HR 22, which would help alleviate some of the Postal Service's financial troubles, is at a critical juncture in the US House of Representatives. Currently, it has 332 co-sponsors. Below are two letters: one to send co-sponsors and the other to send to Representatives who are not yet co-sponsors. Please choose the appropriate letter (below) to send to your Representative regarding HR 22.
 
To see if your member has co-sponsored HR 22, please go to our web-site www.npmhu.org . Click on "Legislative Center", then click on "Enter Issues & Legislative Issues," then click on "Current Legislation" and finally on the bill, HR 22.
 
Members of Congress need to hear from you, their constituent, about this legislation.
 
The Political Department of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union appreciates your assistance in this most important piece of legislation.
 
 
 
Dear Congresswoman/Congressman,
 
As a career Postal employee I thank you for co-sponsoring HR 22, a bill that would allow the United States Postal Service to pay some of its share of contributions for future annuitants' health benefits out of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund.
 
Your leadership and concerns will help keep the Postal Service as the foundation of America's communications network.
 
 
Thank You.
 
 
  
  
Dear Congressman/Congresswoman,
 
As a constituent of yours and a career mail handler, I'm requesting that you please review HR 22 and co-sponsor this extremely important piece of legislation.
 
As of today's date, over 332 of your colleagues have co-sponsored HR 22. This legislation has bi-partisan support. It would allow the Postal Service to ease the financial pressure it's under today but still pay its obligations.
 
Thank you for your consideration of this bill. I would appreciate knowing what your position is.
 
Thank You.

Biden Refuses to Cross Fire Fighters Picket Line

by Mike Hall, Jun 8, 2009


What’s the difference between a president who supports working families and their unions and one beholden to corporate and anti-worker interests? As President Obama has shown, there’s a lot, but last Friday the Obama administration did something the Bush administration would never have imagined doing.

The White House announced that Vice President Joe Biden and a delegation of top administration officials—including Labor Secretary Hilda Solis—will not cross a Fire Fighters (IAFF) picket line to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting scheduled to begin Friday in Providence, R.I.


Providence Mayor David Cicilline has waged a nearly seven-year campaign against the men and women of IAFF Local 799, refusing to bargain a fair contract, forcing the union into arbitration over each contract, and even going so far as to introduce anti-union ordinances and calling for similar state legislation.

Local 799—along with the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and several other unions—plans to picket the mayors’ conference when its gets underway to highlight Cicilline’s anti-worker actions and lack of a fair contract.

Says IAFF President Harold Schaitberger:

The administration deserves credit for its full support of our members in this fight. And by refusing to attend this high-profile conference, they have sent a strong message to the entire country—that unions and workers rights matter, too.

Providence Fire Fighters have fought a long battle with city officials who forced contract talks into arbitration for several years before Cicilline took office. He was propelled into office in 2002 with strong support from Local 799 after he promised to end years of stalemate and negotiate a fair contract. But the last contract expired in 2005, and the local has been forced back into binding arbitration each year.

Says Local 799 President Paul Doughty:

We tried to settle our differences with the mayor, but he continues to antagonize the hard-working firefighters of Local 799, so we will use this opportunity to shed light on the mayor’s epic mismanagement and his disdain for workers.

Along with the lack of a fair contract, Fire Fighters say Cicilline has sought to cut jobs, implemented “adverse and demeaning internal policies and conditions” and spent more than $1 million of taxpayer money on legal fees to fight the union.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters:

Because of the circumstances surrounding the conference, administration officials will not be participating in this year’s meeting….We have always respected picket lines, and administration officials will not cross this one.

The Obama administration’s action, says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney,

is an important statement in support of the firefighters, police and teachers who go to work every day in order to help others. In supporting them, and respecting the picket line, the Obama administration supports all working families in Providence.

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (4)

Tags: David Cicilline, Fire Fighters, Harold Schaitberger, IAFF, IAFF Local 799, labor, Providence, R.I., state federations, union, union blogs, unions

Channels: In the States, Legislation & Politics, Organizing & Bargaining
 
 

4 Comments
HermanR on 09.06.2009 at 13:41 (Reply)
Providence Mayor David Cicilline sounds alot like our Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. Bill Ritter vetoed a bill that would help Fighters organize. He has dissapointed not just the firefighters but all Unions in Colorado.

dportjoe on 09.06.2009 at 14:38 (Reply)
Oaky time to annoy some WA mayors.

ClarkWALabor on 10.06.2009 at 14:16 (Reply)
So how do we find out which Mayor’s did go and help get them UN-elected?

dearjohn on 12.06.2009 at 02:54 (Reply)
That’s a good question!

2008 was another difficult and often dangerous year for trade unionists around the world, according to this year's ITUC Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations, which details abuses of fundamental workers' rights in 143 countries. 76 trade unionists were killed due to their actions to defend workers' rights, and many more were attacked physically or subjected to harassment, intimidation or arrest by the authorities.

yawn, keep up the good info. I do read this discussion everyday. Ya find some pretty interesting shit. I'll keep readin ifn ya keep writin.

I'll keep dumping if you can keep eating.

So when is the NPMHU National Leadership going to share any information with the rank and file membership about the information gathering regarding 5 Day Delivery. We've all seen the letter sent to the APWU. Seems the National Leaders are more concerned with schmoozing with politicians than communicating with the people who pay their salaries. I for one think it's time they tapped the rainy day fund and rally the forces.

Hi Heads in Sand,
                  Now I could be misunderstanding your inquiry but if I remember correctly the NPMHU is the MAILHANDLERS' union. You're asking about 5 day delivery that has to do with letter carriers. In that case you may want to visit nalc.org which is the website for National Association of Letter Carriers. Look for the "Contact Us" button at the bottom of the screnn on the site and write them about your inquiry. I'm not sure that the Mailhandlers' Union would have information about work pertaining to letter carriers. If I am mistaken, anyone please feel free to correct me. I like everyone else here am here to learn and humbly and happily I do so.

There was a letter sent to all of the Unions and Management organizations. I realize that the NPMHU is the Union for the Mail Handlers. I also realize that any type of change in delivery patterns has a direct impact on the work schedules of mail handlers. I just would like the NPMHU to put some information out there about this and other postal issues.

Once again our illustrious leadership in DC is a day late and a dollar short. Why is our National website not updayed on a daily basis or for that matter at least weekly ? Where are they and what are they doing ?
Collecting fat paychecks, great retirement packages, and all the time off they want. Sounds like one of those multi-million dollar mega corporations who stick it to the working class. All of this money being spent on politicians and political agenda's is a waste of time and valuable resources. Anything going on in the fielf is considered a Local issue and the boys in the Ivory tower just sit back and let the Locals deal with it because they are to busy making lunch and dinner reservations.

Did you ever work with Supervisor Rick Panhaker in Bulk, he has phycology problems, he fight with his wife and kids (family member) so he thinks he can do it here at job too.

Please reply what do you think about Rick, he was sleeping when he was mail handler. He does not like if any employee ask him any job related question. Even John Ramano (MDO in bulk) does not like him.

Why no one can make him fire or suspend?

Guess I'll speak for the Mail Handlers, unofficially.

As in the past, our President has taken interest in all that has been going on, eventhough it may not have looked like it.

Both the APWU and the NALC had issued many statements about all that is going on. But the problem with what they have said is not based on the actual actions of the postal service.

Sure a call to arms is important, but many time in the past these calls to arms have been make prior any direct actions taken by postal management and lead to more miss information that solid information.

My National is as eat up with many of the "old guard" as any Union,who need to be kick out of office, but my gut feeling about my National President is a good one, far better that any I have delt with in close to 30 years, Quinn was never this good.

We have a national email alert that notifies our members of pending bills, bills that have been voted on, and who votes how, just as the other unions do. We urge our members to be proactive in contacting their memembers of Congress to voice their opinions.

Out National President has presented himself before all committies just as the other Union Presidents have.

But to my knowledge, our National President has never been quoted as saying that Potter has done a good job, or that there is nothing wrong with the postal service.

The problem with all the loud mouth statments in supporting groups that
have no effect of postal jobs, postal policies, supporting those who are of one and only one party, keeping the shit going between the Unions, and its members is only playing in to the hands of postal management.

My President has choosen to not to be flamboyant, or make dumbass statements. He, has however, waited to see what the final results of postal management decisions really are. Then at that time, I have no doubts that he will make the proper and timely decision on the action necessary to protect mail handler jobs.

After all, postal management can say anything it wants to, and imply it can do any thing it wants to. BUT, until is is actually DONE, only
and only then can it be determined if it is in fact a violation of the National Agreements, the MOUs, the LMOUs, etc.

When that's done, grievances can be filed at whatever level necessary, along with the necessary court actions, but not until that time.

So why blow smoke and sunshine up someones ass when it all conjecture and not fact.

And it is my hope that all the other Unions will enjoin whichever Union that takes proper, concise, and timely action, showing solid support on the behalf of all Union members regardless of their Union.
 
We are our own worst enemy and it will be us that lose our jobs for us, not our Unions. Our Unions are only as good as we make them.

Hopefully, when the dust settles, SCABS will be the first full time employees to loose their jobs, after all the casuals and all the TEs are booted out of the postal service forever and ever.

Oh, and if you're a Veteran and a SCAB, you need to be one of the very first ones to leave; because of your being a Veteran, you above all should know the meaning of fraternal brotherhood not SCABhood. I'm going to catch hell on this statement for sure.

For the record, yes, I am a 60% Disabled Veteran with nearly 30 years of postal employment and 27 years of Union Membership and held office at various local and state levels.

Again, my Opinion and I really don't care if you like them or not, so bring on the hate mail.

Union member. All I can add is YUP!

Here's hoping people like you Union Member, are the silent majority.

"...My President has choosen to not to be flamboyant, or make dumbass statements. He, has however, waited to see what the final results of postal management decisions really are. Then at that time, I have no doubts that he will make the proper and timely decision on the action necessary to protect mail handler jobs..."

Can I call him the "ME TOO PRESIDENT?" for he waits for other unions to take initiatives and he says "ME TOO"

"bs"

Guess the "bs" stands for the bull shit that you are. How you get this "me to crap" is your following the APWUs lead of keeping the shit stired between the crafts.

Funny part about all of your logic is that when the NPMHU enjoins with the APWU in an actions, you call it "me too".

But when the APWU enjoins with the the NPMHU in taking action, you don't call Burass a "me too president". So before you leap, look at the facts and stop believing all the bull shit you hear and continue to spread.

Wonder why Burass is not called a "me too president" when the APWU enjoins with the mail handlers. If the told the truth would be told, it would take the noise out of his (Burass') thunder.

You sound is if you enjoy keeping then craft fighting with each other.

And yes, there has been many, many times over the years, that the APWU had enjoin with the NPMHU to fight management, just as the NPMHU has enjoined with the APWU and the NALC in taking action against management.

So take your bullshit, and spread your rumors to those who you can impress and help keep the craft members fighting each other to the benefit of Postal Management.

Oh, and my level 4 job is still better than a level 6 job that has been excessed up to 500 miles away or abolished.

By the way, Welcome to the mail handler craft.

Again, my opinion based nearly 30 years of postal service employment.

you know what is hilarious about all of this. Our president both National and Local gdet all of the blame when things don't go our way and yet here we are getting favorable jurisdiction assignments i.e APPS, lcts, AI, FSS and nothing positive is thrown there way. Job security folks. Locally, our President signed off on $950,000.00 for us and I heard he got another $900,000.00 in Detroit. Now admittidly the stewards deserve a whole lot of credit but it was his negotiating that got the money. Nothing positive was ever said, instead all you heard was we should have gotten over a million dollars. And I can tell you without qustion everyone who got the money spent it. Now I am hearing that he is retiring> many rumors about that one and the who's how, and why's are flying all over the place but it would be my educated opinion that he is just tired of all of the crap he has to deal with from a bunch of ungrateful folks. I and many others will be sorry to see him go, but we do understand.
and