A Note From the President
I would like to thank the members and their friends who came out to the Highland Tavern and made our COLCPE fund-raiser such a great success. We made $640 in four hours just by having a good time. Hats off to Norm Task, our COLCPE Chairman, for another job well done. A special thanks and debt of gratitude goes out to Donna Villec. Donna filled in for guest bartender John Vito when John decided that he could be more profitable to COLCPE by his sitting on the other side of the bar. Donna, who had just completed the March of Dimes Walkathon, took over as guest bartender, and served drinks with the utmost charm and friendliness. Thanks, Donna, for going above and beyond the call of duty. If you could not make the fundraiser, but would like to contribute towards your working future, send a check to COLCPE Chairman Norm Task, at 323 Third Ave., Haddon Hts., NJ, 08035.
Steve Lipski, President
Next Meeting - May 15
The next regular monthly meeting of the Branch will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 8 pm, at the American Legion Hall, 502 Colonial Ave., North Woodbury. Regular monthly meetings of the Branch are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month except in July and August.
Branch Officers & Shop Stewards Meeting - May 8
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 meeting of the Board of Officers and Executive Board will be on Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 and 8 pm respectively.
Joe Townsend Wins $250 Attendance Prize
Joe Townsend, a Branch 908 member working out of the Gloucester City Post Office was in attendance at the April 17 regular monthly meeting of the Branch and won the $250 attendance prize that was up for grabs. The prize now starts at $25 and increases to a maximum of $250 until a member's name, present at a regular monthly meeting, is drawn.
Sombrotto Not Seeking Re-election
According to reports coming out of the Indiana State Association of Letter Carriers' Convention, Bill Young, NALC Executive Vice President, announced that he is running for the presidency of the National Association of Letter Carriers, and that President Sombrotto will not be seeking re-election. (Editor, Summit City Mailbag)
Postage Rate Increase - June 30, 2002
First Class
37 cents - 1 ounce letter
23 cents - Post cards
Tentative Agreement Reached On National Contract
The NALC and the USPS reached tentative agreement on a National Labor Contract at NALC Headquarters on April 24. The agreement provides for five general wage increases:
-
1.8% retroactive to November 17, 2001
-
1.5% in November, 2002
-
1.2% in November, 2003
-
1.3% in November, 2004
-
1.3% in November, 2005
There will be a one-time cash payment to reflect the cost-of-living adjustment between October 2001 and July 2002, followed by regular semi-annual COLAs in March and September of 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.
The agreement also calls for a 10.1 percent increase in a letter carrier's uniform allowance, effective on a carrier's employment anniversary date.
Other improvements include:
-
The position of "unassigned regular" is redefined.
-
Grade 2 Carrier Technicians are granted the same transfer rights
as Grade 1 carriers when their route is transferred to a different
installation.
-
Continuation of Memorandum for sick leave for dependent care
and leave sharing .
-
Memorandums requiring the Postal Service to pay at least 70
percent of a grievance award if not paid within 60 days of the submission of the required documentation, and setting up Task Forces to schedule arbitrations at the regional level and also to develop an intervention process for DRT problem sites.
-
New language in Article 19 makes it easier for the NALC to
monitor changes in handbooks and manuals.
The contract duration runs until November 20, 2006.
The tentative contract, approved by the NALC Executive Council,
will be submitted to the active membership for ratification as soon as possible.
Wage Packages Compared
| Union |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
COLA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lump Sum |
| Mail Handlers |
1.3% |
1.9% |
1.5% |
1.3% |
|
|
$499 |
| Clerks |
1.2% |
1.8% |
1.4% |
N/A |
|
|
$499 |
| Rural Carriers |
1.2% |
1.8% |
1.4% |
1.2% |
|
|
$499 |
| NALC |
|
1.8% |
1.5% |
1.2% |
1.3% |
1.3% |
semi-annual |
Convention Delegates Next Meeting - May 29, 8 pm
The Branch Convention Delegates met on April 24. Due to previous commitments, 2 of 8 delegates absent were excused. A motion was made and approved by the delegates in attendance to excuse all of the
delegates that missed the first meeting on February 26. A number of proposed amendments for consideration of the delegates at the National Convention were presented, discussed and will bear further discussion and consideration before submission to the National Convention. The Delegates in attendance did decide upon the purchase and wearing of Branch vests at the convention. The colors decided upon was royal blue, with gold logo and Branch identification printed on the vests. The next meeting of the delegates will be on Wednesday, May 29, 8 pm.
Retirees' & Branch Awards Breakfast
The annual Retirees' and Branch Awards Breakfast, held on Sunday, April 21, was a huge success. Over 73 people attended the Breakfast. Steve Sweeney, New Jersey State Senator, Director of the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and a Union Business Agent in his own right, presented this year's retirees and award recipients with a NJ Senate and Assembly Citation for their years of service and dedication to their jobs and the NALC. National Business Agent Tim O'Malley and his assistant, Shelly Williams, graced us with their attendance as did Hal Crass, our Branch Attorney. It was great to see the number of Branch Officers and Shop Stewards who came out to add their acclaim to those being honored. Previous retirees who came out included, Tom Barnett, Jack Bittner, Harry Breyer, Ed Carola, Gill Gurran, Bud Dermond, Allen Gray, Ed Horner, Phil Juhring, Carlo Marta, Sam Procopio, Cliff Rhone, Less Styron, Norm Task, John Vito, Ed Friel, and Dave Singleton. Those who passed on and were remembered in our prayers: J. B Webb, Harry Brumbaugh, Jim Carson, George Murdock, Harry Walker, George Foster, R. E. Garrison, and Cleon Christides.
Postal Service Vital Statistics
