Management stopped the bids in the early afternoon of 3-14-08. The reason they were stopped was because Management had informed the unions that they had changed their plans to eliminate SPBS # 4 and instead decided to eliminate SPBS # 3. Since both UNIONS HAD ALREADY INFORMED Their EMPLOYEES who worked ON SPBS #4 OF Management’s original plan to eliminate their jobs many EMPLOYEES decided to bid off SPBS #4. It would have been wrong to have SPBS # 4 employees BID off their positions knowing that their jobs WOULD now be remaining.

IT ALSO WOULD HAVE BEEN WRONG TO HAVE EMPLOYEES BID ONTO SPBS #3 IN MARCH, JUST TO HAVE THEIR BIDS ABOLISHED IN APRIL.

The Union has MET WITH MANAGEMENT AND REQUESTED THAT THE BIDS BE REPOSTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE deleting THE SPBS #3 BIDS. Of importance TO THE EMPLOYEES OF SPBS #3: The Union has only been VERBALLY notified regarding THE ABOLISHMENT OF YOUR JOBS. No official notification as per Article 12 of the National Agreement has been received by the Union as yet. MANAGEMENT must provide THE UNION with PROPER WRITTEN notification.

The Tour 2 condo is another area that Management verbally notified the Union of their intent to downsize.

THE OTHER MAJOR CHANGE IS THAT WE WENT FROM a FACILITY whose majority of work was performed manually TO A FACIlitY THAT processes the majority of mail through AUTOMATION.

THERE IS NO EASY WAY OF SAYING THAT IN THE FUTURE WE WILL BE LOSING MORE MANUAL JOBS AND MORE TOUR 2 bids. THIS MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR BUT THIS IS THE reality of automation. The one thing I can guarantee you is THAT MY STAFF AND I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO KEEP AS MANY TOUR 2 AND MANUAL Bids as possible.

THE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY Years can attest to the fact that we had STAFFING OF NEARLY 12OO CLERKS AT ONE POINT. WE ARE NOW UNDER 800 CLERKS AND MORE THEN 200 OF THESE CLERKS HAVE BEEN EXCESSED into DVD FROM other FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

AT THE UNION MEETING ON 3-19-08, I WAS INFORMED THAT the MAIL VOLUME WAS DOWN IN BOTH THE BRONX P&D Center as well as the MORGAN P&D Center located IN MANHATTAN. THESE TWO MAJOR FACILITIES MAY BE FACING EXCESSING that will affect HUNDREDS OF CLERKS. THE NJ BULK FACILITY HAS HAD MAIL MOVED TO OTHER Facilities IN THE AREA. THIS HAS CAUSED THE ELIMinATION OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT MAIL SORTING MACHINES AND THE ABOLISHMENT OF OVER 100 JOBS.

THE UNION IS CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH MANAGEMENT TO CREATE NEW POSITIONS BUT THESE POSiTIONS WILL MAINLY BE BIDS ON TOUR 1 AND 3 IN THE AUTOMATION AREA BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE MAIL VOLUME IS THE GREATEST.

PAY RAISES: IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS ALL APWU REPRESENTED CRAFTS HAVE RECEIVED THE ONE LEVEL UPGRADE. THE COLA INCREASE TOTALING $479.OO BECAME EFFECTIVE 3-15-08, AND WILL BE REFLECTED IN PAYCHECK DATED 4-4-08.

DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF APRIL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SHARON TYRRELL AND I WILL BE CONDUCTING STANDUPS IN THE MAIN SWINGROOM. PLEASE WATCH THE BOARDS FOR THE EXACT DATE AND TIME. WE TRY TO GIVE YOU updated INFORMATION BUT AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE SPBS SITUATION that when WE BASE OUR INFORMATION ON WHAT MANAGEMENT STATES THAT this information CAN QUICKLY CHANGE AS WE ALL CAN SEE FROM THE RECENT BID POSTING FIASCO.

ANY EMPLOYEE THAT IS INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE DEEMS DESIRABLE LIST SHOULD IMMEDIATELY REQUEST TO SEE THEIR UNION REPRESENTATIVE. I HAVE INSTRUCTED EVERY STEWARD TO FILE AN INDIVIDUAL GRIEVANCE FOR ANY EMPLOYEE THAT WAS PUT ON THE DEEMS DESIRABLE LIST. THIS IS ATTEMPT BY MANAGEMENT TO CIRCUMVENT THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING OUR RIGHTS AS OUTLINED UNDER THE FMLA ACT.

ALL STEWARDS WERE GIVEN A PHONE # FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S FMLA HOT LINE. ANY EMPLOYEE THAT HAS FMLA COVERED LEAVE DISAPPROVED MUST CALL THIS NUMBER TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST MANAGEMENT WITH THE DOL. THIS DOES NOT STOP YOUR STEWARD FROM FILING A GRIEVANCE ON YOUR BEHALF.

ANY EMPLOYEE THAT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE PUT ON THE DEEMS DESIRABLE LIST FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY SHOULD REQUEST THE PHONE # TO EEO. WHEN MANAGEMENT INFORMS ANYONE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PUT ON ANY LIST RELATING TO AN ETHNIC HOLIDAY RACIAL DISCRIMINATION occurs. THESE EMPLOYEES ALSO SHOULD HAVE THEIR STEWARDS FILE AN ARTICLE 2 GRIEVANCE.

MANAGEMENT HAS INFORMED THE UNION THAT STARTING 3-27-08, OF THEIR INTENT TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS ARE ISSUED. MANAGEMENT WANTS TO INITIATE WHAT IS CALLED A SINGLE LINE OF DISCIPLINE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE ISSUED A L.O.W FOR ATTENDANCE AND THEN THE NEXT ACTION FOR ANY ALLEGED OFFENSE YOU WOULD BE ISSUED A 7 DAY SUSPENSION. THE APWU IS FILING A CLASS ACTION GRIEVANCE ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR ALL APWU CRAFTS. I AM SURE THAT L.I.U.N.A IS DOING THE SAME FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. THE TWO UNIONS WILL UNITE AND FIGHT TOGETHER TO PROTECT ALL EMPLOYEES. THE STEWARDS WILL BE FILING SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL GRIEVANCES FOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE AFFECTED.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DIANE BENDERS TO OUR STAFF OF STEWARDS. DIANE IS THE NEWLY APPOINTED STEWARD FOR PAY LOCATION 197 WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST AREA. THE OTHER STEWARD FOR THIS AREA IS VERNA BRUNSON WHO HAS BEEN out DUE TO A KNEE INJURY. I AM ASKING THAT YOU GIVE DIANE YOUR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE. IT TAKES TIME TO BECOME AN EFFECTIVE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE REPRESENTATIVE. FORTUNATELY, DIANE IS A QUICK AND EAGER LEARNER WHO IS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR WORKERS RIGHTS. WE ARE CONVINCED SHE WILL BE A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES OF PAY LOCATION 197.