APRIL UPDATE

In Memoriam:

It is with sincere regret that I report to you that on April 26, 2007, NY Metro Area Postal Union executive treasurer Charles Carnes died. The wake was held on April 29, 2007 and the funeral on April 30, 2007. Charles worked at the Morgan P&D Center. He had more than 40 years of dedicated service with the USPS. He was an honorably discharged veteran. We will deeply miss Charles not only for his willingness to assist all, but because he was a good man.

LOCAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING:

       On April 23, 2007, I received a notice from management that they wanted to open up negotiations for a new Local Memorandum of Understanding. The main issues that management wants to discuss are the reduction of our 15 minute wash-up, the assigning of light duty employees and our vacation scheduling.

          I have informed management that even though the notice was dated April 15, 2007, the union was not given the notice until April 23, 2007, therefore it is untimely. The union is fighting the notice based on technical details. I feel confident that we will prevail. We will do everything in our power to keep the benefits that we have fought long and hard for.

BIDS:

          I met with management and asserted my request that new bids be posted by mid May. Some of the employees excessed from Newark will be eligible to bid in the up-coming cycle. Any employee not sure of the date that he/she becomes eligible to bid please contact me for the information.

FLOOD WATERS:

          The union has met with management concerning the recent flooding and the granting of administrative leave. As of April 30^, 2007, the final number of hours has not been agreed upon. Hopefully, we will resolve this issue quickly. You will not receive back payment. Instead, your annual leave will be reimbursed to you.

SOCIAL AND RECREATION COMMITTEE

          The Social and Recreation Committee had planned to raffle off both Met and Yankee tickets but due to the unavailability of Yankee tickets there was only a raffle for the Met tickets. The chairman of the Social & Recreation Committee has informed me that the Committee is looking into getting more Met tickets to make up for the unavailable Yankee tickets.