POSTAL-iNDY.COM

Winter Party:

2011-12-24T19:45:00.001-05:00

-‘right-click’ form and select ‘Print” or ‘Save Image As’ and then print from your hard drive-

If form is not large enough click here to go to Indy Info-Online

2012 Pay & Holiday Calendar:

2011-12-22T19:23:00.001-05:00

-click here to download the calendar (.pdf file) to you hard drive and/or to print it-

Postal Workers: The Last Union

2011-12-06T18:57:00.001-05:00

from truthout.org
Thursday 8 September 2011
by: Allison Kilkenny, Truthout | News Analysis

(Photo: Ninja M. / Flickr)

“The recent attacks against the United States Postal Service (USPS) are more than signs of desperate times - a natural sunset moment for a service rendered archaic by FedEx and UPS. Rather, the Postal Service has been under constant, vicious assault for years from the right, who views this as an epic battle with the goal of finally taking down the strongest union in the country, the second largest employer in the United States (second only to Wal-Mart,) and a means to roll the country ever closer toward the abyss of privatization.

The Postal Service, which is older than the Constitution itself, stands at a precipice. If this great institution, which provides one of the oldest, most reliable services in the country, is permitted to fall and Congress kills its great union, then truly no collective bargaining rights, no worker contract, no union will be safe within the United States.

As the USPS spirals toward default, the historically uncontroversial mail service system has suddenly become a hot-button issue…” ...read more

Return to Indy Info-Online [front page]

Unions United T-Shirts For Sale:

2011-11-29T20:50:00.001-05:00

“Save America’s Postal Service” logo on front.
APWU, NALC, NPMHU & NRLCA logos on the back with “United September 27, 2011” message.

Indianapolis Area Local #130
159 E PROSPECT ST.
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA 46203-2053

317-634-1783

click t-shirt for more

Postcards From Santa???

2011-11-29T19:45:00.001-05:00

Want your little one’s to receive a letter or card from Santa? Just write them a letter from Santa, put it in a stamped envelope addressed to your little one and mail them in a larger envelope to:

North Pole Holiday Cancelation
Postmaster
4141 Postmark Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99530-9998

The larger envelope will be opened, the sealed envelopes inside will be postmarked with a special ‘North Pole’ postmark and mailed back to your little one.

You can send postcards too.

The service is free (except for your stamps…remember to put the correct postage on the large envelope and all the envelopes inside) but be sure to mail your envelopes so that they will arrive in Alaska by Dec., 10. Be sure to use stamps and not pre-stamped envelopes or metered postage.

Happy Holidays
GlennDL

The Postal Crisis: Manufactured Myth

2011-11-16T18:31:00.001-05:00

IndyInfo Article: October/December Issue under the title “The Postal Crisis: The Issues”
see also previous post/article here: “The Postal Crisis: The Issues”

Is It the Recession?

Whenever the Postmaster addresses Congress, makes a video or gives an interview it is sometimes hard to tell if he’s trying to save the post office or sell it off. Blame it on the recession, low volume or the internet one minute then blame it on labor cost, manpower the next.

The problem is that the economy and mail volume are cyclical which means that they will recover. Maybe not to past levels but the idea that we dismantle and gut the postal service makes little since.
The internet may have an impact but it is greatly exaggerated. Pointing out that 50% of households have internet access ignores the fact that the access is usually in the hands of the junior members of the households who are playing games, downloading music and socializing with people they were never going to mail a letter to anyway. Most online banking is online in the sense of your connection to the bank, but when it comes to the bank making the payment much of the time their still cutting a check and mailing it. In addition where 1st class letter volume is down package volume has increased because of the internet and as the economy improves online purchases and advertising mail will increase rapidly. The question if we dismantle our infrastructure now will we be able to handle the increase in the future?
In spite of increased productivity over the last decade postal workers have not engaged in any job action since 1970. We’ve done our job and followed the contract even as management has violated it to the tune of millions of dollars. Contracts have been negotiated or resolved in arbitration. We never flinched during the anthrax attacks. Our pay increases have been modest and we contribute to our health insurance and retirement. Our retirement funds have big surpluses. In spite of a reduction in force through VERAs and attrition we have increased our productivity in the face of excessing and other stressful conditions. So to blame labor for the current crisis is disingenuous.

It is interesting that everything the Postal Service is asking Congress for and everything that the Congressional right-wing is advocating for has been on their agenda over the last 10-30 years! Apparently the recession driven drop in volume is a convenient catalyst to their public argument that the post office is poor performing, bloated and wasteful in spite of the fact that it is the only successful self-sustaining government entity in this countries history.

As problematic as some of the items mentioned above are they do not require the dismantling of the Postal Service, nor do they warrant the attacks on postal workers and their collective bargaining rights. The post office can weather those storms and continue on.

It Is Not The Recession.

To understand how we got here, where things have gotten so bad so quickly, you need to strain your memory and remember all the bad decisions and choices upper management has made since you have been at the Post Office. You then have to look at all of the political attacks that have occurred through the Presidents Commission on Postal Reform, Senate Bill 1507, etc. and most importantly the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA).

What The PAEA Did:
From 2003 to 2006 the postal Service was performing in the black, profiting. From 2003 to 2006 there were no stamp increases.

In 2006, the Republican Congress passed and the Republican President signed into law PAEA. This required the Postal Service to pre-fund its retirees health benefits (RHB) far into the future. The formula for computing the payments was so excessive that if it had been in effect the previous three years it would have wiped out those profits which occurred during record levels of volume and no recession.

In 2007, the first year under the draconian PAEA the postal service went from a 900 million profit to a 5.1 billion deficit. This was pre-recession. Additionally any drop in volume for that year would not have led to any losses because if you remove the RHB payment from that year the Postal Service would have realized its second most profitable year of the decade.

There is little doubt that the recession and the drop in volume would eventually have an impact but the biggest figure on the board is RHB payments. Without them the Postal Service would not be approaching its debt limit which is what triggers the ‘bail out’ propaganda.

Now compare how things have changed:

We’ve cut manpower to the bone and run the station and branches with skeleton crews as the lines in the lobby get longer and longer.
We’ve seen commercials that discourage customers from going to their post office, actually portraying a visit to the post office as a nightmarish journey.
As we’ve increased productivity and automation we continually lower our service standards. We use to emphasis getting the mail from one point to the next as quickly as possible. In the process we would take observational counts to measure our productivity. Remember counting and weighing mail? But now we put the emphasis on counting the mail to make productivity and when we’re done counting it then we move it along.
It is routine for mail to sit, the machines to sit idle, and the employees who run the machines to stay busy working the mail by hand until the mail backs up enough to get a good ‘production’ count on the machines.
We use to keep classes of mail separate, but more and more we are intentionally, whether proper or not, mixing the mail.

Now add the observations above, your knowledge of the inaccuracy and misleading statements from politicians and consider this:

How Privatization Works:

First the privatizers float the idea of privatizing a government service.
If the public is supportive of the idea its full speed ahead.
If the public opposes the idea then the privatizers back-off publicly.
But behind the scenes they orchestrate the demise of the service by attacking it, underfunding it, under manning it, restricting it, and legislating it until the service becomes so bad that the public starts to accept the idea of privatizing it.

Sound familiar?

Is It About Privatizing?

Since President Ronald Reagan floated the ideal of Postal Privatization it has been out there, it has not gone away it has just gone unnoticed. It has been the great conspiracy to unionist and the mythical 'boogie-man' to skeptical postal workers, but the threat is real.

Most postal workers see little logic in the ideal that any private company would want to take over any of the non-revenue producing postal operations. It doesn't make since to privatize when the majority of operations would have to go back on the tax roles as the few revenue producing operations were sold off. But it doesn't have to make since it just has to make money for the special interest. An uninformed public would be none-the-wiser.

While some privatization of some government services does make since most of it is a smoke screen for creating profit opportunities at the expense of government services. The privatization of the postal service would not necessarily be a case of revenue generating operations being sold off to profiteers and the postal workers who survived the lay-offs being moved to non-revenue operation as government paid postal employees.

The ideal that corporate America could not find a way to make money off of the non-revenue generating operations such as transportation and plant operations is short sighted. Evidence of how it could be done is already in existence, it’s called sub-contracting.

The privatization of the postal service could create an industry that would rival the military industrial complex of the cold-war era. Postal employees who are gambling on surviving the take-down of the post office are going to be in for the same shock that tax payers will realize when the dust settles.

I have gone through privatization before (as a city employee), but I don't have a crystal ball, so I can't say exactly what will happen. I can only speculate what might happen and tell you that while the above is a worst case scenario I can guarantee you that privatization is never fair, seldom predictable and always politically motivated. The threat is real and all you have to do to see it is look at the logic and implementation of the PAEA, its devastating effect on our revenue and the never ending right-wing assault on unions, public employees and the Postal Service.

While I am willing to go deeper into the motives behind privatization and other ways it could play out those are arguments for another article at another time.

The Attacks Continue: H.R.2309

On September 21, 2011 the House Postal Subcommittee passed H.R.2309 out of the subcommittee. The vote was 8-5 with all 8 Republicans voting for the bill (including Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN)) and 5 Democrats voting against. The bill was co-Sponsored by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and the sub-committee chair Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL) both Republicans.

Passage of the original bill would have had a devastating effect on the Postal Service as we know it and would do little to fix the main source of the Postal Services woes, the PAEA of 2006. But to make matters worse prior to the vote Rep. Issa amended the bill to include even more controversial provisions than the original bill.

That amended provision grants authority to a newly-established control board to carry out layoffs, overriding the no-layoff protection contained in postal union contracts.

H.R. 1351 Fact Sheet:

H.R. 1351 takes the necessary first steps toward ensuring a financially sound future for the United States Postal Service. The bill was drafted with three major components:

It calls on the OPM to recalculate the USPS surplus in the Civil Service Retirement System within six months of enactment, using a methodology that fairly allocates the cost of pensions between the Post Office Department and the U.S. Postal Service.
Then, once the accurate “postal surplus” is determined by the OPM, the agency would have 15 days to transfer the surplus to the PSRHBF.
Direct the OPM to permit the USPS to use most of its $6.9 billion surplus in the FERS system to satisfy two obligations in FY 2011: a $5.5 billion payment due to the PSRHBF, and a $1.2 billion estimated payment to the Department of Labor for Federal Employees Compensation Act (workers comp.) expenses.

Any remaining funds would be used to reduce the Postal Service’s normal cost-percentage for FERS in future years.

H.R. 1351 does not address the legally mandated pre-funding payments into the PSRHBF beyond the FY2011 payment, which costs the USPS $5.5 billion annually. Rather, it simply fixes the massive over-funding to the postal CSRS and FERS accounts. Additional legislation would be necessary to repeal the future scheduled pre-funding payments to the PSRHBF.

Additionally, the date of the transfer for the overcharge is less important than the acknowledgment by Congress and the OPM that the USPS has sufficient assets to cover all its retirement obligations — for both pensions and health benefits. Since the PSRHBF already has more than $42 billion in it, and since the surplus transfer from the CSRS pension fund would likely leave the PSRHBP fully funded, passage of H.R. 1351 makes an irrefutable case for the repeal of the pre-funding payments called for by current law.

The Lynch bill would transfer surplus CSRS and FERS assets paid for by ratepayer and employee contributions — not taxpayer funds — to the Postal Service’s retirement health fund, and it would have absolutely no effect on any current or future federal retiree’s annuity.

From the NALC website

“In addition, it says that employees who are eligible for retirement must be laid off before employees who are ineligible, and dictates that retirement-eligible employees with the longest service must be separated first. The new language also forbids the payment of severance pay to retirement-eligible employees.”
APWU News Bulletin 22-2011, Sept. 21, 2011

The bill also creates two unelected entities that would have the authority to carry out lay-offs, cut pay and reduce benefits. These entities would circumvent Congressional oversight and our collective bargaining rights, i.e., the contract.

see also:

Page 5: Commentary
HR 1351

Return to Indy Info-Online [front page]

Mandatory Overtime to End Soon for Many:

2011-11-15T18:33:00.000-05:00

from the National Website:

Beginning Nov. 23, 2011, mandatory overtime will end for many APWU-represented employees.

In accordance with the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement, full-time regular career Clerk Craft and Motor Vehicle Craft employees who work in an installation and functional area with Non-Traditional Full-Time assignments cannot be required to work overtime (except in an emergency), unless they are on the Overtime Desired List. If just one clerk in any station or branch occupies a NTFT duty assignment, clerks working in Function 4 throughout the installation cannot be required to work mandatory overtime unless they are on the OTDL. If only one clerk in mail processing occupies a NTFT duty assignment, then no non-OTDL clerks in Function 1 can be required to work mandatory overtime.

There is no “December exception” for this mandatory overtime prohibition.

“Emergencies” are defined in Article 3 as, “An unforeseen circumstance or a combination of circumstances which calls for immediate action in a situation which is not expected to be of a recurring nature.”

MARKUP OF S. 1789: quicknote

2011-11-14T18:35:00.000-05:00

Summary of NOTES FROM THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
MARKUP OF S. 1789 click here to see expanded notes

Comments (take them or leave them)

…rejected the idea that we should put in place an exigent increase of postal prices.
…want to incentivize people to retire, not lay people off or abrogate labor agreements.
…making it possible for the USPS to move to curbside delivery.
…keep, if possible, Saturday delivery.

Amendments adopted:

Motion to require congressional oversight of postal contracts.

Amendment: On the transparency of contracts between the USPS and contractors. I was told I can't look at the contracts the USPS has with UPS and Fedex. The only person who can see the contracts is the House subcommittee chairman with postal oversight responsibility. This is offensive to the Senate. This amendment very simply that UPS cannot enter into a contract with the USPS without Senate oversight.

+++The Levin amendment to require congressional oversight of all postal contracts was adopted.

Pryor: Motion to require the Postal Service to explain its rationale for not adhering to a PRC advisory opinion.

+++The Pryor amendment to require the Postal Service to explain its rationale for not adhering to a PRC advisory opinion was adopted.

Moran: Motion to suspend the closing of post offices until the establishment of retail service standards is established.

+++The Moran-Tester-Collins-Pryor-Begich-McCaskill amendment to suspend the closing of post offices until the establishment of retail service standards is adopted (i.e., including consideration of alternative service provisions).

Akaka: Motion to strike section 103 (relating to Medicare coverage for Postal Service Medicare eligible annuitants).

+++The Akaka motion to strike section 103 (relating to Medicare coverage for Postal Service Medicare eligible annuitants) was adopted.

Amendments NOT Adopted

McCain: Motion to authorize the USPS to move to five-day delivery.

- - - The McCain amendment to permit five-day delivery was not adopted.

Akaka: Motion to strike provisions regarding FECA (workers compensation)

- - -The Akaka amendment to strike provisions regarding FECA (workers compensation) was not adopted.

Paul: Motion to end the mailbox monopoly and allow customers to choose who can deposit mail. The mail box is private property and the owner decides how is should be used.

- - - The Paul amendment to affirm private property rights over the mailbox was defeated.

Amendments Withdrawn (may be re-introduced):

Johnson: Motion to strike additional service credits.

This amendment would remove the one-year (CSRS) and two-year (FERS) retirement incentive credits. We're spending a retirement surplus that would be a good buffer. This is an unprecedented pay-out.
The limit ought to be capped at $25,000 whether you take a pay-out or credit.

(Motion withdrawn by the sponsor(Johnson?) for later possible consideration.)

Begich: Motion to clarify the meaning of comparability in the law for arbitration.

(Motion withdrawn by the sponsor for later possible consideration.)

Begich: Motion to state that in Title 39 there should be no limits on the factors to be considered in arbitration.

(Motion withdrawn by the sponsor for later possible consideration.)

from postcom.org

The Postal Crisis: Manufactured Myth
Legislation in Regards to the Postal Service:

Return to Indy Info-Online [front page]

Postal Unions Honor Military Veterans, Oppose Destructive Bill in New TV Ad:

2011-11-09T09:55:00.001-05:00

from APWU National Website

UPDATE:

Senate Committee To Vote On 21st Century Postal Service Act

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will begin its mark up on Nov. 9 of 21st Century Postal Reform Act (S. 1789).

The bill, introduced by Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thomas Carper (D-DE) and Scott Brown (R-MA) on Nov. 2, provides short-term financial relief to the USPS, but also would inflict long-term damage to the nation’s mail system.

The bill would return overpayments made to the Federal Employees Retirement System, but it would not return overpayments to the Civil Service Retirement System.

Although the bill does not include several of the most odious parts of a bill pending in the House (H.R. 2309), by failing to provide more substantial financial relief, it would force the USPS to dismantle its network and impose severe cuts in service to the American people.

APWU News Bulletin 27-2011, Nov. 4, 2011

from the NALC:

Senators Announce Postal Bill

2011-11-03T04:45:00.001-04:00

from: APWU Web News Article 125-2011, Nov. 2, 2011

Legislative and Political Director Myke Reid said the union is analyzing the legislation (S. 1789).
[Click here to read a section-by-section summary.] [Click here to read a general summary.]

Four U.S. senators unveiled postal legislation on Nov. 2 that will have important implications for APWU members. Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thomas Carper (D-DE) and Scott Brown (R-MA) outlined major provisions of the 21st Century Postal Service Act [PDF], which combines features of earlier legislation sponsored by Sen. Carper and Sen. Collins.

The bill would… read more

Senators to Announce Bipartisan Agreement to Save the U.S. Postal Service:

2011-11-01T19:57:00.001-04:00

from postalreporternews blog:

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators will announce plans to reform and bring savings to the United States Postal Service tomorrow, November 2 at 11:30am. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Maine, Federal Financial Management Subcommittee Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del., and Ranking Member Scott Brown, R-Mass., will unveil their compromise agreement to pull the USPS from the brink of financial failure.

When:
Wednesday, November 2, 11:30 a.m.

Update: Postcom.org has posted some details of what the bill will contain

The following are just some of the details that have been reported regarding tomorrow’s announcement of a Senate bi-partisan approach to postal reform:

Returning the FERS overpayment to USPS; although the bill will set no numbers around how much of it has to be used for buyouts, that will be one of the goals to help incent, through added service credits or up to the federal limit of $25K per worker, 100,000 workers to retire over the next three years;
No rate increases; underwater classes, not products, will have the same delay and study as in the Ross/Maloney Amendment in the House bill;
Retiree health prefunding will be foregone for one year, and then reamortized for forty, saving USPS approximately $5B/yr
Workers comp will be fixed across the face of the federal government to transition those well beyond retirement into pensions
Saturday delivery changes will have a two-year moratorium, followed by a study by GAO on true savings in the wake of downsizing that will be further reviewed by the PRC for a final decision
A process would be created to close facilities with a notice and comment period
Arbitrators in postal labor negotiations would be required to consider the financial health of the USPS in any decision
No BRAC-style closure commission (or any closure commission)
No Solvency Authority
No breaching or overriding of collective bargaining agreements

…read more

Out of Thin Air: New Numbers on Declining Mail Volumes:

2011-10-31T21:12:00.000-04:00

from “Save The Post Office”

“Someone please give Phil Herr at the GAO a Xanax. The guy has been focused on USPS doomsday scenarios for so long, it’s apparently making him depressed and clouding his vision. His new GAO report paints a dire picture of the Postal Service’s future, but it’s based on numbers that seem to be pulled out of thin air…

…And what might those changes be? The report proposes three: (1) turn the Postal Service into a government-subsidized federal agency (read “taxpayer-funded bail-out”); (2) keep the current structure but give the USPS “additional flexibility” (so that it can “revise” the universal service obligation, outsource more business, close 16,000 post offices, and put 225,000 workers out of work), and (3) privatize the Postal Service completely… “

…read more

Veteran’s Day Freebies & Discounts:

2011-10-30T21:10:00.000-04:00

Restaurants:

Veteran’s Day free meals:

Applebees - All veterans and active duty military eat free from a limited menu at Applebee’s on Veterans Day.
Chili’s — Veterans and active duty dine for free from a special limited six item menu on Veterans Day.
Hooters — All Veterans and active duty eat free. The free entrees must be selected from a special Veterans Day menu.
Krispy Kreme – All active-duty, retirees & veterans get a free doughnut on Veterans Day. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is par-ticipating.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants — Participating McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants offer a complimentary entree to vets from a special menu on a space available basis, online reservations are highly recommended.
Outback Steakhouse — Veterans and active-duty military get a complimentary Bloomin’ Onion and non-alcoholic beverage on Veterans Day.
Texas Roadhouse – Free meal from opening until 4pm. on Veterans Day. Call ahead to your local restaurant for more information.

Veteran’s Day meal discounts:

Abuelo’s Mexican Food - Abuelo’s offerings vary by region, be sure to call ahead to see what the discounts or freebies are included.
UNO Chicago Grill — UNO is offering a Buy One Get One free offer to Service members or Veterans with a military or veteran I.D. or in uniform or with a photo of themselves in uniform. The Veterans Day BOGO offer includes a free entree or individual pizza, with the purchase of an entree or pizza of equal or greater value.
T.G.I. Friday’s – Veterans and Service members Buy one get one free from Nov 11–14. Contact your nearest location for more details on their Veterans Day BOGO offer.

Veteran’s free meals after Veteran’s Day:

Golden Corral Restaurants’ Military Appreciation Monday free dinner will be available on November 15, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Military retirees, veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserves are all welcome.
see T.G.I. under meal discounts above.

Retail:

Veteran’s Day:

The Dollar General — Veterans, Service members (Active, Guard, and Reserve), and their immediate families will receive a 10-percent discount with a Veterans Day coupon. The coupon may be found in store circular ads or by asking a sales associate.
Sam’s Club — Sam’s give away 36,000 collapsible Hugo Canes on Veterans Day to military veterans in need of mobility assistance. Sam’s Club will require membership for this offer, but proof of service may be necessary.
Amazon.com – Free ―Veterans Day Honor‖ MP3 album download. The album includes 12 songs by The Bands and Ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Fashion Bug – 20% off all plus-size and misses clothing purchases with a copy of military ID or spouse’s military ID.
Sports Clips Haircuts - The men’s hair salon chain is offering a free haircut to active military and veterans on Veterans Day.

Veteran’s Day +:

Home Depot — Offers a 10 percent discount to all Veterans during Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Lowe’s — All veterans receive the 10-percent discount on Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. The offer is available in stores only and is limited to in-stock and special-order purchases of up to $5,000.
Cabela’s Outdoor Store – Offers their employee discount to all veterans, active-duty military and reserves, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel November 11-12. Discounts vary from 5% to 50%, depending on the item.
Build-a-Bear Workshop – Members of the armed services including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Reserve Officer Training Corps, will receive a 20% discount November 11-15 on any one transaction at Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Year Round:

Foot Locker — Veterans, Service members (Active, Guard, and Reserve), and their immediate families with a Foot Locker Veterans Advantage Card receive a 20 percent discount every day of the year. That offer is good both online and at any store location, including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Footaction and Champs Sports — even on sale items.

The Boys Of Anniston, MO
Remember Our Littrell Family Veterans

The Postal Service Hires More Veterans Than…

2011-10-30T11:09:00.001-04:00

VoteVets.org

Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans Unemployment: A Quiet Crisis

Return to Indy Info-Online [front page]

Hurting Non-Profits While Destroying The Postal Service:

2011-10-15T21:30:00.001-04:00

The Postal Reform Act (HR 2309) is the bill sponsored by Republicans Rep. Issa, Ross and now McCain.
The damage it will do is not limited to the Postal Service but extends to non-profits and many other aspects of our economy, communities and infrastructure.

Proposed new legislation would eliminate the nonprofit postage rate discount, resulting in lower contributions and fewer resources to help those in greatest need.

OPPOSE HR 2309
SUPPORT HR 1351

from “foodforthepoor.inc”

Issa overrules majority of House members, refuses to allow vote on Lynch bill…

2011-10-15T05:17:00.001-04:00

from postalnewsblog:

“(Perhaps one of the constitutional scholars in the Tea Party can tell us which article provides that a bill supported by a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives can be defeated “because Darrell says so”?)

From the American Postal Workers Union:

House Panel Approves Postal ‘Destruction’ Bill

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved an amended version of the Issa-Ross postal bill on Oct. 13 by a vote of 22-18. All but one Republican (Rep. Todd Platts of Pennsylvania) voted in favor of the bill; Democrats voted against it.

The APWU has denounced the bill, H.R. 2309, as a “reckless assault on postal services and postal employees.” The bill demands that the USPS….” ….read more

APWU Post Contract Q&As: UPDATE

2011-10-07T06:58:00.000-04:00

APWU post 12 page Q&A on Non-Traditional Full-Time (NTFT) issues click here: [30 questions resolved with management, Oct. 6, 2011] Posting, Bidding and Assignments, Leave,Holidays, MVS, In addition see the e-mail and letter below referring to excessing and NTFT positions.

APWU post 12 page Q&A on new contract: click here: [65 questions resolved with management, June 28, 2011] PSE’s, NTFT’s, NTFT’s overtime rules, Article 12, Transfer Opportunities to Minimize Excessing, Lead Clerk, General.

APWU post 33 page Q&A on new contract: click here: [The unions position of 178 questions, some of which have been resolved in the above cited posting.] Article 1.6, PSE’s, NTFT’s, NTFT’s overtime rules, Article 12, Transfer Opportunities to Minimize Excessing, Article 15, General, 204B’s, Lead Clerk, Relief and Pool Clerk, Maintenance, MVS, and Rec Sites.

Contract Time Table: By Topic
Contract Time Table: By Date

-click here to read full article, the e-mail and the letter-

Be sure you know what your doing when faced with such situations. Management will always imply that the union agrees with them, but when the union agrees that management is following the contract it doesn’t mean they agree with what management is doing. When the union believes that management is violating the contract they will fight it, unfortunately that fight may take some time, and time is a tool that management uses to wear down you and your union. So don’t be influenced by managements threats, intimidations or implications of what you ‘have to do” or what they can “do to you”. Follow direct orders but also ask for a steward, stay informed and keep the union informed, know your options and the consequences.

Legislature: Support H.R. 1351

2011-09-26T05:14:00.001-04:00

Locate your Representative and then use one of the two letters below as a guide for the letter you send.

Remember this: If Congress opens the door to void the no-lay-off protection in our contract the same door let’s them have access to Seniority rights in determining the lay-off process…once that door opens its open season on our entire contract.

ITS YOUR JOB on the line now, just like those teachers in Wisconsin, Indian and Michigan!

DISTRICT 1: Rep. Peter Visclosky
Website: www.house.gov/visclosky

Washington, D.C. Office:

2256 Rayburn House Office Building,
District of Columbia 20515-1401
Phone: (202) 225-2461
Fax: (202) 225-2493

Merrillville Office:

7895 Broadway, Suite A
Merrillville, Indiana 46410
Phone: (219) 795-1844
Fax: (219) 795-1850

DISTRICT 2: Rep. Joe Donnelly
Website: donnelly.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

     1530 Longworth House Office Building,
     District of Columbia 20515-1402
     Phone: (202) 225-3915
     Fax: (202) 225-6798

South Bend Office:

     207 West Colfax Avenue
     South Bend, Indiana 46601-1601
     Phone:      (574) 288-2780
     Fax:      (574) 288-2825

DISTRICT 7: Rep. Andre Carson
Website: carson.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

     425 Cannon House Office Building,
     District of Columbia 20515-1407
     Phone: (202) 225-4011
     Fax: (202) 225-5633

Indianapolis Office:

     300 East Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive,
        #300
     Indianapolis, Indiana 46205
     Phone:      (317) 283-6516
     Fax:      (317) 283-6567

DISTRICT 3: Contact Rep. Marlin Stutzman
Website: stutzman.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

     1728 Longworth House Office Building,
     District of Columbia 20515-1403
     Phone: (202) 225-4436
     Fax: (202) 226-9870

Goshen Office:

     320 North Chicago Avenue, Suite 9B
     Goshen, Indiana 46528
     Phone:      (574) 533-5802
     Fax:      (574) 534-2669

DISTRICT 4: Rep. Todd Rokita
Website: rokita.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

     236 Cannon House Office Building,
     District of Columbia 20515-1404
     Phone: (202) 225-5037
     Fax: (202) 226-0544

Danville Office:

     355 South Washington Street
     Danville, Indiana 46122
     Phone:      (317) 718-0404
     Fax:      (317) 718-0405

DISTRICT 8: Rep. Larry Bucshon
Website: bucshon.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

     1123 Longworth House Office Building,
     District of Columbia 20515-1408
     Phone: (202) 225-4636
     Fax: (202) 225-3284

Evansville Office:

     101 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd,
     Room 124
     Evansville, Indiana 47708
     Phone:      (812) 465-6484
     Fax:      (812) 422-4761

DISTRICT 5: Rep. Dan Burton
Website: burton.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

     2308 Rayburn House Office Building,
     District of Columbia 20515-1405
     Phone: (202) 225-2276
     Fax: (202) 225-0016

Indianapolis Office:

     8900 Keystone at the Crossing, #1050
     Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-7646
     Phone:      (317) 848-0201
     Fax:      (317) 846-7306

DISTRICT 6: Rep. Mike Pence
Website: mikepence.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

     100 Cannon House Office Building,
     District of Columbia 20515-1406
     Phone: (202) 225-3021
     Fax: (202) 225-3382

Anderson Office:

     1134 Meridian Plaza
     Anderson, Indiana 46016
     Phone:      (765) 640-2919
     Fax:      (765) 640-2922

DISTRICT 9: Contact Rep. Todd Young.
Website: toddyoung.house.gov

Washington, D.C. Office:

     1721 Longworth House Office Building,
     District of Columbia 20515-1409
     Phone: (202) 225-5315
     Fax: (202) 226-6866

Jeffersonville Office:

     279 Quartermaster
     Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130
     Phone:      (812) 288-3999
     Fax:      (812) 288-3873

SAMPLE LETTER #1

Subject: Please Cosponsor HR 1351
The U.S. Postal Service is currently facing a financial crisis partly due to the recession but more significantly caused by the burdensome requirement of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act that it make payments of $5.4 billion dollars annually to prefund it retiree health benefits. Absent those prefunding mandates the Postal Service would actually be operating at a surplus over the last 4 fiscal years.
Recent independent audits performed for the USPS Office of Inspector General and the Postal Regulatory Commission have shown that the USPS has already overfunded its Civil Service Retirement Fund by over $50 billion dollars and also has overfunded the Federal Employee Retirement System by nearly $7 billion dollars.
H.R. 1351 is a bill that would resolve those financial inequities and bring the Postal Service into financial solvency with no use of tax payer money.
Please take the time to cosponsor, and later support HR 1351 when it is considered in the House of Representatives.

SAMPLE LETTER #2

Subject: Please Cosponsor HR 1351
I respectfully request that you consider becoming a cosponsor to H.R. 1351, a bill introduced by Representative Stephen Lynch of MA.
The U.S. Postal Service is currently facing a financial crisis partly due to the recession, but more significantly caused by the burdensome requirement of the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) that it make payments averaging $5.5 billion dollars annually to prefund it retiree health benefits. Absent those prefunding mandates the Postal Service would actually be operating at a surplus over the last 4 fiscal years.
In addition, recent independent audits have shown that the USPS has already overfunded its Civil Service Retirement Fund by over $50 billion dollars and also has overfunded the Federal Employee Retirement System by nearly $7 billion dollars.
H.R. 1351 would resolve those financial inequities and bring the Postal Service into financial solvency with no use of tax payer money.

CLICK HERE to Contact Your Representative via E-Mail or Printed Letter
THEN
CLICK HERE to get address and phone numbers to contact your Representative, Senator and the President
THEN
CLICK the FaceBOOK icon below to share this information on FaceBook.
THEN
EMAIL this link to your email list: http://www.ial130.org/2011/08/usps-wants-to-lay-off-20-of-postal.html?utm_source=BP_recent and tell them to do the same to save your job.
Remember this: If Congress opens the door to void the no-lay-off protection in our contract the same door let’s them have access to Seniority rights in determining the lay-off process…once that door opens its open season on our entire contract.

ITS YOUR JOB on the line now, just like those teachers in Wisconsin, Indian and Michigan!

Save America’s Postal Service III:

2011-09-26T05:00:00.001-04:00

9-27 Events in Indianapolis are:

300 E Fall Creek Pkwy N Dr., for Rep. Andre Carson’s office 4-5:30pm
and
8900 Keystone at the Crossing, Indianapolis for Rep. Dan Burton’s office (?). 4-5:30pm

Indiana AFL-CIO supports Postal Workers

Carson has already signed on as a supporter of H.R.1351, but I'm a little concerned that he wasn't a signatory on the letter to the Postal Regulatory Commission. Rep. Pete Visclosky (1st District) was the only Representative from Indiana to sign it.

Dan Burton's office needs a big turnout, don't think he's a friend of labor, but hopefully a big turnout can sway him. He’s important because he is the senior member on the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform which is the committee headed Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif who is pushing for his bill H.R. 2309 which is little more than an attack on Postal Workers and the Postal Service.

Postal Workers Fight Back against cuts?

Postal Places click for map location & driving instructions

Return to Indy Info-Online [front page]

Save America’s Postal Service II:

2011-09-24T04:46:00.001-04:00

10th Anniversary of the Anthrax Attacks:

2011-09-24T04:44:00.001-04:00

By Glenn Littrell

On Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists hijacked four airline jets and crashed them into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia and a field in rural Somerset County, Pa. There is no need to remind anyone of this event as it is ingrained in the psych of any American who was old enough to comprehend that something was different that day.
Just as with Pearl Harbor, John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Armstrong walking on the moon and the day the shuttle exploded, we all know where we were and what we were doing when those events happened. We say never forget, and we shouldn't, for these are events that define us as a nation and a people, but as time goes on the vividness of the event remains with us but our memory of surrounding events tend to fade.
Few were ever aware of the heroism and fate of the African-American cook who, untrained, manned a machine gunned and returned fire before being ordered to abandon ship at Pearl Harbor. In the case of the Kennedy assassination few remember the police officer that Lee Harvey Oswald gunned down after killing the President. How many of us can remember the name of Neil Armstrong's crew? Even less can probably name more than one member of the Challenger crew.
The events of September 11, 2001 will remain in our psyche forever, but like the other great events, the details will become items that have to be looked up in history books in order to refresh our memories. September 11, 2001, like Pearl Harbor, was not a culminating event. The two may have marked an end to a certain national innocence, but they were more significant as they marked the beginning of a new national awareness that moved the nation forward.

Just as Dorie Miller, J.D. Tippit, Buzz Aldrin do not leap out of our memories in a flash, neither does Thomas Morris or Joseph Curseen.

Every September since 2001 our national attention appropriately turns to memorializing the victims of 9/11. While this attention is totally justified it is ironic that what was perceived as the biggest threat to the nation during the days that followed the attacks was the fear of bio-terrorism. Anthrax to be exact.
On the day of the 9/11 attacks Vice President Cheney and his staff were given CIPRO as a precaution against Anthrax. This was before the anthrax was placed in the mail system and anyone had been exposed. The first letters containing anthrax would not be mailed for about a week. Once the anthrax letters started showing up and as long as the public thought the anthrax attacks were connected to the 9/11 attacks it was the countries greatest fear.
After 17 infections, including 5 deaths, the attention turned from the anthrax attacks as time passed. The letters ceased and the realization that the attacks were probably domestic in nature and not tied to the 9/11 attacks pushed the anthrax attacks from our public discussion and our collective memory.

In 2002 the Indianapolis Area Local made a giant postcard that we took around the state that year collecting signatures in support of the Postal Workers at the processing plant where the two Postal Workers had died.

As little as a year later, on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, then IAL-President Eddie Beaver and I manned a booth on the Circle during the cities first 9/11 Community Fair passing out fliers about the steadfastness of Postal Workers during the anthrax attacks. We were astonished how many people were surprised to be reminded about the anthrax attacks. Most people had forgotten about anthrax or had absorbed those events into the whole Islamic terrorism memory of 9/11.

As postal workers we can take pride in our diligence and commitment during that hectic year.

So on this the 10th anniversary of both the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax attacks let's remember both events. Let's remember the two Postal Workers that died from anthrax exposure: Joseph Curseen(left) and Thomas Morris ((right)brother of Cumberland Window Clerk Sheila Howard) and let's remember how as we came to work every day we were the first responders to the anthrax attacks.

So on this the 10th anniversary of both the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax attacks let's remember both events. Let's remember the two Postal Workers that died from anthrax exposure: Joseph Curseen and Thomas Morris (brother of Cumberland Window Clerk Sheila Howard) and let's remember how as we came to work every day we were the first responders to the anthrax attacks.

THE CREED

"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"

Since the establishment of Postal Service in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress, Postal Workers have routinely been placed in harms way:

Exposed to the hazards of frontier life and armed robberies from the early Colonial "Post Riders" to the experimental Railway Mail Service of 1862.
From the brief but dangerous existence of the Pony Express, exemplified by the newspaper recruitment advertisements that read "Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred."
From the death of the three American "Sea Post Clerks" in service aboard the HMS Titanic in 1912 and more through two World Wars.
From the early days of aviation and the experimental testing of mail delivery by air to the modern day "Unabomber".

With the death of Postal Workers Thomas Morris, Jr. and Joseph Curseen, Postal Workers entered the age of bio-terrorism. In 2001 Postal Workers across the country demonstrated that the creed is more than an outdated reference to their duties. It exemplifies the dedication of Postal Workers to their work, the sanctity of their duties, and the significance of the U.S. Mail to the history and security of the country.

We collected over 3000 signatures and turned the Post Card over to Rep. Julia Carson to deliver to the Brentwood Area Local in Washington.

Former IAL#130 President and current Regional Coordinator Sharon Stone, former IAL#130 President Eddie Beaver, the Late Congresswoman Julia Carson and Cumberland window clerk Sheila Howard at the 2002 Annual Picnic.

When the country was paralyzed by the events of September 11, 2001 and horrified by the subsequent anthrax attacks, Postal Workers continued in their duties without missing a beat. When Congress closed its doors because of the delivery of anthrax laden mail, the Postal Workers that delivered and processed that mail did not cower in their duties. When it was discovered that materials from contaminated postal facilities where delivered to the Critical Parts Center in Indianapolis, the 'non-postal' facility was immediately closed down. Indianapolis Postal Workers at the facilities and offices that delivered that material continued to perform their duties without interruption. With 20 postal facilities testing positive for anthrax contamination, Postal Workers in overwhelming numbers continued to report for work, well aware of the potential dangers.

Postal Workers across America continue to display a dedication to their daily duties that is only surpassed by the members of our Armed Forces and our unionized brothers and sisters in Police and Fire Departments across the country and unmatched in the private sector.

Timeline Of The Attacks

Sept. 18, 2001: The first letters containing anthrax are mailed.
Oct. 4, 2001: Bob Stevens of American Media in Florida is hospitalized with inhalation anthrax.
Oct. 5, 2001: Stevens, 63, dies.
Oct. 8, 2001: Anthrax is found in the Boca Raton, Fla., The building is closed.
Oct. 9, 2001: More letters laced with anthrax are mailed.
Oct. 12, 2001: An NBC employee in New York City tests positive for anthrax poisoning.
October 15: A letter to Senator Daschle is opened. The anthrax in the letter was described as a "fine, light tan powder" which easily flew into the air.
Oct. 16, 2001: The 7-month-old son of an ABC News freelance producer tests positive for anthrax poisoning.
Oct. 18, 2001: A CBS employee and a New Jersey postal worker test positive for anthrax poisoning.
Oct. 23, 2001: Two postal workers from the Brentwood facility in Washington, D.C., are confirmed to have died from inhalation anthrax.
Oct. 26, 2001: A U.S. State Department mail room staffer is hospitalized with anthrax poisoning.
Oct. 28, 2001: A second New Jersey postal employee tests positive for anthrax poisoning.
Oct. 30, 2001: A New Jersey patient is reported with anthrax poisoning.
Oct. 31, 2001: A hospital employee in Manhattan, dies from inhalation anthrax.
Nov. 21, 2001: Ottilie Lundgren, 94, of Connecticut, dies from inhalation anthrax. Dec. 2003: After more than $130 million worth of renovation and cleanup the Brentwood postal facility reopens in Washington, D.C..
July 29, 2008: Bruce E. Ivins, the second government scientist suspected in the 2001 anthrax attacks, commits suicide.
Feb. 19, 2010: The FBI, Department of Justice, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service formally conclude their investigations of the anthrax mailings. According to the DOJ report: "Evidence developed from [the] investigation established that Dr. [Bruce] Ivins, alone, mailed the anthrax letters."
Feb. 15, 2011: A group of independent scientists convened by the National Academies of Sciences concludes that scientific evidence is consistent with the idea that Bruce Ivins could have been the perpetrator of the anthrax attacks that killed five people in 2001. But taken on its own, the science doesn't prove Ivins did it, the panel says. The new report is limited to an evaluation of the scientific evidence and does not assess the guilt or innocence of anyone connected to the case.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704541004575011421223515284.html
http://www.justice.gov/amerithrax/docs/amx-investigative-summary.pdf
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/anthrax-amerithrax/
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2008/08/02/2008-08-02_fbi_was_told_to_blame_anthrax_scare_on_a.html
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51917
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/us/nation-challenged-bioterrorism-report-linking-anthrax-hijackers-investigated.html
http://www.jaoa.org/cgi/content/full/104/11/452
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0110/26/ltm.08.html
· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2001_anthrax_attacks
· http://www.npr.org/2011/02/15/93170200/timeline-how-the-anthrax-terror-unfolded
· http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/duty/terrorinthemail.html
The Minneapolis Star Tribune, CNN and wire services contributed to some the above sources.
For more on Dorie Miller, J.D. Tippit, Buzz Aldrin and the Challenger crew ‘left-click’ on their names.

WWW.INDYINFO-ONLINE.ORG

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Save America’s Postal Service:

2011-09-19T17:27:00.001-04:00

“Over the next month, Congress will be forced to make major decisions about the future of the Postal Service. We all must do our part to ensure that the concerns of both the customers and the hardworking men and women of USPS are taken into consideration. "Save America's Postal Service" rallies are informational events that will take place in every congressional district in the United States on Sept. 27 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (local time). They are designed to encourage Congress to pass H.R. 1351, legislation that addresses the financial crisis facing the Postal Service. Events will engage the public through speeches, handouts and gatherings to make our voices heard. They are not protests. It's anticipated that a wide variety of supporters will participate in "Save America's Postal Service" rallies, including small business owners who use the mail to advertise, businesses that consistently ship products using the Postal Service, and faith leaders and progressive allies who have concerns for the plight of working men and women. Our combined dedication and activism will contribute to returning the Postal Service to solid financial footing.”

Print out a petition, fill in your Representative, have every adult you know sign-it and then return it to the Union Hall before September 27.
CLICK HERE to print the petition.
Crossing into other districts? Print a petition for the surrounding districts.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Don’t know who your representative is? Click Here

USPS: No Excessing For Failure To Bid On NTFT Jobs:

2011-09-03T04:53:00.001-04:00

APWU Web News Article 095-2011, Aug. 26, 2011

The USPS has instructed Area Labor Relations Managers that employees may not be excessed because they fail to bid on Non-Traditional Full-Time (NTFT) duty assignments. The notice [PDF] was sent in response to union allegations that management is trying to force senior employees to resign or retire by threatening to reassign them outside of their bid office if they don’t bid on non-traditional jobs.

In an e-mail message to the field, the Area Manager for Labor Relations wrote, “APWU President Cliff Guffey has informed us that he has received reports from union representatives in the field that some managers have told employees that they will be excessed if they fail to bid on NTFT duty assignments.” NTFT assignments can range from 30 hours per week to 48 hours per week.

“If LR [Labor Relations] becomes aware of situations involving this allegation please ensure they are investigated and properly handled,” the message continued. “We have advised Mr. Guffey [PDF] that of course, employees have the right to bid on posted duty assignments of their choosing and no employee may be excessed for failing to bid on any NTFT job.”

An article on the union’s Web site on Aug. 25, said Guffey believes management is trying to force senior employees to resign or retire by threatening to excess them. “If you work in an office with junior employees, they must be excessed from the office before you, whether or not they occupy non-traditional schedules,” he said.

“So don’t be intimidated to quit, and don’t be coerced into bidding on a non-traditional assignment unless you want it,” Guffey advised.

“I am pleased with management’s written response,” the union president said. “I look forward to hearing from our members that it is being adhered to in the field.”

Subject: Meeting with elected members of Congress

2011-08-18T19:18:00.001-04:00

All Postal Workers: Carriers, Clerks, Maintenance, MVS, Mail Handlers, Supervisors and Post Masters should attend.

The following is provided by Doug Brown, IPWU President:

Sent out on behalf of Doug Brown, President, IPWU – This may be your last best chance to let our voices be heard while congress is in recess, please make every effort to get as many members – officers – stewards to this meeting!

The National Association of Retired Federal Employees has set up a meeting with Indiana's elected House and Senate members of Congress to discuss the recent USPS announcement of studying removing Postal Workers from the Federal Retirement System. All of Indiana's representatives have confirmed either their presence or an aid.

The APWU needs a large crowd to sway Congressional support for the retention of keeping us in the retirement system and the FEHB. We also need support for HR 1351.

The meeting will be held in Indianapolis on Monday, August 22, at the Ft Harrison Complex. The address is 5830 N Post Rd. and will be held in the Roosevelt Ballroom from 1:30 to 3:30.

All supporters of the APWU are encouraged to attend. Bring a bus load if you can to make our voice heard. We are running out of time and options. Congress must act to save our valued institution known as the USPS.

Thank you.
Doug Brown/President
Indiana Postal Workers Union

Related Links: MAP AND DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS

USPS Wants to Lay-Off 20% of the Postal Workforce!

2011-08-12T19:11:00.001-04:00

Wants to remove Postal Workers from Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), and separate USPS employees from federal retirement programs.

APWU President Cliff Guffey

Indiana Postal Workers Union President Doug Brown

“By 2015, the USPS intends to reduce the employee complement by 220,000, and projects that 100,000 jobs will be eliminated by attrition. “In order to eliminate the remaining 120,000 career positions... it is imperative that we have the ability to reduce our workforce rapidly,” as in Lay-Off…GlennDL

To return to financial stability, the Postal Service seeks legislative changes to allow for network and workforce adjustments. Legislative action is needed to do the following:

Allow the Postal Service to establish its own health benefits program. Divide and conquer. Separate the Postal Workers from the rest of the Federal Workers and the end result would be two smaller targets for the small government radicals and pro-privatizers. Plus the creation of a separate ‘insurance pool’ would mean higher premiums. Last but not least, do you want the same people who run the Post Office to run your Health Care program? Heaven help us… GlennDL.
Allow the Postal Service to administer its own retirement system. They want to lay-off 120,000 workers who move the mail but create more administrative jobs? Since when did getting into the health insurance and retirement benefits business become a solution for our problems?… GlennDL
Give the Postal Service the ability to adjust the size of its workforce to match operational needs and the changing marketplace. They harp about a changing workforce and marketplace, but they have removed, and continue to remove flexibility by sub-contracting work out to entity’s that they don’t control. Binding contracts that come with same long term commitments implied in all government contracts. Lowest bidder with profit motivations. The recent APWU contract has those flexibilities reasonably built in with PSE and NTFTEs. These proposals will probably scuttle any chance of getting such flexibility from NALC or NPMHU’s during their contract talks….GlennDL

APWU President Cliff Guffey reiterated his call for postal employees to contact their U.S. representatives and urge them to support H.R. 1351, and oppose H.R. 2309.

CLICK HERE to Contact Your Representative via E-Mail or Printed Letter
THEN
CLCIK HERE to get address and phone numbers to contact your Representative, Senator and the President
THEN
CLICK the FaceBOOK icon below to share this information on FaceBook.
THEN
EMAIL this link to your email list: http://www.ial130.org/2011/08/usps-wants-to-lay-off-20-of-postal.html?utm_source=BP_recent and tell them to do the same to save your job.
Remember this: If Congress opens the door to void the no-lay-off protection in our contract the same door let’s them have access to Seniority rights in determining the lay-off process…once that door opens its open season on our entire contract.

ITS YOUR JOB on the line now, just like those teachers in Wisconsin, Indian and Michigan!

Related Article: Tea Party Targets Postal Service

Tea Party Targets Postal Service:

2011-08-07T08:23:00.001-04:00

Equipped with half truths and misinformation, Tea Party Republicans have joined the other anti worker pro-privatization republicans in promoting the dismantling of the Postal Service and vilification of Postal Workers. TeaParty.net and the conservative Council for Citizens Against Government Waste are promoting Republicans Dennis Ross (FL.) and Darrell Issa’s (CA.) H.R.2309 legislation:

“With misguided zeal, Tea Party and conservative groups are supporting legislation that would undermine a vital public service —
the world’s largest, most trusted, most efficient, and least expensive postal system. We must ensure they don’t succeed.”
— APWU Legislative and Political Director Myke Reid

Postal Workers need to contact their Congressional Representatives and demand they support H.R.1351 instead.

Related:

posted by Glenn Littrell

A Hard Year for Working Families: A Labor Day Message.

2011-07-27T11:14:00.001-04:00

Since last Labor Day the countries pre-midterm election obsession with a down economy, massive unemployment and anti-tax rhetoric has shifted to a pro-corporation, anti-worker and social re-engineering attack on middle-class America. By middle class I mean people who have to work for a living not those trust fund babies who are well enough off to set-back and let their money work for them. or those that can set on their ‘capitol’ while holding the economy captive under the guise of ‘tax-increase’ uncertainty, or the ones who claim ‘small business’ status even though they employ few but rake in millions.
By middle class I mean working class:

people who take home a paycheck and pay income taxes, people who paid into Medicare, Social Security, and unemployment insurance with an expectation that those safety nets would be there when they needed them. Safety nets, not investments.
people who work hard and too often live paycheck to paycheck, medical bill to medical bill or social security check to social security check.
the people who are truly small business because the word small means small. Businesses that start from scratch and are building towards success, not businesses who hide behind their ‘small business’ label to reap low interest government loans, grants and incentives. Not businesses with million dollar revenue streams and paid lobbyist and unlimited campaign donation funds.

Last years election saw a groundswell of newly elected state and federal ‘Tea Party’ candidates winning elections on the basis of jobs, economy and taxes. They avoided and disowned any concern for social issues. Yet since taking office they have provided no jobs program [as of July 24th, 200 days with no jobs bill under House GOP Majority's “So Be It” agenda, the “Where are the jobs’ mantra of the republican party candidates in October became the “So be it" agenda in Feb when advocated Federal Job cuts]. With no jobs program, a one-sided approach to deficit reduction that hurts the working family and a new found obsession with social issues we have seen plenty of attacks on senior citizens, women, education, unions and civil liberties from state and national bodies. The only election issues that have survived have been the ones many of us feared and the rest of us didn’t realize were there. While giving tax breaks to corporations at the state level we saw budget woes being used to attack teachers, public servants and local governments. Who knew that changing the legal definition of a rape victim from ‘victim’ to ‘accuser’ was so important?
The attack on state workers has manifested itself in the form of stripping collective bargaining rights, removing job protection, benefits and seniority. But these attacks are not just occurring at the state level. You and I as postal workers are are facing the same dilemma:

Even before we ratified our new contract newly elected Republican congressman summoned Postmaster General Donahoe and APWU President Guffey to committees meetings to attack the new contract.
Numerous critical statements, many exaggerated, misstated or outright untrue have been made by Republicans and right-wing media. These statements mirror and bolster the same claims made against state and federal workers.

Right To Work Laws.
The irony of all this is that most postal workers have ignored the alarm sounded by their union for years. These attacks on state workers did not precede the attacks on postal workers but actually grew out of the pro-privatization, pro-corporate, anti-postal workers movement of the last 30 years. A prime example is the miss-named “Right to Work” legislation that has flooded state legislatures across the country. What this legislation does is remove the requirement that employees pay union dues when represented by a union. On the face of it you might think that its only fair that if someone doesn’t want to join the union they shouldn’t have to. If it was just about joining or not joining then it might be that simple, but there is always more.
By not joining does that mean they don’t ‘join’ the dues paying members in the benefits that have been won by the union? Does that mean that they don’t get union representation when their job is threatened by rogue management? Does that mean they don’t get the benefits of new contracts when the union has spent much time, effort and money negotiating them? Does that mean they don’t get the same benefits, retirement, medical, COLA, vacation, sick leave, overtime and breaks that the dues paying member gets? The answer to all these questions is NO! Under right to work laws they still get everything the dues paying member gets except they get it for FREE. So you see its not just as simple as join and pay or don’t join and don’t pay because their is the issue of paying for what you get. If a non dues paying employee reaps the benefits paid for by dues paying members then what results is two things:

A class of self-entitled freeloaders,
and Union that over times is destroyed by a continued drain of its resources by that self-entitled class of freeloaders.

Indiana Postal Workers at the State House Protest

If you don’t think that these state level right to work laws and the other attacks on state workers affect you then consider this:
The right to work laws have been in place and hindering the unions that represent postal workers for years. That’s right, the post office operates under the right to work ‘illogic.’ The right to work rules weaken postal workers by creating the class of entitled freeloaders that drain our financial resources, tax our ability to adequately represent dues paying members by requiring unions to also defend the entitled non-member and undercut morale by letting these freeloaders not just to enjoy the befits paid for by their co-workers but also to undercut their co-workers with their anti-union bull****.
The attack on other federal workers and state workers are related to the attacks on us. The states are a battleground for testing anti worker rhetoric and tactics as well as building a so called ‘grassroots’ constituency [Google the word Astroturfing] against public employees, meaning you and me. This is why earlier this year members of Indianapolis Area Local #130 and other Postal workers from around the state marched in support of state workers and democratic legislators who boycotted the state legislature. This is why you should look at this coming Labor Day as the moment that you start taking notice of the forces that work for you and recognize those that are working against the working family. Get involved in you local. Attend the Labor Day Parade. Develop an interest in Labor issues that affect your financial well being.
In closing I have a rhetorical question for you. Its rhetorical in the sense that the correct answer is that both are important and the total abdication of one in favor of the other is not desirable, but for the sake of defining your position which is the more important statement to you:

What’s best for business [corporate America and Wall Street] is best for America.
or… What’s best for the working family is best for America.

Think about it,

Glenn Littrell, Editor

Return to Indy Info-Online [front page]

The Target On Your Back:

2011-07-10T11:33:00.001-04:00

by Glenn Littrell, July 2011 Indy Info-Online

It is amazing how everyday there is a new statement from right-wing conservatives that is directed at the working man and their family, federal workers, union members, and the Postal Service.

These statements show an arrogance that should scare the bee-jeebies out of the middle class and particularly Postal Workers. I could list these statements endlessly, as there is no shortage of them, but that would be over-kill and the list is to long to keep the point focused. So here are some of the most egregious and recent attacks, dating from last years 2010 elections, through our contract negotiations and continuing with attacks on our ratified contract:

9-27-2010: Rep. Darrell Issa* declares: “No union has or ever will lobby for a layoff, so it’s up to USPS management and Congress to demand concessions.” Rep. Issa also said that he was against providing Health Care assistance to the first responders at ground zero because, it was just another plane crash…gdl SOURCE LINK

note*Rep Darrell Issa is the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform which oversees the Postal Service. If the Republicans gain control over the House he will, as chairman, have tremendous influence over legislation affecting postal employees and other federal workers — deciding which bills are considered and how they are handled.

Representative Darrel Issa*, who last week suggested that relieving the US Postal Service of its crippling $5.5 billion annual “prefunding” requirement would be a “bailout”, explained today on his FaceBook page that the overpayment, first discovered by the Bush Administration in 2002, is actually a “myth” recently concocted by the US Postal Service. Yet last year Congress, meaning Mr. Issa passed legislation to relieve the Postal Service of that payment last year…was that legislation ‘mythical’… Rep. Issa has since deleted that post from his FaceBook page…gdl SOURCE LINK

9-16-2010: "…most of these guys working in the Post Office should be driving cabs, and I think we should stop importing labor from Nigeria and Ethiopia. That's the skill level…" “Most people employed by the United States Post Office...are thoroughly unskilled labor…there is no good argument as to why the government should be behind some kind of Federal monopoly in the mail service…” “…the reality is that many in the American ‘middle’ like postal workers are really unskilled labor who should have been pushed down for market reasons…” comments of GOP strategist Jack Burkman** on “Money Rocks” ”…no good argument as to why the government should be behind some kind of Federal monopoly in the mail service…” Here’s the good argument you idiot…its called the Constitution…read it…gdl “…does the Postal Service serve any other purpose, anymore, other than inhaling tax dollars and hiring thousands of tellers who seem to take pleasure in making me wait in insanely long lines…” Eric Bolling, host of Money Rocks “…other than inhaling tax dollars and hiring thousands”?

Who is this moron confusing us with? The Postal Service was mandated in the 70’s to operate on its own revenues, which has been the case since the 80s, in other words USPS receives NO TAX DOLLARS, we operate strictly from our revenues raised. Most of the Post Office has been under a hiring freeze for years…and has down sized significantly while increasing production…gdl

“…it [the Postal Service] probably should be privatized…” for Senator Al D’Amato, if privatized, once you sold off the money making functions what private company is going to want to run the non-money making functions, which is the bulk of the vast infrastructure? None, then these functions would go back on the tax roles at great expense to the public. For example, what company would want to take responsibility for that 150 mile delivery route in South Dakota which only has 150 delivery addresses? None, how would they make a profit, charge $20.00 to deliver a letter? gdl

note**The quote above from Jack Burkman set off former Senator Al D’Amato and the other panelist to aggressively distance themselves from his racial references. What is lost in the flair-up that occurred is the numerous miss-representation of the facts, as limited as they were in regards to the Postal Service.

10-12-2010: “…Hot on the heels of ace market forecaster Kevin Hassett’s latest predictions comes a rant from that favorite tea bagger think tank, the Cato Institute. Tad Dehaven, who bills himself as a budget analyst, analyzes the USPS by pointing to the fact that “The USPS, which is close to maxing out its $15 billion line of credit with the U.S. Treasury, faces the prospect of running out of operating cash by year’s end.” No mention of the fact that the entire $15 billion in borrowing is due to the “trust fund” requirements of the 2006 PAEA law, which forces the USPS to borrow money from the Treasury so it can turn around and loan the money back to the Treasury. “ SOURCE LINK / WHO IS KEVIN HASSETT / REBUTAL TO K.HASSETT
2-18-2011: Attacks on the postal service from right-wing conservatives and their propaganda machine, FOXNews continue. “Obama $4 billion taxpayer bailout of the Postal Service” headline on FOXNews contradicts the original article they cite as a reference, there is no reference to a bailout in the article (except for the title). You know what’s going on. How is this a bailout? This is another example of FauxNews dishonestly promoting an anti-Postal, anti-Postal Worker, anti-Union, anti-Federal Worker agenda. GDL SOURCE LINK / REBUTTAL TO BAILOUT LABEL
3-3-2011: “…For Republicans on the subcommittee in particular, this meant significant reductions in the USPS workforce. Congressman Dennis Ross, the chairman of the subcommittee, said in his opening remarks to the hearing… “…work force reductions had to be the “primary focus” of the Postal Service, its unions and Congress to improve financial stability.” And, noting that negotiations between the Postal Service and its unions were currently underway, he added that in his opinion it was not enough to cut staff numbers by attrition and early retirements. “These efforts simply have not resulted in the changes necessary to maintain a self-funding Postal Service,” the Congressman from Florida said. “Realigning the work force by re-examining labor agreements must be part of the strategy to improve the Postal Service fiscal foundations.” SOURCE LINK
3-9-2011:from postalnewsblog.com “…on Fox Business News, Congressman Dennis Ross spoke to FBN personality Gerri Willis about the financial state of the US Postal Service. As you might expect, the exchange was fast-paced, long on outrage and disgust on the part of Willis, but short on actual facts. Here’s how it starts: Willis: “Well, there was talk this week about bailing out the post office. They’re running up massive deficits from- what else, but union pensions and benefits- it’s so bad, that they’re not sure that they’ll get through the year!” It went downhill from there…” SL1 “…On Friday, Congressman Dennis Ross appeared on Fox Business News to talk about the US Postal Service. As we told you on Saturday, both he and his hostess had some difficulties getting their facts straight. Ross’s biggest whopper was telling the audience that the average postal employee “…paid $32.00 a month for health benefits.” (This comes at about 5 minutes into the video).SL2 As we pointed out in our previous blog post, there isn’t even a single plan that offers premiums that low…” SL3 SOURCE LINK 1 / SOURCE LINK 2 / SOURCE LINK 3
3-29-2011: from postalnewsblog.com “McCain amendment [SA 251.] would make postal workers pay more for health insurance: US Postal Service employees pay less for their health and life insurance than other federal workers. While other employees have 72% of their health premiums paid for by the government, the postal service pays 79% of the premium for its employees. Postal executives pay nothing for health insurance. An amendment introduced by Senator John McCain would change that, requiring the USPS not to exceed the percentage contribution paid for other federal workers. The amendment would be enforced by depriving the USPS of its borrowing authority in any fiscal year that it fails to comply…” What McCain, who knows better, ignores is: Postal employees don’t get Locality Pay, like FEDERAL employees (almost 30% in Metro [DC] Areas) and in DC federal employees get $100+ every month to take the Metro to work. They also don’t get random federal holidays as announced by the President, any of those snow days the other agencies get off when their areas gets hit with snow. Nor does he offer to increase his own $0 premiums, or extend the retirement requirement for Congress to a minimum of 20 years like Postal Worker. gdl SOURCE LINK
April 2011: A bill sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to ease the USPS financial crisis also would require arbitrators to “consider the financial health” of the USPS when contract negotiations reach an impasse. Although the bill (S. 353 [PDF]) has some beneficial provisions, it would give management an unfair advantage in bargaining. This is similar to the “Coburn Amendment” that we had fought against for years. Had that amendment passed we would have been at a great disadvantage during contract negotiations…gdl. SOURCE LINK
4-5-2011: “At an April 5 hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and other Republicans repeatedly criticized Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and members of the USPS Board of Governors for agreeing to the union’s demand during negotiations to retain protection against layoffs.”

“Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced a bill that would deny federal workers hired after 2012 the right to participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). If approved, S. 644 [PDF] would end the defined benefits portion of the FERS program and leave in place only the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). ” SOURCE LINK
4-13-2011: “On April 13, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, led by Chairman Darryl Issa (R-CA), approved The Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2011, which would require the Postal Service and other federal agencies to terminate any employee who is delinquent in his or her federal taxes. ” “Democratic representatives deemed the measure unnecessary, as existing laws allow for garnishment procedures in cases of unpaid taxes. They also pointed out that terminating delinquent employees would be counterproductive, because it would deny the government any real opportunity to collect taxes from fired workers. SOURCE LINK
6-6-2011: “…Recent news stories suggest that the Postal Service’s financial problems will lead to the downfall of the USPS. Bloomberg Businessweek published an article on May 27 titled “The U.S. Postal Service Nears Collapse,” which blamed the Postal Service’s financial crisis on labor costs. “The Postal Service’s business model [is] so badly broken that collapse [is] imminent,” the article concluded. Other news sources blamed e-mail for the Postal Service’s decline. A report on National Public Radio (NPR) said, “The U.S. Postal Service can’t shrink fast enough. Its revenues are falling and its losses are rising as mail migrates to the Internet.” BUT: “The true cause of the Postal Service’s financial woes is the congressionally-imposed mandate that requires the USPS to pre-fund future retiree health benefits,” Guffey said, “but you wouldn’t know it from reading many of the recent articles about the USPS. “Absent this pre-funding burden, the Postal Service would have experienced a cumulative surplus, despite falling mail volume and the worst recession in recent history,” he added.” from The American Postal Workers Union, REBUTAL TO BUSINESSWEEK ARTICLE
6-17-2011: GOP Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty apparently felt the need to prove his right wing credentials in a speech today in Chicago, calling for the privatization of just about everything the government does, including the post office. SOURCE LINK

Alas, management is starting to see the writing on the wall...after years of playing around with the lives/careers of their workers they are starting to feel the impact and realizing that they're NEXT. First the head of NAPS started registering complaints about their workload increasing as they've given the 'shaft' to workers for the sake of the service and now the head of the National League of Postmasters is afraid the lies they have helped support are getting close to them, too close. The never ending attacks [along with their targeted and intentional inaccuracies] have gotten so bad that for the first time in memory even the management associations [their form of union representation] are starting to join the Chorus led by the APWU and NALC:

The real facts and figures behind the Postal Service Mark Strong, president of the National League of Postmasters
NAPS: The Threat to End Collective Bargaining Jay Killackey, Executive Vice President, National Association of Postal Supervisors
Postal Legislation In The Wings from postalnewsblog.com [Bruce Moyer, NAPS Legislative Counsel]

5-3-2011: “Last week marked two critical milestones in the 2011 Organizational Redesign process. Monday, April 25, was the deadline for employees who accepted the Postal Service’s 2011 Special Incentive Offer. And Thursday, April 28, General Reduction in Force (RIF) Notices were sent to employees who could be affected by a potential RIF in their competitive area. USPS prepared separate General RIF Notices for each competitive area that still may be subject to a RIF. However, not everyone in those competitive areas will receive a notice, because they went only to employees who could be affected….” read more Thank your lucky stars if your in the APWU…no layoffs! GlennDL

6-22-2011: “…according to celebrated weeping lunatic Glenn Beck, Rolando [NALC President] wants to help President Obama create a secret paramilitary force of letter carriers to take over the country.” SOURCE LINK

6-24-2011: “Congressman Dennis Ross appears to believe that the US Postal Service has something called “paid reserve staff” who “wait daily until needed”. SOURCE LINK I REST MY CASE… gdl

The End Of Postal-Indy.com: UPDATE

2011-05-14T14:48:00.001-04:00

When I began Postal-iNDY.com about 9 years ago it was meant as a communications tool for my Local’s Legislative Committee. In the time since then it has transformed into an alternative to my Local’s official publication. This led to it becoming an information source for my Local’s members and postal-workers in general in the central Indiana area. In the last year alone the website has averaged about 1400 hits a month while unofficially serving a membership of less than 1300 of which many don’t have internet access.

Over 1300 of our page views have reached 9 countries outside the United States.

Our most popular post was our original article: ”Management Proposes: Equal Work For Less Pay” which addressed managements ‘two tier’ wage proposal in the early stages of the recent APWU contract negotiations. A proposal that made its way into the approved contract. That article has been read over 4166 times.

Is This The End?

I had found that my Local’s official publication, the ‘Indy Info’, had been steadily becoming less and less relevant over the last ten years, and this irrelevance was contributing to an already spiraling sense of apathy in my local. I felt that the key to reversing this apathy was a rejuvenation of the local’s newspaper and a straight forward attack on the apathy by promoting the ‘inform and educate’ aspect of unionism. Updating, promoting and strengthening the Indy Info was the solution to our problems, not the cause, but as apathy, declining membership and budget woes increased the Indy Info became less dependable and less relevant.

Following the last three local elections I have actively sought the appointed position of Indy Info Editor with the intent of addressing these issues. Part of that strategy was to develop Postal-Indy [what began as a committee communications tool] into a model of what the Indy Info could and should be.

Having finally obtained the position of editor I now face a major transitioning of my plans into action. What it has taken 10 years to make Postal-iNDY.com I have months to achieve with the Indy Info. That will leave little time to maintain and update Postal-Indy.com .

What Next?

Postal Indy will remain ‘up’ until at least April 2012. All the automatic feeds will remain active and all past post will be accessible until then, and I will simu-post my personal post from the Indy-Info, but other updates will only be occasional. Unless someone purchases Postal-Indy.com or takes it over.the future of Postal-Indy.com is uncertain after April 2012. I will post a live feed from the new Indy Info website on Postal-Indy.com. It would be my suggestion that you follow both the Indy Info website and Postal-Indy.com.

Once I have completed my work as the editor of the Indy Info I will not be certain of the future of Postal-Indy.com,

My other current websites:

Thank you for your support.

GlennDL me@glennlittrell.com

PMG: USPS might choose not to pay $5.5B in retiree pre-funding costs

2011-05-08T14:12:00.001-04:00

from NALC Activist Alert:

While speaking recently at a press conference at the National Postal Forum in San Diego, U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Patrick R. Donohoe said that the agency might choose not to pay its congressionally-mandated $5.5 billion payment to the U.S. Treasury to cover future retiree health benefit costs.

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, passed by Congress in 2006, created a payment schedule requiring the USPS to pre-fund its future retiree health benefit obligation at a cost of about $5.5 billion per year for the first 10 years after the bill was passed. As the economy slowed and the recession hit, postal mail revenue declined and the pre-funding requirement became a significant burden to the Service’s annual budget.

PMG Donohoe has put forth two possible solutions: Cut jobs and cut Saturday delivery…: read more

Two Men Arrested in Murder of Florida Letter Carrier:

2011-05-08T14:04:00.001-04:00

from PostalNews Blog:

“Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Henry Gutierrez, Postal Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and James K. Loftus, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, announce the arrest of Pikerson Mentor, 29, and Saubnet Dwayne Politasse, 23, both of Miami, in connection with the December 6, 2010 murder of U.S. Postal Service letter carrier Bruce Parton. Both defendants made their initial appearances in federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman. A detention hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 10 a.m.

The complaint, filed today in federal court, charges ..”

read more

General RIF notices mailed April 28

2011-05-03T13:51:00.001-04:00

from PostalNews Blog:

“Last week marked two critical milestones in the 2011 Organizational Redesign process.

Monday, April 25, was the deadline for employees who accepted the Postal Service’s 2011 Special Incentive Offer. And Thursday, April 28, General Reduction in Force (RIF) Notices were sent to employees who could be affected by a potential RIF in their competitive area.

USPS prepared separate General RIF Notices for each competitive area that still may be subject to a RIF. However, not everyone in those competitive areas will receive a notice, because they went only to employees who could be affected….” read more

Thank your lucky stars if your in the APWU…no layoffs!

GlennDL

Don’t Let Anti-Labor Politicians Stop You From Voting:

2011-04-29T05:03:00.001-04:00

Guffey to Union Members:
Don’t Let Anti-Labor Politicians Stop You From Voting

APWU News Bulletin 08-2011, April 28, 2011 | PDF

Some very powerful politicians have set their sights on postal employees, APWU President Cliff Guffey has warned, and union members must respond decisively.

“Anti-labor members of Congress have said the union’s tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement [PDF - members only] is too favorable to workers,” the union president noted. “They favor contracting out virtually all of our jobs.

[download flyer - PDF] | [order copies]

“I have a simple response,” he said. “I encourage every APWU member to get actively involved in union affairs — and to start by voting on ratification of the tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement. We also must get much more involved in the legislative arena.

“Don’t let these naysayers discourage you from voting.”

At an April 5 hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and other Republicans repeatedly criticized Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and members of the USPS Board of Governors for agreeing to the union’s demand during negotiations to retain protection against layoffs. They also said the Postal Service needed more freedom to close postal facilities and cut the workforce.

“This is an attack on our collective bargaining rights,” Guffey said. “The APWU and the Postal Service reached an agreement that would benefit both sides — and now anti-union legislators are attempting to undermine it.”

More Attacks

Influential lawmakers are also proposing legislation that would weaken postal unions by changing our bargaining process, Guffey pointed out. A bill sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to ease the USPS financial crisis also would require arbitrators to “consider the financial health” of the USPS when contract negotiations reach an impasse. Although the bill (S. 353 [PDF]) has some beneficial provisions, it would give management an unfair advantage in bargaining.

“With governors and state legislatures across the country chipping away at the rights of teachers, nurses, and firefighters to engage in collective bargaining, this issue should not be taken lightly,” Guffey cautioned.

In addition, on March 28, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced an amendment to S. 493, a bill to reauthorize small-business programs, that would dramatically increase the cost of health and life insurance premiums for postal employees, and that would void provisions of the Tentative Agreement. The amendment would set postal contributions to health and life insurance coverage at the same rate other federal employees pay, increasing postal workers’ contributions substantially.

In addition to McCain’s amendment, Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced a bill that would deny federal workers hired after 2012 the right to participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). If approved, S. 644 [PDF] would end the defined benefits portion of the FERS program and leave in place only the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). It also would reduce the employers’ pension contributions, and force employees to pay more toward their retirement benefits.

Good News

Fortunately, pro-worker lawmakers also have introduced legislation to help solve the Postal Service’s financial problems, Guffey said. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) has submitted H.R. 1351 [PDF], which would correct the methodology used by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for computing the Postal Service’s pension liabilities. An improper funding formula has led to USPS overpayments into the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) of more than $50 billion and overpayments into the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) of approximately $7 billion.

“I urge APWU members to contact their U.S. representatives and ask them to co-sponsor this important bill,” Guffey said.

“APWU members cannot afford to sit back and watch while others determine our future,” Guffey said. “Every member must get involved.”

[more contract news]

A terrible proposal:

2011-04-27T13:33:00.001-04:00

from NALC Activist Alert:

““Average citizens and small businesses would be hit the hardest. This sounds remarkably similar to paying automotive industry and bank executives huge salaries and inflated bonuses while the men and women on the street struggle.” Dave Sherman of MetroWNY
“As the battle to save the Postal Service continues in the halls of congress, one thing has remained clear: The battle to save six-day mail delivery service will be at the center of the conversation.

Despite the Postal Regulatory Commission’s report discrediting the amount of money the Postal Service thinks it might save by reducing delivery frequency, some members of Congress and the Postmaster General seem intent on heading in that direction anyway…”
READ MORE

Community Shred-It Day:

2011-04-22T11:22:00.001-04:00

This coming Saturday, April 23rd, Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana, Goodwill Industries, Shred-It Mobil Paper Shredding and Recycling along with the Carmel, Lawrence, Greenwood, Indianapolis Metropolitan, Speedway Police Departments and the Boone County Sheriff's Office are hosting Community Shred-It Day, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The specific places to take your personal documents for shredding, computers and electronics for recycling and prescription medications for disposal:

Getting rid of all of these items in one quick stop would be a good start to your Spring Cleaning.

Thanks and have a great day.

courtesy of S. Gordon

Continued Right Wing Attack on Postal and Federal Workers:

2011-04-17T23:46:00.001-04:00

from APWU:

Tax Delinquent Bill Aimed at Federal Workers
Passes House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

APWU Web News Article 045-2011, April 15, 2011

Anti-labor legislators are endorsing another measure aimed at federal employees — including postal workers. On April 13, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, led by Chairman Darryl Issa (R-CA), approved The Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2011 [PDF], which would require the Postal Service and other federal agencies to terminate any employee who is delinquent in his or her federal taxes.

The bill would exempt workers on active military duty and employees who are making a “good faith” effort to pay their taxes.

Support for the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) on Feb. 28, was split along party lines. Democratic representatives deemed the measure unnecessary, as existing laws allow for garnishment procedures in cases of unpaid taxes. They also pointed out that terminating delinquent employees would be counterproductive, because it would deny the government any real opportunity to collect taxes from fired workers.

Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) offered an amendment that would have excluded postal workers from the measure because they are not paid with tax dollars. He also argued that any actions taken against postal workers would be subject to their collective bargaining process. Those arguments fell on deaf ears and the amendment was defeated by Republicans on the committee.

The only concession was the adoption of an amendment that would require a waiting period before the termination process begins. The delay would give employees the opportunity to pay the delinquent taxes or challenge the liability. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) offered an amendment calling for a 90-day waiting period, but the committee settled on 60 days.

Despite acknowledgement by both parties that more than 96 percent of current federal and postal employees pay their taxes on time, the bill will now go before the full House for a vote. A companion bill, S. 376, has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and has been referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Reform.

2011 Local Elections Polls and Results:

2011-04-11T00:52:00.000-04:00

The ‘Polls’ were unscientific and just for fun.

Not OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS!!!!
I am out of the country and do not have secure access to information, these vote results are based on what was sent to me but I understand there has been a lot of ‘drama’ over the vote count and some challenges may be pending.

Participation was light but here are the cumulative results after three weeks with the change from week 2 to week 3:

President:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 2 to 3	Actual Vote
MacLawrence Ford	0%	Change 0%	34%	+34%	138 24%
Latonia Smith	0%	Change 0%	5%	+5%	74 12%
David Whitaker	66%	Change –9%	39%	-27%	131 22$
William Wright	33%	Change +8%	21%	-12%	229 40%

Vice President:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 2 to 3	Actual Vote
Staci Williams	17%	Change -17%	47%	+30%	220 41%
Steve Vaughn	83%	Change -17%	52%	-31%	323 59%

Secretary Treasurer:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 2 to 3	Actual Vote
Martha Foote	50%	Change 0%	23%	-27%	160 28%
John Guthrie	0%	Change 0%	42%	+42%	145 26%
Helen Scott	0%	Change 0%	0%	0%	11 1%
Nancy Helms	33%	Change +8%	14%	-19%	138 24%
Jeffrey Offutt	17%	Change –8%	19%	+2%	103 18%

Membership Coordinator:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 2 to 3	Actual Vote
Charlotte Hiatt	0%	Change 0%	50%	+50%	181 54%
*Loretta Maydwell*	*100%*	*Change 0%*	*50%*	*-50%*	352 66%

Recording Secretary:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 2 to 3	Actual Vote
Kathy Woods	60%	Change –15%	26%	-34%	252 48%
Janine Yowell	40%	Change +15%	73%	+33%	272 52%

Maintenance Craft Director:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 2 to 3	Actual Vote
John Mike Hale	83%	Change +8%	45%	-38%	113 87%
Larry Robinson	17%	Change –8%	55%	+38%	16 13%

MVS Craft Director:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 1 to 2	Actual Vote
Gregg Jones	80%	Change +14%	57%	-23%	45 69%
Glenn Woods	20%	Change –14%	43%	+23%	20 31%

Assistant Clerk Craft Director:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 1 to 2	Actual Vote
Diane Coleman	50%	Change +17%	20%	-30%	149 46%
Vickie Crouse	50%	Change –17%	80%	+30%	176 54%

Sergeant @ Arms:	Wk 2	Change Week 1 to 2	Wk 3	Change Week 1 to 2	Actual Vote
Chantel Beckwith	83%	Change +8%	38%	-45%	219 44%
Charles Jamison	17%	Change -8%	62%	+45%	280 56%

Trustee:					Actual Vote
Charles Finney	-----------	--------------------	---------------	------------------	147
Vincent Norris	-----------	--------------------	---------------	------------------	191
Don Packwood	-----------	--------------------	---------------	------------------	326
N.K. Balahushna “Kush”	-----------	--------------------	---------------	------------------	255
Linda Daniels	-----------	--------------------	---------------	------------------	271

Candidate	National	Position	State	Position
Loretta Maydwell	294	1	241	1
Helen Scott	49	38	54	37
N.K. Balakushna “Kush”	200	10	191	13
Tony “Superman” Moore	134	23	124	22
Greg Jones	124	25	119	25
Eddie Beaver	214	7	210	7
Janine M. Yowell	214	7	205	8
Big John Guthrie	206	9	199	10
Rebecca LaFeber	36	36	52	39
Vincent Norris	135	21	140	21
Latonia Smith	183	17	181	15
Staci L. Williams	194	13	178	17
Charles E. Finney	72	32	61	36
William Wright W.W.	258	2	238	2
Don Packwood	225	6	217	6
Vickie Crouse	123	26	119	25
David Whitaker	254	3	238	2
Julie Alums	85	31	91	31
Jeffrey “Bull” Offutt	183	17	169	19
Larry Robinson	66	35	78	32
Diana Coleman	104	29	108	28
Charles Jemison	133	24	123	23
Martha Foote	195	12	197	11
D.D. “Moody”	72	32	71	33
Glenn Littrell	173	19	177	18
Kathy Woods	199	11	201	9
Lorenza R. Tucker	72	32	67	34
Roy L. Barnett Jr.	39	39	53	38
Glenn Woods	105	28	108	28
Chantel L. Beckwith	121	27	111	27
Nancy Helms	184	16	196	12
Robin Miles	93	30	94	30
Linda Daniels	135	21	123	23
Trina Y. Webb	58	37	65	35
John “Mike” Hale	147	20	152	20
MacLawrence Ford	188	14	180	16
Stevie “Ray” Vaughn	235	4	233	4
Debra Gilbert	226	5	224	5
Charlotte Hiatt	187	15	182	14

The Attack on Middle Class/Working Class America Continues:

2011-04-06T14:03:00.001-04:00

The attacks didn’t start with state workers across the country… the right wing anti-worker, anti-union/pro-corporate, campaign has been ongoing for years. Facing a potential stalemate in a divided Congress the emphasis shifted from Postal Workers and large private sector unions to waging war on the middle class working family by attacking public service employees. This shift however is not a change in the anti-working family agenda of the right-wing conservative it is just a broadening of the frontal assault that was brought on by inflated Tea Party victories of the 2010 elections.

The right-wing conservative members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform have focused their sites, as promised, on attacking the biggest public service workforce of them all, Postal Workers. [see links and video below]

It is estimated that about 40% of APWU members are more conservative than liberal [the figure is higher when you factor in non-members [free-loaders]]. It is this group that is slowest to acknowledge the threat to their jobs and tend to ignore the right-wing attacks on their jobs. They tend to feel that those attacks are directed towards their co-workers, not them, or they feel comfortable that their seniority will protect them. What they fail to realize is that Wisconsin working families also didn’t think the right-wing attacks were directed at them individually and they also felt their seniority would protect them too. Now they know better.

Wisconsin workers now realize that they have been voting against their best interest by supporting candidates who only give lip service to family values issues every election, but give true service to a pro-corporate agenda that finances their political campaigns. In several of the states that worker rights are under attack there have been some type of pro-corporate tax cut or tax subsidies for high income individuals or corporation. How did they go from their ‘create jobs’ campaign during the election to their ‘job destruction’ agenda across the country? The events of the last six months in Wisconsin has highlighted that working class America, middle class America, family values America, union families and unemployed working families are not distinct groups, but are overlapping, entwined and inseparable from the fabric of our society. These realizations should not be lost on Postal Workers, liberal as well as conservative, because the fight against the working class is not going to be limited to your co-worker or state employees.

The attacks on postal workers continue now with House hearings attacking our recently negotiated contract. If these attacks are successful or the membership votes down this contract is anyone foolish enough to think we are going to get a better deal? Even with its flaws the first reaction of most Postal Workers was to wipe the sweat from their forehead and breath a sigh of relief that there weren’t facing give backs or pending arbitration.

During World War II it was the working class that fought the war and built the war machines. Following the war it was the working families that expanded our infrastructure and fought the Korean War. This working class, the working families, their unions and the GI Bill is what built the American middle class following the depression. It wasn’t the middle class that caused the Great Depression anymore than it was the middle class that caused the current ‘Great Recession’. It was Wall Street and Corporate greed that caused both. It is time that we realize that the pro-corporate mantra that ‘What is good for business is good for America’ is a fallacies and adopt the more proven observation that what is good for the working family is good for America. Business has and will always take care of itself.

GlennDL

If there is any doubt that right-wing conservatives are pro-privatization, anti-union, anti federal worker and specifically anti-Postal Workers then check out these articles from this website and others: NEW EXAMPLE… FOXNews-Phony Bailout Headline

As we see the attacks on and the damage done to state level workers play out, Postal Workers should consider the words of Pastor Martin Neilmoller:

They’ve attacked everyone who disagrees with them as ‘socialist’, now their attacking state public servants and unions, and we’ve heard their plans for postal & federal workers. When will you realize that you are not exempt from their list of transgressors just because you think you’re one of them.

They aren’t Nazi’s or Fascist and this isn’t pre-war Germany, but the tactics are similar and proven. Divide and conquer use fear and hate to push their anti-worker agenda. Stand-up speak-out before its too late.

Local’s 2011 tri-annual election

2011-04-06T03:34:00.001-04:00

We are only a few days away from the end of the Local’s 2011 tri-annual election. This Friday morning the votes will be counted and the winners announce. The next day will be our April General Membership meeting and installation of officers.

It is important that win or loose everyone remain involved in the workings of this Local. Too often losers disappear for three years and then return to ‘save the union!’ Loosing the election is no reason to abandon the Local for three years, it only puts us in another 3 year deeper hole.

While I will be leaving for Florida on Friday and will miss the meeting I hope everyone will consider some [3] items in the wake of some of the rhetoric and attacks that have been made this last month. The first step towards transparency is openness.

During this election Executive Board members, and other Candidates, have posted publicly; the minutes of Executive Board meetings, minutes of General Membership meetings, Budget Reports, Audit reports, etc., etc. For years the same members have promoted a cloak of restraint on the dissemination of information to the membership for fear that non-members and management might witness it. The argument has always been moot because the cloak of restraint has only guaranteed that management and non-members would get the information faster than dues paying members. Now the argument is meaningless as it seems to apply only until a self-serving purpose can be found to ignore it.

So in light of the taboos that have been broken let us cast them aside as archaic and self defeating. Let’s do this by considering these policy changes immediately:

End Closed Door E-Board Meetings: It is common practice for unions to conduct E-Board meetings in an open environment [for example the Central Indiana Labor Council does so]. Nowhere does our constitution allow closed meetings. The size of our meeting room with the room dividers [installed but never used] could allow for open meetings. Members could observe only, not participate. The E-Board could adjourn tot the conference room for personal matters to be discussed with a time limit.
Executive Board members need to realize that the days of walking through the conference room door for the first meeting of a new 3 year cycle and transforming into a loyal, status quo E-Board Member has got to stop. Elected positions are leadership positions, not follow the leader positions. You are elected and not appointed because you are supposed to be independent, representing your members, not the President or the E-Board. The President can assign some additional duties as per the Constitution, but he can not remove duties or define your job as an elected officer. Keep your steward job and the duties assigned to you by the president separate from the duties, job, you were elected to do.
Make E-Board meeting minutes available with the General Membership meeting minutes. There is no Robert Rules or Constitutional justification for not doing this.
Whenever possible require all motions for the spending of money be submitted in writing at the beginning of meetings with a break down of expenditures

In the coming months I intend to pursue the above changes, if anyone is interested in helping me, or supporting the ideals at a meeting let me know.

The code of secrecy has to stop. Much of the problems highlighted in this election could not have happened without the complacency of everyone on the E-Board. Standing in solidarity with someone means your standing against someone. Together as an E-Board equals against who? The membership, dissenters? Solidarity applied to small groups is a conspiracy. Solidarity is a broad principle, the broader the principle the stronger, thus ‘solidarity’. If the E-Board debates a benign issue, such as the color of t-shirts for an event it is OK to say ‘lets present a unified front when we leave the meeting’. That’s fine but: a] it must be voluntary and b] if the issue is following the constitution or spending union money every E-Board member is obligated to continue the debate on the floor of the General Membership meeting.

GlennDL

Where’s The Funding:

2011-04-05T14:17:00.001-04:00

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'm excited to tell you that yesterday over 1,000 actions took place not only around the country but around the world in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his assassination 43 years ago. We were able to talk about his role in the Memphis sanitation workers' strike and unionization campaign and how he viewed unions as a path way to a true democracy. It was with this thought, honor, and respect that we fought to keep progressing the struggle for social and economic justice moving forward yesterday. SLAP, Jobs with Justice and United States Student Association took part in over 50 of the actions yesterday, ranging from rallies to teach-ins held on campuses.

In Philadelphia: Over 1,000 community members, faith, students, young people and workers came out to rally in solidarity with the labor movement and battles happening around the country.
In Ann Arbor: At the University of Michigan, hundreds of students covered the campus as they demanded the right to an affordable and accessible education and demanded that our communities be run by us, not corporations.
In Atlanta: Hundreds of workers, students, young people, faith and community came out to a march and rally to stand against the attacks being launched on our communities that included MLK III as a speaker.

These actions did not go unheard, either. The New York Times uplifted USSA's role in an article re-capping the actions and explaining Martin Luther King, Jr.'s role in the day of action.

But the fight is just beginning - and we have more to say. Today SLAP is proud to be participating in a national teach-in lead by Francis Fox Piven and Cornel West called: "Fight Back USA!" that will discuss austerity, debt, and corporate greed and how we as young people can fight back. You can tune into the national broadcast that will be online from 2-3:30 EST and then there nearly 225 local teach-ins scheduled.

And after today more will be happening. The United States Student Association Board of Directors, composed of students from around the country, have declared April a month of action. We will be fighting every day to make higher education a priority, workers' rights mandatory and scale back the corporate greed that is trying to take over our country.

It is in this struggle that all members of our communities - elderly and young, working and unemployed - share the same interests. The fight happening right now is simply "public need verses corporate greed." It is time for us to set our priorities as neighborhoods, communities, cities, states and a country.

In Solidarity,
Chris Hicks
Student Labor Action Project Coordinator

The Results From The 2nd Straw Poll On The 2011 Local Elections Are In:

2011-04-04T01:26:00.001-04:00

Unscientific and just for fun.

Participation is still light but here are the cumulative results after two weeks with the change from week 1 to week 2:

President:

MacLawrence Ford 0% Change 0%
Latonia Smith 0% Change 0%
David Whitaker 66% Change –9%
William Wright 33% Change +8%

Vice President:

Staci Williams 17% Change +17%
Steve Vaughn 83% Change -17%

Secretary Treasurer:

Martha Foote 50% Change 0%
John Guthrie 0% Change 0%
Helen Scott 0% Change 0%
Nancy Helms 33% Change +8%
Jeffrey Offutt 17% Change –8%

Membership Coordinator:

Charlotte Hiatt 0% Change 0%
Loretta Maydwell 100% Change 0%

Recording Secretary:

Kathy Woods 60% Change –15%
Janine Yowell 40% Change +15%

Maintenance Craft Director:

John Mike Hale 83% Change +8%
Larry Robinson 17% Change –8%

MVS Craft Director:

Gregg Jones 80% Change +14%
Glenn Woods 20% Change –14%

Assistant Clerk Craft Director:

Diane Coleman 50% Change +17%
Vickie Crouse 50% Change –17%

Sergeant @ Arms:

Chantel Beckwith 83% Change +8%
Charles Jamison 17% Change -8%

The new pole starts now click here

Value of Unions:

2011-04-03T14:25:00.001-04:00

from starrpress.com

In Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and a host of other states including Indiana, Republican politicians and the corporate interests who own their souls are trying once again to destroy the few remaining effective labor unions.

Their so-called "right-to-work" propaganda has eaten away public support for labor organizations in the same way the Colorado River over the ages has cut the Grand Canyon.

But here are some of the consequences as revealed by a study conducted by the Urban Economic Development Center and written in a New York Times article by Karen Garcia: "In one week 26 percent (of workers surveyed) were paid less than minimum wage; 73 percent were denied overtime compensation for extra hours worked; 19 percent were not paid at all for extra work; 17 percent were required under threat of dismissal to work 'off the clock' for no pay at all; 18 percent were denied meal breaks; 11 percent suffered mealtime interruptions by employers or supervisors; 12 percent worked through their meal breaks; 4 percent were paid late; 57 percent got no pay stubs, and 20 percent had their pay illegally docked."

These are just some of the ways in which employees not protected by strong unions can be and are abused by their bosses.

Garcia goes on to say, "Forget the president, forget the state and national governments. The only people willing to stand up for poor people are their fellows."

Remember this the next time you get a chance to vote.

Indianapolis Area Local Monthly Meeting:

2011-04-03T14:03:00.001-04:00

Membership Meeting & Installation of Officers.

Counting of Ballots on Friday:
4-8-11
Installation of Officers:
4-9-11

Election Ballots Due: Friday, April 8, by 8AM [by mail only]

2011-04-02T12:58:00.001-04:00

Members can observe the ballot count at the union hall on Friday morning. The ballots are picked up, by the election committee, at 8AM. They are brought to the Union Hall and counted by machine in full view of the membership present. The process isn’t that long so if you want to attend feel free to do so.

“IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE MARCH GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING THAT SOHO’s SOLUTION TO THE ORIGINAL BALLOT/PRINTING ERROR WAS NOT ADEQUATE. ….SOHO was instructed to void all ballots and redo the ballots from scratch with a new mailing and new dates for returning the ballots. …the new ballots will …must be returned by [by mail] 8am, Friday, April 8, 2011:”

We Are One:

2011-03-31T07:51:00.000-04:00

Martin Luther King, Jr., Peace And Memorial Park

McCain amendment would make postal workers pay more for health insurance:

2011-03-29T12:45:00.001-04:00

from postalnews blog

US Postal Service employees pay less for their health and life insurance than other federal workers. While other employees have 72% of their health premiums paid for by the government, the postal service pays 79% of the premium for its employees. Postal executives pay nothing for health insurance.

An amendment introduced by Senator John McCain would change that, requiring the USPS not to exceed the percentage contribution paid for other federal workers. The amendment would be enforced by depriving the USPS of its borrowing authority in any fiscal year that it fails to comply:

TEXT OF AMENDMENT

SA 251. Mr. McCAIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 493, to reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of the bill, add the following:
SEC. ___. LIMITATION ON POSTAL SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR LIFE INSURANCE AND HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS.
(a) In General.—If the Postmaster General does not submit a certification described under subsection (b) to Congress before fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year thereafter—
(1) no sums may be appropriated from the United States Treasury to the United States Postal Service with respect to that fiscal year; and
(2) notwithstanding section 2005(a) of title 39, United States Code, the United States Postal Service may not borrow any money under that section with respect to that fiscal year.
(b) Certification.—A certification referred to under subsection (a) is a certification that, with respect to the applicable fiscal year, the contributions by the United States Postal Service for employees for—
(1) life insurance benefits shall not exceed the maximum contribution provided for under section 8708 of title 5, United States Code; and
(2) health insurance benefits shall not exceed the maximum contribution provided for under section 8906 of title 5, United States Code.

What McCain, who knows better, ignores is:

Postal employees don’t get Locality Pay, like FEDERAL employee (almost 30% in Metro [DC] Areas) and in DC federal employees get $100+ every month to take the Metro to work. They also don’t get random federal holidays as announced by the President, any of those snow days the other agencies get off when their areas gets hit with snow. Nor does he offer to increase his own $0 premiums, or extend the retirement requirement for Congress to a minimum of 20 years like Postal Worker. GlennDL

William R. Wright –W.W.

2011-03-28T02:29:00.000-04:00

Candidate For:

General President
State & National Delegate

"THE RIGHT CHOICE"

To APWU Members:

A lot of information has been coming your way that affects your livelihood. Obviously the ratification of the tentative agreement will not only be paramount in shaping your career, but redefining the business practices of the Postal Service. I, as well as most, have some reservations concerning the use of " Postal Support Employees " ( PSE's, known formally as NCA's ) as they are not entitled to the entry level salaries and benefits that have been obtained through many years of tumultuous collective bargaining. I hold in the highest regard the efforts of all of the former officers and the monumental successes that we have obtained through Collective Bargaining however, given the current economical condition, both parties have reached an agreement that they thought would be the best resolution for not only the USPS but the American Postal Workers Union as well. The Rank and File Committee confirmed 100 % their support for the agreement and I also concur with their decision.

I have attended the Tentative agreement briefing conducted in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 19, 2011 and have now provided an audio version of this event. I suggest that you download and print the PowerPoint PDF provided on the www.right-choice.net website [WEBINAR: CONTRACT Q & A's]; this will allow you to follow along and get a better understanding of this agreement.

Remember the new and final ballots for the local election will be sent on March 24, 2011.

I ask for your continued support:
William Wright WW
Nancy Helms
Don Packwood
Greg Jones
Mike Hale
Loretta Maydwell

Also:
Vincent Norris
Linda Daniels
Tony "SUPERMAN" Moore

"The presentation of information on any Candidates on this or any pages at this website is not meant as an endorsement by the owner of this Website, nor is the exclusion of any Candidates meant to reflect on any Candidates. The owner of this Website post any and all suitable material submitted by Candidates who choose to use this forum."

Dave Whitaker:

2011-03-28T02:28:00.000-04:00

Candidate For:

General President
State & National Delegate

ELECT ‘DAVE WHITAKER’ GENERAL PRESIDENT

I am serving in my ninth year as Executive Vice President. I am running for General President. I am running for President at the urging of several members from the Maintenance, Clerk and MVS crafts. I decided that I could make a difference in the Local so I accepted the nomination. I am qualified to be President because I have the longest continuous tenure as an officer and a steward, in this Local. Excellent training and ‘hard work’ have brought me the most all-around knowledge and experience, in this Local.

I will apply a structured approach when making a decision (identify, information, options, implement, monitor).

I will engage the Executive Board to structure a sound constitution and financial practices. I will require the officers and stewards to conduct business in accordance with the constitution. I will encourage the officers and stewards to perform at their full-capacity, in order that the Local utilize its limited resources more efficiently. I will expect all officers and stewards to behave in a professional manner when interacting with a member.

I want to establish an increased dialogue with the membership. This will guide the Local to understand the needs of our members and direct our efforts in those directions.
To achieve this the Local will need to use the Indy Info and bulletins effectively. The Local could provide direct correspondence through internet, mail or telephone.

I will strive to improve the grievance procedure, locally. I believe issues may be resolved without a grievance. More frequent education for the stewards and better dialogue with management will helps us achieve these goals. Stewards will try to reach more settlements at Step 1 and Step 2.

I hope to provide educational opportunities to the membership - such as contract training, retirement information, and use of benefits.

I will not make promises that I cannot keep, in order to secure a vote. But I will promise to give a 110% effort, to the members, while administering the Local.

With the help of the Executive Board and Stewards, and the support of the membership, I envision our Local reaching new heights. I envision a Local with a solid foundation- based on serving the membership-priority one! I will strive to infuse new blood into our Local to help mold our future leaders.

27 Years-Postal Worker

22 Years-Shop Steward

9 YEARS EXECUTIVE
VICE PRESIDENT

9 Years -Clerk Craft Director

4 Years -National Advocate

State Delegate -Since 1990

National Delegate -Since 1990

B.A. Psychology
–Indiana University

ELECT ‘DAVE WHITAKER GENERAL PRESIDENT

Steve "STEVIE RAY" VAUGHN

2011-03-28T02:27:00.000-04:00

Candidate For:

Executive Vice President
State & National Delegate
WOW with the 1^st round of election ballots screwed up. You the members get to be inundated by more propaganda and BS! You can get a feel for those that might be concerned about their chances of attaining an office by the many different flyers they post on the walls or mail directly to your home (just in case you don’t look at the walls) They get to polish their image and remind you of the great things they have done and of course slander those they are running against. The more words they highlight with BOLD text and underlined could be used as a tape to measure the confidence of the candidate. I truly despise the union elections as it brings out the raw side and distastefulness of what is supposed to be my brothers and sisters in “solidarity”. My battles are not against my fellow union members. I stand on my simple principles; I enforce the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Local Memorandum, our contract (yours & mine) to the best of my ability every time. To work with every union representative at our local, state and national level to accomplish this task. I choose to take on this role and to run for office, to fight for the contractual rights of all APWU members. It is not a need. I have been a maintenance union steward since 1996, three terms I was elected by you the members to the Maintenance Craft Director. I have sat on your executive board 12 out of the last 15 years. Yes that means I have served under the leadership of Stone, Beaver, Guynn and now Ford as president of our local. It makes no difference to me if you are male or female, if your skin is black, white or any other color. If you ask to be and are elected to any position in my (your) local, I will expect you to do the job, in fact I demand it. And that job is providing the best union representation that can be given.

VOTE FOR
STEVE “STEVIE RAY” VAUGHN
for
VICE PRESIDENT
of YOUR
Indianapolis Area Local #130 UNION

There are major changes in the works. We have been presented with a “Tentative” agreement that you will have to vote on. If it is voted down then we will tell those we sent to Washington to take our case to arbitration. There are some very good things in this agreement. But as a union representative, it is hard for me to agree with all of it. In the troubled times that we are facing as a nation and economic uncertainties perhaps 3.5% pay increase, COLA’s and returning over 4000 jobs back to the APWU crafts out weigh the negatives’.
As your Vice-President I will make it an everyday issue to insure that your union representatives are prepared to do business with whom ever the USPS puts in the remaining jobs. I believe that knowledge is power. Your stewards will have the knowledge. I will hold as many classes as often as it takes to provide them with the tools to be prepared. I want every craft director to be in-touch with every steward daily, weekly or more if needed. I will be in touch with every craft director just as much. USPS mgmt. has telephone conferences sometimes several times a day. We all have phones and should do the same. Knowledge is power…we must share the power. I have been at this as I said for 15 years and have gained some knowledge, not secrets.
Labor Donated

Don Packwood

2011-03-28T02:25:00.000-04:00

Candidate for:

Trustee
State & National Delegate

I have worked for 21 years at the U. S. Postal Service. As a Postal employee, I have worked as a Special Delivery Messenger, Clerk/SDM, and currently working as a Sales/Service & Distribution Clerk. I have served our union as a Steward and/or Associate Office Coordinator from 1992-2005. I served as an Executive Board member as a Trustee under 2 administrations, 1992-2002. I have been the Editor of the unions’ "Indy Info" newsletter from 2000-2005 and I am currently the State Editor of the Indiana Postal Workers Unions’ “IPWU Dispatch” (elected in 2006). I have been a State and National Delegate since 1996. I was the Indiana State (IPWU) Special Delivery Craft Director from 1993-1999. I have served on a number of committees including; Entertainment, Building, Budget, Safety and Health, Constitution, and Legislative Committee. I was a member of the Negotiations Team from 1996 to 2005. I was a lead negotiator, and successfully negotiated the 2000 local contract negotiated by the Indianapolis Area Local. I had previous experience in negotiations while serving with American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (A.F.S.C.M.E.) prior to my APWU involvement. I assisted in filing excessing (Article 12) grievances, which were won in arbitration, resulting in excessed employees being returned to their previous assignments and awarded out-of-schedule and other premium back pay.

I was instrumental in updating and modernizing the unions’ computer system to better serve the membership. I received Leadership Training from both National and State officers while attending the Tri-State Stewards School both at Ohio State University and Miami University. I also received Advanced Stewards Training from the same school. I have also received training in several areas at both the State and National level including; FMLA, OWCP, Excessing, RI 399, Casuals in Lieu of, Local Negotiations, Building the Local Union, Websites to Reach The Membership, and Secretary/Treasurers School.

I have held other leadership positions in both college and community organizations. I held leadership and organizing positions while serving an A.F.S.C.M.E. local prior to my postal career. I attended IUPUI and was an instructor at Clark College. I have continuously served the membership in all my elected, appointed, and voluntary positions.

VOTE for DON PACKWOOD
TRUSTEE – State & National Delegate

www.right-choice.net

John "Mike" Hale

2011-03-28T02:24:00.001-04:00

Candidate For:

Maintenance Craft Director
State & National Delegate

I'm Mike Hale and I am running for the position of Maintenance Craft Director. I started my Postal career in 1993 as Custodian, have held the position of Maintenance Mechanic and currently I am a level 08 Carpenter. I have had extensive training at the expense of the Indianapolis Area Local; this includes attending two National Maintenance conferences along with training at (2) pre-convention workshops at the National Convention conducted by National officers. I have attended the John R. Smith Stewards School at Ohio State University. As a union steward for over 5 years, I have participated as a Technical Advisor in arbitration defending the union's position. I have a 100% success rate in removal cases.

I have the work ethic and the knowledge to seek resolutions to our current issues no matter how difficult.

I understand the grievance/arbitration procedures,

With Your Vote we can begin the fight the right way!

Elect John "Mike" Hale as your Maintenance Craft Director

VOTE for JOHN "MIKE" HALE
Maintenance Craft Director – State & National Delegate

www.right-choice.net

Jones (AKA Johnny C)

2011-03-28T02:24:00.000-04:00

Candidate For:

Motor Vehicle Service Craft Director
State & National Delegate

You know me, as Greg, Mack, "Johnny Cochran", Jonessy or maybe something not suitable for print, I have represented the MVS craft and have been a union steward for 9 years. The past 6 years I served under the outgoing MVS director William Wright, I was named as the Chief Steward serving as the only Chief Steward in the Indianapolis Area Local. I have a strong desire to represent the members of this craft, as we are facing the most difficult times in its history. My personal character is a reflection of my strong convictions to family and friends, I convey to you, that my coworkers, friends that I've met through work and my own postal career are of the utmost importance to me. I will continue to represent each and every member as my family, my union family, and we will survive. I have been educated by some of the best National officers that any union could expect to have, I have learned from every grievance, win or lose, and adjusted my grievance handling accordingly. I have also had the great opportunity to serve as the MVS Craft Director for the State of Indiana over the previous six years as well. My experience at the state level has propelled my knowledge of the union as a whole, and I have learned vast amounts of information to help in our survival. My work ethic is second to none, I would fully expect your support in all ways to help secure our futures. To help secure your future, make your commitment and your vote count:

Make the right-choice!

VOTE for JONES (AKA Johnny C)
Motor Vehicle Service Craft Director – State & National Delegate

www.right-choice.net

Nancy Helms

2011-03-28T02:22:00.001-04:00

Candidate For:

General Secretary – Treasurer
State & National Delegate

My name is Nancy Helms. I have been a member of this Local for 34 years and have Represented the Membership as National & State Delegate for the last 8 years. I served as a Steward during five of the last six Administrations. I have attended National and State training classes on all of the issues facing the Clerk Craft. The training that I've received permits me to give Stewards and members factual and correct information.

Most recently as Research & Education Director, I was able to use my knowledge to help other Stewards as well as Officers document and prepare their grievance cases for Arbitration. As an employee, I have worked in many different clerk positions during my postal career including manual, DBCS machine, Window Clerk, Flat-Sorting machine, Registry, Box Section and Expediter. I've been a Steward on all three Tours. I have vast experience and knowledge in Secretary Treasurers Fiduciary Responsibilities and form LM-2, Contract articles, Handbooks and Manuals, Federal Laws including FMLA, Discipline, Excessing/Reassignment, Window Clerks, Part-Time Regulars, Limited / Light Duty, OWCP, and Overtime Issues. I want you to benefit from the years of training I've received at your expense. Vote for me for Secretary Treasurer and National and State Delegate. Let me work for you.

VOTE for Nancy Helms

General Secretary – Treasurer

State & National Delegate

www.right-choice.net

Loretta Maydwell

2011-03-28T02:22:00.000-04:00

Candidate For:

Membership / Insurance Coordinator
State & National Delegate

Hi, I'm asking for your continued support as Membership/ Insurance Coordinator of the Indianapolis Area Local. This March I will begin my 24th year as a postal employee and a union member, I have held the position of Membership/Insurance Coordinator for the last six years. They APWU health plan plays an important role to the APWU, while the membership is down quite a bit the health plan contributes approximately $4.5 million per year in revenue to the American Postal Workers Union. In 2008 the health plan gained approximately 5,700 new members, and 2009 it was approximately 10,000, and in 2010 we gain another 10,700 members into the plan. I have participated in several Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) health fairs that are conducted annually during open season, so during the open season please take the time to look into the APWU health plan. I think you'll find it offers just as much and in some cases more than any other insurance that is offered, and at a significantly reduced cost to you. As a member of the APWU health plan myself, and my extensive training I can answer most questions that the members may have concerning this plan, if I don't know, I have direct contact with the plan administrators and can provide you an expedited answer.

Brothers and Sisters, during this election process you must consider this, the union officials that you vote for not only represent you, they speak for you, don't vote for an individual because they are popular, nice or just simply tell you what you want to hear, I asked or challenge you to get more involved in demand that you get the appropriate right answer, not the same rhetoric. We are facing some difficult times right now and you must choose leaders that have our best interest at heart. If you're not satisfied the choices you have, then I encourage you to become more involved. While I do appreciate and respect every dues paying member of this great union that we are part of, this union needs everyone to become more involved. Please consider what's at stake here and make a sound decision before placing your vote,

RE-ELECT
Loretta Maydwell for
Membership / Insurance Coordinator

VOTE
for Loretta Maydwell
State & National Delegate

www.right-choice.net

Tentative Contract:: Commentary:

2011-03-27T14:57:00.000-04:00

Commentary:
in reference to President Burris’ article [below]:
by Glenn Littrell:
While I agree with most of the points made by President Burris and even his criticism of the tentative contract, we must also look at the political and economical realities that we, our unions and our country face at this moment and through the foreseeable future.
The reality is that during the negotiations many APWU members have been living in fear that we would end up with binding arbitration that could drag on to the point of leaving ourselves vulnerable to interference from a hostile Congress. So the fear is not just of arbitration, but also of Congressional interference. In the past we have more often than not come out ahead in arbitration, but we can never be sure of how much influence the economic crisis, public opinion and political pressure might have on the outcome.
It isn’t a matter of us believing the lies of management about the source of our financial problems, it’s a matter of viewing the difference between managements previous cries of poverty and the current atmosphere of anti-union, anti-government worker sentiment. In the past the arbitrators chose to give those cries of poverty little weight, but in this environment it would be hard for them to ignore those cries. We certainly have failed to make the public adequately aware of those realities. We can’t even get them to realize that we are independent of taxpayer support.
With the growing hostility between middle class Americans who are unionized and those who are not, the power of the anti-union republicans and their corporate backers grows as time passes. One failing of our union and all unions is the failure over the decades to adequately turn the tide of anti-union rhetoric amongst the non-unionized working class in this country. The current controversies in Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio are encouraging from the stand point that we see an opportunity to rally the working class, but we are not turning back the anti-union forces at the moment. We are winning morale victories right now, not out right victories. Too many of our own members are slow to engage in union activity and our political allies [the Democratic Party] have shown an inability to focus and adequately counter our right-wing attackers. It is with a sigh of relief that most of our members will view this contract, because for them the alternative is scary. Hopefully, our local will see this new contract as a tool for promoting unionism amongst our members who were fearful of give backs and as an organizing opportunity for re-growing our membership amongst the new second tier employees and what will probably be a growing number of retirees.
I have always been opposed to ‘two tier pay systems’ as can be seen in my article “Management Proposes ‘Equal Work For Less Pay’” posted during the first few weeks of contract negotiations. It is this ‘second’ tier that I believe Pres. Burris is referring to when he talks about:
“…future employees will suffer reductions in pay of more than $300 per pay…”
but to be sure, for many of these employees, future employees, that’s going to be $300 per pay more than their making now. Additionally this second tier will be replacing the carbuncle on our butts known as ‘casuals’. For those casuals that make the transition to this second tier they will surely be making larger paychecks, gaining representation, benefits and career paths. They will also be an opportunity for re-growing our membership and if done right, strengthening our union.
The other drawbacks to a two-tier labor force are still possible, but salary caps and percentage limits over a longer 4 1/2 year contract will slow the progress towards those drawbacks. Giving us time to adjust and adapt before the next contract. This is an adjustment that, judging from some of the limits on the second tier, our National Officers appear to be anticipating. Two-tier labor forces have been bad news in the past for labor unions, but they have also been around long enough for unions to master the nuances and drawbacks. On some levels the two-tier system is seen as an innovation that in the long run may provide unions with an opportunity to make a comeback.
It should not be overlooked that an aging workforce, increased automation, and a changing postal service were not going to be sustainable without major manpower reductions. This contract, just like Obama’s pay freeze for Federal Workers, may have provided valuable protection by putting us ahead of right-wing attacks, thereby neutralizing many of their talking points. Hopefully, over the next 4 1/2 years our Local, National and the Labor movement in general can refocus our efforts in laying a groundwork, internally and externally, that shifts the popular mindset so that unions are seen as relevant again.

related articles:

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The Results From The 1st Straw Poll On The 2011 Local Elections Are In:

2011-03-27T03:07:00.000-04:00

Unscientific and just for fun.

Participation was very light but here are the results any way:

President:

MacLawrence Ford & Latonia Smith 0%
David Whitaker 75%
William Wright 25%

Vice President:

Staci Williams 0%
Steve Vaughn 100%

Secretary Treasurer:

Martha Foote 50%
John Guthrie & Helen Scott 0%
Nancy Helms & Jeffrey Offutt 25% each

Membership Coordinator:

Charlotte Hiatt 0%
Loretta Maydwell 100%

Recording Secretary:

Kathy Woods 75%
Janine Yowell 25%

Maintenance Craft Director:

John Mike Hale 75%
Larry Robinson 25%

MVS Craft Director:

Gregg Jones 66%
Glenn Woods 33%

Assistant Clerk Craft Director:

Diane Coleman 33%
Vickie Crouse 66%

Sergeant @ Arms:

Chantel Beckwith 75%
Charles Jamison 25%

The new pole starts now click here

USPS still breaking even year to date- until trust fund charges kick in - postalnews blog

2011-03-26T13:02:00.000-04:00

from PostalNews Blog:

Here we go again- the headlines will read “USPS loses $1 billion in one month!”, and once again congressional tongues will cluck about a “failed business model” and “bloated bureaucracy”. The true story, of course, is very different. When you measure costs that the US Postal Service actually controls, including current payments for retiree pensions and health benefits, the USPS lost far less- $230 million. For the fiscal year to date, the USPS is actually still in the black by $18 million. What makes the financial picture look so bad is, as usual, the $5.5 billion annual charge Congress slapped on to the USPS budget in the 2006 PAEA law.... READ MORE

Glenn Littrell

2011-03-24T00:54:00.000-04:00

Candidate For:

State & National Delegate

Is This What We Need?

I have stood up at many meetings and raised issues involving our finances and our locals Constitution. I have engaged in heated debates with all of the parties now raising issues about those same things in this election. Because I had fought for these issues in membership meetings I had decided to quietly campaign for the position of State and National Delegate, hoping to let my reputation speak for me among those who know me. Until a series of events occurred that put me in a position that I felt I had to speak up:

In a flier distributed by President Ford, he alleges that: “...many are prejudice and don't like a Black man at the head of this Union...” and “...and are disloyal to the very cause that unites us together.”

After the last election that placed President Ford into office there was a nasty, slanderous and cowardly unsigned letter that circulated around the post office attacking him, his friend and those that ran with him. This happens every election to some degree so anyone running for office should be well aware of it. Likewise the office of President is bound to draw a multitude of criticisms and attacks. Both earned and unearned. It comes with the job as should the ability to deal with it and move on. I have no tolerance for people who will go nuts over an accusation of racism, but choose to ignore an act of racism. For that reason I hope you understand my concern when I say that I believe President Ford is out of line with his remarks. I do not know every thing that he's encountered and I may have to eat my words, but I believe that he's overreacting to a campaign that has become very personal.

Unlike the questions concerning our finances these accusations wound us all, because regardless of where we stand, what color or gender we are, these accusations shed a shadow of doubt everywhere, on everyone. If President Ford is re-elected who will be comfortable standing up at a meeting challenging him on issues with the knowledge that their motives might be attacked as racial?

Everyone of the people on both sides of these arguments, almost all the people running for office, have marched together with Reverend Jackson in Detroit, with the hotel workers in LA and fellow postal workers in Philadelphia. They have traveled together, ate together, and stood together many times. To question their dedication to the 'cause' or to our diversity is unwarranted. The President has raised the issue of the timing of the financial questions, why now during an election? That is a valid point, but then let's ask him the same question about his accusations: Why now?

If racism at the union hall is a problem then it should have been raised as an issue to be dealt with and a problem to be solved, not as a campaign issue that will only be discussed in whispers or worse yet, arguments that would not benefit anyone.

Former: Trustee (3 years),
Legislative Director (3 years),
State Delegate (9 years),
National Delegate (9 years),
APWU member (25 years),
AFSCME member [formerly].

Editor: www.POSTAL-iNDY.com
and
POSTAL-iNDY.com On FaceBook

Martha Foote

2011-03-24T00:49:00.000-04:00

Candidate For:

General Secretary – Treasurer
State & National Delegate

“CORRECTION”

The President’s Message to APWU Brother & Sisters, is comingled with his campaign rhetoric, and flawed with inaccuracies.

#1. Member candidates are not telling lies. It is difficult to distinguish who is creating the air of mistrust; the President, in his message to APWU Brothers & Sisters, gives inaccurate and misleading information. This message was authored by the President as current authority of the local union. He comingles his message as the President with campaign rhetoric. Is this an official message or campaign flier?

#2. As one candidate for Secretary-Treasurer, I never said there was a problem with the union’s finances. I did report there were violations of the constitution, fiduciary irresponsibility, and in some cases an adamant refusal of both the President and Secretary-Treasurer to provide records and cooperate with the Audit Committee. The President and the Secretary-Treasurer are involved in every financial transaction of our union. The Trustees’ Audit Report is accurate and is documented for any member to review. It was sent to your homes – read it. I can be reached at 317-888-2622 8am–12midnight. Is this a lie Mr. President?

#3. Mr. Paul Delaine who did the “unauthorized report” for the President IS NOT A CPA as proclaimed in the President’s message! Verified with the National Secretary-Treasurer’s Office, Roosevelt Steward, in Washington D.C. 1-202-842-4215 Is this a lie Mr. President?

#4. The President implies gender and color are issues in this election. LUDICROUS! I have never voted based on gender or color. Everyone’s VOTE should be based on experience, qualifications, knowledge & history of the union, competency of the candidates to do the job they seek, leadership skills, and representation of the members. I have always represented the members to the best of my ability, and never milked one dime from this union and I never will. Is this a lie Mr. President?

Many of the candidates see firsthand what this President is about; we serve on the Executive Board with him and it’s time for change. NO MORE DICTATORSHIP!

P.S. Mr. Delaine’s report was discussed with the members who asked, maybe this information will satisfy the President’s need for candidates to be forth right.

Martha Foote

Candidate
for
Secretary-Treasurer

labor donated

Glenn Littrell:

2011-03-24T00:46:00.000-04:00

Candidate For:

State & National Delegate

We Don't Need This Crap!!!!

Contrary to what some will tell you, how our money is spent, who spent it and who authorized it are very valid issues to bring up during an election. Some will point out that these issues should have been brought up before the election cycle began, and I would agree with that. But the motives that might be attached to the persons raising these questions do not render the allegations invalid. It is apparent from documents provided, issues raised at past meetings and hindsight that this administration (the President and the Executive Board) have failed beyond what some of us had suspected. Evidently two members (both candidates for the Secretary Treasurer Office) have found it necessary to file separate charges with the National Office against the current Secretary Treasurer and the President. Regardless of the outcome of those charges an explanation is owed to this Local's membership, at least from the President and Secretary Treasurer.

Where's the truth? I have not seen one flier distributed, heard one explanation at the Feb. or March membership meeting or heard one word of explanation from President Ford in regards to the questions raised. On the other hand I have been appalled by what I have seen distributed by President Ford and members of his ticket. Yes, there is a ticket in spite of what they tell you.

Since the March [last] meeting President Ford has placed an Audit Report in the Unions enclosed bulletin board at the P&DC claiming that it indicates no wrong doing and was done by a CPA from the national, but the document doesn't address the issues raised, clearly was not done by a CPA (he's a consultant who is not a Union official), but most important is who authorized and paid for this report? Travel? Hotel? Per Diem? Private Consulting fee? The enclosed bulletin board in the P&DC is for Union business. It is not Presidents Ford's personal campaign headquarters. Every document in there is directly related to or modified to relate to the President Ford's campaign A clear disregard for the rules that govern this election. Access to this case is controlled by President Ford.

Former: Trustee (3 years),
Legislative Director (3 years),
State Delegate (9 years),
National Delegate (9 years),
APWU member (25 years),
AFSCME member [formerly].

Editor:
www.POSTAL-iNDY.com
and
POSTAL-iNDY.com On FaceBook

When all this is over with I believe that we will see that no one stole anything. The money will still be all accounted for, but it will also be apparent that some were negligent, used poor judgment, were arrogant and sloppy and neglected our Local's constitution.

I also believe that President Ford has through the above mentioned antics and a letter he sent to selected members in an attempt to bring race into the campaign has demonstrated bad judgment and questionable leadership on his part. His actions and in-actions have cast a shadow on all of us because racism includes everyone one way or the other. Yes, I know some people in this union vote based on race, some also vote based on gender, personalities, friendship etc., but those are personal choices whether we like them or not. This union is a very diverse group of people and any President who wants to lead this union should be committed to promoting unity not division, even to the point of sacrificing their ego and cleaning their own personal wounds.

Stacy L. Williams

2011-03-23T15:58:00.001-04:00

Candidate For:

Executive Vice President
State & National Delegate

Elect Stacy L. Williams

Executive Vice President/ State & National Delegate

As a seasoned Union Steward and your current Sergeant-At-Arms Officer with a broad & deep understanding & appreciation of APWU membership – it’s people, work, mission, & history.

At 34 years young with a decade of Union representation experience to be the voice of the New Era. I have demonstrated the kinds of strategic vision, leadership, character, competence, political acumen, outreach, resoluteness, courage, tenacity & engaged in additional educational learning @ Tri-State Steward School and FMLA training, Article 12 & 37.

If elected to the position I will ensure current and future Stewards receives additional training under Local 130 needed for our union to become

Stronger
More inviting & engaging
Increasingly effective Highly visible
Very participative
Beyond reproach

Voting and participating must be a top priority – especially now, when facing such tough challenges: high percentage of management harassment, contract negotiations, massive excessing, plant consolidations, and USPS plans to close stations and branches. I will partner with APWU President, fellow union officers, & all staff to figure out how together we can make APWU a more effective & rewarding institution to be a part of to serve the membership to the fullest. I am dedicated to restoring a collegial earning culture to increase membership.

As Executive Vice President, I look forward to assisting Local 130 President in leading the union. I also look forward to continuing to work as a team with our National, State and Local Officers to promote unity within our ranks. I promise that I will continue to keep the need and problems of our members at the forefront of my agenda. Our team is determined to protect our wages, jobs and benefits and to obtain a fair and equitable contract that do not demoralize us, but rather emphasize, reward & recognize learning, teamwork, service & contributions, & unique talents, gifts, strengths & experience each person brings to the APWU team to support our Membership……The New ERA

Thank You in Advance as I seek to become your next

Executive Vice President/State & National Delegate

MacLawrence Ford

2011-03-23T15:56:00.001-04:00

Candidate For:

General President
State & National Delegate

Re-Elect MacLawrence Ford

President of the Indianapolis Area Local #130

State & National Delegate

Most of you know me as the current President of the Indianapolis Area Local 130. For those of you that don’t know me, my name is MacLawrence Ford. I was elected by referendum in the last election approximately three years ago. At that time, the Candidates for Change, ran on a platform which required approaching the business as usual atmosphere differently. The current administration has experienced from membership decline, excessing, increased outsourcing our work (subcontracting), increased disciplinary action and being required to be the best postal delivery service in the world although we are understaffed and in some cases overworked.

As President, I have cut operating cost, reduced staffing, maintained our projected budget and done so while providing more than satisfactory representation to the membership and training to those who placed themselves on the battlefront. There is still a monumental amount of work that has to be completed.

To accomplish those goals I will again turn to you the members for the help that will be needed to accomplish the task ahead. Many have expressed a desire to represent you, but that expression came with a hidden agenda. There can only be one agenda if you work for the Union. That agenda is to serve the membership and provide the benefits members have come to expect. A large majority of the Executive Board, officers and stewards, in all three crafts have stepped up to the plate to provide leadership, monetary aide (COPA), and experience, which are necessary to transform this Union from being a grievance machine into a viable force for the future of the postal employees. As a member of the current National Rank and File Committee, the ratification of a fair and just contract is on the front burner.

It has my full attention whenever National President Guffey and the National negotiation team call me to Washington DC to discuss your needs. My over 11 years of arbitration advocate experience also fills my schedule. I have been at your beck and call at the Union Hall whenever you have questions. Others may want to do this job differently. However, that doesn’t mean that they will be as effective. I’ve been a Union member and advocate for your rights since I started working at the Post Office and will never leave you short. My record speaks for itself. I have successfully represented you and plan to continue with your help.

In Solidarity

Re-Elect MacLawrence Ford for APWU President State & National Delegate

Big John Guthrie

2011-03-23T15:55:00.001-04:00

Candidate For:

General Secretary – Treasurer
State & National Delegate

Elect “Big John”

Secretary Treasure/State National Delegate

Brothers and Sisters

My name is “Big John” Guthrie and I am running for Secretary Treasure and State National Delegate in the upcoming Union elections. I have been with the Postal Service for 12 years and have witness many things.

For the past five years I have been a Steward on Tour 1 representing our membership with fairness and integrity. I have attended State National and Craft conferences representing your interests and received training on FMLA, Article 37 and Article 12. Additionally attended the Tri-State Steward School for advanced steward training. All of the training to better serve you the membership. I graduated from Indiana University with a minor in Business Management.

Vote for
“Big John” Guthrie
Secretary Treasure
and
State National Delegate

Yours in Solidarity

“Big John” Guthrie

In closing I want to say Thank You for continued support as I seek to be your next Secretary Treasure and State National Delegate.

Charles Jemison

2011-03-23T15:53:00.001-04:00

Candidate For:

Sergeant-At-Arms
State & National Delegate

Elect Charles Jemison

Sergeant-At-Arms/State and National Delegate

Greetings to all my fellow Union Brothers & Sisters. I am Charles Jemison. I am seeking to be elected to the position of Sergeant-At-Arms for the Indianapolis area local. Additionally, I am requesting your support as I pursue an opportunity to represent the Indianapolis area Local as a State and National Delegate.

As a Sergeant-At-Arms I vow to maintain, provide, and make any and all records available to any member upon request. I will ensure attendance, order, and respect is observed during general membership and executive board meetings. I assure each and every member that I will uphold the constitution, local, and national agreements as they are written to the best of my ability.

I am making it my business to make a difference in each and every member’s life.

Vote for Charles Jemison

Sergeant-At-Arms
State and National Delegate

I have been a proud member of the American Postal workers union for more than 13 years and have served the membership as a union steward for the past 3 years on Tour 3 upholding and supporting the local and national agreements as written. I have attended many educational seminars and trainings throughout Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky becoming well versed with FMLA, Attendance, Discipline, OSHA, Safety, Postal Inspectors and Removals. I also completed the Tri-State Stewards School located in Oxford, Ohio. I am a graduate of Indiana University and Indiana Wesleyan University earning degrees in Criminal Justice and Business Management. I am a active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Gamma ETA Chapter located in Bloomington, Indiana. I am a Disabled American Veteran in which I served honorably for 7 years in the Armed Forces and fought for what this country believes in which is equality and independence. I am a part of the new and future generation stepping up to play a major role in the unity and sanctity of the Indianapolis Area Local therefore, I am asking for your vote in the upcoming election for the Office of Sergeant-At-Arms.

Charlotte Hiatt

2011-03-23T15:51:00.001-04:00

Candidate For:

Membership / Insurance Coordinator
State & National Delegate

Elect Charlotte Hiatt

Membership/Insurance Coordinator/State & National Delegate

My name is Charlotte Hiatt and I am running for Membership/Insurance Coordinator/State and National Delegate. I have been a Postal Employee since 1995 and a proud Union member. I currently work in BMEU as a Bulk Mail Clerk on Tour 3 at the Indianapolis P&DC.

Since 2008 I currently serve as Chairperson of the Entertainment Committee . In the past 6 years I have served on the Election Committee and Chaired the Power Committee. I’m passionate in what I do and take each job and task seriously. I have thought about doing other things, But I realize that the Postal service is going to be around for a long time and I’m the future and want to contribute to this local.

I vow to attend all scheduled Union meetings, help and educate the members on the health care benefits, organize and recruit new members and go the extra step to insure that the membership is well informed on the benefits that APWU has to offer and try to resolve questions that the membership may have.

At this time I would like to thank you for your support in this election and Thank you for taking your time to vote for Charlotte Hiatt as your Membership/Insurance Coordinator and State and National Delegate.

Please vote for Charlotte Hiatt as your Membership/Insurance Coordinator and State & National Delegate

Vicky Crouse

2011-03-23T15:48:00.001-04:00

Candidate For:

Assistant Clerk Craft Director (for Stations & Branches)
State & National Delegate

Elect Vicky Crouse

Assistant Clerk Craft Director/State National Delegate

Hello, my name is Vicki Crouse and I’m running for the position of Assistant Clerk Craft Director/State and national Delegate.

I have been acting as Associate Office Coordinator, covering 16 Associate Offices since June of 2010, it has definitely been a challenge, but one that I have enjoyed.

I am asking for your continued support vote for proven leadership

Vote for Vicky Crouse Assistant Clerk Craft Director

State and National Delegate

I take my responsibilities to the Union members of the clerk craft very seriously. My promise to the clerk craft is that I will do my absolute best to represent clerk employees.

A lot of you may not know me, but I’ve been a steward for approximately 6 years. I currently work at the Brownsburg Post Office as a senior mail processor, for now we all know those jobs are gone but I have also worked at Danville and Clayton post offices. I worked at Eagle Creek as a loner for a couple of years and I have worked at Clermont, the Airport, and Rand Road over the years. I’ve been a postal employee since March of 1990; I have attended the Tri-State Steward School twice, as well as several local and state training seminars.

I’m a strong believer in Unions. If I’m elected to this position, I will give 100% of my efforts to this position, I will continue to fight management’s abuse of the contract and the employees.

Tentative Contract: UPDATE

2011-03-22T15:48:00.001-04:00

3-22-11:
Members can download a copy of the Contract here. Copies will be sent with the ratification ballots: “Every eligible member will receive a copy of the 224-page document in their referendum mailing, along with a ballot, a summary of the changes to the contract, the official statement of the Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee, a letter from APWU President Cliff Guffey, and a return envelope.”
3-16-11:
Rank-and-File Committee Approves Tentative Contract
APWU News Bulletin 02-2011, March 16, 2011 | PDF :

The APWU Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee voted unanimously on March 16 to approve a Tentative Agreement with the USPS for a new contract.

Members of the APWU Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee approve the Tentative Contract unanimously on March 16.

The Tentative Agreement will be sent to eligible union members for a ratification vote. Details about the vote, which the committee will supervise, will be announced once plans are finalized.

3-14-11:
After rumors started circulating [Saturday] out of different regions, twitter and the Washington Post followed by denials it is now confirmed that we have a tentative agreement. Our [Indianapolis Area Local] representative [to the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee [R&FBAC]] has been summoned to National Headquarters to review and vote on the agreement. Once passed by the R&FBAC ballots will be mailed to all APWU members for their vote.

Here are some links to additional information and detail:

PDF of a Power Point Presentation of Contract Highlights. from 21st Century Postal Worker
APWU Contract Highlights
NALC Reaction
Postal Service Negotiates Tentative Contract with Major Union from: PostalReporter News Blog
Federal Eye: Washington Post

APWU, USPS Tentative Contract Highlights

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We Are Indiana:

2011-03-21T13:54:00.001-04:00

from TPM.com:

The legislative standoff between Democratic state House members and their Republican colleagues in Indiana is now entering its fifth week. And now national Democrats are taking the battle to the next level, with at TV ad designed to bring the fight to Gov. Mitch Daniels (R), whose presidential ambitions may be on the line along with this legislative agenda.

Starting today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (the national party arm charged with boosting Democratic numbers in the nation's legislatures) is going up with a TV spot aimed squarely at Daniels, who has promised to wait the Democrats out for as long as it takes.

With the battle in Wisconsin shifting to courts and recalls, Indiana is poised to become the next Wisconsin. And, Democrats say, Daniels is about to become the next Gov. Scott Walker (R).

READ MORE

Former APWU President Speaks Out On Tentative Contract:

2011-03-18T04:03:00.007-04:00

from President Burris’ Website: Burris Souvenir Journal

To APWU Members,
The union negotiators have performed their constitutional duties in finalizing a tentative agreement for your decision. This decision will shape postal employment for decades far into the future. The benefits received for efforts involved in postal employment have accumulated over 200 years, with each generation of employees making its contribution leading to those received to date. Our ability to provide housing, food, transportation, medical care, raising our children and all of the other benefits that we receive through our employment have been secured on our behalf through past efforts. Can you imagine how your life would have changed if we had decided 30 years ago to exchange your wages for other contractual entitlements?
Those union leaders including Stu Filbey, Moe Biller, John Richards, Jerry Monzillo, Doug Holbrook, myself and many others made significant contributions in the 1970's when we struck illegally, jeopardizing our own employment, but we set the stage for collective bargaining that has led to the conditions now enjoyed with each generation looking beyond their present needs. The same is expected of this generation on behalf of those who will follow. This tentative agreement will turn back the clock and erase those years of struggle....

Notwithstanding the rationalization, if this contract is ratified, future employees will suffer
reductions in pay of more than $300 per pay, more than $600 per month and over $8,000 per year. Over a 30 year career these losses will exceed more than $250,000 and will continue into retirement, when the annuity includes the salary reductions. In total, each employee hired after the date of this contract will receive over $300,000 less for performing the same work. Can you imagine why postal management would agree to non economic changes if they can succeed in lowering wages in this amount? The result will be over $1.5 billion per year transferred from the pay of APWU employees to USPS future health care cost, supervisor bonuses or any other expenditure that management chooses. After benefiting directly from the contributions of the preceding generations, you are now being called upon to determine the future of those who will follow? Ironically they may be your son or daughter. Supervisors, managers, letter carriers and mail handlers are not controlled by this decision and will continue to receive the salaries that they fought for over the years.
Contract negotiations are never easy and this negotiations presented special challenges so I commend the union negotiators for their efforts. The uncertainty of arbitration imposes the fear that it could be worse, but if one is convinced that the Postal Service and its employees are not responsible for the Congressionally imposed deficits, what justification exists to impose these costs on future employees? Either we believe the union propaganda regarding the USPS' financial position and rate discounts or we silently agree with our detractors who say that we are overpaid. If we believe that we deserve the fruits of our past struggles why would we voluntarily agree to erase years of progress?
The APWU has deferred 5 previous contracts to arbitration and no prior decision has imposed the level of wage reduction now being considered. The most negative arbitration decision in postal history imposed the creation of 2 additional Steps with full continuation through the then existing pay scale. In the most recent arbitration decision (2000), Arbitrator Goldberg ruled that it was not the responsibility of the employees to satisfy USPS financial difficulties.
It is now time for a decision and it would be inappropriate to place blame. I am sure that president Guffey and his team applied their best judgment but it is the individual member who is left to decide. Do you cast a vote that provides your own personal satisfaction, or do you consider the affect of the $300.000 reductions that will be imposed on each future employee? Do you resign APWU designated postal employment to the Fast Food, Walmart wage category or fight to continue it as a means of achieving a middle class lifestyle? The basic concept of a union is to combine efforts to achieve common objectives. This purpose is betrayed if current APWU members determine that future postal employees should not achieve the same rewards for their efforts.
I have been honored to have the opportunity to devote over 50 years of my professional life to improving conditions for postal employees and as a full dues paying member and on behalf of future employees I would vote No. Future APWU members are deserving of the same rewards for their efforts. That is the true meaning of a union, giving justification to the terms "My Brother, My Sister."
In Solidarity with all postal employees, past, present and future,
William Burrus
President Emeritus

please feel free to comment on this article or the contract in general by clicking the ‘Post A Comment’ link below. Comments will be displayed in real time but will be reviewed daily for appropriateness.

FMLA Forms:

2011-03-15T15:03:00.001-04:00

FYI:
Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee’s Serious Health Condition 380-E

Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member’s Serious Health Condition380-F

Certification of Qualifying Exigency For Military Family Leave 384

Certification for Serious Injury or Illness of Covered Service Member -- for Military Family Leave 385

Click on the form you need and then use the print button to print a blank form. You can also fill it out and print it, but when you close it you will loose the information you entered. To save the completed form either scan the printed copy or use a print to .pdf utility. You print it to a .pdf file and print/save it to your hard drive. [Document or My Document folders.]

I recommend this free utility download: doPDF PDF Print/Converter FREE

In the future this info will be in the sidebar------>

Election Bulletin, 3-14-2011: URGENT

2011-03-13T21:45:00.000-04:00

IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE MARCH GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING THAT SOHO’s SOLUTION TO THE ORIGINAL BALLOT/PRINTING ERROR WAS NOT ADEQUATE. Since some members had already sent in their ballots the new ballot sent out would only further complicate and jeopardize the validity of the process. For this reason SOHO was instructed to void all ballots and redo the ballots from scratch with a new mailing and new dates for returning the ballots. The new instructions went out to pay locations today and will be mailed to members shortly. The mailing date for the new ballots will be March 24, 2011 and must be returned by [by mail] 8am, Friday, April 8, 2011: Disregard the previous flyer [pink] previously posted.

click the image to see the new bulletin/instructions.

We Are Indiana Rally!

2011-03-12T15:27:00.000-05:00

from the rally:

Thursday, March 10, 2011

They aren’t Nazi’s or Fascist and this isn’t pre-war Germany, but they use fear and hate to push their pro-corporate, anti-worker agenda.
Stand-up speak-out before its too late.

GlennDL

USPS: Preparing For Change – What Is A Voluntary Early Retirement Authority

2011-03-10T15:30:00.002-05:00

from postalreporternews blog:

March 10, 2011

USPS is expected to announce that it will offer Voluntary Early Retirement to select groups of postal employees on March 25, 2011.

So what’s a VERA?

A “voluntary early retirement authority” (VERA) temporarily lowers age and service requirements for retirement. It’s an administrative tool USPS has used in the past as part of an overall redesign or restructuring.

The Postal Service must request approval for a VERA from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before making an offer of early retirement to its employees. OPM approval also will include a period of time during which the option will remain available...

Employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employee Retirement System are eligible for voluntary early retirement if they are at least 50 years of age with 20 years or more of service, or any age with at least 25 years of service. A minimum of 5 years must be creditable civilian — not military — service. Employees may use their time in the military to meet the balance of service required for eligibility.

CSRS employees must have been employed under CSRS for at least 1 out of the last 2 years, but the service need not be continuous. Eligibility criteria for all employees must be met by the VERA retirement effective date.

If the Postal Service announces a voluntary early retirement (VER), and if your position is covered in the group receiving the offer and you meet eligibility requirements, a VERA Offer Letter and Annuity Estimate will be mailed to your address of record. To receive notifications in a timely fashion, make sure USPS has your current mailing address on file.

You can change or update your address by clicking on “Change of Address” in the Employee Apps – Quick Links section at the center of the LiteBlue home page.

VERA-eligible employees who decide to accept an early retirement offer can apply by completing and submitting the required documents by the deadline specified in the Offer Letter. Eligible employees who decide not to accept the offer don’t have to do anything.

Click here for more information about VERA.

note from GlennDL: No source is cited, still rumor, absent specifics. Is false hope better than no hope? It says ‘select groups’, if APWU does not have a new contract by then it would probably not include clerks if it includes a ‘buy out’. Related story

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POSTAL-iNDY.COM

Winter Party:

2012 Pay & Holiday Calendar:

Postal Workers: The Last Union

Unions United T-Shirts For Sale:

Postcards From Santa???

The Postal Crisis: Manufactured Myth

Mandatory Overtime to End Soon for Many:

MARKUP OF S. 1789: quicknote

Postal Unions Honor Military Veterans, Oppose Destructive Bill in New TV Ad:

Senators Announce Postal Bill

Senators to Announce Bipartisan Agreement to Save the U.S. Postal Service:

Out of Thin Air: New Numbers on Declining Mail Volumes:

Veteran’s Day Freebies & Discounts:

The Postal Service Hires More Veterans Than…

Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans Unemployment: A Quiet Crisis

Hurting Non-Profits While Destroying The Postal Service:

Issa overrules majority of House members, refuses to allow vote on Lynch bill…

APWU Post Contract Q&As: UPDATE

Legislature: Support H.R. 1351

Save America’s Postal Service III:

9-27 Events in Indianapolis are:

Carson has already signed on as a supporter of H.R.1351, but I'm a little concerned that he wasn't a signatory on the letter to the Postal Regulatory Commission. Rep. Pete Visclosky (1st District) was the only Representative from Indiana to sign it.

Postal Workers Fight Back against cuts?

Save America’s Postal Service II:

10th Anniversary of the Anthrax Attacks:

Save America’s Postal Service:

USPS: No Excessing For Failure To Bid On NTFT Jobs:

Subject: Meeting with elected members of Congress

USPS Wants to Lay-Off 20% of the Postal Workforce!

Tea Party Targets Postal Service:

A Hard Year for Working Families: A Labor Day Message.

The Target On Your Back:

The End Of Postal-Indy.com: UPDATE

PMG: USPS might choose not to pay $5.5B in retiree pre-funding costs

Two Men Arrested in Murder of Florida Letter Carrier:

General RIF notices mailed April 28

Don’t Let Anti-Labor Politicians Stop You From Voting:

A terrible proposal:

Community Shred-It Day:

Continued Right Wing Attack on Postal and Federal Workers:

2011 Local Elections Polls and Results:

The ‘Polls’ were unscientific and just for fun.

The Attack on Middle Class/Working Class America Continues:

Local’s 2011 tri-annual election

Where’s The Funding:

The Results From The 2nd Straw Poll On The 2011 Local Elections Are In:

Unscientific and just for fun.

Value of Unions:

Indianapolis Area Local Monthly Meeting:

Election Ballots Due: Friday, April 8, by 8AM [by mail only]

We Are One:

Martin Luther King, Jr., Peace And Memorial Park

McCain amendment would make postal workers pay more for health insurance:

William R. Wright –W.W.

Dave Whitaker:

Candidate For:

Steve "STEVIE RAY" VAUGHN

Don Packwood

Candidate for:

John "Mike" Hale

Candidate For:

Jones (AKA Johnny C)

Candidate For:

Nancy Helms

Candidate For:

Loretta Maydwell

Candidate For:

Tentative Contract:: Commentary:

The Results From The 1st Straw Poll On The 2011 Local Elections Are In:

USPS still breaking even year to date- until trust fund charges kick in - postalnews blog

Glenn Littrell

Candidate For:

Martha Foote

Candidate For:

Glenn Littrell:

Candidate For:

Stacy L. Williams

MacLawrence Ford

Candidate For: