Anthrax Travel Issue

The USPS has appealed the Anthrax Travel Arbitration to the US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.  The US attorney filed the Notice of Appeal on June 5, 2006.  APWU’s Attorneys will continue to peruse this issue on our behalf.  I believe this is another attempt to delay payment of the withheld wages.  You can read the appeal and other correspondence on the web site.

Custodian Positions

The USPS will be conducting a Custodian Exam for APWU Clerks who are interested in reassignment to the maintenance craft. The custodian exam (in-service announcement) is open until June 23, 2006.  Please get an application in the plant mangers office or from your supervisor.  Also please email me or call the union office so I can monitor this processes. 

Excessing Letters to the Needs of the Installation

The US Postal Service has not issued the excessing letter notifying the clerks they would be reassigned outside the clerk craft.  The delay is the result of long term negotiations over creating additional duty assignments in the clerk craft thus minimize the need for excessing.  The local union has worked tirelessly to reduce the number of impacted employees or totally eliminate the excessing outside the craft.  Management is claiming that some additional jobs may be on the next posting.  I believe we are close to stopping the excessing outside the craft.

Abolishment / Excessing Letters to FSM Clerks

I can’t explain why the abolishment letters were delayed.  We are still faced with excessing to the needs of the section.  We are still discussing the need for additional keyers in the FSM section.  Nothing has been agreed to on this matter 

Station and Branches

The USPS has notified me that on July 1, 2006, the eleven (11) Zone scheme mail and carriers will be moved from Downtown Station to the Trenton Annex.  On July 10, 2006, the eighteen (18) zone scheme mail and carriers will be moved from West Trenton station to Downtown Station.  At the present moment the USPS is claiming that no clerks will be impacted at the station and branches. The Postal Service is considering changing drop days and hours in the Trenton Annex.  I have no details at the present time.  Just a heads up.

COPA

I am requesting that every member please give to COPA.  The union will be soliciting COPA donations.  I ask every member to please pledge 5.00 dollars or more.  Stewards and officers will have pledge cards for you to sign.

As Postal Workers we still face many hurdles and with the upcoming general election we need to have money in the war chest to support friends of the APWU and labor.

Last year we were number 3 in giving to COPA, this year we should try hard to be number 1. 

Please give to COPA -Your future does depend on it. Please check out the web page at http://www.trentonmetroarealocal.com/

Thank you,

Bill Lewis
President, TMAL #1020