Official Publication of the Greater Cincinnati 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 Ohio/Kentucky/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. It 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.