A Note from the President about S1789

 

                       

    Dear Brothers and Sisters:
 
   We are very disappointed that the Senate voted yesterday to approve S.1789.  This is a terrible bill that will allow the USPS to cut 6 day delivery in 2 years, and does not come close to properly addressing the issues of overpayments and pre-funding.  Senator Schumer got his amendment passed to protect door to door delivery, which we appreciate.  However we are very disturbed that both Schumer, Gillbrand and almost all Democrats voted for the final bill, after we explicitly made our position clear that we had to have 6 day delivery and protection for our injured workers, an amendment that also failed, in order for us to support the bill.
 
   However, we must remember that the Republicans in the Senate introduced many amendments that were defeated that would have made the bill much worse.  They wanted 5-day delivery immediately, they wanted to get rid of collective bargaining, forced mandatory retirement, the list goes on and on.  Our allies prevented all that from happening.
 
   This is still a bad piece of legislation, but even our strongest ally, Bernie Sanders from Vermont voted for it.  The Republicans who voted against it did so not because they are our friends but because it didn't go far enough to destroy the Postal Service, the unions and our jobs.  
 
   As President Rolando states on nalc.org, this process is far from over,  We will continue to fight in the House and if they pass a bill, it must then be reconciled with the Senate bill, and then President Obama would have to sign it.  We will still have opportunities to Save America's Postal Service!
 
   Robert J. McLennan

 

                           Branch 3 Election Results:

 

                                                  Vice President

                                  Renee Baron                                690

                                  Wayne Comstock                      363

                                                         Trustees

                                                    (Top 5 are elected)

                                Nicole Marasco                            776

                                Donald Cook                                  762

                                David Grosskopf                          761

                                Peter Preziotte                              647

                                James Isenhart                            608

                                Robert Kowalewski                     456

                                             Sergeant-At-Arms

                              Nanci Trzepkowski                      575

                              Judith Kersten                               478

                                                       Editor

                

                               Bill Campbell                               639

                               Michel Coffey                               401

         

 

      Attention all Regular Letter Carriers in Buffalo!!

             The current bid sheet that is out, which closes on April 16, 2012, has four grade 2 positions posted for bid for regular city letter carriers in the Buffalo stations. There are eight PTF's in Buffalo and we are very anxious to get them all converted to full time regular status as soon as possible, due to the threat of the plant closing at 1200 William Street, which may bring employees from other crafts into the letter carrier craft as regulars. Management will convert PTF's to regular status into residual Grade 2 positions, not Grade 1.

              As always, feel free to use your seniority to bid any available position that you choose. If you really want a Grade 2 position that is posted, go for it. However, I just want all members to be aware of the possible ramifications to our PTF's. If you're uncertain which job to bid, this information may be useful.

                Thank you for your consideration.

                Robert J. McLennan

                President

 

                     Attention all Branch 3 Members!!

        

            Call Senators Schumer and Gillibrand immediately and ask them to vote NO on S-1789 .Call Schumer at 846-4111 and Gillibrand at 854-9725.

              S. 1789 could come up by Wednesday : An amended version of S-1789 which the NALC has not yet seen, appears headed for consideration on the floor of the Senate as early as Wednesday. Based on what little we know right now, the expectation is that the amendments still do not go far enough toward addressing the major problems we have with this deeply flawed legislation. The NALC is prepared to mobilize members to oppose any measure that includes language jeopardizing a day of mail delivery service

                               The Hightower Report

         Click HERE to read an excellent article by Jim Hightower about the plight of the USPS

                                    Important Announcement

                  

            Dear NALC Executive Council Members, State Chairs and Congressional District Liaisons,

           We need your urgent help over the next few days. The House of Representatives is scheduled to begin debate on The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, H.R. 7, early next week. This legislation will be rolled together with The Securing Annuities for Federal Employees Act of 2012, H.R. 3813, which is a devastating bill for federal and postal workers. H.R. 3813 calls for massive cuts to CSRS and FERS retirement benefits, with the savings it expects to generate to be used to pay for H.R. 7.

Please carefully read the attached NALC Alert, here, on this pending legislative proposal, then contact your U.S. Representative and tell him or her to vote NO on H.R. 7 if it includes H.R. 3813. Your action is needed now!

 

In Solidarity,

Fredric V. Rolando, President

National Association of Letter Carriers


 

                                             Branch Items          

             Nominations for all Branch 3 officer positions will take place at the February 15th, 2012 union meeting.

                On May 5, 2012, Branch 3 will hold it's annual Old Timer's Night. In addition, we will be holding the installation of the newly elected Branch 3 officers.

Save the date and plan on attending this Branch 3 event.

                   Management has selected zone 12 to participate in the caser/streeter initiative. This is a new pilot program testing the efficiency of such a system. Casers come in early and case mail in the morning preparing for the streeters to come in later in the morning, pick up their accountables etc, and go right to the street. Managements goal to begin this test is February 25, 2012. More info to follow.                

 

                                            

 

       

                      STILL NOT GIVING TO COLCPE?

        If you wait much longer, you may not have a paycheck to deduct it from.

                       Fill out the coupon in the Buzz and mail it in NOW!

                                        There is no more tomorrow.

                                   Don't make me say, "I told you so"

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            

 

                                     

With the new Shared Services doing most of the functions of the personnel office, problems are coming up which can effect every active letter carrier. We are asking you to call the union office when a member RETIRES or TRANSFERS to a different Post Office. The form 50’s are not being cut in a timely manner and this will effect bidding and promotions to become a regular full-time carrier.

Don’t forget if something is happening at your station retirements, parties, births etc. let Bill Campbell, Editor of the BUZZ know early enough so it can get in the newsletter in time for everybody to see.