A Note From The Branch President
As I am sure you are aware, the Postal Board of Governors has launched a vicious attack on our workplace stability with the discussion of eliminating 6 day delivery. In addition, they have petitioned congress to abolish the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 which would effectively eradicate collective bargaining. Sisters and brothers, it is obvious that we are in for the fight of our lives if we are to protect the gains that we have worked so hard to achieve over the last many years. To do our part, the Branch will be conducting a COLCPE drive that will culminate in June. I will ask every Shop Steward to canvas his or her office and collect any donations that you might have. Any size contribution would be appreciated and will be put to good use in Washington. This is going to be a laborious, uphill battle, but with everyone’s help, it’s a battle we can definitely win.
Next Meeting – April 18
The next regular monthly meeting of the Branch will be on Wednesday, April 18 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 – April 11
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, April 11.
Attendance Won, Prize Stands At $25
P. Poniatowski, a regular member of the Branch working out of the Runnemede office won the $25 attendance prize at the March meeting of the Branch. The prize now stands at $25 and increases in increments of $25 monthly to a maximum of $250 until a member’s name in attendance at a regular monthly meeting is drawn. Branch Officers and/or Shop Stewards are not eligible.
Branch Scholarship Drawing – May 16
The Branch has an established Branch Scholarship offering of $2000, $500 per year, 4 years, available to the children, grandchildren, stepchildren and/or the adopted children of active and retired members graduating from high school. The scholarship is awarded by way of a random drawing of those eligible for the scholarship who have submitted an application anytime prior to or at the meeting on May 16. The scholarship will be awarded for the attendance of a student at a two or four-year college, university or vocational school.
Student’s Name:_________________________________ Branch Member’s Name:___________________________ Member’s Relationship To Student:___________________ |
Annual Retirees’ & Branch Awards Brunch – Sunday, April 22
The Annual Retirees’ and Branch Awards Brunch has been scheduled this year for Sunday, April 22, 11 am, at the Best Western, West Deptford Inn, 101 Grove Road, Thorofare, NJ, Exit 20, off of 295 South. Branch members who have retired since our last Annual Retirees’ Brunch on April 9, 2000, will be honored. Thus far they include the following. Anyone who we may have missed should contact the Branch Recording Secretary.
F E Cole – Stratford
T Price – Glassboro
W E White – Pitman
G J Creek – Bellmawr
G R Curran – Haddon Hts
J Natale Jr. – Mt Ephraim
H E Walker Jr.– Marlton
A A Yansick – Riverton
Members being honored this year are invited to attend the Brunch at no expense to themselves, their spouse or significant other. All other retirees who have retained their membership are invited free of cost for themselves only. The cost of admission for all others is $10 pp, children over 5 years of age $5. Everyone planning to attend must complete the form below and return it to the Branch Recording Secretary at PO Box 385, Woodbury, NJ, O8096, by April 18, 2001:
Name: ________________________________ Check one: ( )Honored Retiree ( )Branch Retiree ( )Award Recipient ( )Other Number of Admissions Requested: (___) Free (___) Paid Check Enclosed For number of paid admissions: (___) in the amount of: ________ |
NALC-USPS Food Drive – May 12, Help Needed !
The annual NALC-USPS food drive will take place on Saturday, May 12. Active and/or retired letter carriers are needed at the hubs to help unload and load the trucks that will carry the food to the food banks. The hubs where the help is needed are at the Blackwood, Somerdale, Deptford and Voorhees Post Offices. Helpers should report to the hubs about an hour before the carriers are scheduled to return from their routes. If you intend to lend your assistance, contact Steve Rutkowski.
S. J. District EVA Bonuses Continued
Office Name Position Bonus Bellmawr Mosley Dist Mgr $32626.47 Bellmawr Fleury Mgr H/R $3184.60 Bellmawr Harrington C/S Analyst $2107.30 Bellmawr Hensel L/R Spec $2468.91 Bellmawr Mason Mgr Poom $2344.79 Bellmawr Moyer Mgr PO OP $3137.83 Bellmawr Peters L/R Spec $2735.00 Bellmawr Shiflet PO Op Mgr $2852.59 Bellmawr Solomon L/R Mgr $1749.77 Runnemede Fort CS/Supvr $2107.30 Runnemede Schang Postmaster $2366.44 Salem Muzzi Postmaster $2403.99 Salem Townsend C/S Supvr $1783.74 Sewell Eden C/S Supvr $776.87 Sewell Galan C/S Supvr $819.18 Sewell Knox Postmaster $2588.92 Somerdale Mims Postmaster $1711.04 Stratford Brauns C/S Supvr $2019.18 Stratford Pendlebury Postmaster $2366.44 Swedesboro Marcus C/S Supvr $1563.91 Swedesboro Vannucci Postmaster $2475.80 Wenonah Derham Postmaster $2366.44 Wenonah Hugg C/S Supvr $1755.36 W Berlin Giancaterino Postmaster $2251.63 Westville Diepold Postmaster $2476.90 Westville Garrity C/S Supvr $2081.67 Wmstwn Haines C/S Supvr $1636.55 Wmstwn Kulikowski Postmaster $2740.00 Wmstwn Rumaker C/S Supvr $547.77 Woodbury Barrett C/S Supvr $1503.62 Woodbury Miranda C/S Supvr $2015.87 Woodbury McWilliams C/S Supvr $1788.63 Woodstown Worrilow Postmaster $2242.91
Branch Grievance Results
Paulsboro – Grievance to be held at Step 2 pending outcome of case filed at National level on the issue of “third bundle.” (020701)
Haddon Hts – Grievance to be held at Step 2 pending outcome of case filed at National level on the issue of “third bundle.” (013101B)
Marlton – All discipline issued by Bob Knopka to carriers during period 12/1/00 to 2/28/01 rescinded.
Blackwood – Notice of 7-day suspension reduced to official discussion. (011201)
Gloucester – Letter of warning for unsatisfactory attendance rescinded effective 3/6/01. (031200)
Bridgeton – 7-day suspension reduced to a letter of warning. Grievant to receive 40 hours back pay. (121300)
Voorhees – 7-day suspension reduced to a letter of warning to be rescinded 6/1/01. (100600)
Voorhees – Letter of warning reduced to a discussion. (082600A)
Swedesboro – 5 carriers paid $300 each as result of route inspection grievance. (110901)
Paulsboro – Letter of warning issued 12/5/00 will be reduced to a discussion (120500A)
Pitman Member Honored by Post Office
Pitman letter carrier and Branch member Ariannia Moore was honored by the Post Office with a continental breakfast, a certificate of appreciation and a $500 monetary award for her effort in coming to the rescue of a seriously injured postal patron. The patron had fallen and suffered a broken hip, was in extreme pain and wedged against the front door of her home. Moore comforted the woman and called for help. She remained with the woman until police and an emergency medical team arrived.
$10,000 Seat Belt Policy
$10,000 will be paid to the estate of any postal employee who, while in a pay-duty status, sustains fatal injuries as the result of a job-related motor vehicle accident, provided he or she is wearing the lap belt and shoulder belt when required and is not in violation of the traffic laws and postal policy at the time of the accident. (Postal Bulletin 22043 (2-8-01)
Carrying Pre-Sequenced Addressed Mail As a Third Bundle
The NALC has filed a national level grievance challenging management’s requiring letter carriers to carry pre-sequenced addressed mail as a third bundle on park and loop and walking routes. Until this issue is resolved, follow directions and file grievances. Such grievances will be held at the local level pending final adjudication of the case at the national level. The case number is Q98N-4Q-C01045770.
Supreme Court To Rule On Issue Of Postal Firing Based On Past Discipline
The Supreme Court will take up the case of a postal worker whose dismissal was based in part on her past disciplinary record, which had not yet been heard and was still under appeal.
The Merit Systems Protection Board upheld the dismissal, but the US Court of Appeals ruled that the worker could not be fired because the Postal Service based the decision in part on previous disciplinary actions, which were still under appeal.
Steve Sweeney Announces Run For NJ State Senate
Steve Sweeney, Ironworkers Local 399, has announced that he will be a candidate for the Democratic Nomination for state Senate in the 3rd legislative Distinct. Sweeney has served on the Gloucester County Board of Freeholders for the last five years, and has been Freeholder Director since 1998. During his service as a Gloucester County Freeholder, Sweeney has been a true voice for working families and will continue to fight hard for labor issues as a Senate candidate.
H. B. “Scoop” Slack Memorial Scholarship
The Burlington County Central Labor Union, of which this Branch is affiliated, will be awarding two scholarships for $750 each. Any high school senior who will be attending a college or university, or continuing their education in an approved trade or technical school, is eligible provided that the student is a child of a current or deceased member. Application and documentation for the scholarships must be post marked no later than May 6 to the Scholarship Committee of the Burlington County Central Labor Council. For applications and further information contact Donna Villec at the Riverton Post Office.
What Is Managed Service Points???
It is a system where letter carriers use Mobile Data Collection Devices (scanners) to scan bar codes placed at selected delivery points on City Letter Carrier Routes to monitor delivery times to customers and supplement street management programs by monitoring route street performance by letter carriers. Tests were conducted in California and Florida last year, and it is understood that the system will be going nationwide in the upcoming months. A Step 4 grievance has already been filed at the National Level on the issue.
Welcome New Members
R F Palladino, Jr. – Mt Ephraim
P K Goslin – Pennsville
P A Canales – Riverton
R J Wnek – Voorhees
J W Suggs – Bridgeton
W D Hawk – Williamstown
R F Henry – Riverton
No Phone Or Personal Contacts With Employee’s Physician
The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), US Department of Labor, issued new regulations governing the administration of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) effective January 4, 1999. The specific regulation that is germane to the instant case (whether management violated the National Agreement when it contacted limited duty employees’ physicians to receive information and/or clarification on a carrier’s medical progress) is 20 CFR 10.506, which specifically prohibits phone or personal contact initiated by the employer with the physician. (class action A94N-4A-C 97019738, Hackensack, NJ, Nat Level Pre-Arb.)