November 1999 Newsletter

Next Meeting - November 17

The regular monthly meetings of the Branch are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, except in July and August. The next regular monthly meeting of the Branch will be on Wednesday, November 17, 8pm. At the Colonial Manor American Legion Post home, 502 Colonial Ave., N. Woodbury.

Branch Officers & Executive Board Meetings - November 10

The Branch Officers and the Executive Board meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. The Board of Officers meets at 7pm. and the Executive Board at 8pm. The next meetings of the Board of Officers and the Executive Board will be on Wednesday, November 10, at 7 and 8pm. respectively.

Attendance Prize Now Stands At $250

Had she been at the October meeting of the Branch on Wednesday October 20, Linda Ridgeway, a member of the Voorhees Office, would have been the recipient of the $225 attendance prize. The prize now stands at $250 for the November meeting on Wednesday, November 17.

Free Turkey Drawing
November 17

As usual there will be a drawing for a free, twenty-pound, fresh-killed turkey at the November meeting of the Branch. Just show up, participate, eat and drink at the November meeting and you could be going home with a free turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Childrens' Christmas Party
Sunday, December 19

The annual Childrens' Christmas party for the children and grandchildren of Branch members will be held on Sunday, December 19. Santa Claus will be there between 1 and 3 pm to greet the kids, have his picture taken with them, and dispense presents and other goodies. There will be refreshments available for young and old.

Health Benefits Open Season
November 8 - December 13, 1999

Be Careful About Health Benefits Coverage

Ina a recent NALC Bulletin President Sombrotto expressed concern for more than 26,000 letter carriers who have no insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefit program. While some may be relying on thier spouse's insurance, he recommended that carriers be made aware that they must have been in FEHBP for 5 years in order to carry coverage into retirement.

Nominated & Declared Elected

The following nominees for Branch Officer and Shop Steward were nominated without opposition at the October 20, 1999 regular monthly meeting of the Branch and declared elected:

Branch Officers
Steve Lipski - President
Bill Revak - Recording Secretary
Ed Friel - Assistant Recording Secretary
Jack Bittner - Chairman, Trustees
Fred Mendel - Health Benefits Officer

Shop Stewards
Mike DiGiacomo - Bellmawr
Gary DiGiacomo - Blackwood
Steve Lipski - Gloucester
Vince Shoppy - Magnolia
Mike Breyer - Mantua
Jim Comuso - National Park
Norm Spence - Penns Grove
Steve Rutkowski - Pitman
Jim Livingston - Riverton
Fred Mendel - Runnemede
Harry Harrison - Sewell
Mike Porter - Vorhees
Jack Bittner - Wenonah
Tom Carey - West Berlin
Frank Matkowski - Williamstown
Dave Hogate - Woodstown

Branch Positions Up For Election

The following Branch Officer and Shop Steward positions are up for election. Ballots will be mailed to the homes of all members eligible to vote, for return to the Branch Election Committee by December 8, 1999.

For Vice President
Gary DiGiacomo
Joe Walder
For Treasurer
Tom Saia
Tom Barnett
For Financial Secretary
Bob Stoltz
John Vito
For Trustee(elect 4)
Tom Walsh
Donna Villec
Norm Spence
Jim Serock
Mike DiGiacomo
For Sgt At Arms
Bill Baitinger
Cathy Powell
For Housing Chairperson
Andy Dealy
Mike McKiernan
For Shop Steward, Glassboro
Bill Dougherty
Gus Dressner
For Shop Steward, Woodbury(elect 2)
(vote for 2)
M McKiernan
P Grant
J Walder
J Buniak
For Convention Delegate
 (elect 20 to be compensated)

               Bob Stoltz               Steve Lipski               Bill Revak
               Tom Barnett              John Vito                  Ed Friel
               Jack Bittner             Donna Villec               Joe Walder
               Gary DiGiacomo           Tom Walsh                  Jim Serock
               Bill Baitinger           Mike McKiernan             Norm Task
               Fred Mendel              Jim Comuso                 Glen Acheson
               Norm Spence              Dave Singleton             Cathy Powell
               Jim Livingston           Mike Breyer                Mike Louden
               Bud Dermond

Branch Election Committee

Steve Rutkowski
Rick Hurst
Mike Porter

Apartment House Mail Delivery

Contrary to instructions you may have received from route inspectors, the delivery of mail to apartment houses as defined in the Postal Bulletin of 10-7-99, is as follows:
"Carriers must not leave mail undelivered on racks, tables, shelves, or other fixtures. In apartments and other centralized delivery environments, carriers may leave mail addressed to full mail receptacles in a designated location that affords adequate protection for the mail with the permission of the addressee or after leaving Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/Receipt, notifying the addressee. Carriers must always deliver both components of detached label mailings, the letter-size address label and accompanying flat or sample piece at the same time."

Annual Leave Carryover
440 Hours (55 days)

The 1999 leave year ends on December 31, 1999. The 2000 leave year begins on January 1, 2000. The maximum amount of annual leave that employees may carry over from 1999 into the 2000 leave year is 440 hours (55 days) for bargaining unit employees. Don't forfeit annual leave. No provisions exist for employees to carry over leave in excess of the applicable carryover maximums on January 1, 2000.

LARC School Expresses "Heartfelt Thanks"

The LARC School for developmentally disabled children and young adults recently sent the Branch a letter expressing its heartfelt thanks for the Branch's generous sponsorship of hte "Capt. Tom McDonnell 5K Run for LARC School."The event was very successful, helping to insure the dream of a secure future of the one hundred and three developmentally disabled children and young adults at the school.

Don't Forget To Complete and Return Your Branch Election Ballots by December 8

Branch Grievance Results

Pre-Arb Settlements

Pennsville - Grievance resolved. The parties agreed that management attempted to change the status of the Transitional employee to casual and a mistake was made on the Form 50. (031099C)
Pennsville - Union will identify who will be compensated one hour at the regular OT rate for 8/15/98. (082198)
Marlton - Grievance resolved based on the fact that the file lacked any medical documentation that was referred to in the grievance. Request for light duty must be in writing. (070198B)
Maple Shade - Grievant will be compensated 4 hours at the regular rate for 9/5/98, Holiday Scheduling. (100198)
Blackwood - The parties agreed that the grievant, if he has it, may apply 8 hours SL to the 8 hours LWOP for 10/10/98. (102298)
Deptford - Issue agreed moot for the FMLA requested for 9/98 - 8/99. If employee still requires FMLA leave or a change in schedule, further documentation explaining the need should be submitted and management should give every consideration to such request. (112198)
Gibbstown - Grievance resolved. One hour OT given the grievant. (112198)
Marlton - Six hours OT will be divided among those on the OTDL for supervisor performing bargaining unit work on 11/14/98. (11/18/98)
Step Three Settlements

Bridgeton - Five hours at the OT rate to be paid carriers designated by the Union for work that should have been performed by bargaining unit employees. (082399)
Woodbury - AWOL rescinded and expunged adn changed to 2.5 hours of SL for May 15, 1999. (052799B)
Gibbstown - Copy of PS Form 1723 will be provided the Union in advance of or at the time of higher level assignment. (052899)
Woodbury - LOW issued 4/9/99 will be rescinded 12/31/99. (041699C)
Woodbury - LOW issued 4/9/99 will be rescinded 12/31/99. (041699A)
Woodbury - LOW issued 4/9/99 will be rescinded 12/31/99. (041699B)
Woodbury - 7-day suspension for failure to wear seat belt, reduced to a LOW. LOW may only be cited for a seat belt violation. (041799)
Pitman - Management will abide by recent step 4 decision of 7/8/98 which states that the selection of a work method is to be a joint determination. Any unilateral change without union and carrier involvement must be nullified. (032399)
Sewell - Grievant will be reimbursed all hours worked outside of previous bid schedule at the appropriate rate of pay from 8/29/98 to date grievant was reassigned back to letter carrier craft. (112098)
Woodbury - Grievant will be paid lump sum of $15 for 2/13/99. (021999A)
Atco - Grievance moot. Rehab grievant has been reassigned. Grievant's retreat rights are the subject of a seperate grievance. (032599)
Atco - Grievant granted 8 hours SL for 4/24/99, In future, grievant will contact a supervisor when requesting leave or notifying of absence. (032799B)
Step 2 Settlements

Riverton - Grievant paid 1/2-hour at the OT rate for craft work done by other than carrier craft. (051899A)
Riverton - Grievant given OT make-up opportunity. (051899B)

Step 1 Settlements

Hammonton - Grievance sustained. Grievant paid 2 hours straight time up to 40 hours and time and a half for about 1.45 hours. (041099)
(Step 1 settlements continued next month)

Dates To Remember

Health Benefits Open Season: Nov 8 - Dec 12, 1999
Pay Anomaly Checks Due: PP 6/99, 12/99, 20/99, 26/99
Atlantic City Rap Session: March 5 - 7, 2000
NJ Congressional Breakfast: March 21 - 23, 2000
National Convention: July 31 - August 4, 2000