Trenton, New Jersey - On April 17, 2006 the parties convened to discuss the excessing of Kilmer and Trenton impacted employees.  The manager of labor relations informed me that Trenton was not going to be discussed.  I questioned him as to why was I invited,  he informed me I was invited because I was the NJ state president.  I was shocked because only 3 months ago when Monmouth was excessing I was barred from attending the meeting, reason being, I was too disruptive.  The true reason why we did not discuss the Trenton excessing is the Postal Service was not prepared to discuss the impact.  We did discuss the excessing plan for Kilmer and we also got to see the new FSM 100 Automated Induction units operating. Central Jersey Area Local’s President Hank Anderson did a fabulous job in reducing the number of employees being impacted in his facility.  Hank also insisted that the six month regional notification as required by the contract be adhered to prior to any excessing.  The postal service responded by saying they will only give sixty days notice and will revert all clerk vacancies.  It is clear the postal service only wants to excess clerks into the mail handler craft and not into any clerk residuals that may open.  In Kilmer they posted 40 new mail handler duty assignments.

In Trenton we are awaiting a new corrected impact statement before we can proceed with a regional excessing meeting.  I will also insist we get six months advance notification before any excessing occurs.  We can expect the postal service to violate the principles of Article 12 and rush into excessing.   I will continue to enforce the contract and will work hard to minimize the impact on the clerk craft.  I will advise you of the new meeting date when it is announced.

I am hoping the voluntary early retirement (VER) in the 3 plants will yield sufficient clerk vacancies.

Several of our members excessed from Monmouth inquired about junior employees remaining in the Monmouth P&DC. The NBA’s office has been made aware of this situation and are currently discussing it with the postal service. Any member who is allowed to retreat back to Monmouth will create a vacancy, that position will then be posted for bid and if it becomes a residual we will hold it for the Trenton Excessing.

Management will be posting a new notice for the custodian test, if any one is interested please take the test.  We are currently holding seven custodian positions for excessing.

Currently we don’t have any residual clerk positions in the Trenton P&DC.

Bill Lewis
President
APWU Local #1020

http://www.trentonmetroarealocal.com/