Official Publication of the Greater Area Local 164 APWU

(513) 522-1114 • TTY (513) 522-0941 • (800) 990-APWU • www.cincinnatiapwu.org • [email protected] Vol. 6, No. 4 July-September, 2019 — Message from the President — State Of The Union and an AO to the //Indiana our questions. I felt like our stewards put Conference. We were able to spend an Cincinnati on the map! entire evening with Mark Dimondstein, Walt Luthy, our Vice-President, just our National president and Steve Charles completed the 2019 local Stewards School our Ohio State President. These are two where he trained 5 new stewards. The great unionist who asked many questions shop steward is the tip of the spear and of Cincinnati’s stewards and answered all continued on page 4

by Mike Smith, President Greetings Brothers and Sisters. has been a busy summer. I hope your summer has been happy and productive. I would like to report our Local is Strong and doing well! Training We have been focusing on training in 2019. We were able to do so because the finances of our Local are under control. As many of you know I will not spend money we do not have, however we Recipients Proudly displaying awards at the August 3 awards banquet dur- have been fortunate to have the finances ing the 2019 Biennial Conference of the APWU National Postal Press As- to continue training our stewards. In sociation (PPA) in Altoona, Iowa. First Class Worker editor Steve Beyersdo- August we sent stewards representing the erfer, editor (first row far right) (Photo by Lance Coles) A complete list of plant, stations and branches, the annex, award recipients may be viewed at apuwpostalpress.org — Next Union Meetings — November 24 Sunday, September 29 October 19 November 23 Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at 1 p.m. Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Saturday at 7:00 p.m. (Retirees at 6:00 p.m.) NO MEETING in December 1385 Tennessee Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229 • Phone: 513-522-1114 • 513-522-1024 Page 2 FIRST CLASS WORKER July-September, 2019

Official Publication of the Greater Cincinnati Area Local APWU — From your Editor —

is published quarterly by the In This Greater Cincinnati Area Local 164 APWU NEWSLETTER STAFF Edition . . . Editor...... Steve Beyersdoerfer Webmaster...... Phil Barnhart could be improved. It was that good. In This Edition . . . Retirees President UNION OFFICERS Tim Breen extols the virtues of retire- Mike Smith...... President ment with a new photo taken while va- Walt Luthy...... Executive Vice President cationing in Italy at Mt. Veusvius. We Bill Burke...... Secretary have some compelling thoughts on re- Jim Sizemore...... Treasurer tirement from recent retiree (Oneida A. Greg Mann...... Director Clerk Craft by Steve Beyersdoerfer, Editor Jobs), with an offer you may not want to Michele Hoskins...... Asst. Director Clerk Craft Since the last edition of the First Class ignore. Our Health Plan Representative Ronnie Watkins...... Asst. Director Clerk Craft Mike Wolke has BIG news about chang- Phil Barnhart...... Director Maintenance Craft Worker was published, I had the privi- Don Hoffrogge...... Asst. Director Maintenance Craft lege of attending the Biennial Confer- es in the TSP. Guest contributor Walt Kenneth Sevier...... Director Motor Vehicle Craft ence for the Postal Press Association in Carpenter explains some membership Craig James...... Trustee Altoona, Iowa. As editor of this news- perks you may not know about. There’s Karen Hudson...... Trustee letter, I was pleased to accept the invi- more . . . much more throughout this Art Saturday...... Trustee tation to attend this workshop. On the edition. Don’t neglect a single article. Greg Mann...... Posting Schemes Rep. final night, I had the privilege of accept- So . . . One of the many things I Terry Grant...... Accident Benefit Association Rep. ing outstanding achievement awards for learned at the conference was how to Mike Wolke...... Health Plan Rep. two of our regular contributors. launch a survey. You’ll find it elsewhere Vacant...... Auxiliary The workshop was an amazing ex- in this edition. I am aware of the official Rene Viel...... OWCP Rep. APWU position to not take USPS sur- Walt Luthy...... Associate Office Representative perience. The instructors that lead the John Wyrick...... Associate Office Representative break-out sessions were of the highest veys, but I hope you will take this one. Virgil Johnston...... Associate Office Representative caliber. Their credentials included work- Unlike the USPS version, I promise this Pam Sanders...... Legislative Rep. ing journalists, photographers, publish- survey won’t be used against you. The opinions expressed in this ers, writers, editors, and web designers, In closing, I just want to thank all of publication are those of the individual to name a few. I cannot imagine how it continued on page 3 writers and are not necessarily the policy of the local, this publication or the editor. All articles submitted for publication are subject to editing.

UNION CONTACTS APWU Building 1385 Tennessee Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45229 Phone: (513) 522-1114 Phone: (513) 522-1024 Fax: (513) 522-2056 Website: www.cincinnatiapwu.org e-mail: [email protected]

AFFILIATIONS APWU, AFL-CIO Ohio Postal Workers Union Cincinnati APWU Editor Steve Beyersdoerfer accepts a PPA Award pre- APWU Postal Press Association sented by APWU National President Mark Dimondstein and PPA President Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council Tony Carobine. July-September, 2019 FIRST CLASS WORKER Page 3 My Friend, My Mentor largest Plant in the United States to close. because you needed some rest, I didn’t You immediately became the face of the think it was really a big deal. But as the “Save the Cincinnati Post Office” mantra. days progressed and all of a sudden it With your two Knights Templar at your goes from that to “prayers are needed” side as Mike Smith liked to describe and “he’s going to be off of work at least Burke and I, you were able to defeat the 2-3 months” with no real answers from by Walt Luthy, Vice President “Evil Empire” and the Cincinnati Plant anyone, my heart ached. It’s hard to believe we started this remains open. Then I was told you were in the hospi- journey 17 years ago together, but we We both did our “thing” for the Cin- tal, under complete bed rest, and not to did. Through Tim, Mark and Angie cinnati APWU for the next few years answer any emails, phone calls or texts we persevered. We even prospered and until you decided to “leave us” about 3 except from family members. I was still started to come into our own and make ½ years ago to pursue that spot up North numb. Then finally I get word that your names for ourselves within the Cincinnati as a National Business Agent (NBA). And home, under complete rest, progressing APWU. Then Bill came onboard and the while I was happy for you when you won, well, and off from work for 2 months trifecta was set in motion. I’d like to say I sure did miss you. I missed the almost but expected to make a full recovery. As the story ends in a typical fairy tale ending daily calls when I would go to Mason or I breathed a sigh of relief, I couldn’t help but it didn’t. Norwood or Parkdale or Western Hills or but contemplate whether or not after 17 5 months after you democratically take wherever and say “hey, you won’t believe years of fighting crime together whether over the reigns of the Cincinnati APWU, what just happened over here,” or “I’ve or not I would have continued had my management announced that they were got a good story for you. partner stop the fight. going to close the Cincinnati Plant – So, when they told me you were sick I guess like the tootsie pop tootsie roll, which at the time would have been the and were going to miss a couple of weeks we’ll never know! In This Edition . . . continued from page 2 ask someone who has done it before. If about . . . ask someone who knows what you who pay dues for allowing me to you get confused listening to the non- they’re talking about. Ask your APWU attend the PPA Convention. Honestly, sense you hear from a supervisor trying Steward. if the USPS followed their model, this to explain something they know nothing Thanks for reading. would be a much better place to work. Imagine what it would be like if USPS management leaders could explain things Vote And Win in such great detail that you would know exactly what is expected of you at work. 2 Members of the Cincinnati Local 164 will win a HD You wouldn’t be left to guess what to TV just for voting in the APWU National Election! do, and your supervisor couldn’t bust you for not doing something you didn’t The American Arbitration Association will randomly draw 2 names even know you were supposed to do. from the Greater Cincinnati Members who voted. Those 2 persons will Imagine if USPS supervisors actually win the prizes. had experience in performing the jobs GRAND PRIZE they supervise. Maybe they wouldn’t get 55 INCH TELEVISION AND SOUND BAR so defensive and angry at you for ask- ing a question regarding something they RUNNER UP know nothing about. 50 INCH TELEVISION AND SOUND BAR If you have a question about your job, — VOTE And WIN —

Page 4 FIRST CLASS WORKER July-September, 2019

— Views From Maintenance Craft Director — Management Stresses BEM’s Building Equipment Mechanic Jobs the Plant. The Union has filed griev- reverted in the past few years. We also ances for all of the reverted positions have had the Painter’s position reverted (including the Painter’s position). In after the Painter retired. A settlement the grievance procedure, management was reached stating that the Postal Ser- has stated to me that they have been vice was to convert the Painter’s posi- instructed not to repost any vacated tion to a Building Equipment Mechan- BEM positions in anticipation of the ic position once the Painter’s position new MS-1. was vacated, for a total of twenty-nine On Aug. 8, 2019, the Maintenance (29) Building Equipment Mechanics at Craft reached a settlement with the by Phil Barnhart, the Cincinnati P&DC. As of the writ- USPS regarding Handbook MS-1, Maintenance Director ing of this article, the Postal Service TL-5 and TL-6 Revisions and Relat- There has been a lot of speculation has only twenty-three (23) Building ed Maintenance Management Orders over the last few years for our BEMs, Equipment Mechanics on the roles. originally grieved by current Main- both in the boiler room and in field This has caused a lot of stress and ap- tenance Division Director Idowu Ba- maintenance, regarding changes prom- prehension at the Plant, and has added logun. On Sept. 13, 2017, Arbitrator ised in the new MS-1. They have been to the workload of the BEMs. Man- Goldberg remanded the MS-1 revisions expected since the Postal Service pre- agement has routinely bypassed routes case number’s Q10T-4Q-C-14171644/ vailed in arbitration about implement- because of the lack of manpower and Q10T-4Q-C-16481407 back to the ing a new MS-1 package. work hours, while continuing to issue APWU and USPS for resolution. The We have seen a total of five (5) work orders for repairs and updates to continued on page 10 State Of The Union continued from page 1 CBA says Every effort will be made to constitutional amendments were adopted so important in policing the contract. If create desirable duty assignments from by the membership at the meeting. It took any of you have any interest in becoming all available work hours . . . We will a 2/3rds vote on each issue to amend the a steward, please let us know. vigorously enforce the contract regarding constitution. Many thanks to the consti- Steve Beyersdoerfer, our Editor, rep- jobs! tution committee, and the chair, Kenny resented the Local at the Postal Press As- The new building maintenance manual Sevier, for their hard work. I believe sociation biennial conference last month. was just released. It is called the MS-1, these amendments will serve the local While there he accepted awards for Greg TL-6. It replaced the MS-1, TL-4. Man- and members well into the future. Mann and Walt Luthy. These two officers agement attempted to release a MS-1, won awards for the articles they wrote TL-5 many months ago but it was the Win an HD TV – VOTE for this newsletter. Congratulations guys, subject of a national arbitration and the The national elections are heating up! It well done! TL-5 was never released. The TL-6 is is important that Cincinnati have a strong Jobs much better than the TL-5. It remains to voting bloc. Please vote!!! As an incen- Management has begun to cut jobs be seen if local management sticks with tive the Local is giving a 55 inch and a again, they have resorted to their old the draconian cuts of the TL-5 or adheres 50 inch HD TV to 2 local members. To tricks. In the Clerk and Maintenance to the TL-6 that states no BEM jobs will be entered in the drawing all you have to Crafts there have been numerous vacant be cut until the job is vacated and those do is return your ballot. The winners will jobs reverted. We have filed the appro- doing the work now will continue to do be selected by headquarters from Local priate grievances and in the Clerk Craft it. See your craft directors. 164 members who returned their ballot! Greg Mann recently won 52 jobs back It is my sincere wish that you are do- in a settlement. We will continue to file Constitutional Changes ing well. Take care of yourself and those as management reverts jobs they do not I am writing this just after the August around you. have the right to revert. In article 37 the Union Meeting. I am happy to report all 8 Until next time . . . July-September, 2019 FIRST CLASS WORKER Page 5

— Report from Clerk Craft Director — Show Me The . . . Jobs ! ! ! grandchildren you take care of. Some of agement placing them somewhere they you may have elderly parents or grand- didn’t want to go. parents that you care for. Maybe some On August 5, 2019, I signed a settle- of you have other relatives or friends ment with management, and . . . who rely on you to help them through DID I MENTION . . . their daily lives. Or maybe, you just like WE GOT THE JOBS BACK??? having your life structured with a set Anyone who stayed put was placed by Greg Mann, schedule so you can do things on certain right back into the bid they held before Clerk Craft Director days or nights. When you get enough May 25, SAFE from management in- Greetings Sisters and Brothers. seniority at the Post Office to get a job voluntarily placing them into a job they WE GOT THE JOBS BACK!!! with a favorable schedule and/or work didn’t want. Anyone who decided to bid What jobs, you may ask? location that allows you to fully enjoy on another job got the opportunity to ei- Well, on May 25, 2019, management your private life away from work, you ther stay where they were, or go back abolished 52 bid jobs in Tour 3 automa- don’t want that arbitrarily taken away to the job they had before management tion. Abolish means they actually took from you . . . ESPECIALLY if man- took it away from them. Any job still bids away from people who were in agement screws up the process, like they vacant after that was to go on the next them, and made those employees unas- did in this case. bid sheet. signed regulars. The union IMMEDI- BUT WE GOT THOSE JOBS BACK!!! According to the rules of our lo- ATELY filed a grievance on this action. Some people decided to find differ- cal agreement, management has the Typically when management does this, ent jobs on the next bid sheet, and/or the right to change the starting time of they excess the junior employees out one after that. They didn’t necessarily any bid by 2 hours, cumulatively, over of the section. Then they restructure want to bid, but they would rather have the life of the contract. Even though the bids in that section, and allow the at least SOME say over their job than to our contract expired in September of remaining employees to bid on the jobs allow management to place them some- 2018, the rules and language continue that are left on an internal bid sheet. where they absolutely didn’t want to go. in effect until the next agreement is However, in this case, management Others just stayed put, hoping that their signed. So when management changed did NOT excess anyone out of the sec- lives wouldn’t be disrupted by man- continued on page 10 tion which includes Pay Locations 304, 305, and 309 (all three floors), no one was involuntarily moved, and they only restructured ONE pay location from that entire section (304). But the employees who became unassigned were still at risk of being involuntarily placed into residual jobs (jobs that no one bids on). Imagine that you have the exact job that you want, with the right hours and off days that fit your life. Then, all of a sud- den, management takes your bid away from you, and forces you into a sched- ule, a job, and/or a work location that completely messes up your outside life. Pictured from left to right, Clerk Craft Director Greg Mann won the award BUT WE GOT THOSE JOBS BACK!!! for ‘Best Headline’, and Vice President Walt Luthy won Honorable Mention Many of you have children and/or for ‘Best Feature Story’. Congratulations to our award winning journalists. Page 6 FIRST CLASS WORKER July-September, 2019

— Memo From the Assistant Clerk Craft Director — AMUK! AMUK! AMUK! AMUK! There are certain 204B’s that think the dispatches go out. And now the they have the power of a plant manager NDC is sending ALL OF THEIR DIS- and are trying to instruct the way that PATCHES over to the Annex at 3:00 they want to . . . because they know it a.m. with only having 26 doorways to all (after 1 - 3 years in the company). work with. The ACTING MDO’s want to blame These are only a few incidents. So, by Michele Hoskins, the dock clerks for not getting the mail when I think of how things are go- Assistant Clerk Craft Director on the trucks. But half of the mail- ing at the Springdale Annex I think This is what I think of when I think handlers have been sat down off of the of the movie “Hocus Pocus” when of EAS!!!! After 15 years of working riding equipment (for barely bumping the blonde witch is dancing around in various aspects and locations at the one gaylord into another), a few were shouting “AMUK, AMUK, AMUK, Postal Service, the Springdale Annex walked out for looking at supervisors AMUK”. Does anyone else feel the takes the cake. Not only are the day to the wrong way, and tying out the ma- same way? day operations in disarray, but man- chines at 3:30 a.m. Of course, nothing I want to thank the membership for agement is trying to out-perform one is managements fault!!! sending me to the Tri-State Confer- another. Every day there are changes to how ence in Indianapolis. It was very in- formative. We got to hear from some During the June Union Meeting candidates running for the National election. The Membership should be getting ballots soon. As an incentive APWU Cincinnati Local 164 for returning your ballots, APWU Lo- cal #164 is giving away two big screen Voted to endorse televisions. All you have to do is RE- In the 2019 National Elections: TURN YOUR BALLOT. It is very President – Mark Dimondstein important to use our right to vote. If Vice-President – Jonathan Smith you have questions about the candi- Secretary/Treasurer – Elizabeth “Liz” Powell dates, please ask. We should have ma- Industrial Relations Dir – Vance Zimmerman terials in the Union Office for you to Legislative/Political Director – Judy Beard read. The Union is working very hard Clerk Division Director - Clint Burelson right now. Disciplines are increas- Clerk Division Assistant Director A – Michael Macho ing, especially for ATTENDANCE. Clerk Division Assistant Director B – Christine “Chris” Pruitt Please ask a steward about FMLA. It MVS Division Director – Michael Foster is very important that you have protec- MVS Division Assistant Director – Javier Pineres tion for your unscheduled absences. It Support Services Director – Steve Brooks is also very important to come to work Research and Education Director – Dena Briscoe on time. This counts against you as a Organization Director – Anna Smith unscheduled incident. Cover your own Human Relations Director – Daleo Freeman . . . !!! Retirees Director – Jennifer Fulbright I hope all of you have had a wonder- Health Plan Director – Sebrina Maynard ful summer. The holidays are approach- Central Region Coordinator – Sharyn Stone ing and we all know what that means, so enjoy some time off and relax. July-September, 2019 FIRST CLASS WORKER Page 7

— Retirees Corner — Cincinnati Retiree Chapter Endorsements What To Do When A 164 at (513) 522-1114. If a veteran, no- Postal Retiree Dies tify the local VA office. Notify Office of Personnel Manage- Upcoming Meetings ment (OPM) at 888-767-6738, or use The next Retiree meeting will be held the opm.gov website. You will have to on October 19th. We usually schedule furnish the full name of the deceased, our meetings at 6 p.m. on the last Satur- date of birth and death, social security day of the month. October is an excep- by Tim Breen, number, CSA claim number and survi- tion. The regular active members meet at Retiree Chapter President vor’s address and relationship to the de- 7 p.m. after our meeting. Refreshments [email protected] ceased. More info at opm.gov. are served and the meetings are short. Facebook: APWU Local 164 Return any uncashed annuity checks It’s a good chance to socialize with your Retirees Cincinnati Ohio to the address on the Treasury envelope. fellow retirees and active members. The www.keepingposted.org If direct deposit is used, notify the bank. meetings are held at the union office at The National APWU constitution If the retiree had a TSP account, no- 1385 Tennessee Ave. gives retiree members the right to vote tify TSP at (877) 968-3778. Any questions for me can be emailed in our national union elections for cer- Notify the Cincinnati APWU Local to [email protected] tain positions: President, Vice President, Secretary- Treasurer, Legislative Director, Hu- Please Accept My Apologies man Relations Director, APWU Health In the last issue, some information in Services were held on April 20th at the Plan Director and Retiree Director. Ms. Clark’s notice was omitted. I am First Baptist Church Cumminsville. Ms. At the recent retiree chapter meet- deeply sorry for the mistake and apolo- Clark was the Mother of Cincinnati ing, the members voted to endorse the gize to everyone affected. The notice P&DC retired Tour 1 Primary Clerk following candidates: reappears as it should have been in the Kathy Clark and Tour 3 Manuel Flats President - Mark Dimondstein previous edition. Expeditor George ‘Low Rider’ Clark. Vice President - Jonathan Smith Elizabeth Clark passed away on You may view and sign her registry at Sec.-Trea. - Elizabeth Powell April 13, 2019 at the age of 98 years. www.thompsonhalljordan.com. Legislative Director - Judy Beard Human Relations Director - Daleo Freeman Thank You, EMAIL UPDATE APWU Health Plan Director - Sebrina Maynard Postal Family Emily Rivers, MSW, LISW-S Retiree Director - Jennifer Fullbright EAP District Consultant Dear Postal Family, Direct:513-684-5132 Maybe you donated a gift card, [email protected] Retiree Chapter or maybe you gave a cash donation, eap4you.com you may have even given me a hug Officers and a few words of encouragement. 24/7 Phone: 800-327-4968 Whatever the task, you stepped up in 800-EAP-4YOU Tim Breen...... President a HUGE way after our recent tragedy/ TIY: 877-492-7341 Harry Burg...... Vice President house fire. I would like to extend to Lilly Ashbrook...... Treasurer each of you a sincere and heartfelt Paul Buntoff...... Rec.-Sec. “THANK YOU” from the bottom of Gloria Adams....Committee Mem. my heart. — Jamie Ross & Family Page 8 FIRST CLASS WORKER July-September, 2019

— Memo From the Human Relations Representative — Big Changes Coming To Your Thrift Savings Plan payment frequency any time your needs drawal or one post-separation partial change. Before, you could only make withdrawal in a lifetime. You also no changes during open season. You can longer have to make a full withdrawal choose among monthly, quarterly or at age 70. annual installment options. You can Brothers and Sisters, I am here to choose to withdraw Traditional money tell you these are huge changes to the only, Roth money only, or a propor- rules concerning your TSP. If you are by Mike Wolke, tional amount of both. Before you could considering retirement, are already re- Health Plan Representative only take a portion of both. Any in- tired, or are a spouse receiving survivor Greetings Brothers and Sisters! On service withdrawals you make have no benefits, these new changes are going September 15, 2019 big changes are effect on the number of post-separation to give you much more flexibility! coming to your Thrift Savings Plan partial withdrawals you can make. I urge you to do some research and withdrawal options. You’ll be gaining You can make partial withdrawals consider all of your options when you options of how and when you can access even if you receive installment pay- make decisions concerning your re- money from your TSP account. ments. Previously, you were only tirement and the new options for TSP You will now be able to change your allowed one age-based in-service with- withdrawal. — Guest Contributor — Martino Finito! don’t think I could have made it. er individually, but actually decided In reference to that, I would like to leave on a moment’s notice. It was to announce the release of my book building up though, kind of like a on Amazon called ‘The US Postal bowel movement. Circus/An Institution!’ Over 20 years I would like to say that the primary in the writing, this is a true day-to- reason I retired was because of what day account of all the funny and hard I perceived as a decaying plant envi- to believe events and characters that ronment that I personally did not feel I have been blessed to encounter was healthy. Maybe it was because I by Jim Martino, through the years. was comparing it to a former vibrant Retired MPE You may remember an event or plant, but I could feel it was time to Wayne’s World Party Time Excel- two, or even find a character you go. I did personally petition manage- lent! Hello kids! What a ride it’s been! recognize? You can order your eBook ment to put in more lighting, paint the Like a trip through the Funhouse. My copy now on Amazon Kindle. The Pa- walls etc. I hope they will oblige. name is Oneida Job, (alias . . . get perback and Audiobook was released I want to thank the union for letting it?), and I am officially retired after on a day none the more fitting than . me present this article, and manage- 30 plus looong years. I would sug- . . Labor Day! I hope this book gives ment for giving me plenty of material! gest everyone to go as soon as you you all a little comical relief from the I wish you all the best, hope to see are able. Every day is Saturday and often toxic post office environment you soon, and as a well-known stock every night is Friday! I would like that we have all had to endure. market icon wolf used to say, “Wish- to say that if it wasn’t for all of your I do apologize as I would have ing you the best of good buys!” wonderful and unique personalities, I liked to say goodbye to each cowork- God Bless July-September, 2019 FIRST CLASS WORKER Page 9

— Guest Contributor — Value Of APWU Membership

staffers aren’t treated very well either. certified at the national level. Bargaining Our benefit rights are regulated by Con- unit employees are covered by provisions gressional Laws. Some examples are: of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Chapter I. OFFICE OF PERSON- You can try to represent yourself while NEL MANAGEMENT alone with management, but just remem-  5 CFR Subchapter A - CIVIL SER- ber. There is only one representative that by Walt Carpenter, Retired ET VICE RULES has exclusive bargaining power to settle The Post Office Department was trans-  5 U.S. Code § 1104. Delegation of disputes. That is your APWU Union formed into the United States Postal Ser- authority for personnel management. representative. vice as an Independent Establishment of  28 U.S. Code § 1746. Unsworn The U.S. Postal Service is staffed the Executive Branch of the Government declarations under penalty of perjury. with over 200 career attorneys in offices of the United States on July 1, 1971. The  5 U.S. Code § 2302. Prohibited across the country. When a dispute arises, mission of the Postal Service remained personnel practices. should you represent yourself alone in the the same as stated in Title 39 of the U.S. We have to work within the laws and supervisor’s office when management has Code. The new Postal Service officially the binding agreements allowed by law. over 200 lawyers working against you? began operations on July 1, 1971, when If management makes an error, that is on NO! You can’t officially represent your- the Postmaster General ceased to be a them. Do not let their errors fall on you! self anyway, but your supervisor will not member of the President’s Cabinet. The It is management’s job to know and cor- tell you that. They probably don’t know, Postal Service received: rect miscalculations, and pay the penalties and they are often unwilling to execute  Operational authority vested in a when they violate the contract. If you are best practices for employees. The contract Board of Governors and Postal Service in debt to the USPS, they will exercise the reads: executive management, rather than in Debt Collection Act against you. Know ARTICLE 1- UNION RECOGNI- Congress your adversary. Yes, sometimes we have TION - Section 1 - Union - The Em-  Authority to issue public bonds to many adversaries. That is nothing new. ployer recognizes the Union designated finance postal buildings and mechaniza- What is new? The Hidden Doctrine as the exclusive bargaining representative tion against the employees of an Independent of all employees in the bargaining unit  Direct collective bargaining between Establishment of the Executive Branch of for which each has been recognized and representatives of management and the the Government (The United State Postal certified at the national level. unions Service)! The APWU is like a separate agency  A new rate-setting procedure built The truth will always set you free. You that can act as mediator and advocate for around an Independent Postal Rate Com- just have to decide how much freedom enforcement of the contract between the mission. you want. When you have paid all your APWU and USPS. The Union represents You are working for an Independent dues in life, then your conscious will be each employee at a low fee, incurred by Establishment of the Executive Branch free. That is the beginning of wisdom union dues, and paid by conscientious of the Government. That is why the for those that have discernment. For all members. Because you work for an In- organizational systems of the USPS are others, assistance is available. Wisdom dependent Establishment of the Executive highly regulated. Most employees and the can become so deep, as only the mature Branch of Government, you also have public sector do not know that the USPS with experience and power can effectively rights before the Merit Systems Protec- is an Independent Establishment of the advocate for you. tion Board. The Board is an independent Executive Branch. That is the reason we USPS management recognizes the Government agency that holds court in have access to all the benefits similar to APWU as the exclusive bargaining rep- judicial settings. The entry level fee is Congressional Staffers, House of Rep- resentative of all employees in the bar- $9,500 for a Federal Lawyer to go before resentatives, and Senate. Some of their gaining unit that has been recognized and continued on page 12 Page 10 FIRST CLASS WORKER July-September, 2019   Take Our Survey We have found a new way to communicate with our Union brothers and sisters, but it depends on you. Will you take a minute to take the ‘Readers React’ Survey now open for business? It’s simple, it’s quick, and it’s fun!! This brief survey will remain open until September 30th. We’ll publish the results in the next edition of the First Class Worker. Here’s a sample of the questions: Does your supervisor ALWAYS treat you with respect? Does your supervisor have ANY experience working your job? Scan the QR code with the camera app on your phone and participate in this short 5 question survey. The password for this survey is the three digit number of our local. If you don’t remember our APWU local’s number, you can find it on the front page of this newsletter, or ask your steward. (HINT: It’s a three digit number) You may also access the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SNS67PC. We need to hear from YOU. This is your Union. Let your voice be heard. 1 vote per device. Thanks for participating. Management Stresses BEM’s continued from page 4 staffing, it is the belief of the Local will fight this tooth and nail, but we Postal Service was directed to pro- that the grievances filed before Aug. are hopeful that we will prevail since vide the APWU with all data and data 8 should be sustained, which would these grievances are to be settled at the analysis collected by the Postal Review bring back the six (6) positions vacat- local level. Only time will tell what the Team. While there have been some ed. We fully expect that management outcome will be. questions answered regarding this new agreement, more questions have arisen. We now know the BEM staffing for Show Me The . . . Jobs ! ! ! servicing the stations and the branches. continued from page 5 violations usually begin, and that’s Management will continue to utilize the the starting time of Pay Location 304 when we step in and REALLY fix BEMs now maintaining these buildings to 5:30 PM, they were actually within things. But it can take quite a long until such time as those positions are their rights to do so, and there is no time, we’re talking months,before a vacated. Once vacated, management compensation due to anyone for that contractual violation actually occurs. will utilize Area Maintenance Techni- change. Unfortunately, in the meantime, cians in Field Maintenance, and may With all the good feelings about some of our members are inconve- possibly create new Area Maintenance getting those Tour 3 jobs back, we nienced when their jobs are abolished Technician positions to replace the cannot rest easy. Now management is and they are forced into jobs and BEMs that may leave. coming for Tour 2 jobs at the P&DC, schedules that don’t fit well with their What we do not yet know is how and this will be a tougher battle. private lives. My goal is to minimize the new MS-1 changes will affect the Management has the right to set work that inconvenience for those members Boiler Room BEMs. It has been said schedules and staffing, which should as much as possible, and try to show by management that they will staff be determined by all available work management alternative solutions for “breakdown” maintenance only, hours. to their scheduling issues that don’t and eliminate most of the Preventative They always think they can get involve taking jobs out from under Maintenance routes. This is a terrible more work done with less people, so our members. I will continue to fight plan!! It is detrimental to the equip- they cut jobs and rearrange sched- toward that goal, and when manage- ment. This proposed plan could pos- ules. Eventually, they realize the ment utilizes unassigned regulars and/ sibly cause a delay in the mail flow job isn’t getting done correctly or or PSEs to fill full time hours when should elevators break down, or the on time with the short staffing, and they should be posting bid jobs,WE environmental equipment fails. they start shifting people around to WILL GET THOSE JOBS BACK!!! While the new MS-1 will change try to “fix” things. That’s when the Stay strong, clerk craft!!! July-September, 2019 FIRST CLASS WORKER Page 11 Greater Cincinnati Area Local 164 APWU Non-Profit Org. 1385 Tennessee Ave. U.S. Postage Cincinnati, OH 45229 PAID Permit No. 188 Sparta, WI 54656 Address Service Requested

Value Of APWU Membership continued from page 9 and soul by Union Representatives as postal services to bind the Nation together an Administrative Judge concerning your they communicate your reality dealing through the personal, educational, liter- disputes with government agencies. Of with an administration that sometimes ary, and business correspondence of the course, employees can also represent put workers hard earned rights behind a people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, themselves. I would not recommend it! management agenda of violating Collec- and efficient services to patrons in all Easy access to APWU representation is tive Bargaining Agreements. It is serious areas and shall render postal services to always available. It’s one of your APWU business working for an Independent all communities. This is a big deal! You benefits. Establishment of the Executive Branch are just as important as Administrative Go to your Union meetings! You will of the Government of the United States. Services. Show respect if possible, even see and hear a heroic sound of heart Do not compromise your standing with if it is not returned. Sometimes it is not the Collective Bargaining Agreement! going to be possible, that is reality. Time Administrators are only regulated by is always on the side of employees. You Reader Reactions their superiors. The congressional laws have 180 days to file against any retalia- If you have an event you would like and binding contracts are secondary to tion under U.S. Equal Employment Op- to share with the membership, an opin- them. Do your job, but document your portunity Commission. ion you’d like to express, or a com- concerns. The little book in your pocket EEOC Cincinnati Area Office ment on the contents of the First Class always listens. Keep personal opinions to John W. Peck Federal Office Building Worker, please submit your correspon- yourself. Double check the information 550 Main Street, 10th Floor dence to [email protected] you receive whenever possible. The U.S. Cincinnati, OH 45202 Articles submitted considered for Phone (800) 669-4000 Postal Service is no joke for those that publication must be verified as belong- Fax (513) 246-0218 TTY (800) 669-6820 want to be taken seriously. ing to members in good standing, and ASL Video Phone (844) 234-5122 The Postal Service shall have as its are subject to editing. Director: Melanie L. Breen basic function the obligation to provide Regional Attorney: Kenneth Bird