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Volume XXXI, No. 17 July 27, 2001 Former House P. O. Chairman William Clay Joins APWU As Legislative/Political Consultant APWU President Moe Biller announced that longtime APWU friend and former Representative William L. Clay, Sr. (D-MO) has joined APWU as a Legislative/Political Consultant. President Biller made the announcement after polling the APWU Executive Board for their consent. Former Representative Clay, who has spoken at every APWU National Convention for more than 20 years, has long been considered APWU's "best friend" on Capitol Hill for his excellent leadership on issues of most concern to APWU members. Representative Clay was first elected to Congress in 1968 and served until 2000, a total of 32 years, as he became the third senior Member of Congress. Prior to the Republican takeover of Congress after the 1994 election, Representative Clay was the Chairman of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee. He retired as the ranking or senior Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee. As Post Office and Civil Service Committee Chairman, Clay authored very important legislation affecting APWU members, such as Hatch Act Reform, which was passed in 1993 after a 17 year struggle, granting Postal and federal employees political rights denied since 1939. He also authored the Family and Medical Leave Act, which was signed by President Clinton as his first piece of legislation. Both bills had been vetoed by Republican Presidents--Hatch Act by Presidents Ford and Bush and Family and Medical Leave by President Bush-- before they eventually became law. Chairman Clay also helped in the 1980s to pass legislation taking the U.S. Postal Service off-budget and to help fight against draconian budget cuts proposed during the Reagan Administration. He also helped battle annual budget cuts attempted each year during the Reagan and Bush Administration and helped rally both Democrat and Republican Members of the Committee to protect the APWU membership. President Biller welcomed Chairman Clay to APWU and said, "We look forward to a continuing our excellent relationship, which began more than three decades ago. Bill Clay will work with the APWU Legislative Department to help further our goals." APWU President Moe Biller recently brought former House Post Office and Civil Service Committee Chairman (and longtime APWU friend) Bill Clay on board as the union's legislative and political consultant. Shown above welcoming former Representative Clay are, from left, APWU Legislative Director Roy Braunstein, President Biller, Chairman Clay, Executive Vice President Bill Burrus and Assistant Legislative Director Myke Reid. 'Fast-Track' Vote Anticipated Next Week Call House Members to Stop 'Fast-Track' Now! The U.S. House of Representatives will be asked to vote next week on giving President George W. Bush "fast-track" trade-negotiating authority. The bill, HR 2149, introduced by Representative Phil Crane (R-IL), would give the President expedited trade-negotiating authority that does not include labor/environmental standards. When the House last considered Fast-Track on September 25, 1998, it was defeated by a vote of 243-180. In that House vote, 171 Democrats voted against Fast Track (or right) and 29 supported it (wrong). Among Republicans, 71 voted no (or right) and 151 voted yes (wrong). Why Fast Track? President George W. Bush and giant corporations want a special bill that will let them rush trade agreements through Congress with no changes and minimal review. Bush's Fast Track plan would limit the time Congress can consider trade agreements and prevent our representatives from doing anything other than vote "yes" or "no" on trade deals Bush negotiates. If Congress agrees to Fast Track, we will certainly see the folowing: o more and faster trade deals like NAFTA, o more US job losses, o more communities decimated by job loss and smaller wages, o more attacks on worker rights across the globe, o and more devastating pollution of our air and water. Stop 'Fast Track' in Its Tracks! Call you Members of Congress today, toll-free, at 1-800-393-1082. Tell them: Working families need fair and balanced trade that protects people and the environment--NOT FAST TRACK! November
11-12, 2001, in Washington, DC The next Bulk Mail Center Conference is scheduled to be held Sunday and Monday, November 11 and 12, 2001, at the Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001. The general session is scheduled to convene Sunday, November 11 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Monday, November 12, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Pre-Registration To pre-register for this seminar, complete the registration form below and mail it to Maintenance Division National Representative-at-Large Gary Kloepfer at the address given. The pre-registration process ends October 10, 2001. On-Site Registration On-site registration will be held on Sunday, November 11, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Agenda Items Please submit items for discussion, or to be reported on, to Kloepfer no later than October 15. Agenda items received prior to October 15 will be forwarded to the appropriate craft officer for response at the conference. Agenda items received after October 15 will also be forwarded to craft officers, but a response cannot be ensured.
Hotel Information To make room reservations, contact the hotel directly at 202-628-2100 or 800-321-3010 and identify yourself as a participant of the American Postal Workers Union Bulk Mail Center Conference. The room rate is $169 single and $189 double occupancy, plus tax (currently 14.5 percent), per room per night. Reservations should be made prior to October 10, 2001 to guarantee the negotiated rate. The APWU-BMC hotel block has a limited number rooms; make your room reservation early to guarantee the negotiated rate. The hotel requires an advance deposit equal to one night's room and tax charges to hold all reservations. Deposits can be made by check or credit card. Any reservation not guaranteed for late arrival will be held only until 4:00 pm the day of arrival. Cancellations must be received by 4:00 pm the day prior to arrival to qualify for a refund of the deposit. Those who depart before their scheduled departure date will be subject to an early departure fee of $25 (subject to change without written notice). However, departure dates can be changed up to 24 hours prior to arrival. Hotel check-in is 3:00 pm; check-out is 12:00 noon.
Travel Information Super Shuttle Service from National Airport and from Baltimore-Washington Airport to the Washington Court Hotel is currently available for $28.00 for the first person and $8.00 for each additional person. The shuttle can be found at both airports by following the directions to "Ground Transportation." The hotel does not provide complimentary shuttle service to/from airports. The taxi fare between National Airport and the Washington Court Hotel is approximately $12.00.
***This form must be received no later than October 10, 2001.***
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