APWU National Convention - Day 1

The convention began this morning and after introductions of APWU National Officers and International guest, APWU President William "Bill" Burrus spoke to the Delegates. He spoke on the following issues:

- 83% of eligible employees are APWU - Members (meaning 17% nonmembers). There are currently a total of 250,896 APWU members. Total Non members 37,576.
- The APWU went from a $7 million deficit back in 1984 to a $10 million surplus in 2010.
- APWU Union alive and strong.
- No APWU member has been layed off during these tough times.

SOME 2006-2010 CONTRACT ACHEIVEMENTS
- Upgrades to all employees
- Increased employees who have consecutive days off
- PTF's converted to Full Time in offices over 200 man hours.
- OTDL employees utilized on overtime prior to the use of casual employees
- Restricting casual employee hours

APWU CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
- Will begin as soon as he returns back to Washington.
- Message to Management "The APWU does not go backwards" and "Come to the table with an open mind"
- No give backs
- We can achieve everything without arbitration
- Improve conditions for employees.
- Restricting Excessing
- Restrict Article 19 changes where management attempts to change language that is normally done through the collective bargaining agreement.
- The APWU does not want to go to Arbitration to get a new contract.

COPA
- The APWU must have a voice for the membership in Washington DC
- Over the last 6 years, the APWU has raised over $1 million each year
- Delegates are seated by state at the National Convention by State goals achieved for COPA
- President Burrus has been invited 7 times to the White House to discuss APWU Issues since January 2009

MERGER OF POSTAL UNIONS
- NALC President Frederick V. Rolando will address the APWU delegates on Tuesday
- The APWU is in favor of the merger of all Postal Unions and he began initiating this process when he became APWU President.

APWU
- Has led the fight against 5 Day Delivery
"They are not going to get 5 Day Delivery"
- Been fighting the closing of Stations and Branches

Since excessing is such a "Hot Topic" I felt I needed to get some of the resolutions discussed on Article 12 out as soon as possible. I would advise everyone to go on the APWU website to review the full resolutions and not just accept my very brief descriptions below. I hope this helps everyone who could not attend. Please excuse any errors.

Labor Management Resolutions for Contract Negotiations (Brief Descriptions), any Resolution not listed was either previously adopted, referred or other.

Resolution 1) Article 1 - Require Management to swipe over or use a PS FORM 1260 to the bargaining unit operation number where the work is being performed. Passed

Resolution 2) Article 1 - In offices of less than 100 man years, all district managers notify the NBA of all proposed abolishments, reversions and repostings. Failed

Resolution 4) Article 4 - When new equipment is purchased or leased the APWU will be notified as far in advance as possible, but no less than 90 days. Includes the APWU being notified of new or changed jobs in the area of wages, hours or working conditions. Passed

Resolution 5) Article 6 - Negotiate an increase in recall rights after layoffs to 5 years or the individual's continuous postal seniority (whichever is greater). Passed

Resolution 6) Article 7 - Make effort to equitably schedule PTF hours. Passed

Resolution 8) Article 7 - Require management to keep agreed upon PTR hours the same during the life of their employment, unless they bid to another position. Passed

Resolution 9) Article 7 - Increase the number of career employees at the Remote Encoding Centers to 60% career and 40% transitional employees. Passed

Resolution 10) Article 7 - Full Time Status for 125 Man Year Offices. Failed Note: Felt it would cause additional excessing)

Resolution 11) Article 7 - Re implementation of PTF's in ALL Installations including 200 man year offices. Failed

Resolution 12) Article 7 - Residual jobs that have met, or exceeded 180 days in that status, be filled by the PTF conversion language. Passed

Resolution 15) Article 7 - 6 years of continuous APWU employment would grant Full Time employment. Failed (APWU agrees with the resolution but undermines the overall principle of seniority)

Resolution 16) Article 7 - Total amount of PTR's not to exceed 2.5% of total number of career employees. Failed (Would create PTR's where they don't exist)

Resolution 17) Article 8 - Be able to negotiate monthly Overtime Desired List. Failed

Resolution 19) Article 8 - Management should exhaust the OTDL before utilizing employees out of schedule. Remedy of a violation would be 150% to the out of schedule employee and the OTDL employee would be entitled to the appropriate OT rate. Passed

Resolution 20) Article 8 - Overtime be paid at 200% and penalty OT at 300%. Passed

Resolution 21) Article 8 - Sunday Premium while attending training for all employees who normally work Sunday while attending training at any location. Passed

Resolution 23) Article 9 - Level 5 Data Conversion Operators in the Remote Encoding Center to be upgraded to level 6 and level 6 Data Conversion Operator Group Leaders be upgraded to level 7 to coincide with Mark Up Clerks - Automated. Passed

Resolution 24) Article 10 - A disabled veteran can use leave of choice for treatment and doctors can accept documentation from Veterans Administration or current health care provider as reason for their absence. Passed

Resolution 25) Article 10 - Negotiate change in leave earning structure: 1 to 3 years = 13 days, 3 to 10 years = 20 days, 10 to 15 years = 26 days, Above 15 years = 30 days Passed

Resolution 27) Article 11 - Change Christmas Day pay to 1 1/2 times the base hourly rate and allow employees the option of Annual Leave in Lieu of Pay. Passed

Resolution 28) Article 11 - Employees forced to work n/s day or holiday could be given choice pay or day of annual leave. Failed

Resolution 29) Article 11 - employees improperly scheduled to work the holiday would be granted an additional 50% pay or an additional 4 hours of annual leave for being improperly scheduled. Employees who failed to be utilized would get paid or be entitled to the 8 hours of annual leave. Passed

Resolution 30) Article 11 - Employees would be able to waive certain holiday rights. Failed

Resolution 31) Article 11 - Employees receiving an additional 50% if forced to work after the Tuesday Schedule Posting. Passed

Resolution 32) Article 12 - Protecting excessed employees from termination for failure to qualify. Failed Note: Existing language in Article 12.5.B.8 is clear.

Resolution 34) Article 12 - Allows senior in lieu of employees to bid on all specific withheld bids on the preference sheet. Passed

Resolution 35) Article 12 - Senior employees be given the right to select a cross craft reassignment within the installation. Passed

Resolution 36) Article 12 - Negotiate a Live Bidder option for excessing. Passed

Resolution 37) Article 12 - Negotiate to allow all employees in the event of excessing from multiple installations at the same time to bid on any Residual Vacancies using their home installation seniority to chose the position. Passed

Resolution 38) Article 12 - Union notification at least 6 months in advance and in writing at the regional and local level for excessing. Passed

Resolution 39) Article 12 - When excessing occurs and junior Full Time Regular employees are excessed to installations with senior Part Time Flexible employees, the PTF's will be converted to Full Time Regular. Failed Note: Would cause employees to be excessed even further from home.

Resolution 40) Article 12 - Relocation Allowances Failed Note: poorly written resolution

Resolution 41) Article 12 - Residual Vacancy Bid Sheet be extended to 15 days instead of the current 10 days and be from the time the last employee signs the certified letter. Passed

Resolution 43) Article 12 - Negotiate no excessing for gaining installations for a period of 3 years. Passed

Resolution 45) Article 12 - The timely excessing update notification from the USPS. Passed

Resolution 46) Article 12 - Combining of Impact Statements at the same Facility. Passed

The convention has 2356 delegates from all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 84 national officers present, and 5 retiree delegates. There were 355 locals represented. These numbers are not official numbers but approximate numbers.

On Tuesday there were thousands of delegates walking the streets of Detroit protesting the USPS recommendation to cut mail delivery to five days. There was a sea of blue APWU shirts in the streets of Detroit.

The Labor Management Committee has finished most of its work. The labor management resolutions provides incite and recommendations to our national officers in the area of contract issues.

The Organizing Committee and Motor Vehicle Committee have reported as well. The Motor Vehicle Committee resolutions provides incite and recommendations to our national officers in the area of contract issues as well.

The Clerk Craft and Maintenance Committee will probably report late today or on Thursday.

The APWU Constitution Committee is due to report today. This will be the most important part of the convention in my opinion. This is the time we can make changes to the APWU National Constitution. The Constitution Committee has recommended we support six changes. This does not seem like much but it surely is a very difficult task and responsibility.

Constitution Committee - Concurred Resolutions (six resolutions)

Resolution # 1: ARTICLE 3, SECTION 1 MEMBERSHIP - Southwest Coastal Area Local • California Postal Workers Union
COMMITTEE REASON(S) FOR CONCURRENCE: The current language is not enforceable. By passing this resolution it would eliminate disparity for OWCP employees.

Resolution # 2: ARTICLE 3, SECTION 4 (c) RETIREE MEMBERSHIP - Submitted by the Constitution Committee.
This resolution would allow retired members to stay active in the area they live.

Resolution # 3: COMMITTEE REASON(S) FOR CONCURRENCE: The language in Article 5.1 (b), paragraph three would allow cost savings for the National and the Locals.
This resolution cuts the convention by a day but increase the daily hours from 6 to eight hours.

Resolution # 4: ARTICLE 5, SECTION 4 SINGLE DAY PRE-CONVENTION CRAFT CONFERENCES - Alaska Postal Workers Union • Idaho Postal Workers Union • Montana Postal Workers Union, Oregon Postal Workers Union • Washington Postal Workers Union • Greater Seattle Area Local
COMMITTEE REASON(S) FOR CONCURRENCE: Cost savings for the National and the Locals.
This cuts the craft conventions from 2 days to one day.

Both resolutions 3 and 4 will save locals and the national union money. In addition, we should be able to complete all of the necessary work required.

Resolution # 5: ARTICLE 8, SECTION 11 INCREASE THE SALARY OF THE RETIREE DIRECTOR - Pittsburgh Area Retiree Chapter ▪ Michigan Postal Workers Union
COMMITTEE REASON(S) FOR CONCURRENCE: The workload in the Retiree Department has increased and continues to rise.
This is a case of right is right and this department has grown and should be recognized for its success.

Resolution # 6: ARTICLE 21 (a) & (b) & (e) VACANCIES - Submitted by the Constitution Committee - Or a possible similar resolution related to this subject matter. There are many similar resolutions in the Convention Resolution Book.
Something needs to be done in this area. This resolution appears to be workable and does have some checks and balances.

My personal opinion is we should support the six resolutions supported by the Constitution Committee. My opinion is based on more than thirty years experience as an officer at the local, state, regional, and national level. Changes to the constitution at any level are difficult. None of these resolutions appear to attack any craft, state, or local.

One issue also being discussed is a dues increase as high as three dollars ($3.00) per pay period. At the Maintenance Conference held prior to the national convention many Maintenance National Business Agents recommended and supported a dues increase. I totally disagree and do not see the need especially when the Secretary Treasurer of the National APWU has clearly stated there is not a need for an increase.

The Constitution Committee met and almost all of the proposed changes to the constitution were rejected. This is not an easy committee to be on.

Two constitutional changes were passed. One allows a person to change locals when they relocate after retiring. The other issue passed was the increase in money for the Postal Press Association.

The heavy issues involving the structure of the union and dues increase were soundly rejected.

In my opinion, many NBA's and some officers not on the National APWU Executive Board wanted a dues increase even though the national union is expected to be in a good financial position. We did not need to increase our members' dues $3.00 a pay period at this time.

The delegates also rejected expansion of the National APWU Executive Board to include national resident officers, increase salary for the retiree director, and changes to the hours and number of days for the national convention.

The retiree department and delegates sought constitutional changes but changes were rejected by the delegates. One of the reasons I think most of the proposed changes were due to the fact our retiree delegates did not contact and address retiree issues at the numerous state and regional caucuses.