A Note From The Branch President
You will notice that this month's newsletter contains various proposed by-law amendments to our Branch Constitution. These amendments and any approved changes are the set of laws that Branch Officers and your Branch must operate under. Therefore, it is extremely important that everyone carefully read the proposed changes and ask questions if the proposal is unclear. You will have the opportunity at the next meeting on February 21 to voice your opinions on the issues. This is your Branch, so come out and get involved.
Next Meeting - February 21
The next regular monthly meeting of the Branch will be on Wednesday, February 21 8 p.m. Regular monthly meetings of the Branch are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, except in the months of July & August.
Branch Officers & Executive Board Meeting - February 14
The Branch Board of Officers and Executive Board meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. The Board of Officers at 7:30 p.m., and the Executive Board at 8 p.m.. The next meetings of the Board of Officers and the Executive Board will be on Wednesday, February 14.
Attendance Prize - $150
J E Melita, a member working out of the Clayton Post Office, would have been the winner of the $125 attendance prize had she been in attendance at the January meeting. The prize now increases to $150 for the February meeting, and increases in increments of $25 monthly until a member's name in attendance at a regular monthly meeting is drawn. The prize increases to a maximum of $250 until someone wins. Branch Officers and/or Shop Stewards are not eligible.
Marlton Situation
The situation at Marlton, where the Branch threatened to picket over an abusive carrier supervisor who was making it miserable for everyone, seems to be improving after a meeting was held with Union representatives, local and district management. The supervisor is being sent for sensitivity training and hopefully his attitude will change and there will be no necessity to picket the office.
Proposed Amendments To The Branch Constitution and By-laws
The following amendments to the Branch Constitution and By-Laws were read at the January regular monthly meeting and will be discussed and voted on at the February 21 meeting of the Branch:
Proposed to amend Article 1, Section 1, to read as follows:
The Branch will be known as, The Bill Revak Branch 908, South Jersey Letter Carriers, Branch 908, NALC, AFL-CIO, Woodbury, New Jersey.
Proposed to add a new Section 12 to Article 3 to read:
The Board of Officers shall meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, except July and August, at 7:30 p.m. The place of such meeting shall be the same as where the regular monthly meetings of the Branch are held.
Proposed to add a new Section 5 to Article 4 to read:
The Board of Officers shall consist of the Branch President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Assistant Recording Secretary, The Chairman of Trustees, The Trustees, Health Benefits Officer, Housing Chairman, Sergeant At Arms, and the COLCPE Chairman.
Proposed to amend Article 5, Section 1, to read;
Nominations for the election of Branch Officers, Shop Stewards and Convention Delegates shall be called for at the regular monthly meeting of the Branch held in October. Elections shall be by secret mail ballot of the eligible Branch membership, held as soon as possible after nominations in October. In order to vote in Branch elections, a member must be on the NALC dues printout by the pay period in which the ballots are mailed, no exceptions. All Officers and Shop Stewards shall be elected to a term of two (2) years.
Proposed to amend Article 5, Section 8, to read:
The Election Committee shall be comprised of five (5) members. Each shall be compensated fifty dollars ($50) per day, not to exceed two (2) days to count and tabulate the Branch vote. Where, for good and sufficient reasons, the count exceeds two (2) days, the Committee shall be compensated accordingly.
Proposed to amend Article 5, Section 15, to read:
National Convention Delegates meeting the attendance requirements shall be reimbursed for lost time in the amount of one-half of the weekly rate for a City Carrier Grade 1, Step D, in effect at the time of the convention. Additionally, for national conventions at locations farther than Atlantic City or Philadelphia, delegates shall be provided housing and major transportation as well as be reimbursed a reasonable amount per diem for meals and miscellaneous transportation expenses as approved by a majority vote of the delegates. The expense of, and arrangement for housing and major transportation shall be the responsibility of the Branch, except where delegates request special consideration and said request is approved by a majority vote of the delegates. In such cases, delegates shall be entitled to an equal amount of reimbursement with which to make their own arrangements. The Branch will also make arrangements for Delegate's families and friends if requested, provided that the Branch does not incur any additional expense. Each Delegate shall be entitled to separate housing arrangements, provided that when Delegates choose to share housing, the cost savings shall be equally divided between the Delegate and the Branch. Total expenses for any Convention shall not exceed the amount allowed by the Branch budget.
Proposal to amend Article 5, Section 15, to read:
Those Convention Delegates elected by the Branch to be compensated for their attendance at a National Convention shall be compensated for the actual cost of meals and incidental expenses not exceeding the GSA per diem rate established for the city and state in which such convention is held. The mode of transportation, cost, and place of lodging shall be determined by a consensus of the delegates elected to be compensated for their attendance at a National Convention, the cost of which shall be borne by the Branch Convention Fund, provided that the cost of lodging does not exceed the GSA maximum lodging amount for the city, state in which the convention is held, and that the cost of transportation is the result of an exhaustive search for suitable transportation at a reasonable cost. Unless reasonable and necessary travel arrangement otherwise preclude it, convention lodging will cover the period Sunday through Friday, six (6) nights. Unless exempted by a consensus of the delegates to be compensated for their attendance at a National Convention, all Branch compensated convention delegates will be lodged in the hotel determined by the delegate consensus. Those who do not use the mode of transportation or lodging determined by a consensus of the delegates to be compensated for their attendance at a National Convention, shall not be compensated for any travel, lodging or per diem cost in excess of that provided for delegates who comply with the consensus. Also, eligible National Convention Delegates elected to be compensated for their attendance at a National Convention will be compensated $35 per day lost time.
Proposed to amend Article 5, Section 16, to read:
The same three (3) per cent of the Branch membership nominated and elected to be compensated for their attendance at a National Convention, shall by virtue of such election be compensated to represent the Branch as delegates to the State Convention, provided they meet the attendance requirements and the Branch Executive Board approves attendance at the State Convention. They shall be compensated for transportation, meals for two (2) days, $30 per day, and lost leave time at $35 per day. Cost of convention registration shall be borne by the Branch.
Proposed to amend Article 5, Section 18 to read:
By virtue of their election to office, the Branch Officers shall be compensated to attend the annual NJ Congressional Breakfast. They shall be compensated the actual cost of transportation, lodging overnight, and per diem for two (2) days not in excess of the GSA maximum lodging and per diem rate. Lodging shall be arranged by the Branch, no less that two (2) delegates per room. They shall also be paid $35 per day lost time.
Proposed to amend Article 5, Section 18, to read:
The Branch shall bear the cost of transportation, meals and lost time for delegates of the Branch to attend the annual NJ State Association Congressional Breakfast. Housing will be arranged by the Recording Secretary, and any cost deviation from same shall not be compensated for by the Branch. By virtue of their election to office, the elected officers of the Branch shall be delegates to the Breakfast. They shall be compensated $100 per day for meals, transportation and lost time. Housing arrangements shall be made and paid for by the Branch.
Proposed to amend Article 5, Section 19, to read:
Branch Officers, Shop Steward and/or other Branch members shall be compensated for the actual cost of transportation, lodging and per diem not to exceed the GSA maximum lodging and per diem rates to attend necessary meetings, training seminars and sessions authorized by the Board of Officers. They shall be compensated for lost time at the rate of $35 per day.
Proposed to amend Article 5,Section 20, to read:
The paid attendance at other meetings, such as, but not limited to rap sessions, Win seminars, Dept. of Labor seminars, training sessions or seminars put on by the State or National Association, etc., shall require authorization of the Executive Board, and shall be limited to Branch Officers and Shop Stewards, who shall be compensated for meals at $30 per day, and $35 per day lost time. Housing for such meetings of less than 100 miles away, one way, shall not be compensated.
Proposed to amend Article 7, Section 2, to read:
Branch Officers and Shop Stewards shall be compensated from the general funds of the Branch an annual compensation as provided for in the annual Branch Budget. Such annual compensation shall be payable quarterly, provided that such Branch Officers and Shop Stewards attend at least three (3) of the monthly or executive board meetings (or any combination thereof) quarterly, unless such absence is for good and sufficient reason approved by the Executive Board in meeting assembled. An exception is made in quarter 3 (July, August, September) when attendance at only one meeting is required for compensation.
Proposed to amend Article 7, Section 5, to read:
A Branch Officer's failure to attend four (4) consecutive meetings of the Board Of Officers, Executive Board, and/or the regular monthly meetings of the Branch without good and sufficient cause approved by the Executive Board in meeting assembled, shall result in the forfeiture of any pay, compensation, or salary due him/her for the period of absence involved.
Proposed to amend Article 8, Section 3, to read:
Effective July 1, 2001, the dues of retired members shall be twelve ($12) dollars per annum.
Proposed to amend Article 9, Section 1, to read:
Add to the end of existing section: "The funding for this program will come from an additional voluntary dues structure and not from the general fund of the Branch."
Proposed to amend Article 9, Section 2, to read:
Add to the end of existing section: "The funding for this program will come from an additional voluntary dues structure and not from the general fund of the Branch."
Proposed to amend Article 9, Section 7, to read:
Under direction of the appointed Branch Director of Retirees, the Branch shall honor its retirees at an annual retirees' Breakfast, and provide them with an appropriate gift as determined by the Branch Executive Board, not to exceed the Branch budgeted amount for such gifts.
Proposed to amend Article 13, Section 7, to read:
The Branch shall pay $250 per week for suspensions of up to four (4) weeks annually, thirty (30) days, to any Branch Officer or Shop Steward who is disciplined due to his/her Union activities. Upon successful grievance-arbitration settlement, such funds shall be repaid to the Branch on a pro-rata basis. Such payments shall not exceed four (4) weeks per year, and shall be rescinded upon the successful completion of any settlement that the Branch may enter into with management. If grievance resolves or settlements result in a dismissal or reduction of lost wages, the Branch shall be reimbursed the funds given the Shop Steward or Branch Officer for lost wages regained.
Proposed to change title of Article 17, Per Diem, to read:
"Per Diem For Other Approved Branch Expenses."
Proposed to add a new Section 3 to Article 18 to read:
Any organization or member wanting to sell goods at Branch Executive Board or General Meetings must sell only American Union Made goods.
Branch Grievance Results
The results of Branch grievances will commence being reported in the next Branch Newsletter. Unfortunately, they could not be reported in this one due to the number of proposed amendments to the Branch Constitution and By-laws reported for consideration at the February 21 meeting.
