I, having been duly elected to the office in the ____ of the APWU, AFL-CIO do solemnly pledge to uphold the Constitution and Bylaws of the APWU AFL-CIO, and the (state'Local). I further pledge to perform the duties of my office to the best of my ability. I promise that at the conclusion of my term in office, I will turn over to my successor all books, papers, records and documents that are the property of the APWU. Last, but not least, I promise to purchase only union made aticles whenever available. Failure to perform any of the above will mark me as an indivisual devoid of honor and destitute of integrety.
Posted
On: Nov 05, 2009 (11:15:37)
Caught Like a Burglar With the Goods in HandThe union’s challenge to Postmaster General Potter to set the wages of mail-processing employees at an amount that is less than the worksharing discounts major mailers enjoy has generated some interesting responses Read More...
Posted
On: Nov 05, 2009 (11:03:58)
Summary of USPS/Management Associations consultative meeting on October 28From: napshq [mailto:napshq@NAPS Read More...
Legislators are considering allowing federal employees to deposit the cash value of their unused sick leave and vacation time into their Thrift Savings Plan accounts.
The Internal Revenue Service allows private sector employees to do the same with their 401(k) plans for unused leave that cannot be rolled over. TSP participants can’t do that, however, unless Congress modifies the Federal Employees Retirement System Act, the bill that created the Thrift Savings Plan.
Several TSP improvements, such as automatically enrolling new federal employees in the plan, were included in a tobacco bill Obama signed in June. Chairman Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., said at a Nov. 3 House hearing that it was an oversight to have left out of those legislative improvements a measure that would enable federal employees to deposit their unused leave cash equivalents into their TSP accounts.“Credits for unused sick leave is a great idea … shame on us for not anticipating that and putting it in our bill,” Lynch said, adding that he wants to move on the idea soon.
Union representatives attending the hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on the federal workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia also applauded the idea. They said it would increase participation in the TSP and contribute more funds to employees’ retirement accounts, which have been depleted by the country’s recent financial turmoil.
“Many of our members carry over the maximum amount of annual leave on a yearly basis, 240 hours, so this could significantly boost their TSP accounts,” said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union.
Lawmakers and witnesses also debated whether the TSP board should offer a mutual fund option, which was authorized in the June tobacco legislation. Only a small portion of federal employees would participate in a mutual fund, said Greg Long, executive director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which oversees the TSP.
Mutual funds can be risky endeavors which require substantial knowledge of financial markets and risk, which makes them a dangerous prospect for employees unfamiliar with volatile stock markets, said Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va.
“We have to balance the rights of individual members to take risks with their money, but when we’re looking at something that is people’s retirement funds, we have to balance [that risk] out,” he said. “Not so long ago, the previous administration strongly suggested the idea of desegregating part of Social Security and investing it in the market because it was growing so much healthier … and an awful lot of folks would have found their retirement savings in jeopardy.”
Posted
On: Nov 04, 2009 (16:59:53)
In a tough business environment, the U.S. Postal Service is delivering new capabilities for home PCs and smartphones and new services for high-volume mailers, says its top IT executive.By John Foley, InformationWeek -->Nov. 2, 2009 URL: http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=221400052 The scope of the U.S Read More...
Posted
On: Nov 04, 2009 (16:56:47)
Pricing Volume Mail In my last post, President Burrus' Dilemma, I created significant concerns among mailers that my proposal to the APWU supported their idea to eliminate worksharing Read More...
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON OPEN SEASON IS IN THE MAIL
There are lots of changes in store for benefits next year. That’s why USPS is mailing several pieces of information to employees before and during the upcoming Open Season.
Some of the information, including a brochure on Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), should already be arriving at employees’ homes. Look for a series of FSA postcards that will arrive during Open Season. Employees also should expect a brochure on the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, along with information on the Thrift Savings Plan.
Keep all this information in a safe place — it’ll be helpful when you make your selections or changes. And don’t lose the booklets, because the Human ResourcesShared Services Center can’t send you additional copies.
Another source for information and for the booklets is the Open Season website on LiteBlue. Go to the home page, under “Employee Resources,” and look for “Open Season Benefits Elections.” You’ll find updated information by Nov. 9, when Open Season begins. As with the information employees receive in the mail, the website can answer many questions about your Open Season elections.
And if you don’t have your USPS Personal Identification Number (PIN), get it now — you won’t be able to make elections without it. Don’t know your USPS PIN? Check out the Oct. 30 Link story for information.
Don’t forget to check your mailing address to make sure the Open Season information you need is going to the right place. You can do this on LiteBlue, under “Employee Resources.” Look for the “Change of Address/Phone/Emergency Contact” link to make sure your mailing address is correct.
One last piece of advice from HR — don’t wait until the deadlines to make your changes or selections. Go to PostalEase as soon as you’ve made up your mind and avoid the last-minute rush.
Posted
On: Nov 04, 2009 (12:54:57)
Preference-Eligible Employees Should Look to the CBA(This article first appeared in the November/December issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)“Any reassignment to a lower-level position while excessing is occurring constitutes an ‘involuntary action’ under the terms of our National Agreement Read More...
Posted
On: Nov 04, 2009 (12:51:28)
What’s next for the USPS?Published on November 3, 2009 in Innovation, Postal Pricing and USPS Compliance. 4 Comments Tags: Mailers Council, postal innovation, Postmaster General John Potter, united states postal service, USPS Finances, value of mail, Winter Sale Read More...
Posted
On: Nov 04, 2009 (12:39:06)
New Benefits: Good News, Bad NewsNovember 3, 2009 - 4:00am
var $ = jQuery.noConflict();
Email addthis_pub = 'callowaylc'; Timing is everything. And at some point in our lives or careers, most of us benefit from being at the right place at the right time, just as we sometimes find ourselves on the losing side of the line.Like many of you, right now Read More...
Posted
On: Nov 04, 2009 (12:35:44)
Who could replace Potter?Monday, November 2, 2009 at 10:37AMThere has been much discussion within the industry about calendar year 2010 and how the Postal Service will face its many woes, from a $5 billion retiree health benefits payment to continuing volume loss to union contract negotiations, etc. The list goes on and on Read More...
Posted
On: Nov 02, 2009 (16:04:02)
Veterans Day, Nov. 11 Remember to Honor Those Who ServeAPWU Web News Article #136-09, Oct. 30, 2009With Veterans Day approaching, the APWU wants to remind union members to honor the extraordinary men and women of the Armed Forces for their service. Throughout our history, Americans have been protected by patriots who make great sacrifices to advance the cause of freedom Read More...
Posted
On: Nov 02, 2009 (16:02:19)
The Challenge: Postal Wages and DiscountsBurrus Update 17-2009, Oct. 30, 2009In a continuing effort to influence our contract negotiations, the postmaster general and spokesmen for major mailers have repeatedly suggested that postal employees’ wages and benefits are excessive Read More...
18,000 employees accept Postal Service buyoutBy Emily Longelong@govexec.comOctober 30, 2009
As another deadline looms, approximately 18,000 U.S. Postal Service employees so far have accepted a $15,000 buyout offer, officials have reported.
The final tally of buyout acceptances from each job category isn't available yet, said Yvonne Yoerger, a Postal Service spokeswoman. It's also too soon to determine the agency's savings as a result of the buyout, she added.
Employees were required to express interest in the offer by Sept. 25, while those close to retirement have until Saturday to make a decision. Remaining workers must decide by Nov. 30. According to union representatives, the final acceptance tally is likely to be lower than the number of employees who initially filed paperwork.
The Postal Service announced the buyout program in August. Up to 30,000 employees could take advantage of the offer on a first-come, first-serve basis, though only those represented by the American Postal Workers Union and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union were eligible. The agency projected a $500 million savings if the buyouts reached capacity.
Workers who accept the offer will receive $10,000 by the end of 2009 and an additional $5,000 in October 2010.
There are no plans to extend the offer longer or to other employee groups, Yoerger said.
NPMHU declined to comment on next steps for its members.
In another move designed to increase revenue, the Postal Service this month launched a yearlong partnership with Hallmark and will sell greeting cards in 1,500 locations after Jan. 1, 2010.
Posted
On: Nov 02, 2009 (15:58:39)
President Burrus's Dilemma In August, APWU President William Burrus was asked by Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill to identify "the substantial steps the APWU is willing to take to assist the Postal Service in weathering its severe financial crisis Read More...
Posted
On: Nov 02, 2009 (15:55:55)
The world's ailing postal servicesDead letterOct 29th 2009 | PARISFrom The Economist print editionLetter volumes are plummeting around the world, highlighting stark differences among national postal services Getty ImagesON OCTOBER 28th Japan’s new government ousted the president and almost the entire board of the country’s postal service Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:39:37)
The Reinterpretation of William Burrus Many postal workers have jumped to the defense of APWU president William Burrus as a result of my article, Mathematically Challenged: Burrus Proposal Doesn’t Add Up for USPS. But if many of these defenders are correct, they should be angry at Burrus for garbling the message and distracting people from the real issue Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:35:37)
USPS ‘Incentive’ Program Results In 19,000 APWU-Craft RetirementsLu Uncategorized 2009-10-26Approximately 19,000 USPS employees in APWU-represented crafts will retire or separate from the Postal Service before Dec. 1 and receive a $15,000 incentive under an agreement negotiated by the union.A Memorandum of Understanding creating the incentive program was signed on Aug. 24 Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:33:38)
Congress in no rush to cut mail deliveryBy Carrie Dann CongressDaily October 26, 2009 Despite the U.S. Postal Service's persistent financial distress, Congress appears unlikely this year to approve the postmaster general's cost-cutting proposal to eliminate Saturday mail delivery Read More...
CLUW President Emerita Joyce Miller administers the oath of office to the new CLUW national officers.
Delegates to the 15th Bienneial Convention of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) earlier this month looked to the future by electing a new slate of officers. Karen See, a member of the Postal Workers (APWU), was elected president, succeeding Marsha Zakowski.
More than 600 delegates and observers at the convention in Los Angeles discussed strategies for building the organization and recruiting younger members.
See says the convention theme, “The Rising Tide of Change: Activism, Leadership–Union Women!!” summarizes her goal of rejuvenating CLUW and getting union women more involved in the leadership of the union movement.
I feel a new excitement about the possibilities for the work CLUW can accomplish. I am looking forward to working with the officers and members of CLUW to improve the lives of all working women. We will be more active in our communities as we build partnerships with community allies, together fighting for the needs of women and families.
See, who has served as CLUW’s membership and field organizer since 2007, says organizing will be a key priority of her administration. She says her election also reflects the need for women to have a more forceful voice in their unions as rank-and-file members, in leadership positions and as partners with CLUW’s community allies. With women now becoming the majority of the workforce and the largest growing sector in the labor movement, See said CLUW intends to play a more visible and active role.
Convention delegates also were among the first to access “A Woman’s Nation,” the ground-breaking report on women spearheaded by Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress
Convention delegates also elected Janet Nelson of AFSCME as executive vice president and Gloria Brimm of UAW as corresponding secretary. APWU member Judy Beard and Dolores Gorczyca of the Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) were re-elected as treasurer and recording secretary, respectively.
The delegates also voted to expand the national board to include members from unions not previously represented. They then re-elected five vice presidents and elected 11 new ones.
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:27:55)
Victory: FERS Sick-Leave Credit Becomes Law APWU Web News Article #134-09, Oct. 28, 2009(10/28/09) President Obama signed legislation Oct. 28 that will allow postal and federal workers who retire under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to receive credit for sick leave when they retire Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:26:24)
Congress Must Fix Funding Requirement; USPS Must Expand Goals, Burrus SaysIn a follow-up to testimony before a Senate subcommittee, APWU President William Burrus explored alternatives to station-and-branch closures, facility consolidations, and five-day mail delivery — which the Postal Service is proposing in reaction to a severe financial crisis Read More...
Updated
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:24:00)
U.S. Postal Service seeks change in reporting rulesMon Oct 26, 2009 5:50pm EDT
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var RTR_ArticleTitle = "U.S. Postal Service seeks change in reporting rules";
var RTR_ArticleBlurb = "By Jasmin Melvin WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:19:46)
Only 18,000 of 30,000 take USPS buyoutBy GREGG CARLSTROMOctober 26, 2009About 18,000 U.S. Postal Service employees are expected to take $15,000 buyouts to leave their jobs this year — far fewer than the 30,000 originally hoped for by the agency.Postal officials say that figure could drop. Employees were required to sign up for the incentives by Oct Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:17:26)
Mathematically Challenged: Burrus Proposal Doesn’t Add Up for USPS Such a deal! A labor union is offering to charge “only” 10.4 cents per letter to do work for which mailers are in essence only charging the U.S. Postal Service an average of 8.9 cents Read More...
The Department of Veterans Affairs established a service-connection for Vietnam veterans suffering from Parkinson's disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and B-cell leukemias such as hairy-cell leukemia. These illnesses are now considered "presumed" illnesses. This "presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process for VA benefits. It is important to note that this new policy will not go into effect until sometime in 2010. At which point affected veterans will be urged to submit new disability claims. Additional information about Agent Orange and VA's services and programs for veterans exposed to the chemical are available at VA's Agent Orange webpage, or call the toll-free helpline at 800-749-8387.
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:12:03)
Congress Approves FERS Sick-Leave CreditAt long last! After a protracted campaign, postal and federal workers who retire under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) will receive credit for sick leave when they retire Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 30, 2009 (18:08:32)
Dealing with Fear The combination of the recession and electronic conversion has created a new market environment that requires new ways of thinking about the postal workforce. Naturally, postal employees fear that the new market environment will mean changes to decades-old compact between national postal operators and their employees Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 22, 2009 (15:13:27)
Postal Service CFO Says More Lobbying NeededOct 21, 2009 4:48 PM, By Jim TierneyThe stop-gap legislation signed by President Obama on Sept. 30 reduced the U.S. Postal Service’s $5.4 billion health-care retiree payment for fiscal 2009 to $1.4 billion. That’s a big help, but the USPS needs permanent change, says Joseph Corbett, its executive vice president and chief financial officer Read More...
Posted
On: Oct 22, 2009 (15:10:22)
Postmasters Say USPS Management Styles Are Like Some Banana Republic DictatorsLu NLPM, usps 2009-10-21Excerpts from National League Postmasters President Charley Mapa:I just returned from the LEAGUE’S Western Area II meeting held in Kansas City Missouri Read More...
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The Iowa Postal Workers Union is a part of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) AFL-CIO.
The Iowa Postal Workers Union (IPWU) affirms its belief in a single union of all Postal Workers in non-supervisory levels and will work to achieve this goal.
The IPWU educates our membership through use of seminars and specials class as well as through media outlets such as the Postal Solidarity (The Iowa Postal Worker paper is a part of this joint effort.)
The IPWU works towards educating the general public on the history of the Labor Movement.
The IPWU will work for the election of candidates - regardless of party - who favor pasage of improved legislation in the interest of all labor. To work for the repeal of laws which are unjust to labor and Postal workers, such as the denial of the right to strike and denial of the right to support political cadidates of their choice.
The IPWU will represent all members in every way possible with issues dealing with, but not limited to grievances.
The IPWU will continue to organize the unorganized.
Early to bed, Early to Rise, Work like Hell and Organize!
