National Association of Letter Carriers Non-Profit Org. Joseph P. Considine Branch 34 AFL-CIO U.S. Postage Branch 34 Honors 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 3950 PAID Woburn, MA 01801-6396 Boston, MA Permit No. 54631 the Life and Work of Address Service Requested NALC National President Emeritus Vincent R. Sombrotto Volume XLI, Number 5 • January-February 2013 The Award-Winning Newspaper of Joseph P. Considine Branch 34 NALC, AFL-CIO Branch 34’s CLANCLANNational Association of Letter Carriers 123 Years of Proud Union Participation and Accomplishments ★ 18901890 -- 20132013 President’s Corner A New Year, a Legend is Laid to Rest and a New Contract is Rendered e recently experienced a week that won’t soon be for- and they’ll never be another in Wgotten by many NALC Activists. The passing of our our lifetime. iconic leader President Emeritus Vincent R. Sombrotto I’ve truly been blessed to on January 10, 2013, although somewhat expected, was have the opportunity to travel still a blow to our NALC family. Almost simultaneously to his funeral service and the awarded 2011-2016 National Agreement issued by the represent Branch 34 along three person arbitration board was rendered. with Executive Vice-President First I’d like to address our friend and leader’s pass- John McMahon and our Na- ing. He was a man that at times appeared bigger than tional Business Agent John life but was always approachable with his friendly New Casciano to pay our respects In Memoriam York demeanor. For those of you that never experienced to Vince. When we finally Robert A. Lind Vince at the podium at a NALC National Convention you arrived at the Funeral Home President NALC President Emeritus missed out. Vince was the master and was born for that visiting hours were over. We Vincent R. Sombrotto event. Always engaging, courteous but his quick wit and rang the bell and were greeted by the funeral director to disarming charm was even too much for his biggest critics whom we explained our circumstance and he allowed us in (1923-2013) to overcome. to pay our respect. I felt privileged to have had that special incent R. Sombrotto, 89, a towering figure in the For those that came to our convention to have a duel of moment alone with our great leader to say thank you for history of the National Association of Letter Car- wits, they were quickly undressed and left defenseless in a job well done and goodbye until we meet again. It was V riers and one of the most significant U.S. labor leaders front of thousands of brothers and sisters but they seldom a moment that years earlier I would have never visualized of recent decades, died January 10th. walked away angry. He possessed the ability to disagree, but life’s long road is full of twists and turns. As a rank-and-file letter carrier at Grand Central Sta- state his case, embrace and depart friends even with the The following day we attended Vince’s Funeral in a tion in New York City. Sombrotto assumed leadership most disagreeable. It was an art form that he perfected. quaint little church in a bedroom community outside of of the pivotal 1970 wildcat postal strike that led directly He enjoyed meeting the rank and file members and for New York City with certain NALC former and present Of- to the creation of the modern United States Postal Ser- those of us fortunate to have met Vince, he truly enjoyed ficers, staff and immediate family. Our former and present vice. The following year, he was elected president of it too. He was a humble man with a tremendous pride for National NALC President shared some personal remarks NALC Branch 36 in New York City. Seven years later, his branch, the NALC membership and his family and but it was his son’s eulogy that really hit home. He shared he was elected as NALC’s 16th national president, a not in that exact order. He raised seven children from the same gift that was bestowed to his father, the gift of position he would hold from 1978 to 2002. Washington although they resided in Long Island, NY. He mesmerizing those that listened, the ability to lead. His seven-term tenure atop the union was marked by provided us with a respectable job and took us from food After the service I sought him out just to tell him that extraordinary changes in the letter carrier craft and by stamp eligibility to a decent standard of living through he did his father proud despite the fact I’m sure he was remarkable progress for letter carriers, He also served collective bargaining. well aware that his father was smiling down. His wife, as a vice president of the AFL-CIO. When I was young my father was a Local 25 Team- children and his many grandchildren I’m sure felt blessed “Vince’s long tenure and tireless work for this union, ster who had the greatest devotion and respect for my as Vincent R. Sombrotto always considered himself. He at both the local and national levels. has left a lasting, mother and Jimmy Hoffa. Vince was our Jimmy Hoffa (continued on page 2) positive impact on all the men and women who have carried the mail since the Great Postal Strike, and on Branch 34 Upcoming INSIDE those who will do so in the decades yet to come,” NALC President Fredric V. Rolando said. Membership Meetings Branch 34’s CLAN Sombrotto was born in New York City on June 15, Tuesdays at 7:00 pm 1923. He joined what was then the Post Office Depart- Problems Cited with ment in 1947 as a part-time letter carrier after serving February 12, 2013 with distinction in the U.S. Navy in World War II. at the Sons of Italy Hall the NALC Advertising In 1970. New York City letter camera walked off 120 Quarry Street, Quincy their federal jobs – risking arrest in what was effectively Program a strike against the U.S. government – to protest dis- March 12, 2013 Page 2 mal working conditions and poverty-level wages that at the Boston Lodge of Elks #10 entitled some to federal assistance programs. Within Spring Street, West Roxbury Arbitration Award hours, carriers and other postal employees in one city Issued after another across the country joined the strike. April 9, 2013 Page 3 President Richard Nixon called in the troops to at the Malden Moose Hall Check deliver the mail, but they proved unable to carry out the 582 Broadway (Rte. 99), Out These Branch 34 Celebrates task in an effective manner. The walkout eventually re- Malden Dates & Locations sulted in the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 with full the Holidays collective-bargaining rights for all postal employees. Page 7 Though he held no union office at the time, Som- Tel. / 781-281-1133 brotto’s personal charisma, street smarts and military Around the Branch background led to his taking charge and to other carriers Fax / 781-281-1127 following his lead. Page 9 www.nalcbranch34.com (continued on page 6) Problems Cited with the Massachusetts Congressional USPS Advertising Program Delegation he Postal Reporter News Blog has reported that the Office action would separate the carriers Tof Inspector General (OIG) is now citing problems with from the same Health program the U.S.P.S. advertising program. Congress has. The Legislation it U.S. SENATE The OIG has found that the Postal Service was not ad- would take, would make it easy The Honorable Elizabeth Warren equately monitoring its two largest advertising contracts, who for Congress to justify our being J.T. McMahon Russell Senate Office Bldg., were paid ten million dollars in the fiscal year 2011. separated from what it has. Executive 2 Russell Courtyard There were questionable bonuses of $631,000 paid to these The Postal Service has been Vice President Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-4543 Fax: 202-224-2417 contractors in fiscal year 2011 and 2012. soliciting Congress on this issue www.warren.senate.gov The Postal Service did not sufficiently track or allocate for over a year. Can you imagine the Postal Service being certain advertising costs nor comply with internal contracts responsible for our retiree and active health concerns? Please! The Honorable William “Mo” Cowan for certifying and retaining advertising costs. Just think what happened to the Polaroid retiree’s health insur- Russell Senate Office Bldg., Rm. 218 Washington, D.C. 20510 Senior management expressed concern over these con- ance. It vaporized, retirees had to go back to work. 202-224-2742 Fax: 202-224-8525 tracts during their audit and allowed the major advertising The last thing we need to do, is put our retiree and active www.cowan.senate.gov contract to expire. Management has taken steps to restructure members’ health insurance at the mercy of the Postal Service. the advertising contract process for consistency with correct The Postal Service can’t run water, let alone a Health Plan. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES industry practices to maximize the effectiveness of its adver- The ink wasn’t even dry on the National Arbitration Award, First Congressional District tising investments. when the Postal Service sent out a flash stating that the Service The Honorable Richard E. Neal Overall nearly $7,000,000 was identified in unsupported was pleased with some of the Arbitration decision, but that it Rayburn House Office Bldg., Rm. 2208 costs as a result of incorrectly certified and questionable con- would be lobbying Congress to remove the no-layoff clause, Washington, D.C.