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APWU Urges Boycott of 'Communication' Survey
APWU News Service Bulletin #10-02, June 10, 2002 | PDF
President William Burrus is urging all APWU members to boycott the Postal Service's communication survey scheduled this month. Management notified the union recently that it intends to conduct this survey for the alleged purpose of assessing employee perceptions of postal communication, focusing on the anthrax crisis and the Postal Service's "transformation efforts." The APWU is concerned that the Postal Service will misrepresent the results of this survey in an attempt to show that employees support its recently announced "Transformation Plan." President Burrus reminded members that boycotting management's employee opinion surveys is consistent with APWU policy.
As reported in previous News Service bulletins, the APWU opposes the Postal Service's Transformation Plan because we believe it fails to address the real problems facing the Postal Service. Along with the recent rate case it represents an attempt to transfer revenue from the Postal Service to private sector firms which turn a profit on postal activity at the expense of the USPS.
As part of the Transformation Plan, the Postal Service plans to close facilities and make other significant reductions in postal services throughout the country. These efforts will have an adverse impact upon APWU-represented employees. It is important that postal workers recognize the Transformation Plan for what it is - an attempt to dismantle the United States Postal Service.
The APWU is urging members to boycott the transformation survey because of the likelihood that management will misuse the results. Following previous employee opinion surveys, the Postal Service alleged the results showed employees supported the concessionary wage proposals that management put forward during contract negotiations.
Members are cautioned that questions in some opinion surveys are designed to elicit a desired response or result. For example, in the current survey, under "USPS Reputation and Goals" it states, "I understand USPS' need for transformation in order to achieve its goals." The possible responses range from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." The APWU believes this could be misleading and achieve responses that are not necessarily what the employee intends. Transformation could be understood simply to mean change. Employees may agree that changes are needed in the Postal Service. But, by using the word "transformation" without identifying any specific changes, the Postal Service may contend that employees favor the Transformation Plan, which of course the APWU opposes.
The Postal Service plans to distribute the survey to approximately 10,000 craft and management employees at random, at their work sites, where they will be given time on the clock to complete them.
The only way to ensure that you do not contribute to surveys that may adversely affect your livelihood is to simply refuse to participate.
Advanced Arbitration Training Conference Sept. 10-15
The Research and Education Department of the American Postal Workers Union will conduct a weeklong Advanced Arbitration Training Conference. The conference is designed to acquaint arbitration advocates who are currently arbitrating with the advanced techniques needed to prevail in arbitration. Students will be tested daily.
Prerequisite:
To register for the conference participants must meet one of the following criteria:
a. Must be a certified national advocate.
b. Must be a local certified advocate who is currently arbitrating cases.
c. Must have previously attended a Basic Arbitration Training Conference.
To Register:
To register for the conference, participants must mail a letter from the local or state president (on official letterhead) authorizing their attendance along with the registration form and check.
All participants must pre-register prior to the conference deadline, Friday, Aug. 9, 2002. No walk-ins will be allowed. Space is limited; please register early.
Arrival and Departure:
All participants must arrive at the hotel on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002, no later than 2 p.m. to register; classes will start promptly at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The conference will adjourn no later than 11 a.m. on the following Sunday morning.
Participants must be in attendance for the entire program. Certificates will be awarded based on class performance. APWU national officers and business agents will serve as instructors.
Classes:
Rules of Contract Construction, New Evidence/New Arguments, Major Mistakes Made by Arbitration Advocates, Just Cause Concepts and Challenges, Writing an Effective Brief, Due Process, Witnesses (special situations), Nexus, Latin in the Hearing, Affirmative Defense, Framing Multiple Issues and Threshold Strategies.
Hotel Accommodations
To secure the hotel rates listed below, please inform the hotel that you are with the American Postal Workers Union. All hotel rooms must be guaranteed by credit card, check or money order. Refunds will be granted if reservations are canceled 72 hours in advance of the arrival date. Check-in time is 4 p.m.
Date:
Tuesday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002.
Hotel:
Holiday Inn on the Bay
1355 Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Direct Phone Number: (619) 232-3861
Toll Free Phone Number: (800) 877-8920
Room Rate:
$99 + 10.5 percent tax, single/double occupancy
Parking:
Currently is $15 overnight, with in-and-out privileges.
Deadline to Register for Conference
and Hotel Rooms: Friday, Aug. 9, 2002.
Human Relations Conference Aug. 7-10
The 17th national APWU Human Relations Conference will focus on a variety of issues that affect our members in both their personal and working lives. We will address the diversity among our brothers and sisters and the importance of building coalitions with other groups.
We will provide resources about community involvement to motivate our members and to help create alliances. Attention will be given to educating tomorrow's leaders about the importance of unions to ensure our survival. We will offer extensive training on the Department of Labor - Office of Workers Compensation Program and the Federal Employees' Compensation Act to assist our injured members in obtaining their benefits. There will be a questions-and-answers forum posed to DOL-OWCP representatives. Presentations and workshops will be offered on the Employees Assistance Program, the EEO Process, Reasonable Accommodations, Disability Retirement, Survivor Benefits and Dependent Care.
Your participation at this conference will enhance your ability to serve as a union representative and help members become active in the APWU. Motivating the membership, raising public awareness about our struggles, and providing our members with additional guidance, advice and benefits will surely elevate the APWU. We encourage APWU representatives and members to attend. It will take our collective effort to successfully achieve our mutual goals. We look forward to your participation.
See you in Minneapolis!
