News Articles

· 3/24/07 Class Action Griev. # 06-292 settled - Pay Adjustments processed for 2005 Snowstorm (Tour 1)

Grievance #05-013 was settled. The grievance was filed for Administrative Leave due to the Blizzard 1/23/05. The grievance was settled in part & denied in part. It was settled in that Tour 1 & 2 would be paid Administrative Leave. However, management failed to process pay adjustments. Therefore, this grievance was filed (#06-292)

· 3/2/07 NPMHU Scholarship Deadline 3/15/07 & Free Choice Act Passes in the House of Representatives

NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone Scholarship Program Application Deadline is March 15, 2007

To download an application see www.npmhu.org

Dramatic Victory for Employee
Free Choice Act in House of Representatives

The House of Representatives passed the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800) by a vote of 241-185 on March 1. Thirteen Republicans broke ranks to join 228 Democrats in favor of giving workers a fair deal in forming a union.

“This is only the first step, but it is significant,” commented National President John Hegarty. “I want to thank all Mail Handlers who contacted their Representatives on this issue. Your effort helped make this a success.

“It is an historic moment for labor. By banning harassment and intimidation of employees who want a better life through a union, we will be offering workers a choice and a chance for decent wages, working conditions and retirement.”

The Battle Is Joined

For generations, union wages have been the vehicle by which working families gain dignity, earn a decent wage, send their children to college, purchase a house, enjoy reasonable health care coverage while 41 million non-unionized Americans go without such coverage and rely on hospital emergency rooms, and much more.

American labor law was intended from the outset to encourage working people to come together and bargain collectively for better wages and benefits than they would be able to get on their own. But in the past few decades, the laws have been so twisted by corporations and their union-busting hired guns that it is now virtually impossible to form a union against an employer’s wishes.

The choice that should belong to employees now belongs to employers. Corporations routinely fire, intimidate, harass, and coerce workers during organizing campaigns, and the labor laws are helpless to stop them. The current process is rigged from the outset by the side that signs the paycheck. They take advantage of the fact that, since 1947, there has not been a significant updating of labor laws.

The Democrats who managed the bill on the House Floor, Rob Andrews (D-NJ) and George Miller (D-CA), beat back several Republican amendments that would have gutted the bill. Republican opponents to HR 800 were backed by a multi-million dollar advertising and lobbying effort by the corporate world and anti-union groups.

Mail Handlers are urged to thank their Representatives who voted in favor, which includes all Democrats except Dan Boren (OK) and Gene Taylor (MS) – the two Democrats who voted against the bill.

The Republicans who voted in favor include long-time Mail Handler supporters John McHugh (NY) and Chris Shays (CT). Other Republicans who voted for passage are Ferguson, LoBiondo, Saxton and Smith (NJ), Fosella, King and Walsh (NY), LaTourette (OH), McCotter (MI), T. Murphy (PA) and Young (AK).

What Happens Next?

The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to be introduced by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and others within a few weeks. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Kennedy, will hold hearings and possibly make adjustments to the bill. It is not likely to go to the Senate Floor for a vote until this summer.

Because any Senator can filibuster a bill, it may take 60 votes to break the filibuster and move the legislation to the Senate Floor. If it passes, President Bush has said he will veto the legislation. Such a move by the President would set up a confrontation with Congress, as they try to override his veto.

We will keep you informed as developments occur.

· 2/27/07 Proposed Start Time Change Tour 3 Destinating Sorter

This morning the plant manager indicated that it is proposed to change the starting times of all 7PM BEGIN TOUR Mail Handlers on the TOUR 3 DESTINATING PARCEL SORTER TO 7:30PM. This is anticipated by March 10, 2007. They do not propose to change the Mail Handlers who have a BEGIN TOUR of 7:45PM. The 7:45 starts will remain at 7:45.

 

Management is claiming the reason for the time change is a lack of mail earlier in the shift. They also allege that the mail has been arriving late from the truck routes and FEDEX. They claim that FEDEX mail will be coming in even later soon.

 

We do not know of any Mail Handlers on Operation #340 (Standby Time). Management claims that the Tour 3 Destinating sorter is looking for work between 7PM and 10 PM and that during this time their 'productivity' is bad.

 

All Members on the Tour 3 Destinating Sorter are encouraged to assist and provide feedback of WHAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN GOING ON BETWEEN 7PM & 10PM.

 

Tour 2 Destinating Sorter will remain the same. If there are any proposed changes for Tour 2 Destinating Sorter, you will be informed. No other operations are to be affected.

 

Also, starting soon the Originating Sorter will be using the new MTEL system to print labels/placards for the Postcons & Gaylords. These are the barcoded labels. Other sections will also start to use the MTEL system too in the future.

 

In addition, another change will be the use of the Surface Visibility handheld scanners. This will not happen tomorrow, but should happen in a few weeks.

 

Management "should" train you on how to use the MTEL system and the Surface Visibility scanners.

· 2/26/07 Vacation Schedules for 2007 DONE!

See attached. The vacation schedules have been completed for all tours. If you need to change, cancel, or add weeks … submit to management. If you encounter any problems, request a steward.

· 1/22/06 Two Scholarships are open now

2 Scholarships are currently open now. From Union Plus - must be postmarked by 1/31/07. From the National Office - due by 3/15/07. Contact the Branch President if you are interested in obtaining an application.

 

· 2/15/07 Effective dates of New Contract

The effective date for the 2006 National Agreement has been established as Saturday, February 17, 2007, except as may otherwise be provided by the terms of the National Agreement. FOR MORE INFO see www.npmhu.org

 

Among the terms effective on February 17, 2007 are new provisions governing bereavement leave; administrative leave for bone marrow, stem cell, blood platelet, and organ donations; leave sharing across postal districts; and higher level pay for temporary details under Article 25.

 

Many other provisions have specific effective dates other than February 17, 2007, including the following:

1.                   The first negotiated 1.2% wage increase is retroactively effective on November 25, 2006.  As previously reported, this wage increase will be implemented during PP04-2007, which began on February 3, 2007, and will be reflected in paychecks issued on February 23, 2007.  The retroactive portion of this 1.2% increase (from PP25-2006 thru PP03-2007) will be paid in PP12-2007, in paychecks to be issued on June 15, 2007.

2.                   The new Step P on the wage scales also is retroactively effective on November 25, 2006.  For those Mail Handlers who have satisfied the 24 week in Step O requirement, this new Step P will be implemented and reflected in PP12-2007, in paychecks to be issued on June 15, 2007.  Retroactive amounts related to the new Step P also will be reflected in those paychecks for PP12-2007.

3.                   The new Step AA on the wage scales is effective February 3, 2007, and will be applied only to newly hired employees effective on that date.

4.                   The shorter waiting periods in Steps A and B (to be advanced to Steps B and C, respectively) are retroactively effective on November 25, 2006.  These adjustments in pay also should be reflected in paychecks for PP12-2007.

5.                   Increases in clothing allowance are effective on November 25, 2006, and will be implemented accordingly.

6.                   New casual reports under Article 7.1, covering all Bulk Mail Centers and all installations employing at least 50 career mail handlers, will be implemented as soon as administratively possible.  We will provide further information about these reports when it becomes available.

7.                   Changes to Article 12.2G9, providing new rules for Mail Handlers who voluntarily transfer from one postal installation to another, and are subsequently accepted for voluntary transfer back to the original postal installation within one (1) year, are effective January 1, 2007.

8.                   Changes to Article 12.3B11 – providing that, except in cases where the installation is under withholding, the senior part-time flexible employee in the installation will be converted to full-time regular if no qualified unassigned full-time regular employee is available to be assigned to a residual vacancy – are applicable to residual vacancies remaining from any bid posting after June 1, 2007.Elimination of the geographic restriction on Leave Sharing

· 10/13/06 - Labor Management Meeting: Outsides to be Changed to a 1900 starting time, Should be another bid cycle before December, Balldock Scanners

1. OUTSIDES Section - Start Time to be Changed to 1900. This change could be effective as early as 10/21/06 for some. The change will not be effective for all members at the same time.

2. Balldock Scanners - many have been sent out for repair. These scanners might be replaced with new scanners in the future.

3. Next Bids Cycle. Barring any setbacks, another round of bids should be posted and awarded before December.

· 9/3/06 - Updated News: No Excessed LGA Mail Handlers, Bids Awarded, Contract Updates, Housekeeping Committee

1. The excessed Mail Handlers from LaGuardia have been assigned to other facilities. NO Mail Handlers are being excessed to NY L&DC (with their seniority). As always, if there is a possibility of another excessing to NY L&DC you will be informed.

2. Bids have been Awarded. Effective - 9/16/06 See the bulletin board for details

3. Contract Negotiations - Updates on the negotiations can be found on the National Union website at www.npmhu.org They have also posted a video of the first day of the contract negotiations. If you have the time view this video.

4. Housekeeping Committee - At a recent Labor Management Meeting, the Union discussed a need for a Housekeeping Committee for this facility. The committee will address the cleanliness of the facility. A high emphasis will be placed on the bathrooms, swing rooms, and locker rooms. The committee will also conduct inspections of the facility to identify issues. We are sure, that we will find numerous housekeeping issues which will be addressed.

· 8/22/06 - $812 COLA INCREASE TO BE ADDED TO WAGES

 

National Postal Mail Handlers Union

Local 300 - NYL&DC Branch