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Ask the President
2006 Questions and Answers
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Healthcare Premiums and
The Tentative 2006-2010 Contract Agreement
(12/21/06) Under the tentative agreement, I will have to pay
1 percent more for my BlueCross BlueShield healthcare premium. The premium
for the basic plan is $40.17 per pay period. Does the one percent increase
mean that my premium will increase by roughly 41 cents per pay period,
or is there another way to figure it out?
President
Burrus' response
Upgrades, Saved Grade, and
The Tentative 2006-2010 Contract Agreement
(12/21/06) Will the upgrades in the tentative agreement apply to people
who are in a saved-grade status?
President Burrus'
response - updated May 4, 2007
Maintenance Upgrades and the Contract Proposal
(12/20/06) The memo read that all APWU employees would get
one level upgrade. If you do the math, the ETs and MPEs are not
getting a full level upgrade by today’s pay scales, while everyone
else is getting more than a full upgrade by today’s pay scales. This
deserves an explanation... The projected pay Tables 2 and 3 seem to
indicate a lower level-assignment for Levels 11 and 12. Why are the
technically skilled levels being minimized in the negotiated benefits
of this contract?
President Burrus'
response
PTF Conversion and the Contract Proposal
(12/20/06) Why was the conversion of PTFs in the new contract limited to a
certain group? As an employee in a 125 man-year office, I feel it would have
been a greater benefit to have all PTFs converted.
President Burrus' response
The Tentative Agreement and Healthcare
(12/15/06) The healthcare provisions of the new contract
seem to be trying to force everyone to buy a certain policy — the
APWU Consumer Driven Health Plan. I realize we still have a choice,
but you will have to pay considerably more for a different plan. I’ve
had BlueCross BlueShield for 12 years, but now the cost may be too
much and I will be forced to change. That doesn't’t seem right
to me.
President
Burrus' response
Contract Questions and Answers
(12/13/06) Most often the real intent of the language and the proposals
get lost in translation. We, for the most part, understand the National Agreement.
However, would it be possible to develop a set of Questions and Answers to
go along with the new changes? Could it be posted on the Web site?
President Burrus' response
COLAs and National Officers
(10/24/06) Why do national officers receive a percentage COLA, when all other
craft members receive a lump sum? Why not show solidarity and receive what
us craft workers receive?
President Burrus'
response
Open Negotiations
(10/10/06) The one thing above all others that should be
changed is to open up the bargaining sessions to the membership. I
have paid dues for many years, and have never been privy to the discussions
at the bargaining table. How can we judge the effectiveness of the
negotiating team if we are kept in the dark?
President Burrus' response
Job Bidding, Work Locations, and Seniority
(09/01/06) I would like to see the national union negotiate
job bidding within a sectional center, such as in 460-461-462 or 473
or 475. I live in zip code 46038, but I work in 462. There are bids
available in 460, but I would lose all seniority to go there. I can
understand not allowing nationwide bidding because of local seniority,
but bidding within 30 miles does not seem to present a problem.
President Burrus' response
Seniority and Bidding
(07/18/06) I am a newly converted unassigned regular, and
I am getting my first taste of these “bids by seniority.” The
whole concept stinks, to put it mildly.
President Burrus' response
Sick Leave and FERS Retirement
(06/28/06) Why can’t the employees covered by FERS (Federal Employees
Retirement System) get a nice percentage of their unused sick leave back when
they retire? A lot of us do not use very much and would like to get something
back for not abusing it.
President Burrus' response
Rumors of CSRS Demise Unfounded
(06/19/06) According to rumors, the Civil Service Retirement System
(CSR) seems to be in a precarious state. Is it possible to do away with CSRS?
Have there been discussions between management and the APWU in regard to a
CSRS enticement?
President Burrus' response
Non-Member Complaint
(06/25/06) I would much more prefer that your [recent letter to non-members]
read: “Congratulations! After working 40 hours a week for the past 12
years as a PTF, we have finally forced the USPS to give you your title of ‘regular,’...
That’s the kind of letter I want to receive from you! At which time I
will gladly join the union again. Until then — don’t insult me!
President Burrus' response
Customer Complaint About Service
(05/11/06) I am a USPS customer and a union member (not an APWU member).…Two
times in the past 6 months I have mailed non-priority packages and both times
they have taken 6 to 12 weeks to be delivered…. I haven’t complained
to USPS (yet) because mgmt would just blame the workers. I’m distressed
that the Post Office that I appreciate as one of the most vital public services
we have could do so poorly in this area…. Is management trying to drive
the Postal Service into the ground?
President Burrus' response
PTFs in Small Offices
(04/24/06) What are the union’s plan to assist with conversion
of PTFs in Associate Offices?
President Burrus' response
Maximization Reports and PTFs
(04/10/06) The Maximization Reports that show part-time flexible employees
who have worked 39 or more hours per week over a six-month period are not actually
very helpful to our local. The USPS should be able to provide the national
union with a report of employees who work 39 hours or more within five days.
President Burrus' response
Conflicting Signals on Mail Volume
(03/27/06) Isn’t it true that total mail volumes have increased over
the last few years yet the USPS is saying publicly that volumes are down and
projecting a net loss for 2006?... Is this just a pre-contract negotiations
propaganda blitz that is part of an effort to get give-backs or limit raises?
President Burrus' response
Why Do Postal Unions Bargain Separately?
(03/13/06) What caused the three major postal unions to break away
from each other during contract negotiations?
President Burrus'
response
Penalty Overtime Pay
(02/13/06) When was penalty overtime negotiated and why? I have heard several
explanations and have formulated a few of my own, but I would like to know
your perspective.
President Burrus' response
Night Differential Pay
(01/31/06) Why hasn’t night differential pay been increased? When will
it change? I remember at one time it was 10 percent more than regular pay.
President Burrus' response
Was the Union Caught ‘Off Guard’
By USPS Consolidation Plans?
(01/18/06) Why was the national APWU caught off guard by the USPS consolidation
plans? The only time I know of that the APWU protested management’s refusal
to provide the consolidation plan was during the first year of the contract
extension. Why was there no follow-up? Why wasn’t legal action taken
or a grievance filed? What is the national doing in regard to all the Area
Mail Processing (AMP) studies? Grassroots efforts are fine, but what is the
national union doing?
President Burrus' response
APWU President William Burrus
Telephone: 202-842-4250
ABOUT THE
APWU PRESIDENT
The American Postal Workers Union’s top officer is its president, William Burrus. The president has overall responsibility for the operations of the APWU, as directed by the Constitution and Bylaws.
