at least 50 years of age with 20 years of creditable federal service or any age with 25 years of creditable federal service.

                 
On Aug. 18, an annuity estimate will be mailed to all VER-eligible employees from Eagan, MN. In addition, on Aug. 22 a VER offer packet will be sent to all eligible employees containing a cover letter, an application and a list of questions and answers. Interested employees will have from Aug. 25 to Sept. 30 to submit their application. It’s important to note that Sept. 30 is the date when an employee's voluntary choice to retire becomes irrevocable.
                 

By mid-November, the Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC) will notify employees as to the status of their VER application. At that time, retirement counseling will become available. Employees receiving approval will have an effective retirement date of Dec. 31. As a reminder, a voluntary early retirement is just that — voluntary.

VERA: Who Will Be Eligible?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approves requests by federal agencies and the USPS to offer Voluntary Early Retirement. According to OPM, to be eligible, employees must be at least 50 years old and have at least 20 years of creditable service, OR may be any age provided they have at least 25 years of creditable service. more...

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
Dear President Jones;   On behalf of the Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union, I want to express my sincere gratitude for all the hard work and dedication put forth by the Eastern Montgomery County PA Area Local which helped make the 19th biennial State Convention a success. The obstacles faced were many, but we were able to overcome every one of them, due in large part to . . . more

PPWU OFFICER RECOGNIZED FOR COMMITMENT TO LABOR
PPWU President Fran Friel has been named AFL-CIO Labor Leader of the Week.  When Fran learned of the dispute between the Painters & Laborers unions and the Double Tree Guest Suites he immediately took action. Fran sought to resolve the differences between the parties, but once he realized that was not possible he made the decision to move the PPWU state convention to a different hotel. Fran's decision to support solidarity and union brotherhood against a money grubbing, scab hiring, low wage paying corporation has earned the respect of labor leaders throughout Pennsylvania and the nation. The Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union is proud to call Fran one of our own and congratulates him on this great honor.

CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS UPDATED
The PPWU Constitution and Bylaws has been updated to reflect any changes made during the 2008 convention.  The Constitution can be viewed by click the "BYLAWS" button (left).  Once there you can read the Constitution, download a copy, or review prior versions