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Postal Service Delays Retroactive Pay Until May 24

APWU News Service Bulletin #5-02, Feb. 15, 2002 | PDF 

The Postal Service has announced that retroactive pay to employees represented by the APWU will be delayed three pay periods.  The retroactive pay will appear on employees' regular paychecks for pay period 11-02, which they will receive on May 24, 2002.

The retroactive pay will cover all paid hours from Nov. 18, 2000, through March 22, 2002, including overtime.  The new pay rates are still scheduled to go into effect on March 23, 2002, and will show up in employees' regular paychecks on April 12, 2002. The cost-of-living lump-sum payment is still scheduled for March 15, 2002, and will be included in employees' regular paychecks.

Arbitrator Stephen B. Goldberg awarded retroactive pay, cost-of-living increases and across-the-board pay increases as part of his ruling on the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the APWU and the Postal Service on Dec. 18, 2001.

APWU Executive Vice President Cliff Guffey, who was assigned to finalize pay issues from the award, expressed frustration at the delay.  "From past experience we knew not to release any dates until we received them in writing from the Postal Service," he said.  "After receiving them in writing and releasing them to our members, management has now informed us it will take an additional three pay periods to provide our members with their back pay.  I wonder who will get the bonus for that?"

Bush Budget Pinches Workers

On Feb. 4, 2002, President Bush released his annual budget, the fiscal year 2003 budget proposal.  This budget includes $2.1 trillion in spending, including the largest military increases in nearly 20 years, as well as increases in domestic security programs.  The APWU concurs with increased spending in those areas necessary for America to succeed in the war on terrorism.

However, there are large cuts in proposed programs that protect the American workforce, and the president's tax policies continue to favor the wealthiest individuals and corporations.  The 2003 budget will return the budget to deficit spending for most of this decade.

Unkind Cuts in Worker Safety

President Bush's budget proposes to reduce funding in several areas that concern APWU members.  Postal workers have been on the frontline of America's war on bioterrorism, but the president's budget cuts $1 billion from the Centers for Disease Control CDC).

The Bush budget also cuts funding to several worker's safety and health programs.  This includes a $9 million cut in Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) programs.  Reductions are proposed for safety and health standards, enforcement and training for workers.  No ergonomics standard was proposed in Bush's budget, even though Labor Secretary Elaine Chao promised in March 2001 that the department would pursue a comprehensive approach to address ergonomic hazards.

Social Security Trust Fund Raided

President Bush's budget proposes to raid the Social Security trust fund over the next decade to pay for tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthiest taxpayers in America. 

The Congressional Budget Office has projected that between 2004 and 2009, more than $500 billion in workers' payroll taxes will be shifted to pay for tax cuts.  Besides being grossly unfair, this will rob Social Security of revenues needed to pay for earned future benefits. Despite the vulnerability of risky pension investment programs, as evidenced by the Enron debacle, the president still advocates privatization of Social Security.  Don't the risks and costs outweigh the benefits?

Medicare Drug Benefit Inferior

The president's budget proposes only $190 billion for new Medicare programs, including $77 billion for state grants to pay for Medicaid drug benefits for seniors who are at or just above the poverty line.  That would leave millions of middle- and low-income seniors without any dependable coverage, according to the Alliance For Retired Americans.

The president still proposes a discount card program, which provides no real savings to senior citizens, according to the General Accounting Office, the nonpartisan auditing arm of Congress.  This proposal does not afford real help to senior citizens who desperately need help to pay for skyrocketing out-of-pocket drug bills.  Should any senior citizen have to choose between prescription drugs and food?

The APWU will work towards an equitable and fair budget that protects worker safety and preserves Social Security and Medicare, with a meaningful drug program.

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Automatic Dues Increase, Retroactive Dues

Effective pay period 08-02, there will be an automatic dues increase of $1.30 per member per pay period for career employees.  Fifty-two cents of that amount is based on the 1.2 percent salary increase, with 17 cents going to the national union and 35 cents going to local and state organizations.  Seventy-eight cents is based on the 1.8 percent salary increase, with 26 cents going to the national union and 52 cents going to local and state organizations.

Transitional employees' dues will increase by 11 cents per member per pay period.  Five cents of that amount is based on the 1.2 percent salary increase, with two cents going to the national union and three cents going to local and state organizations.  Six cents is based on the 1.8 percent salary increase, with two cents going to the national union and four cents going to local and state organizations.

Retroactive dues will be deducted in pay period 11-02.  The total retroactive dues for careers employees will be $25.22.  The total for transitional employees will be $3.14.  The retroactive dues payments cover the period from pay period 25-00 through pay period 07-02.

The new national per capita rate will be $6.88 per member per pay period for career employees and $5.29 per member per pay period for transitional employees.  The dues increase is in compliance with Article 16, Section 2 of the APWU national constitution and bylaws.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Seminars Set
Regional Meetings in Portland, OR, and Atlantic City, NJ  

The APWU will be hosting Deaf/Hard of Hearing Seminars for the Southern and Western Regions, May 3-4, in Portland, OR, and for the Central, Eastern and Northeast Regions, May 31-June 1, in Atlantic City, NJ.

The seminars will convene with a general session on Friday evening from 7p.m. to 9 p.m., and will conclude with a reception and dinner on Saturday evening. 

To pre-register for a seminar, complete the registration form below and mail it to the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Task Force, American Postal Workers Union, at the address shown. Please be sure to indicate which seminar you plan to attend.  The pre-registration process ends April 2, for the Southern and Western Regions seminar, and May 1, for the Central, Eastern and Northeast Regions.

On-site registration will be held on Friday, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

To make hotel reservations, contact the hotel directly at the telephone number shown and identify yourself as a participant in the American Postal Workers Union Deaf/Hard of Hearing Seminar.

The APWU Deaf/Hard of Hearing hotel block has a limited number of rooms. Therefore, we suggest you make your hotel reservation early to guarantee the negotiated rate.

Each hotel requires a deposit equal to one night's room and tax charges to hold reservations.  Deposits can be made by check, money order or any credit card accepted by the hotel.

If it becomes necessary to cancel a reservation, the deposit is refundable if the hotel receives notice of the cancellation at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled arrival and a cancellation number is obtained from the hotel at the time of cancellation.

Please note the Sands Casino Hotel requires all group participants to check-in on Friday for a two-night minimum stay.

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