07/24/2018 - (This article first appeared in the July-August 2018 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)
By Maintenance Craft Directors
The Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM) is the mutually agreed upon explanation on how to apply our contract to filling vacant maintenance positions.
The May 2017 JCIM included the Order for Filling Vacant Maintenance Positions. The contractual definition is to duty assignments. Within the craft, we referto this as the “pecking order.”
The preamble paragraph is frequently overlooked: The appropriate PAR and PER must be exhausted before considering other hiring options. To be considered qualified an employee must either be eligible under the current in-craft process for the position in question or be a Maintenance Craft employee in the same level and occupational group as the vacancy.
07/23/2018 - (This article first appeared in the July-August 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
By By Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell
The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has begun bargaining with the United States Postal Service (USPS) for a new contract, and members know this is our bread and butter. This is one of the primary reasons why we signed up to join our union. We are focused on getting the best deal possible for our members and their families while securing the future of the postal service.
Because our members have been united, in the past we’ve been successful. If we stay united, with a broad vision of social justice, I believe we will be successful now and into the future.
06/21/2018 - The White House proposal on restructuring the federal government released today, “Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century,” delivered nothing but misinformation and, if implemented, would end regular mail and package services at an affordable cost to 157 million addresses every day. Furthermore, the White House plan is an attack on many federal agencies and the public services they provide.
Eliminating the universal service obligation, as the plan suggests, would hurt business and individuals alike, and would be a dagger aimed at the heart of rural America and undermine e-commerce.
06/08/2018 - APWU met with the White House Task Force on the Postal Service on Tuesday, June 6 and presented a series of recommendations and supporting materials on how the USPS could improve services, become more financially stable, and continue to remain a treasured public institution offering universal service to all citizens, regardless of where they live or work.
06/04/2018 - Have you ever wanted to tell the Postmaster General a thing or two? Now you can.
The APWU Contract Campaign is asking members to submit short videos to the union telling the story of the work you and other union members perform daily serving the publicand why you need a new – and fair contract! Tell your story on an APWU video and your APWU bargaining team will carry your message on to the bargaining table.
05/02/2018 - Members of the APWU’s Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee held their first meeting in Washington, DC, on April 24. The committee advises the union’s National Negotiations Committee on bargaining demands and must approve any tentative agreement reached before it can be sent to APWU members for a ratification vote.
03/27/2018 - The Research & Education Department will sponsor the APWU’s 16th Educational Conference, a National Convention event that provides union members with a wealth of information to take home to their local and state organizations. Twenty-eight workshops will be offered on Friday, Aug. 17... All APWU members are welcome and encouraged to sign-up online by the early registration deadline of Friday, Aug. 3. This deadline is firm for participants with special needs: If you need a sign interpreter, for example, you must register by Aug. 3. Other participants may try to sign up for workshops after they arrive in Pittsburgh; however, late registrants will have a limited choice of workshops and will not receive certificates.
They are Fired Up and Ready to Go Assist Local CATs!
03/22/2018 - Front (L-R): Janalee Banks, Wanda Harris, Ahlona Miranda, Angela Ellington
Back (L-R): James Donohoe, Arrion Brown, Jennifer Lemke, Larry Guarnero
To assist local and state organizations with developing strong grassroots organizing and activism in support of the APWU’s upcoming contract negotiation fight, President Mark Dimondstein appointed the following Contract Action Team (CAT) Liaisons...
03/22/2018 - The APWU Arbitration Advocacy Training program will be Sunday, June 3 - Sunday, June 10. It is designed to provide an in-depth knowledge of the techniques needed to effectively prepare a case for arbitration. Participants should plan to arrive at the hotel, Hilton Hotel & Meeting Center, 100 W Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale, CA 91202, on Sunday, June 3 because classes start promptly at 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning. A graduation dinner will be held on Saturday evening. No classes will be held on Sunday, June 10. The curriculum includes: Introduction to Arbitration; Preparing the Case; Identifying and Framing Issues; Threshold Issues; Exhibits and Stipulations; Opening and Closing Statements; Rules of Evidence; Objections, and Direct and Cross Examinations.
