·
Members approved
a donation of $300.00 to the
Buffalo
Police Benevolent Association,
the association of the rank and file police officers for the City of
Buffalo.
·
Members approved
a donation of $100.00 to the “Roy Rondino Sr. Donation Fund”
established by
New Orleans Branch 124
in memory of Brother Rondino who succumbed to injuries suffered in
an on-the-job accident. He was struck by a vehicle while in the
line of duty.
·
President
McLennan presented Niagara Falls carrier Stewart Russell with
his 40 yr membership in the NALC.
·
Legislation Chair
Doug Fordyce announced the House passed legislation giving FERS
employees half credit for unused sick leave towards retirement
with full credit in year 2014. The bill is now in the Senate for
a vote. President Obama signed the bill giving the USPS $4
billion in financial relief for prefunding retiree’s health benefits
for this year.
·
Members are urged
to vote on November 3rd for Branch 3 endorsed
candidates: Erie Count Comptroller Mark Polancarz, NY
Legislator District 11 Lynn Marinelli, District 6 Maria Whyte and
District 2 Tim Kennedy.
·
President
McLennan reminded members of the upcoming MD Deliver the Cure
Bowl” on 11/08 at Strikers Lanes,
50 Michaels Rd., West
Seneca. Contact
your Steward or the Union office immediately for further details.
This event is open to all members, family and friends.
·
Safety Rep John
Walton reminded members about the use of cell phones while driving.
Members are reminded to obey all traffic laws in regards to usage
when driving any postal vehicle. Supervisors should have
canvassed members for ice creepers for the coming winter
season. They should be available in the units before an icy
condition exists. Stewards should contact Brother Walton or the
Branch 3 office if their station was not canvassed.
·
Insurance Rep Don Karp was attending the NALC Health Benefit
seminar. In his absence, former Insurance Rep Bob Ohlenschlager gave
Brother Karp’s report. Open season for FEHB will be
11/09 thru 12/14. Members are urged to compare premiums and
other expenditures in the health plans such as prescriptions before
choosing a FEHB plan. The NALC remains the least expensive and most
competitive.
·
Social/Recreation
Rep Kent Hankin reported that a limited number of tickets remain for
the Casino Day, 11/08. Contact Brother Hankin if you are
interested in going.
·
Convention Chair
Kent Hankin reminded members that nominations for delegates
to the 2010 NALC Biennial Convention in Anaheim, CA
would be at the November general membership meeting. Members seeking
nomination but unable to attend should submit their request in
writing to the Union office prior to the meeting.
·
Sec/Treasurer
Hankin announced that a donation of $200.00 each would be given
to MD and COLCPE. The funds are a result from the sale of Letter
Carrier colored coded calendars.
· President
McLennan reported on the COP (Committee of Presidents) meeting in
Detroit.
NALC President Rolando conducted the meeting and used the venue as
an opportunity to receive feedback on various issues from the branch
presidents in attendance. Topics discussed included Art 12
Excessing, MIARAP, DRT and public relations efforts by the NALC.
President McLennan and Executive Vice-President Kania attended an
NALC historical event at the Walter Reuther Library at
Wayne State
University with President Rolando and other NALC leaders.
·
President
McLennan reported that in accordance with the MIARAP process,
local DEA teams will be revisiting offices. Currently, those offices
not adjusted from the spring data are being addressed, to be
followed by nearly all stations throughout October and November and
into December.
Former National
Business Agent Bob Massaroni conveyed his thanks to Branch 3
for the well wish during his illness. Bob has recovered and is
feeling much better.
Carriers are
reminded that utilizing Form 39996 Request for Auxiliary
Assistance protects them when incurring overtime issues and
strengthens the Union’s Art 8 grievances. This is documentation of
what management knew and when they knew it. City of Buffalo
A/Postmaster Phelan is a strong advocate of utilization of Form 3996
versus the blanket directive of “just call from the street.”
· The
Branch has been notified that GPS units will be installed in
five vehicles each in four city office and four AO’s. Management is
required to notify the letter carrier that their postal vehicle has
a GPS unit in it. Stewards are requested to notify the Union
office when vehicles are equipped with GPS. Offices currently
affected are:
Cheektowaga, West Seneca, Eastside, Williamsville, Hamburg, Olean, Jamestown and Tonawanda.
·
President
McLennan has negotiated the number of reserves positions in the City
of Buffalo. The A/Postmaster has agreed to 50 reserves positions
of which 29 are currently filled. President McLennan will be
meeting with the Postmaster concerning the placement of the
remaining 21 positions and the assignment of split utilities. There
are currently 22 unassigned regulars in the City of Buffalo due to
MIARAP. The current bid sheet has 10 positions, and combined with
residual vacancies and reserves, no Buffalo carrier will be excessed
from the installation.
·
PTFs
are reminded to watch their work hours very closely. In Buffalo, a
PTF working 8 hrs a day, 5 days a week for 6 months could create a
conversion of the senior PTF to Full Time Regular. In the AOs, the
hours must be on a hold down and the result could be the conversion
of a FTR position.
·
President
McLennan discussed the issue of second-class mail and the white
buckets of flats. Members should obey the orders of their
supervisors. However they should take all or leave all the mail in
the buckets as opposed to going through them for first and
second-class. If instructed to leave any mail, file Form 1571
w/copy indicating what was left and why, i.e. instructed by
supervisor. Protect your job and yourself form possible delay of
mail! It is the union’s position, from the Postal Operations
Manual, that all periodicals should be delivered at the first
opportunity to do so.
·
Plans are being
made for a Retirement Seminar for members in February 2010.
More details will follow in the Buzz.
·
Chairman of the
Board of Trustees Nicole Marasco announced that the trustees
conducted an audit of the Branch records and accounts. All
accounts have been reconciled and records are in order.
·
City of Buffalo
carriers are reminded that Tuesday, November 3rd is the
first day that they can start to submit non-choice selections of
annual leave for 2010. Members are reminded that submissions
for entire weeks made on Nov 3rd must be taken in their
entirety or the entire week cancelled. Any selection of weeks after
that can be cancelled in part.
·
West Side Carrier
David Kozinski would have won $110.00 had he been present at
the meeting. Plan to attend next month’s meeting and become a
better-informed member and possibly $120.00 richer.
·
Next General
Membership Meeting is
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
at 7:30pm.
REMEMBER TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY
NOVEMBER 3, 2009!!!
