Branch News
January 9, 2020
Fellow Members- This is IMPORTANT… if you called off and requested paid leave during the holiday pay period (PP 1/20, check paid 1/10) and you did not receive your pay for that call-off because you were listed as “Deems Desirable” then be sure to see a shop steward with a copy of your pay stub and your call-off confirmation number by 1/18 so that we can file a grievance. This is just more contract-violating nonsense brought to you by the CPA District time and attendance coordinator who I have previously written about and her lackeys. They should learn the rules before they try to enforce them. We have a new acting Plant Manager here and I briefly met with her this week. Maureen Gerst-Stewart will be the PM while Ken Hanson is detailed to West Virginia. From my brief encounter with her, Ms. Gerst-Stewart seems like a no-nonsense person, so hopefully that will be the attitude that she takes with her “team”. Maybe a different leader will offer a breath of fresh air into the otherwise stagnant atmosphere that has become commonplace around here, starting with the managers and trickling down through the workforce. I am eternally optimistic, but I’m still realistic about tigers and their stripes. Along with a new plant manager, we also have the promotion of Dylan Coopersmith to Tour 3 MDO. As always when a new sheriff rolls into town, there will be a bunch of attempted changes and probably some ill-contrived policies. There are also other rumors of some other “leadership” changes forthcoming, but those remain to be seen. Just know this, any attempted policy change or rule amendment that is not done contractually correct or that is a violation of the National Agreement will be met with swift opposition. Management has the contractual right to mismanage to the max, but they must do it within the rules set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Unfortunately, most of them don’t even know their own handbooks, never mind knowing the CBA. The Blood Drive here at the P&DC has been rescheduled for February 27th, 2020. Keep an eye out for the details of where to sign up and how to schedule a time to donate. The nomination meeting for Union officials was held on December 14th and I am humbled to say that nobody is running against me for the position of Lehigh Valley Branch President. I am grateful for the support that I receive from the Mail Handlers and I thank you all for being part of this fight, well except for our usual two abstainers/detractors/freeloaders. Thank you, also, for allowing me to be your mouthpiece to management and for allowing me to lead our building’s force of Contractual rights defenders. As you know, the office door is open and my email is always on if you have any problems that can’t be solved by one of the trained and competent stewards that are on every tour. The calendar years and the management leaders may change but the battle will always continue; let’s stay united and utilize that unity in order to stay strong against the upcoming challenges, both locally and nationally. While the BP spot here in Lehigh is already filled, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to vote. The position of PA State Representative is up for grabs and you will be sent a ballot to vote for this very important executive board position. Please watch for your ballot in the mail and remember to vote. If you have any questions, see me. Ballots get counted on February 22nd and the Swearing-In Ceremony is March 14th. Hopefully I’ll fit in my suit by then. The Ceremony/Banquet is open to all members. Watch the bulletin board for more information. As you may have noticed, management is posting reversion notices for every job that is vacated by retirement/resignation. The Union has filed grievances on these reversions, as we believe there is still a need for the reverted jobs. This will be a lengthy process to reach a solution, but the fight has begun. Management continues to stand by these flawed Function 1 schedulers, reviews, or whatever else they want to name them. They do two or three of them a year and spit out a different number every time, but they know that the results are not accurate. I should rephrase that; the local managers know that the results are inaccurate. Unfortunately, it’s the district, regional, and national yahoos that try and force the implementation of these cockamamie staffing tools. It’s all about justifying their nonproductive jobs of sitting in offices counting beans and listening to telecoms all day by trying to reduce the actual workforce that moves the mail and serves the customers. Let’s go over this again, if you see supervisors or clerks doing Mail Handler work then be sure to write it up for the stewards on your tour to file. If we are so overstaffed and can’t repost jobs or hire more people, then we obviously don’t need the assistance of managers and supervisors. If you witness the transgressions, then please see a shop steward for a form to fill out. Be sure to include the names of the supervisors, the work that they were performing, and the time period during which they were performing it. Finally, congratulations to Bob Fennimore from Tour 2 on his retirement. He has not been here for months to wish farewell to, but we wish him good health and good times in his years ahead. Stay United, Stay Strong Sean |
Branch President
Sean Craig 
Your Union RepresentativesLocal Memorandum of Understanding |