December Update
Contract Update:
APWU has come to a tentative agreement, see DVD homepage for all the details. NY Metro recommends that our members vote to approve the agreement. There are several good parts of this agreement that will improve the working conditions at DVD.
The agreement to convert all Flexi’s in offices of 200 man hours will mean that all the Flexi clerks here at DVD will be converted in the near future. Approximately 50 employees will become regulars. The agreement states that Flexi conversions must be done by 12/1/07, but I will do everything possible to ensure that the conversion will become effective sooner.
Another issue that will affect us is the agreement to remove all casuals (61-0s) from Tour II. There are about ten (10) jobs on the DBCS that are currently covered by casuals. I plan to negotiate with Management in an effort to post these jobs as permanent bid positions.
Many of you may feel that the pay raises of 1.2 % and 1.3% which equals about $1200.00 over four years is not enough. What you must realize is that we will also get an upgrade of one (1) level. This upgrade will be equal to approximately $1100.00 or about a 2.3 % pay increase. This increase will vary according to your level and step but $1100.00 is a good bench mark. We also have kept the eight (8) cost of living adjustment raises. If these raises average just ½ % they will equal $2000.00. This projection is low compared to the cost of living raises which were higher over the last five (5) years. The total of pay raises over the new four (4) year contract period would come to at least 9% using the above figures.
All craft employees who currently receive a clothing allowance, will notice an increase effective immediately upon ratification of the contract.
We also kept important benefits that we take for granted on a daily basis. Important issues such as the “no layoff” clause and the amount of sick and annual leave hours earned were successfully negotiated with no changes in the upcoming contract.
In short, the most important Articles of the contract which affect us, the workers, will remain intact. This was no easy accomplishment. The national Union negotiators should be commended for this accomplishment. The next time someone asks: “What has the Union done for me?” Please advise them to look at their pay stub and notice the overtime, Sunday, Holiday & night differential premiums they receive. Remind them that these benefits were not given to us out of the goodness of Management’s heart. Instead, the Union fought long and hard to ensure you, the workers, will continue to receive these and many other benefits for the next four (4) years!!
The Union did have to give in on one benefit we currently receive. Some of our medical premium costs will increase 1% per year for a total of 4% over the lifetime of the contract but the APWU “Consumer Health” plan premium cost will decrease. Management will be able to increase the amount of casuals needed region-wide, but with the flexi conversions and restrictions on how and where casuals can be used I am confident that it will not have a negative impact here.
Steward Elections
There were four shop steward elections in the clerk craft. One election in the Motor Vehicle craft has been rescheduled. The maintenance craft reps all ran unopposed so no election was held. The results of the four elections are:
Tour 1- FSM/SPBS areas: Kelly Wilder was the winner
Tour 1 DBCS area: Verna Brunson was unopposed, there was one position that no one applied for. This position will be reposted in the very near future.
Tour 1 Manual areas: Phyllis DeLoach was unopposed
Tour 1 Maintenance: Alvin Williams was unopposed and Dana Thomas ran unopposed for the other position
Tour 2 FSM/SPBS areas: Sharon Tyrrell was unopposed
Tour 2 DBCS area: Kirk Devalve was reelected and the other position was won by Terry Kinderel
Tour 2 Manual areas: Glenda Cole was unopposed
Tour 2 Maintenance: Nick Homyak was unopposed and the other position is vacant and will be reposted in the near future
Tour 3 FSM/SPBS areas: Melissa Wimberly-Jones was the winner
Tour 3 DBCS area: Robert Rizzo was reelected and the other position was won by Gynteen Cuthbert
Tour 3 Manual areas: William Reineman was unopposed
Tour 3 First class areas: Mark Cohen was unopposed
Tour 3 Maintenance: Stan Kabrt and Mark Millman were both unopposed
Motor Vehicle
Tour 1: Earl Pearson was unopposed and the other position election is rescheduled.
Tour II: Kevin Armstrong was unopposed
Tour III: Robert Rock ran unopposed and the other position will be reposted in the near future
I would like to welcome the new Shop Stewards, Dana Thomas and Terry Kinderel, returning stewards, Gynteen Cuthbert and Robert Rock.
I would like to thank the stewards that will no longer be with us, Howard Satterfield, Diane Jerido and Charles Brooks.
Saved Grade
The APWU has won a labor board charge against the USPS concerning the way that some employees lost their saved grade. At this time the only information that has been given is that the Union at the National Level is in the process of collecting the names of the employees that were affected by this case. It will take several months for all the names to be collected and verified. I will provide you more information when it becomes available from the APWU national headquarters.
Holidays
The holiday season is upon us. There are many different religions and cultures at DVD. We all celebrate different customs. I am reminding you to please respect each others’ Holiday while celebrating your own. This is a good time to learn something new from your co-worker that you may not have been aware of. One more thought; while you celebrate your Holiday please take a moment to remember our troops stationed both overseas and in the states, along with our veterans here at home and the dearly departed DVD employees that we have lost during the last year.
My staff and I would like to wish you and your family a Happy and Joyous Holiday.