Officer Articles

Officer's Articles and other Articles of Interest

President's Conference / Local Elections	by Vince Tarducci President	[03/23/03]
2 AM: Reflections: of ML King, of Memphis and scabbing	by John Louis Jackson, Jr. Director of Industrial Relations	[12/19/02]
Rules for Hazardous Driving Conditions	by Chuck Camp, Clerk Craft Director	[12/19/02]
How To Handle RMS Calls	by Chuck Camp, Clerk Craft Director	[11/06/02]
Why A Union?		[10/31/02]
Presidents Report	by Vince Tarducci President	[10/23/03]
How Does LWOP Affect V-Time?	by Chuck Camp, Clerk Craft Director	[10/02/02]
To Talk or Not To Talk	by John Louis Jackson, Jr. Director of Industrial Relations	[12/19/02]
USPS Studying Keyer Rotation Issues	by Vince Tarducci President	[09/25/02]
Benefits For Members Only	by Vince Tarducci President	[09/22/02]

ST. LOUIS PRESIDENT'S CONFERENCE

I will be attending the National President’s Conference the weekend of March 29 through Monday March 31^st. The Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union Maintenance Craft Director William LaSalle will be traveling with me on this trip. Bill will be available during the conference in assisting with providing information to the delegates for the upcoming Maintenance Craft Conference as well as the next National President’s Conference scheduled in Grantville, PA June 21-23, 2003. This will be very valuable for those planning on attending these two major events. The third President’s Conference is scheduled to be in Atlanta, GA sometime in the fall of this year. Originally the dates were set but it appears there was a conflict with the National Clerk Craft Conference dates. I’m sure we will receive the dates while in St. Louis.

I expect much excitement while at this President’s Conference dealing with the Presidential Postal Commission, as there will be some needed direction for the National Leadership on how local and state organizations from within our great union can get involved to combat what is expected to be a battle on preserving our jobs. The Bush Administration has not taken a day off when it comes to attacking the Blue Collar Workforce and it is our turn as he attempts to bust our union. We have yet to receive information on the Plant Consolidations that were due a few months ago. I anticipate a report by President Burrus as to when this is expected. I will report on this conference upon my return and at the next General Membership Meeting.

LOCAL UNION NOMINATIONS

Our constitution calls for local Elections to take place every two years. It always falls during the odd years. During the month of March the General Membership adopted the Judge of Elections, three tellers and five- member Election Committee. Bill Macklin will be the Judge of Elections. He has done this job in the past very well and brings a whole lot of experience with him. The three tellers are Ed Derendinger, Yvonne Pierce and William Davis. The Election Committee consists of Charles A Adams, Ed Gracki, Mitchell Gambino, Greg Henderson and Leroy Clark.

Nominations are scheduled to take place sometime during the Monday April 14, 2003 General Membership Meeting. The positions in which nominations will take place are as follows:

President, Vice President, Director, Industrial Relations, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Clerk, Maintenance and Motor Vehicle Service Craft Directors, Information Director, Associate Office Director and Three Trustee Positions. This will take place at the Union Hall at 2075 Byberry Road. Judge Macklin will be responsible for all Election questions. Please see him if you have any.

Vincent Tarducci, President

Philadelphia BMC Local #7048

March 23, 2003

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2AM: Reflections of ML King, of Memphis and of Scabbing

by John Louis Jackson, Jr. Director of Industrial Relations

I arrived in Memphis for the BMC Conference at 2am . For the hour before that, I battled the broken white painted lines being fired at me from the darkness somewhere out ahead. Even after many direct hits, the car suffered no damage, so I continued.

The one thought that I could not shake was an overwhelming need to visit the Lorraine Motel, the site where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. So that’s where I found myself at 2am, parked at the site, just sitting, staring and trying to understand. Over and over retrieving the years of memories, of photos, of documentaries and books about the event that brought me here… at 2am.

I thought about King getting killed while supporting striking Memphis sanitation workers. I found myself getting angry. A man was willing to put his life on the line to support workers fighting for dignity and respect. A coward hiding in the darkness of hate shot him down. He gave his life fighting for the rights that some of us enjoy without marching a step, without sleeping in a jail cell, without being called out of their name.

But, at 2am , my anger is now directed to them, the enemies of the labor movement, all whose ignorance and lethargy subvert my comfort, my finances and my overall sense of stability. I start to boil with anger for those who, for selfish reasons, ply the trade of the scabtitioner. I seethe at the scabologist who articulates scabolistic views or those who deal in the streets with other scabfiends and scabaholics speaking scabanese. The true believers of Scabism entice others to try it only to find that a vile of scab can be addicting.

These are the people who anger me as I think about their ability to justify not paying dues. These are the people that don’t pay because they do not like the president’s tie or they lost an overtime grievance. They are able to continually justify living off of my dues money, my sweat, my blood while hiding behind religion, selfishness or misplaced righteousness. I pay for their protection and their pay increases. How could ones’ conscious be so numb that they are able to walk beside me while paying for their comfort right from my pocket? For these same people, King died for their right to make enough money so that tonight, at 2am, they lay comfortably asleep, beneath a warm blanket, in their warm home.

Respectfully submitted,

John Louis Jackson, Jr.

DIR

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Rules For Hazardous Driving Conditions

by Chuck Camp, Clerk Craft Director

Now that we have begun experiencing the winter weather, I thought that this would be a good time to address the issue of absences/latenesses caused by hazardous conditions. Our Local Memorandum of Understanding for the BMC contains rules that are applied to absences/latenesses that are caused by hazardous driving conditions. This is not the same as rules for “administrative leave” due to Acts of God.

Item 4.8 of the LMOU is the section that covers these hazardous driving conditions. It requires that management give careful consideration, on an individual basis, to all leave requests of this nature. If, based on the individual circumstances, management decides to approve the leave requests, the next sentence of Item 4.8 becomes very important. It states, “All leave requests of this nature will not be marked on the 3972 or held against the employee.”

This situation arises more in the winter than during other times of the year for obvious reasons. Bad weather is usually the cause of the hazardous driving conditions that the LMOU addresses, although accidents, construction, etc., can also cause such conditions. There are a couple of things that you should do to protect yourself when affected by such conditions. Number one, write the reason for your absence/lateness in the “remarks” block of the leave slip. All too often we fail to utilize this tool for our own benefit. Number two, check your leave slip when it is returned to you. If the slip is marked “unscheduled” then management most likely intends to mark it on your 3972 and to use it against you in discipline if necessary. If this is the case, ask for a steward immediately. We will check your 3972 and file the appropriate grievances to rectify this violation of our contract. Do not allow management to violate “YOUR RIGHTS” without a fight. This issue comes up every year and every year management is guilty of LMOU violations. Be aware and protect yourself.

In Solidarity,

Chuck Camp

Clerk Craft Director

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President's Report

I will be attending the National President’s Conference the last weekend in October in Seattle , Washington . These conferences are held three times per year as the five regions are rotated. The great state of Pennsylvania will be hosting the June 2003 conference. The PA State Postal Workers Union will be the host, but I anticipate assistance from local unions from our state. I hope to see good attendance in Seattle . Many local and state presidents are expected to gather in Seattle . These conferences are productive as it allows the delegates to discuss the issues that are being handled by the officers and stewards throughout the country. I will report on this conference sometime upon my return. This reporting will be through the Executive Board meeting in November, our Web Site, the November General Membership Meeting and/or the Philly Flyer. You can assure our membership in some shape or form will be informed as to any information that I feel is relevant to report.

The next National Maintenance Craft Conference is scheduled to take place in the city of Philadelphia in the spring of 2003. The dates should be announced very shortly. This conference will be tri-hosted by the Philadelphia BMC local, the Philadelphia Area Local and the Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union. A committee has already met to coordinate efforts to make the delegates feel welcome and enjoy their stay in our city. As dates are made official we will announce them, as well as any other details.

Tuesday, November 5^thwill be Election Day 2002. We encourage each member to take the time to VOTE. This is one of the most important rights that we have and it should never be taken for granted. Polls open at 7:00 am . Please take the time to Vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Philadelphia BMC Veteran’s Committee is planning their Veteran’s Day commemoration. This year’s event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6^th in the BMC cafeteria. Times will be posted throughout the plant.

The Health Plan Open Season is approaching soon. You will be receiving much information in the mail. The BMC Health fair is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Representatives from several health plans will be available to distribute their materials and hopefully answer questions. The open season ends on DECEMBER 9, 2002 .

Combined Federal Campaign is under way. We ask that you give what you can and to consider the Postal Employees Relief Fund. Brochures are available. Information on the CFC will be posted throughout any postal facility.

Last, but certainly not least, my wife Christine and I had the distinct pleasure and honor of being invited to the well organized affair that paid much deserved tribute to LuAnn Glaser on Saturday, October 19, 2002 in Grantville , PA. The Keystone Area Local did an excellent job in pulling this off without LuAnn’s knowledge. LuAnn did not seek re-election as President of the Keystone Area local. She was instrumental in turning around a local and making them one of the most respected local unions in the country. She was without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable and forceful union officials in our great union. She will be missed in that role. She has been attending school with her plan to become a lawyer. She will serve her profession proud no doubt. DIR John Jackson and Trustee and PA Vice President Mike Boyne also represented the local union. There were several guest speakers including Bill George, President of Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. Executive Vice President Cliff Guffey represented the national Union . NBA Mike Gallagher provided much laughter to those in attendance with his comments. I can go on and on and on about LuAnn, but I don’t want to embarrass her. She has been a force within the American Postal Workers Union at the local, state and national levels. We wish her the best in her future endeavors. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vincent Tarducci, President

APWU Local #7048

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How Does LWOP Affect V-Time?

by Chuck Camp, Clerk Craft Director

This is a question that has come up on a few recent occasions and which might become more prevalent during the months of October and November because many people are running out of leave. Article 8 of the CBA specifies the situations that call for the payment of V-time or Penalty Overtime.

Penalty overtime is paid in the following situations:

Ø FTR working OT on more than 4 of the employees 5 scheduled days in a service week.

Ø Working over 10 hours on a regularly scheduled day.

Ø Working over 8 hours on a non-scheduled day.

Ø Working over 6 days in a service week.

Ø PTFs are paid penalty overtime for work over 10 hours in a service day or over 56 hours in a service week.

These rules do not apply during the agreed upon 28 day period in December.

Because of the specifics of these rules it is important to note that the use of LWOP can eliminate the payment of V-time for which many people feel they are entitled. If you are called for 4 hours before or 4 hours after your tour, you are not automatically entitled to V-time payment. Any LWOP usage during that service day will reduce the amount of V-time that you are paid.

If you work both drop days in a service week, you again are not automatically entitled to V-time pay for your second drop day. The use of full-day LWOP, either intentionally or due to an AWOL determination by management, would eliminate V-time for your second drop day. Both days would be paid at 150%. The reason for this is that V-time is paid for “work” over 10 hours in a service day and/or for “working” over 6 days. For drop day overtime you can avoid this problem simply by staying in a pay status for every day that week.

Even a unit of paid leave each day will ensure that you do not forfeit penalty overtime for your 7^th day of work. Paid leave counts as “work”. LWOP does not. A full day of LWOP in a service week would mean that, even if you work both drop days, you would not have worked over 6 days in the week. LWOP used on a day that you come in 4 hours early will reduce the amount of hours of work over 10 hours in that day and will be deducted from your V-time. If you still have questions about this issue feel free to stop by the Union Office.

In Solidarity

Chuck Camp Clerk Craft Director

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TO TALK OR NOT TO TALK, THAT IS THE QUESTION

These are trying times at the Philly BMC. Management, nationally and locally, has pledged to make every effort to snatch, right from under our feet, the attendance policies and practices to which we have become accustomed. It has taken many years of Union laboring at the local level to get to this point. That is why it is more important NOW than anytime in the recent past to KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND INVOKE THEM at every turn. In an ongoing attempt to educate the membership and bolster the frontline, we are disseminating information as often as possible related to your rights and the RMS. This will afford you, the member, the knowledge to defend your rights.

How a member handles important supervisor/employee communications can, many times, make or break a case.

There are four (4) separate and distinct categories of supervisor/employee communications. All communications between a supervisor and an employee will fall under one of these categories. It is important to note that any single communication from a USPS representative will never fall under more than one of the listed categories. They are all clearly defined. For example, by definition, an attendance review can not be a discussion. Similarly, a discussion can not be a Pre-disciplinary Interview. You need to know what type of communication is transpiring so you can take the proper plan of action.

The categories include: a Talk, an Investigatory Interview, a Discussion and a Pre-disciplinary Interview.

A Talk (aka: service talk, safety talk, coaching moment, attendance review, survey, etc...)

This is when the supervisor talks to a group or an individual, reads to a group or an individual or we are given documents to read that act as communications from management. The Talk acts as a conduit for the supervisor to communicate information from the supervisor to the employee. Clearly, in this forum, information should just flow from the supervisor to the employee. Any information the employee cares to offer should be carefully considered. I will reiterate that our position is that we do not participate in surveys. You have a right to representation during such talks as the information imparted may be cited in a disciplinary action.

An Investigatory Interview

This is the supervisor and/or postal inspector’s investigation of the incident.

The MO of the Investigatory Interview is that the supervisor/inspector corrals witnesses and or the subject of the investigation and asks questions of the detained subject in an attempt to fact find. You are required to cooperate but you have the right to union representation before, during and after the investigatory interview. DO NOT FACE THEM ALONE. If there is reason to believe criminal charges may be involved, you have the additional right to consult with an attorney. DO NOT HESITATE to invoke your legal right.

A Discussion (aka a formal discussion)

A Discussion is a oneway communication. This is where the supervisor details what he finds problematic from the record. He should inform you of the perceived shortcoming, what he expects of you in the future and what the repercussion will be if a correction of the deficiency does not take place. No questions should be asked of the member. Additionally, the member is instructed that this is not the time to volunteer information. Just listen and take notes. Most importantly, Discussions are personal and private in nature. The only parties present should be the supervisor and the member.

A Pre-disciplinary Interview (aka an employee’s day in court or PDI)

This is where the employee has the opportunity to tell his side of the story and possibly derail any considerations being given to discipline. The supervisor’s investigation should be completed and the results of that investigation should be detailed to the employee. The supervisor should also include his intentions with respect to the possibility of discipline. The employee should offer any information contrary to the evidence being considered by the supervisor and offer any mitigating facts that may not have been considered by the supervisor during his investigation.

Finally, not one of these actions should be allowed to take place on the floor without the involvement or notification of the union. Knowing your rights is of the ultimate importance as the USS APWU steams head on with the RMS BRICKERS. Management means to reduce the head count of our members. Don’t believe that you are safe. All indications are that no one is safe from the current barrage.

Yours in Union Solidarity,

John Louis Jackson, Jr.

DIR

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USPS STUDYING KEYER ROTATION ISSUES

Local #7048 has just received notice that a team of USPS officials will be coming to the BMC supposedly on Wednesday September 25^th sometime during the P.M. hours in order to observe the procedures being used for rotation and relief of keyers. In a document dated September 19^th the USPS put our National Union on notice that these studies would be performed during the weeks of September 23^rd and September 30^th in North Jersey, Washington, and Philadelphia . The document, which we received on Tuesday ( 9/24/02 ), indicates that these studies are being done because of changes that have taken place to keying duties such as bar code scanning, the singulator, and the elimination of the facer positions.

While the singulator is new the other cited changes took place many years ago. Using one employee to face the mail for another stopped well over 10 years ago and the bar code readers have been here for quite a while as well. The exact nature of the study is not clear, however, because the notice to the APWU mentions, “rotation or relief for employees performing manual keying”, it seems clear that the USPS is looking for changes in these procedures. We have heard reports that the USPS is attempting to change the current agreement (1 hour away from keying/scanning duties for each 2 hours of keying/scanning) with a program of ergonomic exercises for 5 minutes out of each hour of keying/scanning. We hope to learn at the upcoming BMC conference next month if this is already taking place in other BMC’s.

As soon as additional information is available it will be put out to the membership. This notice was necessary due to the late written notification to the National APWU by the USPS officials that these studies were being conducted. If you have any questions feel free to stop by the APWU office.

Yours In Union Solidarity,

Vince Tarducci President

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BENEFITS FOR APWU MEMBERS ONLY!

I wanted to take a moment to explain in some detail about a package that shows the benefits available to all Members of the Philadelphia BMC Local #7048. Many of these benefits cannot be purchased anywhere else for any price and others that, while you may be able to purchase similar coverage elsewhere, will definitely save you significant amounts of money.

These benefit plans, offered by the Voluntary Benefits Plan specifically for union members of the American Postal Workers Union, include insurance coverage for accidental death or dismemberment, disabilities caused by injury or illness, death from any cause, dental services, hospitalization and even legal problems. There are new benefits being designed for introduction later in the year.

Your union has worked very hard for many years to see that your individual needs are met, and that work is not only limited to just salary, working conditions or grievances. The strength of the union, through members like you, enables us to provide so much more today than was ever possible just a few years ago.

We want you to know that we are all working for you, from the stewards to the entire Local Executive Board.

Thank you for being part of the American Postal Workers Union Local #7048.

Yours in Union Solidarity,

Vincent Tarducci, President

APWU Local #7048

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