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 Senate to Consider Legislation Giving Sick Leave Credit to FERS Retirees- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has placed on the Senate calendar legislation that would give retirement credit for unused sick leave to postal and federal employees enrolled in the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS).
RELATED - House Approves Bill To Give Sick-Leave Credit to FERS Retirees
The House of Representatives approved legislation on April 1 that would give employees covered by the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) credit for unused sick leave when calculating their retirement benefits.
 APWU e-Team Alert
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New APWU FMLA Forms Available
(02/24/09) The APWU's FMLA forms have been updated to meet revised certification requirements that took effect Jan. 16, 2009.
New FMLA Rules Effective January 16 - (01/16/09) The APWU has been meeting with the Postal Service regarding the implementation of changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – changes the Bush Administration implemented just four days before President Bush leaves office. The changes, announced in November, make it harder for workers who are covered by the law to use FMLA leave... more info
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****IMPORTANT NOTICE****
To All APWU Crafts:
If you receive any official letters notifying you that your job is to be changed, abolished, duties added, duties taken away or time changed, please notify the Union Office AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
The Postal Service is taking actions concerning employees jobs, and are deceiving you into thinking that the APWU is aware, this is not true. The Union HAS NOT been getting the notifications as required.
Again, if there are any actions affecting your jobs, please notify the Union Office ASAP at 271-0853 or fax a copy of the letter to 224-6221.
The job you save may be your own!!!!
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 Ask President Burrus - Question:
The issue of Tour Compression and other management excessing initiatives were the subject of discussion at the recent National Presidents’ Conference meeting in Washington, DC. Brother Bell gave a brief update on the issue.
However, I have received a number of inquiries from local presidents requesting an update on this issue, specifically (1) the status of the ULP charges, (2) the status of the injunction, (3) national-level grievances, and (4) any further discussions/negotiations between the parties to return employees back to Tour 2.
John H. Dirzius - Chairman, APWU National Presidents’ Conference (4/01) | [Pres. Burrus Response]
It All Adds Up, Declining Volume, Killing the Messenger, Excessive Discounts
Burrus Update #01-09, Jan. 7, 2009
It has been widely reported that the Postal Service has been experiencing serious reductions in mail volume, with corresponding financial deficits. This decline in mail volume is directly related to the nation’s economic crisis, and despite the promises of advocates of “postal reform,” volume will not increase until the economy recovers. read the article..
USPS Denies Existence of Program to Eliminate Tour 2
APWU Web News Article #110-08, Nov. 18, 2008
In response to an inquiry from APWU President Burrus, the Postal Service has denied that it is “considering or is in the process of implementing a nationwide program establishing a two-tour operation, which is intended to eliminate or greatly reduce Tour 2 assignments, operations, and staffing.”
UPDATED - Union Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Over Elimination of Tour 2 (11/25)
FYI
Recently there has been talk about a possible 4 day work week. This may or may not happen and if it does, it will only happen to select work groups. President Alex Aleman will keep us informed with any developements on this issue. The information on a "Modified Work Week" is in the contract under Memorandums/Letters of Intent, Appendix B. MOU for "Modified Work Week".
UPDATED - Modified Work-Week Talks Stall (12/01)
 Plant Updates
Excessing in San Antonio
DPS Moving to 0600 will cause Begin tour changes on both Tour 1 and Tour 3 (02/11/09)
National Reassessment Program (01/15/09)
Overtime Limits for Christmas
Clerk 'Scanner' Positions
Live Bidder
Attention the Tour 2 Job 95780239
Unassigned Regular Polling
 Window Clerks!
Attached is information concerning the Mystery Shopper Program...
Mystery Shopper Comparison - The first attachment compares the 2008 program to the 2009 revised program and what they are looking for.
Mystery Shopper Step 4 Agreement - The second attachment is a step 4 agreement between the Union and management that basically states that management cannot use the Mystery Shopper or similar programs as the basis for discipline.
If you have any question please contact your Steward or Craft Director.
Attention All Box Clerks
If you are being pressured into, or ordered, to scan that all the box mail has been put up by the specified time, even though it has not been accomplished the Union needs to be made aware.
If management is pressuring you or ordering you to scan that the box mail has been put up even though it has not been accomplished they are asking you to FALSIFY an official document. If this is happening the Union Office needs to know immediately.  More info..Pop Up Box
 Military Buyback - Are you a career employee who served in active military duty after 1956? Will you qualify for Social Security benefits?
If your answer to both questions is "yes," you may want to make a deposit into the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) so that your military service will be included in your permanent retirement annuity calculation.
Check out new video on this important information.
Personnel Office Closed - The Personnel Office will be closed two days each week beginning the week of May 12, 2008. The change is needed in order to allow Personnel staff to prepare for the on-going migration to Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC). The scheduled days for closing are: San Antonio Personnel Office - closed Wednesday and Thursday
 EMPLOYEES EXCESS TO THE NEED OF A SECTION
This purpose of this article is to make our members aware of their rights when employees are excess to the need of a section. It is important to keep in mind that management makes the decision to abolish duty assignments and excess employees. The role of the union is to ensure the provisions of the contract for excessing from a section are adhered to. By the union making sure the provisions are followed, the union is also protecting the employee’s rights of both junior and senior employees.
...read the article -submitted by SAAAL President Alex Aleman - March/April Dispatch
Pre-Disciplinary Interview (PDI)
The purpose of this article will be to try and clarify some typical questions which arise from and procedures that govern a proper PDI.
First, please do not confuse PDI with an official discussion. The contract, under Article 16 (the discipline procedure) still requires management to give an official discussion, for minor offenses, prior to issuing discipline. You do not have the right to union representation for an official discussion.
....more on this article 
 Step 1 Grievance Form Outline
I am including a STEP 1 GRIEVANCE FORM that you can fill out with the station name or associate office. We are losing a lot of work due to these grievances NOT being filed. I need your assistance in waging this war on reclaiming our Clerk work back!!! Make copies of this form and keep handy. The grievance must be filed within 14 days of the violation. Put a date and fill in the information in the grievance body. This STEP 1 will cover either management or carriers (rural carriers) performing Clerk work. Once the grievance is filed, a chief steward or I will handle the STEP 2 APPEAL.
...download the form -submitted by Clerk Craft Director "B", Sandra Lira
FMLA
FMLA Booklet for Physicians now available - Having trouble getting your health care practitioner to complete the FMLA forms? The Center for Labor Education and Research or CLEAR recently published a brochure, Understanding the Family and Medical Leave Act: A Guide for Physicians and Other Health Care Professionals, for local unions to distribute in their communities. ...download brochure here
 Don't Be Taken In!
The postal service is once again promoting its voice of the Employee Survey. Employee surveys and participation programs have long been a point of dispute between the Postal Service and the APWU, with the union actively urging our members not to take part in such studies. Our main concern is that the Postal Service has misrepresented the results of employee opinion surveys in the past, including during contract negotiations and interest arbitrations when it has used  survey data to justify claims that employees supported its wage proposals.
Before you fill out that survey, read an article that explains why the Union and your Local encourages you not to do so. Don't Be Taken In!
Members who turn in their blank surveys to the union will be eligible for $$$ drawings at the General Membership Meetings.
Congratulations to our latest winners: Joseph LaBonte ($50) & Isaac Cabillos ($25) & Elizabeth Quiroga ($25)
(Brother LaBonte, to the left, has a grip on his winnings)
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