APWU Iowa

PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO EXPRESS THE DIRE NEED FOR USPS TO BE INCLUDED IN A CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS PLAN! If the USPS does not receive funding, they’re projected to be broke between June and September. Save your job! Please make the call!

Grassley – (202)224-3744Ernst – (202)224-3254

Hawkeye District OHNA fax – (515)251-2080
To call on Governor Reynolds to issue shelter-in-place, call (515)281-5211 Option 1
Hawkeye District now has 2 positive Covid-19 cases reported (Keosauqua and Clinton)
Guest speaker from New York Dennis O’Neil joined us. He’s an APWU retiree and is actively involved in the Postal Covid-19 Response Facebook group. Although the main concern is safety, this group is a great forum for USPS employees to share stories/photos, pray for one another and unite in solidarity in these times of crisis. It’s also a place to experience public support of the USPS and employees, as well as a good place to ask questions and share information about the numerous LMOUs being dispersed.

The US is now the most infected country in the world, has highest death rate
NY is the epicenter - 6,000 deaths and the number is underreported due to lack of testing. Some have walked out, system not collapsing but showing signs of stress
Emphasized the importance of tracking the data, sort facts from rumor
MVS recommended to double suit due when cleaning vehicles
Shelter-in-place very effective in New York
There will be a pivot at some point, though it’s coming Iowa’s way
Discussed the effect on the economy and Trump’s war on the USPS, such as trash talking USPS and its employees while glorifying USPS and FedEX
Need to be ready to mobilize on short notice to defend the peoples’ service

Management in Des Moines is working with the Union on supplying and tracking PPE
Discussed effects of thinning attendance and mail volume changes due to Covid-19, Bulk Mail has bottomed out, increase in packages due to those home ordering on line.
Discussed whether Covid-19 actually transmits through the mail. Not impossible, but unlikely transmitted through packages. Be more careful with Amazon bubble wrap packages
Need to flood social media and National APWU with examples/photos of USPS employees working with PPE and doing good deeds, postal proud moments, etc
Hawkeye District is buying two cloth masks for all employees in the District
Some areas are seeing more masks being worn while others report co-workers and supervisors not taking social distancing seriously
Need to remind people if you’re sick, don’t come to work and don’t come into the union office. We can be reached at (515)283-7770.
Discussion on disseminating the Decision Tree so people know how to report Covid-19 issues.
Concerns that people who are sick are not being tracked and may be returning to work while still contagious, possibly infecting others.
Again, please take 10 minutes to wipe down your work area. If no PPE is provided, let management know you’ll be happy to work when proper PPE is supplied.
Signs have been posted on drinking fountains and no spitting signs posted on bulletin boards
National Teleconference took place today, information to come
Sent signed letter to President Dimondstein requesting Hazard pay, Admin leave and postal relief on behalf of the Postal Covid-19 Response Facebook group.
Waterloo seeing changes after providing photos of examples in Des Moines.
New pay scales have been posted; banners are being hung thanking employees as heroes. Small offices to receive yard signs
Concerns that Iowa is not capturing the true positive cases due to lack of Covid-19 testing
All four unions are involved in discussions with Headquarters management, multiple meetings taking place per week
Covid-19 issues are repeatedly shared on social media, Facebook and Twitter
District received seven pallets, was told it is grocery bags for carriers to store PPE
Discussed concerns of hospital shortage of PPE
Please encourage co-workers to use the provided PPE and practice social distancing

Please join the DMI-APWU zoom meeting by emailing Mike Bates mjbates2016@gmail.com to stay informed. We would love to hear your input! United we stand, divided we fall!