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An agreement has been reached in the Anthrax Travel Grievance. On Wednesday, November 22, 2006 the parties finalized an agreement. This agreement is only for the employees of the Trenton P&DC who were displaced when the Trenton P&DC was closed due to Anthrax. This settlement is compensation for time traveled to temporary duty assignments outside the local commuting area.

The agreement provides for the members of the Trenton Local to be compensated 5.300,000.00 dollars. Payment will be in the December 15, 2006 paycheck.

Happy Holidays from the Trenton Local.

Before I get into specifics of the settlement I have a large list of Thank You's. First, I would like to thank the membership of TMAL, the local executive board and stewards for being so supportive of me during the last 5 years, my very good friend, NBA Jeff Kehlert who deserves so much praise and gratitude from our local.

We must thank our legal team, Melinda Holmes, Esquire- APWU National Attorney and Mark Belland, Esquire our Local Attorney. Mark was the driving force behind us securing a final agreement in this matter.

I would like to thank the National President's Conference for allowing us to present our story and the support generated from the presidents was invaluable. I must not forget the Postal news sites, Postal Employees Network, Postal Reporter, Postal Mag and 21 century postal workers. These sites helped keep our mission alive and allowed the whole postal community to see what was happening in Trenton.

There were many lawsuits and grievances filed. All grievances and court actions are resolved by this global settlement. The following should help clarify the settlement and the allocations of the settlement funds.

Employees of the Trenton P & DC reassigned to the following work locations:

Edison Toms River

South River Lakewood

New Brunswick Monmouth

shall be compensated for travel time spent to those locations.

EDISON/SOUTH RIVER/MONMOUTH/NEW BRUNSWICK/TOMS RIVER:

Payment for time spent traveling for the period shall be in excess of twenty (20) calendar days. Compensation shall be determined as follows:

Payment shall be based upon a prorated number of days worked (and traveling) calculated in ten (10) day increments.

The following are examples:

John Doe worked 215 days,

he falls in the 211-220 bracket and he shall receive $ 8,775.00

Mary Doe worked 241 days,

She falls in the 241-250 bracket and shall receive $ 10,125.00

This period encompasses a total of 27 pay periods from PP 23/2001 through PP 23/2002.

EDISON:

This portion of the settlement is for employees assigned to the Kilmer P&DC after the opening of the interim Trenton Facility / Monroe IMF. This period encompasses a total of 61 pay periods from PP 25/2002 through PP 6/2005.

$100.00 per each week in a pay status.

LAKEWOOD:

This portion of the settlement is for employees assigned to the Lakewood and or Kilmer VMF when the Trenton VMF was closed for the decontamination of the Trenton P&DC.

Payment shall be based upon a prorated number of days worked (and traveling) calculated in ten (10)-day increments for pay periods PP 10/2003 through PP 10/2004. This period encompasses a total of 26 pay periods.

For the period of PP 11/2004 through PP 24/2004 employees shall be compensated at $100.00 per each week in a pay status.

MONROE:

Employees of the Trenton P&DC reassigned to the Monroe work location – on the rolls of the Trenton P&DC as of October 18, 2001- shall each be paid an equal lump sum payment of fifteen hundred dollars $1,500.00.

The parties began negotiations back in July 2006 and had many discussions and arguments. During this period I uncovered 60 members missing from the list of employees the USPS presented, missing were CFS, BMEU, Office personnel and customer service employees assigned to the P&DC. How I found these missing members was to cross check the dues check off. I have convinced the USPS that some employees may still be missing and they have agreed to compensate the employee in the same method as the other members. This said employee bears the responsibility to produce the evidence that they traveled to the above referenced locations.

I never forgot our former members or members who are now deceased. Checks are being issued to these individuals or their families. Checks will be sent to their last known address. If you are getting email, please reach out to me and advise me of any changes. If you do not get the check please advise me ASAP. You only have 4 months to make a claim for your portion. I will personally follow up with deceased member’s families.

The full text of the settlement is on the Local's Web Page

Please make a generous donation to COPA, make your local #1.

Happy Holidays,

Bill Lewis

President

Local 1020

July 30, 2006

AI & ATHS Excessing Update

The first round of in section bidding has concluded. This restricted bidding will go on for many months before every one is in place.   The award notice is posted on the web site.

The excessing to the needs of the installation is on hold; no one has been excessed to the mail handler's craft. The potential for excessing still exists, since management has never withdrawn their notification.   I have requested that the USPS withdraw it's excessing notification in writing. We await their letter.

Many members have approached me with concerns about excessing to the needs of the section. I will try to answer your questions and concerns about this troubling issue. First, we need to clarify one very important allegation, it is not the union who gave away our work and it is not the union who wants to abolish your jobs and excess you out of your section. It is the employer, the USPS, who should get the credit for this. Your supervisor. I realize this is hard for anyone to affix blame on your supervisor, it's much easier to blame the union.

Superseniority

This seems to have been a topic of many conversations. This provision of the contract was not something I just made up to take care of my own stewards, it has been in the contract for over 28 years, clearly not new or something I just created. This contractual protection prevents management from removing stewards from their tour and additionally allows the stewards to maintain Superseniority for the purpose of bidding on initial vacancies over excessed employees wishing to exercise their retreat rights.

The following is from the Joint Contract Interpretation Manual, page 79. The JCIM can be found on Bill's Resource page or at the APWU's Web Site

STEWARDS - SUPERSENIORITY

When it is proposed to reassign a steward or chief steward, the employee will not be involuntarily transferred to another tour, station, or branch of the particular post office, or to another independent post office or installation unless there is no job for which that employee is qualified on such tour, or in such station or branch, or post office.

Following excessing, stewards maintain this "Superseniority" for the purpose of bidding on initial vacancies over excessed employees wishing to exercise their retreat rights.

Excessing to the needs of the section

Why am I being excessed when I am a fsm keyer?

All excessing is done by seniority and grade level; in this excessing event there is a need to excess employees in the flatsorter section.   This section was locally established per Article 30, Item 18. The section is the flatsorter area on each tour by grade level. Without established sections, the section could have been the whole building. In this situation the section is FSM by grade level and all contractual provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement have been adhered to.

During the last local negotiations, the local union desired to change the flatsorter section to automation and mechanization, meaning keyers would be separated from automation. We had a tentative agreement on this issue but management refused to sign the new local agreement. If management would have signed the agreement the FSM Keyer would not be excessed.

You cannot compare overtime opportunities and holiday scheduling with excessing. They are totally different issues.

NO "BUMPING" CLAUSE

No employee shall be allowed to displace or bump another employee, properly holding a position or duty assignment, pursuant to Article 12.5.B.3. The "no bumping" clause prohibits a senior employee whose job may be abolished from bumping a junior employee from his/her bid duty assignment. The senior employee, however, would be entitled to exercise his/her seniority through the bidding procedure, and accept the duty assignment formerly held by the junior employee who was excessed out of the section and/or installation.

Why didn't we have a meeting before the excessing began?

When the parties were meeting about the excessing it was agreed that the union and management would meet with the impacted employees on all 3 tours. When management was ready to issue the excessing letters I called about the meetings and was informed they did not recall agreeing to meet with the impacted employees. I cannot just hold informational meetings on the workroom floor. We do have union meetings and over the last several months we have had many discussions over excessing at the meetings.

Remember who gave away your work, who excessed you, who abolished your job, who changed your drop days and who denied your travel pay. The USPS.

Who is the only one fighting for your rights? The APWU.

JUNE 15, 2006

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.

Excessing

June 4, 2006

Due to the deployment of the Automatic Induction System (AI) and the Automatic Tray Handling System (ATHS) and assigning the Mail Handler Craft jurisdiction for staffing, management has created an over staffing of clerks and will begin to involuntary reassign (excessing) clerks in the near future.

Before we get into the numbers and mechanism involved to begin excessing; you must clearly understand one thing, the union had nothing to do with this excessing event despite what your supervisor(s) are saying. This excessing and abolishment of duty assignments are solely management actions. The new management in Trenton clearly wants to hurt you. They have reverted positions and have not posted the new duty assignments, (like certain supervisors & managers have been saying). They are refusing to reduce the casuals to afford work for career employees.

We have had numerous meetings and discussions over this serious matter. The number of impacted employees has changed from 41 clerks to 33 and now it is 22. As of June 4, 2006, management plans on excessing 22 full time clerks outside the clerk craft. Management plans on issuing the excessing letter on June 13, 2006 to become effective August 19, 2006. Remember these are not the union’s dates these are management dates.

Management’s plan is to excess the impacted clerks into the maintenance craft, Custodian positions and the Mailhandlers craft.

The number of FSM & AFSM duty assignments to be abolished was 41 and now it is 33. Management’s plan is to issue the abolishment letters on June 13, 2006 to become effective July 22, 2006.

The following is the order in which the excessing will occur:

1. Identify limited duty assignments and reassign all light & limited duty carriers back to the carrier craft.

2. Terminate all casuals to create work for impacted employees.

3. Reduce the overtime hours to create work for impacted employees.

4. Identify duty assignment to be abolished within FSM section.

5. Issue abolishment letters to employees holding the duty assignments being abolished. 30 days notice is required.

6. Identify the employees in the section according to Article 30. Item 18. of the Local Memorandum of Understanding.

7. Identify junior employee in the FSM section. Excess the junior employees to the needs of the section.

8. Post vacant duty assignments within the FSM section. Only employees left in the FSM section can bid on duty assignments in the section (sectional bidding).

9. Identify junior employees being excessed outside the craft or installation.

10. Provide employees with sixty (60) days advance written letter.

11. Bidding among unassigned employees per article 37.

The new FSM staffing on each tour will be as follows:

Tour 1

Current Staffing: 22

Projected new staffing is: 12

Impacted employees are: 10

AFSM 100 bids: 6

FSM 1000 bids: 6

Tour 2

Current Staffing: 24

Projected new staffing is: 13

Impacted employees are: 11

AFSM 100 bids: 9

FSM 1000 bids: 4

Tour 3

Current Staffing: 18

Projected new staffing is: 6

Impacted employees are: 12

AFSM 100 bids: 4

FSM 1000 bids: 2

As you can see this is management creating one ugly situation. The biggest question is why did the USPS assign jurisdiction to the Mailhandlers Craft? Simply put- economics is the only reason. The Mailhandlers have not sought upgrades for their members, they have waived penalty overtime and a level 4 Mailhandler makes less then an APWU level 3 Custodian. The Mailhandlers union in Trenton has now waived Article 7 (crossing crafts) and is allowing the clerk union to perform their work. This is troubling.

The Mailhandlers have also withdrawn from the AFL-CIO.

If you get excessed to the Mailhandlers Craft the following will pertain to you:

You become a junior regular
You maintain your level 5
You begin a new period of seniority as a full time regular

Your contractual raises are determined by the APWU contract.
You will be brought back to the clerk craft according to clerk seniority. You will regain you former seniority as a clerk.

There is no choice about returning to the Clerk Craft. You must return.

I would recommend you not join the Mailhandlers union because when you come back to the APWU the Mailhandler union will continue to collect your dues.

I have filed a lawsuit in federal court over management actions of refusing to honor an October 28, 2005 settlement agreement that would have given us some additional flat sorter work. The APWU will pursue all avenues to gain work for our bargaining unit. We must stop all supervisors and other unions from performing our work. You can read a copy of the suit on the web page.

The following is a letter I sent protesting management's refusal to honor the Collective Bargaining Agreement regarding the excessing.

May 31, 2006

Mr. Joseph Sautello

Postmaster

680 Highway 130

Trenton, NJ 08650

Dear Mr. Sautello,

This correspondence is a follow up to our meeting of Friday May 26, 2006 regarding USPS possible involuntary reassignment of clerks represented by the Trenton Metro Area Local of the American Postal Workers Union.

The APWU expressed at the meeting that Article 12 provisions require the USPS to attempt to reduce potential impact through the following positive actions:

1. Reduce casual employees working in the clerk craft.

2. Reduce overtime in the clerk craft.

3. Return limited duty Letter Carriers to the Letter Carrier Craft.

4. Allow impacted clerk craft employees the option of becoming PTF clerks.

Presently there are (20) twenty casuals working in the clerk craft and averaging (40) forty plus hours per week. Currently overtime in the clerk craft is averaging (18) eighteen percent, approximately 2,750 hours of overtime per week. There are at least (10) ten limited duty carriers performing clerk craft work for 40 hours per week.

The above represents a total of, at the minimum 4000 hours, which are reducible to minimize the impact on full time regulars.

The USPS expressed their position at the meeting as:

1. There will be no reduction in casual hours.

2. There will be no reduction in overtime hours.

3. The will be no return of limited duty letter carriers to their craft.

4. Impacted clerks will not be permitted to become a PTF within their craft.

The espoused USPS position represented above is not in compliance with one of the basic principles of Article 12: that the dislocation and inconvenience to full time regular employees shall be kept to a minimum.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement, Joint Contract Interpretation Manual as well as the parties mutual regional understanding, are all in agreement that the provisions of Article 12 must be applied prior to dislocating employees.

The APWU takes with extreme seriousness these matters and hopes the USPS will comply with the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The massive numbers of hours that are reducible do not justify reassignment of any clerks from the craft.

Please advise me in writing as to your position on these important matters.

Sincerely,

William J. Lewis

President

The postal service plans on having meetings with impacted employees on all 3 tours. I will be attending the meetings to ensure you are told accurate information. I will not be selling their story. Remember they created this mess and it clearly was intended to hurt us. I will continue to work up to the last minute to help lessen the impact

May 18, 2006

Excessing Update

A meeting was held May 17, 2006 for the AI/ATHS (Automatic Inductions/Automatic Tray Handling System) excessing.

As usual, the Postal Service was not prepared. They were relying on the old impact statement that contained erroneous information. The Postal Service plans to excess up to 41 clerks to other crafts, ie: custodian and mail handler.

Any member desiring to become a custodian please advise me ASAP, you must have taken the custodial exam.

The Postal Service has informed me that the number may be reduced from 41 to 32. But absent from being in writing we must rely on the impact statement. As of now, no members will be excessed outside the installation.

The Postal Service has refused to post new additional jobs. They also refused to honor a settlement relating to the AFSM 100.

The excessing will not take place prior to the impacted employees receiving sixty (60) days notice.

I will update you with more details in the very near future.

In closing, the information I have provided is based on today's meeting. The Postal Service historically changes like the weather.

April 20, 2006

Excessing Meeting

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.

April 13, 2006

Excessing Information

On February 8, 2006 the USPS assigned the Mail Handler Craft jurisdiction for staffing on the Automated Flat Sorting Machine 100 with Automated Induction and Automatic Tray Handling system enhancements. This designation created a unique problem in the Trenton P&DC and other P&DC's. The problem being there is insufficient staffing of mail handlers to work these new assignments.

The Postal Service is attempting to convince clerks to down grade to mail handlers in lieu of being excessed. This action would be considered a voluntary reassignment and you would become a PTF in the mail handler craft. Under Article 12 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement you have the right to become a PTF in your own craft and facility prior to being excessed.

I urge no one to become a PTF at this time with excessing going on in the New York and Philadelphia areas. If you are under the Civil Service Retirement System this could affect your annuity.

Here are some of the pros and cons of volunteering to be reassigned to another craft or being excessed.

Volunteering to another craft

You become a junior PTF
You become a level 4 or 3
You begin a new period of seniority as a part time flexible
No retreat rights back to the clerk craft

Excess to another craft

You become a junior regular
You maintain your level 5
You begin a new period of seniority as a full time regular
You will be brought back to the clerk craft according to clerk seniority. You will regain you former seniority as a clerk.

We have an excessing meeting on Monday April 17, 2006. I will provide a follow up.

April 12, 2006

Great News on the Anthrax Travel Grievance!

On April 6, 2006, the US District Court/District of New Jersey ruled in favor of the union. The court denied the Plaintiff's (USPS) motion to vacate Arbitrator Pecklers' arbitration decision and granted the defendant's (APWU) motion to enforce the arbitrator's decision.

"The court ruled in part "The arbitrator reached his decision based on letters sent to the employees by management, the collective bargaining agreement, and other arbitration decisions. In addition, the Court finds that the arbitrator drew from the essence of the agreement to fashion his award. The arbitrator did not alter the agreement when he concluded that Plaintiff had not changed the official duty station for the reassigned employees. He interpreted the terms of the agreement within the scope of his authority. Therefore, this Court will not disturb the arbitration award."

This decision brings us one step closer. I have contacted the USPS at the area level to begin discussions over implementing the settlement. There are still several grievances live in the system relating to the anthrax travel.

The Postal Service still has the right to appeal the judge's ruling. Any appeal by them will only show that they are delaying the remedy portion of this case. The union can seek additional sanctions if they appeal this.

Many questions have been emailed to me regarding when will we be compensated. A year ago I began to request time reports, statements and travel records and the postal service denied us access to this evidence. I will aggressively pursue this matter and attempt to bring closure to this grievance.

Brothers and Sisters, we have come a long way in this matter and we have been successful in many different forums in keeping this grievance alive. We must continue to fight them until we receive what is due us.

I will keep you updated and I urge you to just ignore any and all rumors. The award is on the local web page - TrentonMetroAreaLocal.com. Also take a look at the history of this case and see what your union has done.

April 1, 2006

Excessing

The union had been notified that management intended to excess 41 level 5 clerks out of the Trenton P&DC. This number has now been reduced to 34 level 5 clerks. The excessing is due to the deployment of the new Automatic Induction Unit (AI) and the Automatic Tray Handling System (ATHS). The postal service has assigned the new work to the mail handlers craft. These new modifications to the AFSM 100 will cause a reduction of 4 clerks per machine.

The notification letter to the union had several procedural errors and contained less than accurate information. The letter will need to be reissued and it must contain precise information. The minimum time frame is 90 days before excessing, not the 60 days as stated. My position is we must receive 6 months notification and I will fight hard to get what we are entitled to. The letter stated we had 10 level 6 keyers in the flat sorter section, we only have 2 level six clerks in the flat section and the rest of the keyers are level 5. This changes the mix. Excessing out of the section is among all level 5 clerks in the FSM section. Once the new letter is issued and I have reviewed the impact statement I will meet with management at the regional level.

The first excessing meeting has been set for April 17, 2006 at 11 am in Kilmer.

Several members who may be impacted due to the deployment of AI have retreat rights to their former facility and they have asked if they maintain these retreat rights. After discussions with North Eastern Regional Coordinator Liz Powell, the parties agreed the impacted employees get retreat rights to both Trenton and their former facility.

Other members who are in a bidding restriction due to volunteering to be reassigned in lieu of a excessed employee have asked, now that they are impacted, are they eligible to bid? The parties have had discussions on this and I am waiting for a Memorandum of Understanding which would release them from the bidding restriction.

I am constantly looking where we can create new positions and help reduce the impact. Currently there are no residual clerk positions in Central Jersey due to managements wholesale reverting of clerk positions for the past several weeks. The Trenton Plant is currently running overtime at 20 to 25 percent. That means there are clerk positions available and I must use overtime and casual hours to help create new positions. Management will resist our attempt; they have been mandated to get the clerks into lower paying mailhandler positions.

The postal service plans on creating new mailhandler positions to staff the AFSM. Currently in Trenton there are insufficient mailhandlers and from what I am hearing this shortage is nation wide. Plans are to staff these positions with excess clerks, and they will attempt to get you to request a transfer to the mailhandler craft as a PTF. If you want to become a PTF you can always opt to become a PTF in the clerk craft in lieu of being excessed. I recommend against any full time clerk becoming a mailhandler PTF.

If you are excessed into the mailhandler craft you will receive saved grade but with a new seniority date. Once its your turn according to your seniority, you will be returned to the clerk craft, and regain your old seniority. You do not have an option you are just returned to the clerk craft. Also your retirement could be affected by becoming a PTF. I will explain this in a later email.

The rumors are out of control on this subject, I will update you as events unfold. I will post letters as I receive them on the local's web page.

VER

The postal service has advised me of a voluntary early retirement (VER) only for function 1 plant employee in the Trenton P&DC, Kilmer P&DC and Monmouth P&DC. Employees identified as VER eligible were pulled from on-rolls data as of March 21, 2006 and will be sent the offer package on May 8th. The VER window period is May 12th to June 12th and the decision to retire is irrevocable after June 12th. The approval/disapproval notices will be sent to the employees on June 12th. The VER effective date will be June 30th.

Tour 2 Automation - 1-Hour Start Time Change

The postal service has advised me today, March 31, 2006, they are moving tour 2 automation (letters) hours from 7 am to 8 am. The service's reason for this move is tour 1 is still processing the mail at 7 am. The service and the union have agreed to give 30-day advance notice before any hours are changed. Any employee desiring to move before the 30 days please contact me.

The postal service has plans to changes other hours. Any hours that overlap another tours by more than an hour are being looked at. They plan on adjusting tour 2 first and then move to the other tours.

Anthrax Travel Grievance

The judge has not issued her decision on the postal service motion to vacate the arbitration decision. Once the decision is rendered I will email you.

With all the new development I will begin to email you to keep you up to date and try to eliminate the rumors.

February 3, 2006

The Annex

The Postal Service has finally unveiled their master plan for the Tour 1 secondary duty assignments (scheme clerks) that were assigned to the annex. All secondary flat and letters will be sorted at the stations. The plan calls for the abolishment of all tour 1 secondary duty assignments.

All statehouse duty assignments on tour 1 and tour 2 will also be abolished.

The 11-zone form the downtown station will be moved to the annex in the very near future. The 11-zone move will create space in the downtown station, which will enable management to move all of the 18-zone mail into downtown. Management would not reveal the staffing needs of the West Trenton Office after the 18-zone move.

The Crosswicks carrier routes will be moved to the annex also.

With the movement of the 11 zone and Crosswicks to the annex, management has proposed to create 5 new duty assignments with the 11-zone, Crosswicks scheme and some of the annex's schemes and post with a 4 AM start time. 1 duty assignment with similar schemes will be created with a 10 am start time. The union is reviewing this mix of schemes to determine the amount of memory items. The proposal also calls for the creation of 3 new State House positions in the annex with a 3 AM start time. There was limited discussion of rest days for these new duty assignments since management is convinced no one should have consecutive days and nevertheless, weekends. All newly created positions will be posted for bid.

Monmouth AMP

The latest information on the Area Mail Processing (AMP) and the Involuntary Reassignment (excessing) from Monmouth P&DC is fifteen (15) level five (5) clerks will be reassigned to the Trenton P&DC effective January 7, 2005. Five (5) clerks will be assigned to tour 3 and ten (10) will be assigned to tour 1.

Over the course of the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend the 087 incoming mail will begin to be processed at the Trenton P&DC. We are already processing the 087 out going mail.

The first round of the selection process for the Monmouth employees is completed and failed to yield a sufficient amount of full time positions available for these employees.

There seems to be an abundance of inaccurate information flying around relating to what are these employees rights when they are reassigned. Eleven (11) of the fifteen (15) employees maintain retreat rights back to Monmouth and also have bidding rights once they are reassigned to Trenton. Four (4) of them don't have retreat rights and are also locked out from bidding for 180 days the reason being these four people volunteered in lieu of an impacted employee. All 15 employees maintain their seniority.

At this time there are no intentions on excessing maintenance employees.

I will continue to monitor the events relating to this AMP to protect all APWU employees.

Bill Lewis

The following Christmas Holiday facts are for APWU members and the information contained in the article is from the APWU Collective Bargaining Agreement. I would like to share with everyone some of the questions and my responses to many questions relating to the upcoming Christmas Holiday.

When is my Holiday? This year Christmas Day, December 25, 2005, falls on a Sunday and according to article 11 section 5.A, “Holiday on Non-Work Day” When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed as the holiday.

If Sunday is your normally scheduled workday then your holiday will be observed on Sunday, December 25. If Sunday is your non-scheduled day then your holiday will be Monday, December 26 and if Sunday / Monday are you non-scheduled days then your holiday is Saturday, December 24.

The 3-day holiday period for Christmas is December 24, 25 & 26. The holiday schedule must be posted by December 20, 2005. This posting is mandated by article 11.6.A. The Employer will determine the number and categories of employees needed for holiday work and a schedule shall be posted as of the Tuesday preceding the service week in which the holiday falls.

Do I get paid time and one half if my holiday is other then the actual holiday? All full time /part time regular employees who work on the Christmas Holiday or the designated holiday will receive one and one half times (1 1/2) the base hourly straight time rate for each hour worked.

A part-time flexible (ptf) employee, who works on December 25, shall be paid in addition to the employee’s regular straight time hourly rate, one-half (l/2) times the employee’s regular straight time hourly rate for each hour worked up to eight (8) hours.

Do I receive an extra half (½) of day annual leave if I work the holiday? No, if you elect to be credited with annual leave instead of the holiday pay you will be credited with up to 8 hours of annual leave. All this provision of the contract does is allow you to switch the holiday leave pay for annual leave; you still get paid for the holiday work hours.

Tour 1 Scheme

There has been no further development in the realignment of the Trenton Tour 1 secondary schemes.   Management is still claiming they are trying to get a handle on the volume in each scheme.   This move has not been limited to scheme mail, it includes state house, parcel post and some box mail.

Let me share with you what I believe is going to happen. Management in the beginning of October will post for bid several new jobs with begin tours of 3 or 4 am most likely with spilt days off.   The spilt days off are a customer service thing and only managers in customer service are allowed to enjoy weekends. I will grieve this when they post them.   After the new bid holders are trained or if they are qualified and placed immediately into the duty assignments, management will then begin excessing to the needs of sections.

I found this portion of a news article very interesting and much to my surprise we are going in the opposite direction.   "The service is exploring ways to realign its infrastructure by closing annexes, consolidating operations and employing tools to model its efficiencies in its current operations by expanding automation, improving material-handling operations, creating a comprehensive transportation network and introducing standardization programs," the GAO report said.   This maybe true in other areas, but Trenton is the exception to the rule.

As the nation struggles to conserve fuel, management in Trenton explores ways to increase the fleet's consumption by adding 10 additional trips.

USPS Spokeswoman Debra Mitchell said "that every penny increase in gas means an $8 million increase in transportation expenses over last year. The post office has absorbed some of the increases with regular profits, she said. But the postal service also offsets some of the expense by being able to buy fuel at bulk prices that are somewhat lower than prices at the pump."

We could have bought fuel in bulk, but management took the new fuel tanks out of the ground in the VMF so we can pay the higher prices at the pumps. Good move guys!

Will someone please tell me how we are saving money and efficiency with this move of the Tour 1 mail?

Just to clear the air, some managers in the annex are saying the union wanted you sent over here.   I had absolutely nothing to do with the move and this was all planned without the union's input.

18-11 Moves

The 18-zones move is still on, the West Trenton 18-zones will be merged with the 18 zones in the downtown station and the 11 zones that are in downtown will be moved to the annex.   Management has not officially advised me of this move, but training plans are underway without the unions input, as usual. This move will occur on or about October 1.

By making the carriers drive from the annex to downtown will also increase fuel consumption.

Extending Window Hours

Management has also extended the retail window hours to 7 PM at West Trenton and Circle Branch stations.   This change will occur on October 1, 2005.   Management notified the clerks before we were notified. Management had a contractual obligation to consult with the union, but maybe next time they will allow us input first.   The window operations have been run on a shoe string for many years and now with an additional 10 hours being added to the operation, I predict major grievance activity in these offices.   I found out about the extended hours from emails from clerks, so please keep me informed.

Now for some good news

After the meeting on August 29, 2005, I began to immediately inquire and request additional jobs to be posted.   I was notified today that management plans to post approximately 15 new tour 2 mail processor clerk bids.   Tour 1 has not responded to the union's inquiries.   I am requesting these jobs before the 087 consolidation of the Monmouth P&DC which may happen as early as this fall.

Trenton City Scheme Mail - Part 2

On Monday, August 29, 2005, a meeting was held to advise the union of managements plans to move the tour 1 state house and city scheme operations to the carrier annex. The operations and employees will move on September 10, 2005.

The union was not provided an opportunity to digest the data prior; before the decision to move the mail. Last week I requested information prior to the meeting, and the request was denied. The decision today was made absent of any input from the union. The reassignment is limited to tour 1 at the present time.

The union has some concerns about safety and security issues at the annex. These concerns were presented to management long before the move was planned. Management has made no attempt to correct these concerns.

There is also some contractual questions that need to addressed. I will not state my concerns since management monitors my emails. I would like to keep an upper hand in this case. If the contract is violated, no matter how small I will file the appropriate action.

Trenton City Scheme Mail - part 1

The Postal Service has not officially notified me of any employees moving from one location to another. This does not mean it will not happen.   Let me explain what I have been unofficially told.

Many months ago, management informed me of this elaborate plan of moving the city scheme distribution to the carrier annex.    This plan also consisted of moving mail from West Trenton to the Downtown Station. Then moving mail from the Downtown Station to the Carrier Annex and additionally bringing in mail from Crosswicks. This was plan one, the only problem was, there was insufficient parking for the carrier vehicles at the proposed locations so the plan was on hold as they looked for parking for the trucks.

Then, I was informed that they were moving all the scheme mail distribution from the P&DC to their respected stations, as an example; they were going to move the Carrier Annex mail to the Carrier Annex, Circle Branch mail to Circle Branch, Villa Park mail to Villa Park and Downtown mail to Downtown and so on.  This plan was also put on hold as they worked out the logistics.

Then I heard that they were conducting a study to move the state house mail operation from the P&DC to the Carrier Annex.   When I made an inquiry in this move, I was told they were working on a plan to move the state house mail and they would get back to me.

Throughout the preparation stage of this master plan management has kept saying the move was going to happen at the end of the summer.   Every time I asked for specifics about which mail, which employees, which location I was informed we are working on it.

Now with the end of summer rapidly approaching I asked management on Monday, August 15th about the moves.   They informed me that 5 employees and the state house mail was moving in a couple of weeks, as I am awaiting my written notification of the state house move, rumors started surfacing about other mail moving. Once again on Wednesday, August 17th I picked up the phone and made an inquiry about the scheme mail moving. Once again, I was assured that the only plan they had at this time was to move the state house mail.

On Friday, August 19th, many members emailed and informed me about what they were being told by both station mangers and the plant supervisor.    Every one has the same story of mail moving, employees being moved, employees hours being changed.

Hearing this I made a call for the third time in a week on the same issue and much to my dismay I heard, "Oh, did I forgot to mention it to you."   I was stunned to hear they were moving the mail and employees without the union's input.

Management had a legal obligation under NLRA to notify and allow the union input prior to notifying the affected employees.   The contract provides for time frames for notification of excessing of employees outside their sections.   I should not be shocked that they were unable to get this right; customer service has not been able to get a holiday schedule right.   You know it is not that they can't get it correct; customer service couldn't care less about our rights.

The biggest question that surfaces in my simple mind is why all the secrecy?   Management has the right to move the mail; they clearly have the right to reassign employees per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.   So why?   They do not want the scheme clerks to have time to bid on other jobs.   The success of this move depends on the clerks being reassigned and not having time to bid on other jobs in the plant.

Management's story today is that the clerks will move with their same hours and drop days and after all the glitches are worked they will begin the process of reposting and eliminating the plant jobs.   The best advice I can give is, if you need the hours and certain days off, begin bidding now.   All P&DC scheme jobs are in jeopardy of being moved and the possibility exists of all P&DC scheme jobs being reposted and abolished.

Why all the movement of the mail?   No one from management has said why all the movement.   The reason I believe is, they need the space for the 087 mail coming in. To process this mail we would need additional machines, which would require more space.

Another thought is the customer service managers would get more employees which would maybe get them higher levels of pay.

I spoke with the president of the Red Bank Local and he has been notified of the movement of the 087 mail to Trenton.   No notification has been given at the regional level of any excessing from Monmouth P&DC as of yet.

The local union has requested information on this matter from management. As soon as I obtain the information I will pass it on.

Surprise!!!! Surprise!!!!! I have been invited to a planning meeting on Monday, August 29th, what a joke.

Other P&DC Issues

Management has determined there is no need to continue testing for anthrax in the Trenton P&DC. They claim OSHA has concurred with them on this issue.   The Dry Filter Units will be removed during the month of September.   I will check with the APWUs safety and health department.

I find this a bit disturbing since the PO has tested the Brentwood facility for over a year.   We get 5 months.    I have not read where they have discontinued the testing down there.   Talking about Brentwood, an employee working in there has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease.

Construction

Contractors will begin removing portions of the look out gallery in the southwest portion (old carrier annex section) of the building.   The reason I inform you of this is, the panels of the look out gallery contain asbestos, so please stay clear.   This renovation is needed for the installation of the LIPS machine, you know the machine we never used.   Additional work is needed down in that section to get more space for additional DBCS's.

Travel Grievance

Attorneys for the APWU filed an answer in federal court to the Postal Service's complaint to vacate the Anthrax Travel arbitration award, we also counter sued for enforcement of the award. Further legal action against the USPS is being considered.

Justice delayed is justice denied and Postal Management must be held accountable.

Automated Postal Centers

The new Automated Postal Centers (APCs) will be capable of providing 80 percent of the most common transactions handled at full service windows. These machines will be available 24/7 for our customers to conduct postal business. Not all post offices will be receiving the APCs; at the present time only high volume offices with long waits will see them.

Some of the features of the APCs are; weighing and rating letters, flats and parcels up to 70 pounds. Dispensing variable rate postage in any denomination for Express, Priority, First Class, Certified mail, International (under a pound) and Parcel Post. Providing postal service and mailing information, and zip code lookup. Printing express mail forms and generating a receipt for payment are also some of the features of the APCs.

If this state of art technology is promoted properly it could have a major impact on window service operations and cause a reduction in over the counter sale and thus reduce the need for our current staffing of sale and service associate positions, so far I have not seen this overwhelming success but I am still cautious. The machine does not sell single stamps nor does it accept cash. Only credit cards and debit cards are accepted.

Who will perform the routine duties associated with this equipment? The USPS and APWU agree that a sale and service associate will perform the duties associated with this equipment. The clerk will restock the paper, PVI tape and stamp books. The clerk may also clear jams in the machine. The postal service has contracted the servicing and repairs to the company that designed and installed them. The national maintenance division has filed a national level grievance over the work being contracted outside the maintenance craft.

During the first 90 days following the deployment of the APCS, the postal service will be hand picking an employee to be the APC Customer Advisor, this individual will encourage customers to use it, help them get acquainted with the machine and assist them with their transaction. Management has the right to select any employee to serve as a APCs Customer Advisor. The APWU doesn’t seem to have objections to the use of non-APWU bargaining unit employee from receiving the 3.5 hours training. The APWU does caution management not to cross the duties of a lobby director or clerk with this APC Customer Advisor. Who is kidding who? As the APWU loses bargaining unit positions daily we cannot afford to allow any work even if it is one day or 90 days to be given to other crafts. The work is clearly retail work and should go to an APWU sale and service associate working in the retail center. Management has taken the position that the work associated with the APC doesn’t belong to the Self-Service Postal Clerk since the APC is automatic and not mechanical. This I will have to explore a bit more to determine if this position is correct.

Since I will be receiving this piece of equipment when the Trenton P&DC reopens in about 2 months and as always I will continue to preserve APWU work, I plan to approach management and encourage them to use a sales and service associate as an APC Customer Advisor. I will have grievances filed on any one who is not a sales and service associate who stocks the machine, and initiate grievances for any work being performed by contractors. We must strengthen our resolve to protect our work and aggressively defend it.

February 7, 2005

Today, Monday, February 7, 2005, the Postal Service advised me that the ribbon cutting ceremony has been delayed for another week. The new date is March 13, 2005 (tentative date, to be changed again... and again... and again!)

The delay is contributed to the Mystery Guest, who has been unable to make the last two tentative dates. This delay causes our return to be pushed back to March 19, 2005 (Saturday).

On a more positive note, the bio detection system was installed. The tour 3 supervisors and mail handlers received training on the operation of the system today.

I was successful in getting the lunchroom and additional rest rooms open for the employees to use, who are coming down to test the machines. Maintenance management is taking the position that the Maintenance employees cannot use the lunchroom at this time (unknown reasons). I hope to get this corrected tomorrow.

February 6, 2005

Work continues to bring the Trenton P&DC back online.   The plan at this moment is to bring processing mail to test the overhauled DBCS on Tuesday, February 8, 2005.   This date is exactly one year from the announcement that the building was deemed safe to reoccupy.   Management has informed me, that the machines will be tested on tour 2 and 3 with 085 standard mail.

Mail Processing Clerks will be chosen by seniority to return.   Those clerks coming on site should be aware that there are no provisions for food or beverages in the building.   Up to this point the maintenance employees on site have not been allowed to use the swing room or any break area in the building.

I will try on Monday to get use of the swing room and additional rest rooms. If not, you will have to use the carrier annex rest rooms and the break trailer, which is located in the parking lot.   I will also attempt to get bottled water in the building.   Despite these minor obstacles I am truly excited and look forward to welcoming you back to Trenton.

In the upcoming days additional maintenance employees from Monroe will be assigned to the P&DC.

The plant will be fully operational by March 12, 2005, and the ribbon cutting ceremony will be March 6, 2005.

The first group of Postal Employees to return to the building were APWU Maintenance and now APWU Mail Processing Clerks are the first to begin working the mail. This is only appropriate since we paved the way and fought the battle to reopen this building.

January 23, 2005

The contractor still plans to be completed with the renovations on January 31, 2005.   At that point the Postal Service will conduct a walk around with the contractor and generate a list of items that are not acceptable to them (the Postal Service).

The concerns I have are with some of the electrical systems and the reason being is, I can't seem to get a straight answer. The fiber optics is not passing the final acceptance test. The fire alarms, the card access systems and the door release systems have all failed preliminary tests.   Some of the structure wiring is also failing.   These are not minor problems and raise serious safety concerns with me and may delay the opening.

The 2 boilers have failed the final inspection and are awaiting re-inspection.    They are able to operate and are keeping the building warm.

The mail processing machines have not been hooked up to the network in the computer room due to problems with cabling.    This is not good.

The water seems to be the main topic of concern. The water has been recently tested for anthrax and I am told the water is safe. The water system will be re-chlorinated this week. The Postal Service now intends to install drinking water systems.   This is good news since most of us prefer not to use the water fountains.   I have been monitoring the water problem and don't see the problems all are claiming it to be.   This may be the issue that delays the whole return process.

The final cleaning of the building is under way and the place is looking good. The final coat of wax has been applied to the floor. Both docks have also been painted.

On Saturday, January 22, 2005, we unloaded the AFCS from West Jersey and will begin installing it as soon as our electrician runs the wires for the bio detection system.   We will be removing an AFCS from Kilmer next.   We are also overhauling a second OCR and still troubleshooting the second BCS. Check the web site for up to date machine status.

The registry cage is being installed in the same location; also all new letter cases are being assembled and will be placed in the same general locations.

Plans are under way to move the 1 AFSM 100 next month and then move the 2nd one soon as we move into the Trenton P&DC. The LIPS machine will be placed in the former carrier annex for now and the low cost tray system will also be moved.   The workroom floor is the warehouse for all the new equipment coming in. The last several weeks we have moved the equipment from one end to other for the final waxing of the floor.

The plan now (and it is not my plan) is for employees to take their combination lock from their locker in Monroe and when they get to Trenton they will be assigned a new locker and then they can place their lock on the locker.   Be prepared to move and remove all your personal belongings prior to the end of February.

The postal service is not sure if the access system is the same as Monroe.   Comment; if I were planning this portion of the project I would have instructed the company and the software designer to make sure the systems were compatible, but I guess that's why I am not in charge nor would I want to be.

During the month of February mail-processing clerks will be brought down to the Trenton P&DC to run standard mail on the machines and test the true sorting capability.   I will enforce the principles of seniority on who will get to volunteer.   I hope we do not experience the same disturbing scenario I had with the maintenance members who chose to stay in Monroe and collect the blood money.   It is time to step up, we fought hard to reopen the P&DC and it is time to come home.   The Postal service has taken the position if you are instructed to return and refuse, your travel pay will be terminated.

I do believe that a few employees will be traumatized to an extent they cannot return to the P&DC. Every member will be receiving a letter from management soliciting his or her intentions about returning.   I guess no one can tell you the building is 100% safe, all I can say is, I have worked in that building for the past 10 months and I have no doubts the building is safe and it is 100 times better than Monroe.   If you are a member and you are having second thoughts about returning to the building please contact me.   Please email me with any questions you may have about the building.

To monitor daily events on the building, check in at the Trenton Metro Area Local web page, I will keep it current with events.

On Thursday, January 13, 2005, the Anthrax Travel Grievance was presented to Arbitrator Michael Pecklers. The issue was, are we entitled to be compensated for the time spent traveling to temporary duty assignments. To get the Postal Service to the Arbitration hearing was an exhausting 18 month struggle for the local. I must commend National Business Agent, Jeff Kehlert for the professional presentation he puts forth for the union.

I have participated in many arbitration hearings and I must comment on the professionalism displayed by the Postal Service's team of advocates and the way the hearing proceeded.

We also presented other issues related to the anthrax attack against us. The issue in the second hearing was if we were entitled to be compensated for time spent receiving medical care and treatment for exposure to anthrax.

The issue of compensation for travel has been put to rest and now we must move forward and prepare to return to the Trenton P&DC. We could expect the arbitrator's decision in about a month.

Thank you for your support,

January 1, 2005
Trenton P&DC Update

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year.   I thank each and every one of you for your support over the past year. Together we have come a long way and we are almost back in the new Trenton P&DC. I have had discussions with Postal Management regarding the return of mail processing operations to Trenton.   As of today the time frame is:

January 8, 2005, all mail processing machines will be running and capable of sorting mail.

January 31, 2005, the contractors will be completed with the renovations and the building will be turned over to the Postal Service.

The whole month of February will be used to test the mail processing machines.   They will sort standard mail to work out any problems that may surface.

The main event will be on February 27, 2005, with the ribbon cutting ceremony with an elaborate celebration in store at the Trenton P&DC. This event will be for union members and families.   I have attended the planning meeting and it was hard to find anyone who worked in the Trenton P&DC on the committee.

February 28, 2005, the Main Office Window Service will reopen to the public.

The first week of March will be used to finalize move in day plans.   March 5, 2005, the Postal Service will terminate mail operations in Monroe and begin mail processing in the Trenton P&DC. The latter part of that week the Postal Service will phase back in the 085 and 086 outgoing mail.

As always these are not my plans and I have had no input and are subject to changes without notice.

I have been in contact with the national APWU regarding any employee who may be traumatized about returning to the Trenton P&DC. The Postal Service refused to discuss this issue with the APWU Regional Coordinator, Jim Burke. I have contacted Bill Burrus office about implementing the same Memorandum of Understanding that pertained to the APWU members in Brentwood. I will additionally request our Congressman's assistance in this matter.

The travel compensation issue is scheduled for arbitration on January 13, 2005.   I hear members discussing the thousands of dollars they are getting, and this is not reality. The arbitrator may say the Postal Service didn't violate our contract and we get zero or on the other hand the arbitrator may sustain the grievance and award the full remedy that will be the hours spent commuting to Kilmer, South River, Monmouth and a few other locations. Either way it is a gamble for both parties.   There have been ongoing discussions with the Postal Service about resolving this issue.   I will make a presentation of both parties proposals at the local union meeting on January 8, 2005, and then poll the members in attendance for their views and guidance.   In the mean time we are preparing for arbitration and further legal action if warranted.

With the reopening of the Trenton P&DC, management plans on making staffing changes.   Management wants to move city scheme mail to the annex, make adjustments on start times (all tours) and make drop day changes on Tour 3.   Most of these changes are based on high amounts of overtime.   Maybe if they had maintained the proper staffing they would not have the high volume of overtime.

The next several months will prove to be challenging, and the Postal Service will test our resolve and they have repeatedly proven they cannot be trusted.   We must continue to show our solidarity, we must continue to organize and raise COPA money. No local in history has been through what we have endured and still are united. Make no mistake that we are prepared to fight the injustices ahead of us. Inclosing today, I once again thank you for allowing me the privilege of leading us during these disturbing times and I ask you to keep the leadership of your union in your prayers and thoughts to help us bring this ordeal to closure.

Yours in Unionism,

Bill Lewis
President
Trenton Metro Area Local #1020

The following Christmas Holiday facts are for APWU members and the information contained in the article is from the APWU Collective Bargaining Agreement. I would like to share with everyone the questions and my responses to many questions relating to the upcoming Christmas Holiday.

When is my Holiday? This year Christmas Day, December 25, 2004, falls on a Saturday and according to article 11 section 5.A, “Holiday on Non-Work Day” When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be observed as the holiday.

If Saturday is your normally scheduled workday then your holiday will be observed on Saturday, December 25. If Saturday is your non-scheduled day then your holiday will be Friday, December 24 and if Friday and Saturday are your non-scheduled days then your holiday is Thursday December 23.

The 3-day holiday period for Christmas is December 23, 24 & 25. The holiday schedule must be posted by December 14, 2005. This posting is mandated by article 11.6.A. The Employer will determine the number and categories of employees needed for holiday work and a schedule shall be posted as of the Tuesday preceding the service week in which the holiday falls.

Do I get paid time and one half if my holiday is other then Saturday? All full time /part time regular employees who work on the Christmas Holiday or the designated holiday will receive one and one half times (1 1/2) the base hourly straight time rate for each hour worked.

Union Representatives tour the once anthrax contaminated mail facility in Hamilton, NJ

Hamilton, NJ. Union representatives of the Trenton Metro Area Local #1020 of the American Postal Workers Union toured the Trenton P&DC to get a first hand look at the progress made in restoring the once anthrax contaminated mail facility located in Hamilton, NJ.

Bill Lewis, President of the APWU local said “This is the first time in 3 years employees who serve as local union representatives have had an opportunity to view the once contaminated building, and they were pleased with the progress made thus far in restoring the facility. We are all confident the building is safe for the employees to return, and no one who toured the building had any reservations about entering the facility”.

“I am extremely proud of the APWU maintenance employees from Trenton and from around the country who came to help restore this mail processing facility. This was a monumental task to refurbish all of the mail processing machines rendered inoperative by the chlorine dioxide gas used to kill the anthrax spores” said Lewis.

We are grateful to our elected leaders who have been there throughout the whole ordeal; especially Congressman Christopher Smith, Hamilton Township Mayor Glen Gilmore and US Senator Jon Corzine.

The union still has concerns over staffing, and which mail operations will be returned once the plant is operational. Management has indicated to the union that the move in day plans, staffing and mail operation decisions have been completed, yet this information has not been shared with the Local. The union’s skepticism is increased by postal management’s recent hiring of non-union workers to process mail.

The Postal Service advised me on Friday, October 15, 2004, that they were removing an overhauled AFSM 100 from the Trenton P&DC and moving the machine to Monroe, the interim Trenton facility. One of the FSM 1000s will be removed from Monroe and the AFSM 100 will be placed in its spot.

The reason provided to me for this move is management is removing the 087 flat mail from the Monmouth P&DC in Eatontown, NJ and is going to process the mail in Monroe.

Union members who attended the meeting Saturday, October 16, 2004, advised that the 087 mail has already begun to be processed in Monroe. Maintenance employees who were in attendance, advised they already have begun disassembling the AFSM 100 for its journey to Monroe.

This AFSM 100 was totally rebuilt by postal service maintenance employees. The overhaul of this machine including moving it for the installation of the new floor took 6 months. Removing this machine from the Trenton P&DC has raised some serious concerns with me. I believe this is a major step backwards in our eventual return to Trenton. In the past, when I have questioned some bone head moves I was told, I was not a manger that's why I don't understand. Well, I guess because I am not a manger is why I don't understand.

Well, if I was a manger and my true intentions were to get this once anthrax contaminated P&DC fully functional within the next few months I would focus all of my resources into getting this building capable of processing mail.

Several Bad Ideas & Union Concerns:

If you planned on moving the mail from the Eatontown P&DC why not move their machines along with the mail.

Develop a plan to process flat mail on the overhauled machine in Trenton, it is a workable plan, management planned on doing it with letter mail on the AFCS's and the DBCS's.

Staffing issues have not been discussed.

Lack of space for storage of mail and trailers have not been discussed.

My concerns of the sick building syndrome will return with the upcoming heating season and additional machines and people.

The new time frame for reoccupying the Trenton P&DC is now moved back until March/April, 2005. I still believe if we stay focused and direct all of our attention on Trenton an earlier return date could be achieved.

Yours in Union Solidarity,

Bill Lewis
President
Trenton Metro Area Local #1020

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

The Anthrax attacks on our nation and post office happened 3 years ago.   For many postal employees and citizens of this country, the attack and hardships afflicted on the Trenton and Brentwood Postal Workers and other Postal Employees, are forgotten.    When I travel to different postal events in the capacity of the president of this great local, I am horrified to hear that people are led to believe the nightmare has ended and we are all back home working.

We must never forget our fallen brothers from Brentwood who died because no one cared for Postal Workers, or our brothers and sisters who continue to suffer from the after affects of anthrax and the antibiotics.   We have all suffered at the hands of an uncaring employer who chose to fight us instead of caring for it employees.    Let no one fool you, they refused to get us medical help, refused to pay for medical bills, refused to relocate us closer to home, even tried to close our facility, no, I stand corrected, consolidate, refused to compensate us for the time spent traveling, as outlined in their own manuals.

We cannot replace the time stolen from our lives and families. We cannot replace our health that was damaged by exposure to anthrax and the antibiotic treatment.

You must be proud of yourselves for all you have endured, substandard working conditions in Monroe, South River, Annex and the Trailers.   We have commuted countless miles to other Processing Centers to keep the mail moving and to feed our families.

Collectively we have fought all of these injustices and will continue to fight for our rights. Many in the postal family have chalked the Trenton Local up. Did we fool them?    We can stand tall today for all of our accomplishments. Many other local's memberships spiral downward, but we continue to recover and our membership is growing.    Instead of being excessed we are receiving new members every payday. Instead of being consolidated with other facilities, other facilities are being consolidated with us.

The proof of our commitment to fight is shown today as work continues on bringing our P&DC building back to life.   The building will be equipped with state of the art technology for sorting mail. The environmental equipment will provide a comfort level second to none.   The building will have a Bio-detection and filtration system; these systems are being installed at the present time.   This will be a new postal facility.

There are several reasons for our success; we're able to mobilize our membership, we are raising political funds (COPA), and developing relationships with all our elected leaders. Utilizing our resources wisely, we concentrated on organization and communicate with each other.

Today we can take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments, we can lick our wounds and mourn our dead, but we must fight like hell for the living and renew our commitment to reopening the Trenton P&DC in the upcoming weeks.

Proudly wear you union shirt on Monday and stand tall.

Yours in Unionism,

Bill Lewis
President
Local #1020

I have been notified by management that everyone who works for the Trenton Plant will be required to work on Friday, June 11, 2004, the National Day Of Mourning. The letter states you will be entitled to a day of your choice.

Some employees have already been denied their day of choice. If you are denied your choice you should file a grievance. Representatives of management who will decide the outcome of your grievance will have the day off.

Management is hoping everyone forgets or gives up the day they are entitled to.

I was somewhat disturbed by the wholesale refusal to allow anyone off who works for the plant, but I was not surprised, just another form of their appreciation. Come employee appreciation day, most will have forgotten and will join management in the festivities.

The Postmaster General, has declared, Friday, June 11, 2004 as the National Day of Mourning for all postal units. I am in discussion with local management about allowing employees off on Friday. As of writing this email, they have not made any final determination on Operational needs. Many questions have been presented to me, so I have enclosed in this email the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) on the the National Day of Observance. As soon as I have further details I will pass it along.

June 7, 2004

ALL POSTAL INSTALLATIONS

SUBJECT: National Day of Mourning

To honor the memory of former President Ronald Reagan, the U.S. Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning on Friday, June 11. There will be no regular mail delivery or retail hours. Express Mail will be delivered.

All postal units, including headquarters, area, and district offices will observe this day of mourning. Postmasters must take prompt action to notify the public and major customers of service changes in their communities.

Additional details on operational and administrative activities will follow.

John E. Potter

Memorandum of Agreement
Between
The United States Postal Service
And
The American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO

Re: Clarification of Regulations for National Day of Observance
The parties agree that the following procedures will apply to affected employees if the Postmaster General or designee determines that the Postal Service will participate in a National Day of Observance (e.g. National Day of Mourning), subsequent to the declaration of a National Day of Observance having been made by Executive Order of the President of the United States.

1. Full-time employees whose basic work week includes the National Day of Observance as a scheduled work day but who are not directed to report for work will be granted administrative leave for that da