June – July 2016 Newsletter
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National Association of Letter Carriers Non-Profit Org. Joseph P. Considine Branch 34 NALC, AFL-CIO U.S. Postage 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 3950 PAID Woburn, MA 01801-6396 Boston, MA Address Service Requested Permit No. 54631 208 The Award-Winning Newspaper BOSTON, MA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS of Joseph P. Considine Branch 34 NALC, AFL-CIO Volume XLV, Number 2 June-July 2016 Tuesdays at 7:00 PM BRANCH 34’s CLAN September 13, 2016 at the CELEBRATING 126 YEARS OF UNION PARTICIPATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS H 1890-2016 Malden Moose Hall 582 Broadway (Rt. 99) President’s Report Malden 02148 Contract Negotiations and CCA Conversions October 11, 2016 t the outset, I would like to wish you all to career Full-Time status for our City Carrier and women hired at the Aa safe summer and hope you get to enjoy Assistants (CCA) in Boston and our associate during the months Sons of Italy Hall as much of your negotiated vacation time as offices continues sputter along at a clearly of October and No- 120 Quarry Street possible. On the subject of negotiations, as slower pace. As all CCAs should be aware, vember of 2014. Quincy 02169 you are no doubt aware, our contract with the conversions to career Full-Time Regular po- In fact, of the 110 USPS has expired and as this issue of Branch sitions result from residual vacancies created men and women 34’s CLAN goes to press, our national officers primarily by retirements or establishment of hired by the Boston November 15, 2016 continue to work towards a negotiated settle- new routes. Installation from at the ment while at the same time, remain ready Yet since the conversion of 24 CCAs dur- October through Boston Lodge of Elks to proceed to arbitration if necessary. From ing the months of January and February, we December of 2014, all things I have heard and read, I remain have seen the retirements of approximately only 25 remain on MICHAEL YERKES #10 cautiously optimistic that we can receive an 18 Branch members and the creation of more the rolls and work- President 248 Spring Street agreement that will justly reward City Letter than a dozen full-time parcel truck routes; ing for the USPS, West Roxbury 02132 Carriers for our roles in the success story that yet only ten (10) Conversions to Full-Time a stunning 23% retention rate. the Postal Service currently finds themselves. Regular have transpired within the Boston Whether it’s due to separations or resigna- Upcoming Meetings Upcoming Specifically, the Postal Service’s financial Installation and those did not occur until late (continued on page 8) BRANCH 34 NALC bottom line continues to improve with an an- May. Fourteen (14) more WISHES A HAPPY & SAFE nounced operating revenue of $17.7 billion for CCA Conversions to Full- FOURTH OF JULY TO ALL! the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 (Janu- Time are slated to occur ary 1, 2016 - March 31, 2016), an increase on Saturday, June 25th. of $788 million or 4.7 percent over the same As we continue to work period last year. The increase was primarily with local management to Postal Reform due to an 11.4 percent increase in shipping create additional full-time On the Horizon? and package volume. truck routes where neces- Page 2 I am also pleased to have heard President sary and, as more of our Fredric Rolando state the NALC is prepared senior members move on to show the distinct differences between the to well deserved retire- NALC Endorses job of City Letter Carriers and that of the other ments, more urgency must Hillary Clinton for crafts. Our jobs continue to evolve almost be placed in identifying President of U.S. daily, and it is not getting any easier. the resulting residual va- For one thing, the above cited influx of cancies so that we have Page 2 packages, many of which contain valuable consistent conversions to items, has made the job more dangerous in career status. Good Financial News many areas that we serve. Delivering after dark Such expedience is Should Benefit Us and the precarious places we are often required necessary if only because Page 3 to park further contributes to the risk factors it is becoming more evi- involved in our daily work. Not to mention dent to all involved that the often frigid temperatures and treacherous every group of CCA Saying Farewell to walking conditions of winter or daily exposure Conversion classes is Bob Lind & J.T. McMahon to the sun and potential of heat exhaustion on now more comparable to Page 3 those really oppressive stretches. the reality-based “Survi- Suffice it to say that we deserve to be rec- vor” series than ever. ognized for our effort of serving the American One need only rec- West Roxbury Carrier public seven days a week and here’s hoping ognize that the fourteen Saves Customer’s Life that Postal management or, if necessary, that (14) former City Carrier Page 4 the selected arbitrator agrees. Assistants that were con- H H H H H H H H H H verted to FTR on June 25th Turning to a different subject, as time races were the sole survivors of NALC Branch 34 Boston was pleased to welcome our elder statesman 99-year- Branch 34 Delivers at through another summer, the treacherous path the approximate 70 men old Lawrence Burnett (seated) to this year’s Retiree Luncheon at Florian Hall. the 2016 Food Drive See more photos from this annual event on page 9. Page 6 NALC BRANCH 34 BOSTON Dorchester Carrier Hosts Radio Show Page 12 NITE AT FENWAY PARK! Inside Branch 34’s CLAN 34’s Inside Branch BOSTON RED SOX BALTIMORE ORIOLES T/781-281-1133 VS. F/781-281-1127 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 ✦ 7:10 P.M. nalcbranch34.com TICKETS ONLY $25.00 EACH ✦ ONLY 150 SOLD ✦ SEE PAGE 4 FOR DETAILS Postal Reform On the Horizon? Massachusetts n June 15, the leaders of the House Oversight and Gov- proved an amendment that would Oernment Reform Committee released a discussion draft require the Postal Service to re- Congressional of a potential postal reform bill. NALC officers are currently store the mail delivery standards conducting a detailed review of its contents. The initial review that were in place before January Delegation has revealed a number of shortcomings and omissions and at 5, 2015. This would require USPS U.S. SENATE least one provision that NALC cannot support. NALC has to restore overnight mail delivery stated they will be involved in the process before it is sent to within metropolitan areas and The Honorable Elizabeth Warren Hart Senate Office Bldg., Rm. 317 the full House of Representatives. The following is a synopsis towns and reestablish the two and KEVIN FLAHERTY Washington, D.C. 20510 of the draft bill. The Senate is working on a similar draft that three day delivery standard for Executive Vice President 202-224-4543 Fax: 202-224-2417 has not been released yet. first class mail. www.warren.senate.gov The current House Bill would require postal retirees elect- The Appropriations Committee has also has approved The Honorable Edward J. Markey ing to receive federal health insurance to enroll in Medicare H.R. 5845. This measure preserves the long standing six- Russell Senate Office Bldg., Rm. 218 parts A and B as their primary care provider. The bill would day delivery language that has been included each year Washington, D.C. 20510 phase out the Postal Service’s share of retirees’ Medicare since 1983. 202-224-2742 Fax: 202-224-8525 premiums over four years. Most postal employees enrolled in As you can see, there are several issues Congress may be www.markey.senate.gov the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program would have tackling in the near future; some good for letter carriers, some to select a plan specific to USPS workers. not so good. Now more than ever we must all prepare to act U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Medicare portion of the bill was designed to help solve on these and any issues affecting letter carriers that may come First Congressional District the issue of prefunding future retirees’ health insurance that we up in the near future. The easiest method of staying informed The Honorable Richard E. Neal all know about. The bill would also attempt to recalculate the on letter carrier issues is to become an E-Activist. Becoming Cannon House Office Bldg., Rm. 341 money owed to the prefunding in order to prevent overpay- and E-Activist is simple and costs nothing. Simply log on to Washington, D.C. 20515 ment to the FERS account. the NALC website at www.nalc.org and follow the E-Activist 202-225-5601 Fax: 202-225-8112 neal.house.gov The bill calls for the Postal Service to cut its board of link. You then will receive emails and alerts on ongoing issues governors from nine to five. Currently the board of governors affecting letter carriers. Second Congressional District has one confirmed member. The draft calls for the Postmaster Postal Reform issues are directly related to politics. Since The Honorable James P. McGovern General and Deputy PMG to be appointed by the President Congress must pass legislation concerning the above issues, Cannon House Office Bldg., Rm. 438 Washington, D.C. 20515 and confirmed by the Senate to four year terms. One extremely it is critical to help elect letter carrier friendly candidates 202-225-6101 Fax: 202-225-5759 dangerous element of the draft bill would call for converting to the House and Senate.