Although I have experienced meeting colleagues online in the past, this was my first participation utilizing the ZOOM meeting application. I had a few hiccups at the beginning, but figured it out.
Friday's discussion encompassed issues related to advocating for employees requesting Emergency Federal Employee Leave (EFEL) included in the recent American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Concern was raised regarding issues of local management implementation by creating their own rules and conditions for approval of the leave, and a delay from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in issuing the regulations and guidelines on how the Postal Service will allocate the funds. Of importance was the Union's concern in challenging any local management arbitrary and capricious reasons to deny the leave. Management must apply their decision based upon headquarters instructions, not their own. Of local membership interest, Omar Gonzalez announced that the Postal Service's transformation plan will lead to several cuts and actions which will bring about job losses in APWU represented crafts. He asserted there is an urgent need for our membership at the local level to become involved before it is too late. It is critical for the local members to come to local meetings and to discuss with other members what plans need to be put into effect to secure their current jobs as well as the future jobs they hope to one day bid on when a co-worker vacates that job. WE NEED OUR MEMBERS TO SHOW UP AT THE LOCAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS TO LET THE LOCAL LEADERS KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO TO HELP ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES TO FIGHT THESE CHANGES. IT WAS EMPHASIZED THAT IT IS USELESS FOR THE MEMBERSHIP TO SHOW UP AFTER THE CUTS AND CHANGES TAKE PLACE TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. That will be too late. Action must occur now to save your local post office, your Postal Service, and your Postal Service job. Our National Organizing Director, discussed the conditions that exist to share membership opportunities with non-members. These included not only when an employee first becomes employed with the Postal Service, but also when other career changes take place. Article 17 allows the APWU to provide orientation to employees when a non-career employee becomes eligible for health care benefits or when they are converted to career. The same applies to employees that transfer into APWU represented crafts from other bargaining unit crafts. The APWU has set up a user friendly application process online, that an interested employee can access through their computer at home or even on a cell phone or mobile device. The online 1187 form also includes what dues amounts will be deducted once the non-member signs up. Friday's session concluded with the APWU National Business Agents providing training in grievance preparation and presentation. Saturday's conference began with presentations from the Oregon APWU Auxiliary. One of their appeals was for the increase in per capita dues which our local, the Southern Oregon Area Local, sponsored in a resolution approved by our member ship earlier this year. Later in our convention, the body of delegates voted in favor of the resolution that will now be advanced to the National APWU convention. National APWU officers President Mark Dimondstein, Vice President Debby Szeredy, Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell, Clerk Division Director Lamont Brooks, Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman, Organization Director Anna Smith, and APWU Health Plan Director Sarah Rodriguez all attended and gave presentations and updates on recent accomplishments, upcoming events and impending actions to expect that will be affecting our members. Our convention concluded with the business portion including budgeting for the upcoming years and discussions and voting on resolutions that Oregon members and Oregon state locals proposed for hopeful changes that our national leaders can negotiate for us in the next collective bargaining agreement. I would like to thank our local members for entrusting me with your voice to advance our wants and needs in the Southern Oregon Area Local to our state and national bodies. I hope that more members will come forward to personally participate in future state and national conferences and conventions. Humbly submitted, Craig Gordon - General President Southern Oregon Area Local #342, APWU |
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AuthorSOAL News and Announcements Archives
April 2024
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