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Does anyone have info on how the process is going for some of the initial sites listed back in Oct-Nov of 2005. Official comment for us is "No Comment"

Rocky the postal service and union are being very secretive.

Ask your local president if he or she has recieved any correspondence from national on the matter.

I just asked our local president today about anything on the AMP study of our office and she said there was nothing happening yet, no word from HQ. You are right about both union and mgt, they do keep secrets from everyone, wait to the last minute to let people know.
Rumor has it that it will come out in March, wish someone would say something.

It looks like everyone is in the dark,

Local officials still uncertain about postal distribution center status

Local officials say they're still in the dark two weeks after learning that the U.S. Postal Service is considering shutting down Waco's mail processing and distribution centers.

American Postal Workers Union President Curtis Reed went before the Waco City Council on Jan. 17th to alert city leaders to the possibility, saying council members should “do what you can to prevent this consolidation.”

Being unable to obtain information is a common problem with the post office, Reed said. He also said his union had similar trouble in finding out information about the study.


http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/...4wacmailcenter.html

This consolidation thing really sucks. I know that. The plant I work in may be effected. Everyone knows that, because the list came out on the internet.

But the reality is, and what NObody thinks about when they bash us about being secretive, is quite simple.........

It does NO one ANY good what so ever, to go running around the floor every time we hear something, good, bad, or indifferent, with regard to consolidation. There is already enough bullshit floating around because of the PO's own rumor mill. It needs no help from us, and if we spread every little hypothetical we heard, it would only make matters worse.

Also, per JCIM, there is a Contractual bar against managers telling anyone on the floor what is going on with regard to excessing outside installations until AFTER the Union has been officially notified, which would be at the regional level. That said, if the Union at the Local level knows things, and proceeds to tell people on the floor, then we set ourselves up for problems, because NOTHING is certain until that notification occurs at the regional level.

Or the short answer.........no news is good news.

Jack-- Not knowing is worse than if you get bad news. Once you know your plant is safe (for now) you will relax. If you get the other news, you will be busy planning until moved-- hopefully to a stable plant with a better tour & duties. I was involved with 2 consolidations, the receiving facility often saw seniority eroded by the incoming employees and very few took advantage of retreat rights. Wishing you the best!

The biggest lie told by the USPS was that your BPI number would make a difference as to whether or not your plant would be consolidated. It is simply a matter of your location. We have told the management at Oshkosh not to bother us with them anymore because they don't mean anything - ask Olympia WA! Our definition of "AMP" is: Already Made Plans.

Hey:

Just one more little dose of reality.........

There is NO such thing as a "safe plant", unless it is brand spanking new or not even open yet, like the one in the Philly area, Detroit area, or Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Those big, new, souped up plants, and more like them, will eventually swallow up everything with a few hundred miles of them.

There is no such thing as a safe anything anymore, especially in the Clerk Craft. It is no secret to anyone who, at least intermittently, has their head somewhere outside their ass, can figure out that the USPS wants to automate the Clerk Craft totally out of existance, or as close to it as possible. Hell, we now have an automated window clerk, right out there in the lobby beside the living breathing ones, and our dedicated (to whom?) clerks on the OTDL are happy as hell to take their turn in the OTDL rotation to go out in the lobby and pimp for this electronic wonder that will serve no other purpose than to put their sorry ass in the street.

I just don't get it.

Back to the issue, yeah, I understand what you say, BUT bad information is WAY worse than NO information. And if the rumor mill gets ahold of ANY information, generally, it becomes worthless by the time it is regurgitated the first time, so again, wait PATIENTLY for the correct information, then act accordingly.

It ain't easy, but it is the best course.

Edited by author 02-07-2006 02:00 PM
Jack you make some good argments for no news vs bad news, but what has happened in sites that were listed in Oct. such as Mojave, Greensburg, are they still in holding pattern? I see here that they tried and failed on tour3 mail

http://hdapwu.org/mojave-news.htm

Jack I agree BAD info is worse than no info. Sadly, there are many that thrive on starting rumors and telling lies too. You are correct on the future of the clerk craft. For at least three years there has been talk that the plant of the future will have a front and back dock and will operate in the dark. The only time a light is planned to come on is when the ETs need to repair or do pm on a machine. Mail is to come in the front dock door and go out the back dock door without ever being touched by a clerk, just a few mailhandlers on the docks. It must not be very close to reality as new plants are not being designed to that end yet.

I received a letter from the APWU yesterday, recruiting me for membership. Union membership is not my issue here, but the rumor mill is. The first paragraph states this:

**You are probably aware that the Postal Service is conducting a "study" to evaluate the feasibility of transferring some mail processing operations from (my) CSMPC to (another) P&DC. We believe the "study" is merely a pretext: We suspect that a decision has already been made, and if implemented, it may result in excessing employees out of your facility.**

For several weeks I have struggled to get past the persistent rumor mill on the workroom floor and to emerge from the belief that the consolidation is a done deal and that the AMP is merely a formality. I would much rather wait for official news. Before that, it's all (mostly destructive) speculation and nothing else. I don't think it does anyone any good, except cause a few more grey hairs.

Jack -- It appears that you endorse the inaction of the APWU's National officers when you say "no news is good news". I seem to recall that the USPS was supposed to tell the APWU what their plans for consolidations were almost three years ago. The USPS reneged on that promise and the National APWU did nothing. When I asked our Local APWU officers why we had not been given the information, I was told "no news is good news". The circulation of rumors and misinformation is the result of an information vacuum and people, like nature, abhor a vacuum.
I agree that the long-term goal of the USPS is to destroy the Clerk Craft. I also think the current National APWU officers are making it all too easy for them.

Bluelight:

Evidently you do not read my posts very often. There is little that goes on in the ivory tower at 1300 L St NW that I endorse. But did National do NOTHING? I don't know that for certain, and neither does anyone else at my level.

Is the AMP study pretextual? I doubt it.

Is it a scare tactic on the past of the mucky mucks to try to ramrod reform down the throat of the Senate?

Is it a political ploy driven by the shrub administration and the puppet BOG to take some sick sort of revenge in states and or Congressional districts where they feel "change" is necessary (Feingold in WI cones to mind). Specter hasn't made any friends in the administration either lately.

Anyway, my post speaks from a purely workroom floor, Contract enforcement standpoint........at my own level. The only way we can deal with what goes on at HQ is 1) in Philly in August, and b) to throw the freaking bums out in 2007.

Jack -- If I missed posts that would have made your position clear to me, I apologize. I give a big AMEN to your last sentence but I worry that 2007 may be too late for many members. Do you believe that the National APWU has failed in pressing the issue of informing the Union of their consolidation plans? Most members share your "workroom floor" perspective but I think it's a failure of APWU National to obtain and disseminate relevant information in a timely manner that is causing unnecessary turmoil in our membership. The USPS agreed to provide information on consolidations almost three years ago and National has done little to hold them to that committment. It has always been management's practice to allow as little time as possible between announcement and execution of these kinds of actions and I thought the agreement was intended to prevent this practice. I just don't know what National's plan is for dealing with consolidations or if they even have a coherent plan. Am I missing highly informative posts from National APWU?

BlueLight: I believe that, as in the grievance process, or any other litiguous process, if I am to make such an allegation, the burden of proof is on ME. I have no proof, or even a suspicion, that "a list" existed. Actually, in the grand scheme of things, WHAT DOES IT MATTER?

Was it good politics to assert there WAS a list, and then not get it? Hell no. Should they have brought suit against the PO immediately? HELL yeah. Would that action have achieved the desired results? I doubt it.

Will '07 be too late? Hell, if the working class of these United States doesn't pull their heads out of their asses pretty soon and vote for a Labor friendly house/senate, it will be too late for all of us.

I cannot believe we have a "leader" in the people's house who would rather compromise the security of this nation by weakening its borders, because those who are crossing will "do work Americans don't want to do". WHAT THE F--- IS THAT? By taking such action (or INaction) the moron is playing right into the hand of our enemies. Every one, EVEREYONE in this country has forgotten where we came from. We used to be a Nation of wide spread poverty. There were a few wealthy, but the thing that united us back then was our love of liberty. Now, the capitolists have created a situation where what unites us also divides us, the lust for money.

I grew up in a four room shack with a dirt floor and a field of rocks where a yard should have been. My wife's house did not have running water until she was 17. They dnot have a phone until she was 8. When I was 8 years old, I was butchering hogs and chickens, slopping hogs and cleaning calf pens. So were a lot of my friends. I was in the field in 100+ heat bailing hay and straw, and putting it in the mow over the barn. After we got done with that during the day, we could still go back to the grainery and grind feed and take care of the cattle, hogs, and chickens before WE even thought about eating.

What if "the enemy" caused the infrastructure of this country to collapse? Could YOU live off the land? How many could? I could. Done it before, I could do it again. I still have a two man buck saw in my garage. I won't get cold. I have my dad's old scythe (and I know how to use it) so the animals will still have bedding and fiber. How many 20-40 year olds in this country would starve to death if there were no electricity for months? How about oil products? How many people would actually WALK or RIDE A BIKE?

Oh to hell with it.

Time for bed

Jack- your message is very interesting and honest. My daughters, now married and in their 30s, could easily see their children and husbands survive a crisis. They know how to raise food, fish, shoot straight, operate a chain saw and axe. They did not grow up with near the hardship you did, but learned survival. Both are successful professionals now and want to keep the old hunting camp up in the mountains for their children. It is an easier getaway than coming to the beach too. The old camp has all the comforts of home but none are required for it to function as more heat is produced with wood than oil, the faucets stop- the water is drawn fvrom the cistern. Since the arrival of all the entitlements the country has gone down hill. Then BS orgs like the aclu and all the nut case professors -- there will be few that survive a crisis of more than an hour. Many will die of fear in the 1st few moments.... the country is weak, very weak- if it were still strong the muslims would not be the pain in the a$s they are..

Edited by author 02-10-2006 09:41 PM
Jack -- Nice tirade but I think I miss the point of some of it. The fact is that the USPS agreed in the first contract extension to provide information on facility closure/consolidations, whether or not it was "a list", they failed to provide the information and National APWU did zero, as far as we know, to pursue the issue. Even a "strongly worded letter" would have been something.
Illegal Immigration -- Illegal immigration did not start nor will it end with the current administration. Can you point to any National political party or union that has made a serious effort to stop illegal immigration? The fact is they are ignoring or even facilitating illegal immigration for their own narrow, selfish interests. The problem is not "work Americans won't do". The problem is work Americans won't do FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO PAY. It's part of the "global plan": Import foreign workers(indirectly and illegally) to take the jobs in this country that can't be exported to foreign countries. Flooding the labor pool and suppressing all wages is just a side benefit for the players in this racket. I agree that a voter revolt at the polls is probably the only way to stop the criminals from perpetuating the scheme. The problem is who to vote for that isn't part of the problem. At first, I thought your use of the word "capitolist" was a misspelling but now I think you may have coined a new term for what is going on in Washington, DC.
Gotta go now, time to slop the dogs and cats.

BlueLightSpecial- the lower wage effort began long before W came into office, even before Billy & Hilly. No one wants to be the one that loses a fight to stop it and they would lose. Steel went down is now recovering at lower wages. Autos is on the verge of the same. Check out Delphi sine it was spun off from GM. The last big workforce is at the PO with the exception of Walmart and Walmo is is fighting you as you support Wally. Mgmt is only following the direction it has to for the PO to survive. Maybe not this contract, but you will see a tierd pay/benny scale one day. The way to slow the process (it will not be stopped) is to close the borders TIGHT. Since that would probably require minefields, the bleeding hearts would never permit that. Lost cause?

Hey!!!

Funny you should mention steel. My brother is finally drawing his retirement from US Steelworkers Union. He was in the industry from '67 until he was officially laid off (translation, they busted the Union) in '87. I remember him saying way back then, how the Japanese, as well as other countries (back then it was Hong Kong, Korea, and a few others) would chip away at this Nations standard of living, bit by bit, little by little, and within 50 years, they would accomplish with their cheap labor and by extension, cheaper (though at the time, lower quality) products what they could not accomplish in WW II, and that in order to keep working at ALL, many Unions would make concessions in order to slow the bleeding, many companies would circumvent the NLRA and engage in Union busting practices in order to drive costs down, wages and benefits would be cut, and lo, the middle class would nearly cease to exist.

Then, the kicked came when shrub the senior gave China "most favored nation" status.

Well, damn, he was pretty close to right on. Not bad for a high school drop out who joined the navy at 16, never got his GED until years later so he could go to a votech and better himself.

At any rate, they're doing the same thing to us, and the NALC, NPMHU, and NRLCA couldn't give a rats ass. Consolidation would not be the issue it is today if we had not sat on our collective asses and watched the mailing houses chip away at OUR life blood. But hell, years ago, there was enough to go around, and nobody even raised an eyebrow, even 10 years ago when the clerks were still keying everything on the MPSLMs, or pitching it manually. No one ever dreamed that by golly, maybe this time technology could actually work, almost as advertised, and that a letter could go from a mailer to the recipient with the only humanoid touching it being the paperboy.

In short, the PO is no different than the steel industry, or any other big industry in this country over the last few years. We all sat here and watched it happen to us, just like every other person in the middle class, especially in good paying Union jobs, watched it happen to them.

The problem is, no one gives a good God damn until they see the writing on their OWN wall, and by that time, guess what? IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE!

AN old friend of mine and a great teacher, retired NBA Greg Poferl, used to say "A rising tide lifts all boats". Well, somewhere along the line, we stopped caring about lifting the other guy's boat, and only worried about our own. We didn't care about whether he got stuck in the lock, or washed away. We looked out for number one, and now we, as a "working class" are all paying the price. This fall, they'll be coming after OUR standard of living, OUR wages, OUR benefits, OUR retirement. And all our fellow workers who drive their Hyundais and Kias and Volkswagens will wonder how this all happened.

Another thing Greg always says, "Learn the history."

Why?

If we don't LEARN from history, we are surely doomed to repeat it.

Just as we didn't learn from the struggles of workers back in the late 1800s through the post depression days, we didn't learn from the rise to power of a fascist regime in the late 1920s in Europe, and allowed it to happen in the US in 2000.

Shame on us.

Jack- this began long before Bush SR. Give more than the politicians their due also. When the PO was paying LV 5 $2.35 USW employees were making nearly $5. When the USW signed with 13 weeks vacation for 25% of the workforce they signed the death warrant. Correct-- the unions do not give a crap about PO employees. They are walking a line to keep employees and mgmt happy. That is a self-serving fact because as jobs go so does the union income. They are looking only to protect their fat lifestyle. We do disagree on consolidation. I saw SCFs consolidated into plants and that helped keep the PO alive. The plant consolidations are also needed. 1st, the lv 11 through 15 offices should be abolished with few exceptions and 18s remain, with few exceptions. I remember a GM plant in the 70s requiring a US made vehicle only was going to be permitted in company parking lots, now Ford is requiring a Ford product to get in to the plant in some locations. Union people flushed their counterparts in the textile industry long ago as imported goods were pennies cheaper. Now the autos cannot compete as labor is more expensive but especially the healthcare costs (not nationalized here as in many other countries but it sure as hell is better) and don't forget retiree benefits that the imports don't have. Don't blame China or the political hacks--how many PO workers buy everything at Wally World? Your correct-- no one gave a damn about the other union workers, still do not, but they look to place ALL blame on others when a large portion is self inflicted.

Agreed, for the most part..........

Consider this.

Area postmasters. Keep the little offices open, staffed with PTF Clerks, and only keep the offices open as long as needed. Have a postmaster "supervise" 5 - 8 offices, perhaps a good role for a level 18 postmaster. I believe the managers should be managing, that's what they went into management for, so let them DO it.

PTF clerks work for less, retirement is less, it makes no sense to have even ONE full time employee in these small offices. After all, with POS and the ability to do so much stuff online these days, someone could realistically manage an office on the opposite coast, if need be.

Your thoughts?

Jack - most small offices are totally not needed and would receive better service from a rural carrier. Granted a few are needed and could be served by a PTF being there 2 hrs every other day. Some are so close they can be walked to and some can even see each other. Exchanging an overpaid PM for an overpaid/underutilized PTF in the same place keeps the rent and utilities going. There has been talk for years to have facilities with a PM and at least 1 sup (most lv 20s & higher) do just as you suggest. Have the PM in charge of 5 - 10 offices and the sup get 1 lv 18 going in the am while thed pm takes over those am duties in the home office. Good plan if most small offices were eliminated.

Pay charts reflecting this COLA and the 1.6% pay raise — effective March 18, 2006 — are available

http://www.apwu.org/dept/ind-rel/irpayinfo.htm

It seems all of the energies are being diverted to consolidations of mail processing operations. But management is proposing to excess more people in facilities not on the consolidation lists.

Confused - there are several plants not yet on a list that should have been closed decades ago. MDOs in those facilities kept hiring as automation came online and volumes declined. That appeased the union and gave them easy scheduling. Some of those are within 1 - 1 1/2 hours of a larger plant that has the capability of processing that volume in minutes. For some reason, they are not yet to be closed but staffing is finally being adjusted. Hopefully, when they are consolidated it will have a lesser impact on the remaining employees.

APWU National Executive Board Acts to Fight Consolidation

Dues Assessment Approved to Help Pay for Ad Campaigns - Vowing to do “everything in our power to thwart the Postal Service’s network realignment plan,” the union’s National Executive Board has voted to approve a $5 dues assessment. Spread out over two pay periods, the assessment will help pay for an advertising campaign designed to make the public more aware of the expected negative changes. “The plan was created without any input from the American people whose mail service will deteriorate,” said APWU President William Burrus.

http://www.apwu.org/news/nsb/2006/nsb04-031006.htm

How soon will the results of the AMP studies be available?

Edited by author 03-14-2006 02:48 PM
FYI - read this document filed with PRC -page 12

http://www.prc.gov/docs/47/47836/FINAL.DWilliams.pdf

The Postal Service expects to repeat the AMP feasibility study and review
process outlined above with two more phases in calendar year 2006. Phase 1 is expected to include the above-referenced AMP review candidates, with Headquarters review and approval to be completed in time for implementation to occur in late spring/early summer – as early as the middle of May, 2006.
Headquarters review and approval of the next grouping of AMP proposals is
anticipated for late summer/early fall. In addition to the numerous AMP review opportunities for consolidating operations from mail processing plants (and some post offices), the Postal Service will use the END model to identify candidate facilities for AMP originating consolidations whose future distribution network role is expected to be that of a destinating processing facility. Similar review and approval cycles are expected for calendar year 2007 and beyond.

List of AMC's scheduled to close is sobering reality of what lies ahead.I think we as individuals had best start contacting our representatives about VERA's.If you have less than 10 years,hope like hell that VERA's are offered again to employees who are eligible.

My P&DC shut down in 2005. We were given a choice of
other facilities where we wanted to go. I live 45 miles EAST
of the old PD&C. I choose to go to a PD&C 45 miles WEST of
my home, in other words 90 miles from the old PD&C to the
new PD&C.
The price of gas is killing me and I have to drive
90 miles ea. day to and from work. (same as the old PD&C but
opposite direction).I would love to move closer to my new
PD&C. DO I QUALIFY FOR MOVING EXPENSES?

I think, when you say "I choose" that means you went there voluntarily, and probably do not qualify for moving expenses.

No, he did not go voluntarily - he was forcibly moved, but was given a choice, based on seniority, as to his new location. This individual was still excessed from his installation and is entitled to all contractual benefits, including retreat rights.

ec is right. My Plant shut down. We were ALL excessed out.
All 1200 of us. But I was given a choice of other PD&C's.
I choose the one 90 miles away from my old P&DC

Just wondering what PD&C everyone is talking about. These are scary times.

The building I work in is called a DDC. I came from a mailbag place which was contracted out in 1999. Now there is talk that the place I am in now may be moved to the BMC...ooops...Regional Distrubution Center as they want to call them in the future. Not to mention we are short about 12 people and they are forcing us to work overtime when ever someone put in for leave. When will all this talk about consolidating be over? I think the craft is in real trouble and some of us are not realizing it!!

The Building I work in is called LSD and we used to call it acid but Hazmat rules changed that.We hear the mail,see the music,and everything is multicolored....dude.

Last night in Yakima Washington the USPS held a pubic meeting with subject being sending Yakima's un-cancelled mail to Pasco Washington for cancellation. $154,000.00 saving was the all the USPS could bring to the table for the reasoning of theis mail movement. The USPS maintained that no service would be lost to any of the 260,000 postal customers with the affected Yakima Valley. The pubic questioned the USPS's ability to this with the sometimes bad weather conditions of the Northwest. The saving of only $154,000.00 seem slight in comparison to risk of delaying Yakima Valley mail by sending it an additional 160 miles for cancellation

the sky is falling.....the sky is falling!!!!!!!!!
been here 20 yrs....the sky has always been falling......dammit
now eveybody settle down so these idiots don't think we are intimidated............get it?

Yeah, the sky was about to fall when I hired in back in November of 1977, but that failure alone does not preclude the sky from falling at some time in the future. Yeah, they've cried wolf so many times, but what if this time there really is a wolf?

We just had the "town meetin", where I work in Florida, where they try to bs the public, into believing that consolidating our office, is in their best interest! The public was not buying it, but we were successful in proving that a couple of morons, by the names of Jordan and Sawtelle, are both deserving winners of the prestigious award of Postal Idiots of the Year. Sawtelle is the most arrogant smart ass, I have ever seen, in my life. He was obviously the kind of kid, who cleaned the erasers for the teacher, after school, and got his butt kicked, for being a wise ass!

Hey everybody...check out the forum EEO issues message 358. We have an opportunity to get a congressional investigation into the abuse of postal employees. E-mail your story of abuse to lowe@kfwb.cbs.com. I mailed mine. It can be anonymous if you like. Let's send them 10 thousand letters of abuse.

CAP America, I agree this is our chance to bring everything done in the dark to light. its the people/Supervisors with authority that abuse, and make the USPS an awful place to work. lets work together to get Ten thousand names and stop the cycle. Also send a copy to Senator Diane Feinstein, One Post Street, San Francisco CA 94104

THE MANAGEMENT at the U.S.POSTAL SERVICE are ABOVE THE LAW. They've
been abusing their authority for years. They abuse and deny employees due process of the law. MANANAGEMENT breaks the law without having to face any kind of disciplinary action which encourages them to continue their abuse, intimidation, wreckless negligence, and illegal practices. I encourage all Postal employees to get together and seek assistance from our Senator Diane Feinstein, Chairperson for the Postal Senate Subcommittee, or other Senators
to address the ongoing abuses.

 Yeah, or just get yourself a good doctor, some FMLA, and burn a little sick leave, anytime you feel like going out and having a brewski!!

I know Steve Millard he is a good man. We are close to a congressional investigation. Lets keep giving leters through lowe@kfwb.cbs.com

Is steve millard involved in consolidations?

Can Steve Millard tile my bathroom?

Have any of you submitted a letter to the State Senator, Diane Feinstien yet? I hear a lot of talking and complaining about what you've gone through at the hands of the USPS and it's administration. I know how you feel ,I've gone through a lot abuse also since filing an EEO. You have to be willing to go an extra mile and bring this to the attention to the general public. Keeping these problems among ourselves will not help us in the long run. And you know what? The USPS is completely satisfied with us keeping this info amongst ourselves. Yes, I've talked about Steve Millard and the adverse actions the USPS has taken to him, but he's not the only one. Again I say there are hundreds of us. I've written a letter to State Senator Diane Feinstein, and I told her about my case as well as Steve Millard. I wish you all could do the same. No Fear Here!

   Sally, I don't know much of your situation, but I do know that you are wasting your time, filing an EEO! I have represented 2 people filing these, had the EEO clown agree with me about management's incompetence, only to have him tell me that he can only "suggest" that they went along with us. EEO idiots are a part of management. If you really want to burn their asses, turn down steps 1, 2, and 3. Get it out of the building. I did this for someone, and it cost management $5000, to fly a judge in from Miami. We lost, but it was great to see them spend 5 grand, to screw a girl out of 1 days pay!

I was employeed at a consolidated P&DC that had 1200 employees (Hi 50 mile radius) and I wish every P&DC, AMF and AMC employee the best. Fight for the enforcement of every contractual right you have as an excessed employee. Don't believe a lot of what the USPS tell you and hope that your national offices don't crap on you. The postal service is going to continue with their plan to consolidate the plants that as they say are under consideration for consolidation because there is a hidden agenda. Good Luck to all.

Sorry about the typo. National Officers is what was intended.

Locals are planning to conduct press conferences, hold leafletting events, submit Op-Ed articles and letters to their local newspapers, and to discuss the issue on local talk-radio and news shows.

I guess my local would take part if there were any officers or stewards that could read, write or speak.

Too little, too late. You think with Israel about to level half of the mideast anyone really cares about self-serving union ads? Wise-up!

I guess Burrass used the assessment monies initially to float payment of the convention expenses so they wouldn't have to tap other funds such as:

1. the APWU officer retiree slush fund

2. the APWU hospitality room "refreshment" fund

3. the APWU stress relieving fund (commonly referred to as the lap dance fund)

4. Private Contractor Benefits Fund (pizza party driver fund)

5. APWU transportation fund (limos for APWU officers to and from airports and other "functions")

If I were Potter, I'd cancel the whole conslidation thing then sit back and laugh at how much APWU spent on the special effects for the mailbox.

Hell...screw the consolidations...go wit the lay-offs!

All this sounds good until you look at the list for consolidations. My office never thought they would be on it. We are now. The Potterites will do what they want.

Has anybody gone thru a consolidation at their office? If so, how did it go? I think we are next.

Check this out. When the list of possible consolidations came out our facility was on it. The big wigs came down 2 days in a row and had a meeting w/PM and supervisors. The supervisor says they want to keep us here so we need to show them that we can do the work. Whatever!! We are short 11 mailhandlers and 8 clerks. So we bust our butts, stay here and they get bonuses. I don't believe a word they say. Like the other question that was asked, has anybody been thru this?

I guess nobody gives a darn about consolidations. Where are you people?

Where are you?

Cleaning out my locker.

Me too. Gosh darnit!

Congressional investigations are like a flea on the butt of a bull. You are wasting your time. There are many reasons to be or not be on a consolidation list. Mostly it comes down to money and/or logistics. Productivity equates to the money side. Having seen several consolidations (they are not anthing new) they do work. Scheduling headaches for 30 days or so, transpotation problems last up to 90 days. Few clerks ever take advantage of retreat rights.

Once all of the APPS are up and running, we are sure to see a rapid increase in postal consolidations and imvoluntary reassignments as the Service moves mail processing and distribution operations into the bigger facilities. The Newark facility operations were moved to the DVD facility and the employeees were reassigned all over the NY Metro area. The Bronx Processing and Distribution operations are headed to Morgan Station in NYC and I'm sure that many more are on the way. Once the contract is signed, workers in the smaller processing facilities should get ready to start saying their goodbye's. All of this is being done to benefit the big mailers who employ many of the Postal Service retired executives. The public and the Postal Workers are the big losers. Our National Unions should take a look at how the Canadian Postal Workers Union is dealing with a very similar situation up there. They are mobilizing their members and are using street demonstrations and involving the public to help stop plant closings.

I'm sure that what is happening in the NY Metro Area is happening in locals all across the country. If it's happening in your area please post what is happening if we can all communicate we will get a better look at the big picture. Then maybe we can form a multi-union rank and file committee to pressure our natioal leaders to do more. We, as postal workers need all the ideas we can get. Our strength is in our level of solidarity. We are all in this together. Let's turn our five fingers into a swinging fist!

Hey for those of you who want to see how the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are dealing with plant closures check out www.publicpostalservice.ca

My office was placed on the consolidation list last fall. About January, I asked a manager what the status was, and he said it wasn't to begin until February. Well, here it is almost September, and it's like nobody knows anything or are not willing to say. All I have to depend on is this website and reading all the talk. I want to know what's going on here where I work!!

"still studying it"

My Marina Plant was shut down back in July/05,
We were given a list of facilities that had openings, how many
and the hours and days off. We then had to choose which facility
we wanted to go to and what hours and days off. If you were # 200
on the seniority list, you had to make 200 choices. They were going
to go by seniority. MOST OF US ENDED UP WITH OUR # 1 CHOICE OF
FACILITY, but not the hours or days off.
On the list of facilities, they were AO'S, other P & D C's,
Bulk Mail Center, etc. Since the L.A. P & D C was going to take
over our P & D C., most of us went to L.A. ( the ones with very low
seniority or the ones who did not make a choice ).
Some decided to go as far as 200 miles from our old Marina Plant.
Because some CHOSE to go that far, management considers it a CHOICE,
therefore, you don't get moving expenses. Like a said if you
did not choose, you would automatically go to L.A.
After we were reassigned to L.A. we had to wait a year before
we would be able to bid. All the other facilities you could bid
right away.

Any questions?

All PVS operations for Pasadena, Stockton, and Fresno Ca. are to be converted to HCRs’ on March 19, 2007. In Pasadena have taken to calling ourselves the, “Lame Ducks!” much like politicians who are termed out our term is up. The march to privatization takes a big step forward, only the courts can save us now. This message is also posted under motor vehicle

Hey...why don't we all picket? The public just loves pickets. Traffic tie ups just thrill the public. They will see it our way!

You choose a good handle their Ignor A. Mous. We are planning an informational picket sometime before we are shipped out, because we are not going quietly into the night like management wants, we are going to make a lot of noise. I am not a 48er; four hours work for eight hours pay. I have gone beyond the norm when asked so I am going to make sure they hear my voice when the time comes.

Major backlog in Tacoma P&DC Tuesday night. The problem was all the mail from Olympia now being shipped to Tacoma for cancellation. They may save $1 million a year but they're going to pay out a lot more in overtime as people downstream stand around waiting for mail.

We experienced a similar situation at the Pasadena P&DC when they consolidated out going mail. The only difference management did it just before the start of the holidays, which made everything worse. Mail was lost, sometimes for days, processing was delayed one to two days minimum. Then I read in the Postal Reporter today that our AMP was incomplete, inaccurate, and factually unsupported. The OIG flunked our AMP but I guess its too late now, that’s what I think management is saying right now. The worst part is PVS is next.

Let's support the APWU and join the informational picket on October 26,2006.Get the message to the media that the reason for the consolidations is the huge losses in back pay for grievances and EEO filed due to the abuse of craft employees

everyone!
OCTOBER 26, 2006. it's being called a national day of picketing by the union, to alert the public of the consolidation plans of the usps, and the negative effects that will arise from this attempt. mainly, the usps says it will reduce costs and save them money etc... one of the usps' biggest cost is the amount of grievances and eeo's that are being filed because of postal management abuse to it's employees. postal officials do not correct the problems among the rank and file within the postal service. most of the time they are covered up. if we, the employees of the usps/union members, are joining the national day of picketing to bring all important issues we face to the public, do so with a show of unity Edit
Delete
 
 
LoneRanger 876
 
10-19-2006 08:31 PM ET (US)
 BS - The ex-vp filed charges. LR

Anybody know the lastest on Waco Texas?

We are so short handed here while waiting to hear the axe is falling. Union has ok use of custodians to help us for the next two months. What a bunch of crap

So are the custodians still doing your work? What ever happened?

No that's over with, just happened through the holidays. Still waiting to hear!

Pasadena PVS craft reassignment date as been extended to April 28th, the "Lame Ducks live to quack another day." Anybody have any information about Fresno or Stockton?

As of last week the P.O. could not find any HCR’s to take the Pasadena and Glendale PVS routes, on Friday March 16th they suddenly have four bidders. I guess we will learn our fate soon. One of them is supposedly a newby looking to get his foot in the door. I heard from an inside source it’s a pretty big foot. Most of the HCR’s around here make just enough to get bye, I don’t think Big Foot knows what they’re getting in to? Cc. Motor Vehicle & Vets

Check the awpu.org western regional coordinator impact statements
for periodical updates on operational changes.

Tyrone

I want to say Thank You Very Much for your help. No one as ever told me about those links before; I checked it out thanks again. I’ll post another message tomorrow I am out of time for today

The northland district plans to contract out motor vehicle services with a contractor who is using Australian drivers on H1-B visas. The MVS service for the Minneapolis - St. Paul metro area will no longer be staffed by postal employees.

That’s unbelievable, but as crazy as it sounds I wouldn’t doubt it. I’ll write more tomorrow when I have more time.

Two more offices under the AMP study taken off the table: Binghamton, Watertown, will not be consolidated into Syracuse.

western Region VP Sylvester Black to visit twin cities tuesday rumor is to announce sale of building used as the Saint Paul post office P&DC

Edited by author 04-15-2007 02:52 AM
Let's not spread any rumors until they have been cleared by, "Rumor Command!" We'll look the other way this time, just like management. Your rumor as been cleared for circulation. You might also want to add that he wants to kiss up to local politicians and add some frequent flier miles and welcome those new H1-B work visa HCR drivers that are going to replace MVS drivers.

Does anyone know how to deal with a analretentive supervisor who, favors certain carriers over others. Doles out mandatory ot to non odl's so that this carrier can have certain time off over other people. but will refuse you or others time off for appointments. split 2-3 routes for 3 days in a row? a union rep who sits on his hands and does nothing at the bullying going on in the office, or doesnt file greivances because he feels that they wont win them anyway. the only time this rep files is behind everyones back to get free ot pay for the hrs we worked, and he didnt make the 12 hrs. or Pulling in non odls to give fav carriers days off that they wish for? what do supervisors not understand about not being able to use the 5:00 truck rule to force non odl's and work assignments to work overtime? This is some frustrating situation that we are in and our rep is so busy running his *** off so that he can suck up the ot and to mgmt, that no one can make him understand that they are breaking contract everyday and that unless he gets off his duff and quits cutting deals with them and talking behind carriers backs to them about bad attitudes, and whining that this one is not a good carrier......
it is truely pathetic that they actually voted this man in here. There is numerous occasions where the union rep has gone to mgmt and discussed injured carriers, within the pressence of other carriers.
thanks for the vent!

does anybody know if you resign do you have a certain amount of days to take that resignation back...and if not can you ask to be reinstated at any Postal building or do you have to go and ask to be reinstated at the one where you put in the resignation.

Call human resources at 1-877-477-3273 option 5. The times I called I got good advice. I have read where other weren't so lucky, but its worth a try. Good Luck.

1c295963b78adc092c01a7bdee80cfed

i believe you have till its processed thru the system. with puter its very fast. and if they like you they can make exceptions an a case by case basis. you probably stand a chance at the place you worked. no other place cause thenyou would have to be active and then ask for a transfer.....

did this forum die OUT????

It will come back to life as soon as folks get excessed or job operations are moved. It will all be happening soon! Stay tuned.

me i am prepared to go to walmart. i think that is where the ex postal employees are going to wind up lolol ha ha ha!!!!

now that the roof at the new pontiac facility has caved in, does anyone know how the time frame for moving will be affected ? Also, I heard that the AMP studies for flint and detroit are dead in the water and the USPS has to start over again because of some congressional intervention or legislation. Any information would be helpful and certainly appreciated.

detroit metroplex is still on schedule to begin memorial day from our detroit area usps newspaper, they stated, contractor is fixing problem. any feed back from carriers in new jersey how the new fss flat sorting carrier wise is going

_urlsvip.txt;10;10

HUH????

does anyone really use this board?

No, they all got consolidated to the other boards.

  more downsizing and out sourcing lol!!!!

im a flatsorter clerk in cleveland and all we hear is cleveland closing down and employees moving to columbus trying to find the truth. Our union doesnt know anything what a surprise right

Daywalker, please keep us posted as to what is going on in Cleveland. The PO is making major changes now and we all need to know what is going on in other cities. Thank you.

So far here in KC... cities that lie around the outskirts are being consolidated into our facility here in KC. St. Joseph employees are now working at our P&DC... and Chillicothe, MO and Harrisonville, MO will be next. These employees will be traveling upwards of 2 or more hours to get to work.

Stop the Ban, Lu


Webmaster Lu, stop banning my posts:
You’re really not being much of a host.

There’s ways around everything, this I know,
so stop the games, it’s just a show

Are you in management, or just a prude?
Because not all of my posts are very crude

I see others moan, bitch and whine,
and you seem to think, that this is just fine

You cannot block me, as much as you try,
I know computers, and I’m pretty sly

When Christmas comes, I’m at my best,
and my poems will be funny, mostly in jest

I’m sure my office has called you, several times,
about my sarcastic, smart a$$ rhymes

If my posts seem to make you so, so sad,
Well, I guess, that’s just, too damn bad!
St. Pete Psycho | 09.22.08 - 9:05 am | #

does anyboby has anythin g about stockton calif pdc

not sure, but the KCKS GMF is merging with the KCMO P&DC next month... some 120 or so employees there will be excessed to our plant. I believe with all the excessed employees here now from as far away as Harrisonville, MO will be over 175 or more.

I hope you burn in HELL with the NAZI,Steve Yost.

I just heard that Scrandon and Wilkes Barre PA are going to be consolidated, Wilkes Barre into Scranton

Not if all of us get together and fight this. We need to show the public and the politicians what will happen to the service. Look at the Flash Report, the 1800 cancellations, and a few other of the Postal Services own reports. Wilkes-Barre cancels the same or more then Scranton on a daily basis and all our performance numbers are better. So it makes no sense to move us somewhere that will hurt the service we provide our customers.

At leaset I know we will not go without making a lot of noise, hopefully we can come out victorious.

Postal consolidation studied

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/articles/2..._s1.2217977_loc.txt

http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/

Bill could delay postal consolidation

Posted by Ron Fonger | The Flint Journal January 04, 2008 22:00PM

FLINT -- The plan to move at least 70 postal jobs from Flint to Pontiac has been knocked off track by a federal funding bill that could block the move for a year or more.

"We really have got them stopped in their tracks right now," said U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint. "Delay is on our side."

The U.S. Postal Service proposal would shift 70 to 100 jobs and some mail processing operations from here to a new facility in Pontiac, but a congressional appropriations bill passed in late December now requires fresh reviews -- by the General Accountability Office and a congressional committee -- of studies that led to the plan.

Kildee said the consolidation proposal was based on faulty information and false projected cost savings.

"We're trying to do everything we can to keep the service and the jobs," Kildee said. "I think they made a mistake (by building a new facility in Pontiac), and now they've got to fill the building."

Postal workers have been fighting the consolidation, picketing and rallying at a public meeting late last year in an effort to block or slow down the proposal. All the while, the USPS contended it could save nearly $1.5 million annually by making the change.

Postal Service spokeswoman Shannon LaBruyere said officials are reviewing the new requirements in the appropriations bill before commenting on it or how it will affect the consolidation proposal.

The plan is still considered to be "under review" internally, LaBruyere said.

"I can honestly tell you its (status) is an unknown at this point," she said Friday.

Debbie Lutz, president of the Flint Area Local of the American Postal Workers Union, said she hopes further congressional and GAO review will expose the problems in the consolidation.

"They are going to find out the numbers are not correct," Lutz said. "They can't save anything by consolidating."

39 USC 404 - Sec. 404. Specific powers
39 USC - US Code - Title 39: Postal Service (January 2003)

http://vlex.com/source/1038


US Code - Title 39: Postal Service - January 20, 2006

39 USC 404 - Sec. 404. Specific powers ... (b)(1) The Postal Service, prior to making a determination under subsection (a)(3) of this section as to the necessity for the closing or consolidation of any post office, shall provide adequate ...

http://vlex.com/vid/19236237?ix_resultado=...o%5D=all&sort=score





US Code - Title 39: Postal Service - January 20, 2006

39 USC 2803 - Sec. 2803. Performance plans ... activities, except that any aggregation or consolidation may not omit or minimize the significance of any ...


http://vlex.com/vid/19236003?ix_resultado=...o%5D=all&sort=score

http://www.huntcal.com/cgi/eventview.cgi/t...t&id=229570346&bg=w

Informational Picket - Return of Union President Clint Burelson and Return of Mail Operations in Olympia
 
Date: Monday, January 12, 2009
Time: 11AM - 1PM PST WHAT: Informational Picket

WHEN: Monday, January 12 from 11-1:00

WHERE: Olympia Downtown Post Office
WHY: Our Union President, Clint Burelson, was fired. We want to bring him back to work and resume mail operations in Olympia.

The community is invited to join us in our efforts.


FOR MORE INFO: Contact Louie Mackey at louiemackey@comcast.net

READ ON-- The Postal Service recently fired Local Union President Clint Burelson for his union activities and major role as a whistleblower in exposing the fact that mail consolidations would reduce service and not save money. The Postal Service’s plans for over 150 consolidations all across the country have been stopped once communities learned the truth about mail consolidation. Clint is a strong advocate for workers in the Post Office and Management is firing Clint for performing his duties as a union representative. Despite many grievance settlements signed by the Postal Service in which they agreed to cease and desist in discriminating against Clint for his union activities, management continues to discriminate against Clint. The Postal Service needs to stop the discrimination and bring Clint back to work. The Postal Service recently admitted in a required review of the consolidation that they have lost $1.5 million dollars in 6 months as a result of the transfer of outgoing mail operations from Olympia to Tacoma. The Postal Service had previously claimed that the transfer of the mail to Tacoma would save the Postal Service $1.2 million. The Postal Service therefore made at least a $2.7 million mistake in judgment. After the last picket held by the union, a Postal Service spokesperson told the media covering the picket that the Post Office saved money by the consolidation. However, despite information requests from the union, the Post Office has not provided any documentation in support of their spokesperson’s claims of savings. As it stands, the official documentation provided by the Post Office shows the consolidation to be a financial mistake. The Post Office has said that they would bring the mail back to Olympia if the move were not cost effective. The reduction in mail service, the loss of the Olympia postmark, and the financial costs of processing local mail in Tacoma is clear evidence that it is now time to bring the mail back to Olympia.

http://gkcmal.blog.com/

Bombshell

We met today with members from the district and western area concerning the centralization of KCKS with the KCMO P&DC. Up until today we were under the impression that all of the clerks in the KS facility would be coming to our plant. That was to be a total of 140 clerks. Today we learned that the clerks coming to KCMO will be 39. 101 clerks will be excessed to other areas, possibly up to a 750 mile radius.

The package presented to us is as follows: Management is creating 71 new jobs. 53 of those jobs will be absorbed by our unassigned regulars which will leave 18 jobs available. 21 new clerk jobs will be created for the incoming FSS machines. 18 plus 21 equals 39, the remaining positions. Thus 39 clerks from KS.
As I always state, this information is subject to change.

I feel for our fellow brothers and sisters. Management gave no hint that this was a possibility. We were all blindsided.

The struggle continues...

President, GKCMAL #67
APWU, AFL-CIO
3824 E 16th
Kansas City, MO 64127

Currently I have the largest route in the office but there is a route that is in danger of falling below 39 hours. My PM told me today that if that route falls below 39.42 hours that he would make my route smaller by giving a piece to the smaller route. How is that fair??? Is this true? I thought that they were going to be consolidating routes not redistibuting them? Has anyone else heard this?

anyone know what happens to a limite duty -on the job injuried clerk who is first to be excesed? Not in a bid job but have a modified position. I am bottom regular and wonder what hapens. are they putting us on OWCP roles or exces us to other make up work?

The cleveland p&dc is cutting 6 junior cleks in every pay location in the plant. They are forcing them into other positions, this leaves clerks running dbcs machines with only one person running entire machine and dispatching the mail. Sounds like a safety hazard. Our limited duty clerks are getting let go in March. I used to have a better attitude about postal service but i feel as though the post office will fall to the side of the road.

I have to be honest i think i will just have enjoy my front row seat to watching PO make so many cuts that it cut its own throat and be right for the picking by the private sector

Dear Onlineemail,

Your sections for excessing are determined by your Local Contract. If you have no reassingnment section in your Local, you follow the National Contract. In any event, excessing out of you installation is strictly by juniority as per Article 12 ( see excessing out of an installation). The devil is in the details it seems. Management had labelled clerks "rehab" or "modified" without proper paperwork. Their form 50's may not accurately reflect their true position in the postal service.
Here's the thing. The junior clerk is excessed, their job becomes available, you are offered that job. If you cannot do that job you are then released back to Workers' Comp.. Then, the real pain begins.........

The USPS is doing the Enron: a dance with moves designed to drive the company into the ground so deeply that Govt bailout is the only (masked) solution. The 'dance' continues to leave trails of destruction that only the Elite can survive. The USPS is asking for another bailout. The corporate idea is to Piedly Pipe the companies into the gutters and we the employees will eventually become the waste.

I FEEL THIS TAKING UNASSIGN CLERKS FROM THERE JOBS ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE DOING LEAD CLOSEOUT POSITION IS NOT RIGHT. I HAVE BEEN UNASSIGN FOR 4 AND A HALF YEARS NOW IN THE BRONX POST OFFICE. I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL IN THE LEAD CLERK POSITION FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. I PRACTICALLY DID EVERYTHING AT MY POST OFFICE. NOW I AM BEING FORCES TO GO TO GPO AND WORK THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT WITH NO SAY OR NOT EVEN AND RECOGNITION FOR THE WORK I HAVE DONE AT MY CURRENT STATION. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS?

127 - Don't break you arm patting youself on the back.

Just face the real facts. You took a bite out of management apple then "You were used and now you are abused by postal management."

Sorry but that's rule number one of postal management, the more you do for them, the more they will abuse you in the end.

Why else do you think us old timers let everyone else take the slots you did. Past History of postal management taught us this us this "use and abuse policy" many years ago.

Now you can teach the next generation what happend to you, and they will in turn ignore you, just as you ignored advise from old timers.

 The KCKS plant just consolidated with our KCMO P&DC and it's just about finalized. OT out the ying-yang. 12 hours for MH and penalty for the clerks.... We still haven't gotten all the KCKS employees at our facility but will in the next few weeks. I'm sure management is hoping that the extra influx of workers will stifle the OT completely, but now the mail volume has almost doubled and management is scrambling big time. Our plant is under a re-org right now and a lot of mangers from the KCKS plant and other facilities are coming on the scene here. We were appointed a new Acting Plant Manager from Minneapolis, MN who will be starting soon. It's just like sitting on the side-lines with pop-corn in hand waiting to see what happens next....

nkc; Only getting about 40 clerks out of 140 who lost jobs due to consolidation. Think that will make a difference in OT? Who is new plant mgr? Martinez gone already?

Edited by author 04-19-2009 04:38 PM
kc clerk, don't know about Martinez but the new 'acting plant manager' is a Gregory Pobuda out of Minneapolis, MN. our plant manager broke his ankle or something... unclear. and yes, i heard we are only getting about 40 clks out of 140-150. the others will be excessed to other facilities around the area. i know one thing though... the mh's and clk's are hoping that the OT continues... it's a circus right now at the plant. a lot more mail coming in.... Ron Mc Gaha has been on the scene for almost a month making a lot of the managers nervous... i like that guy :).

Isn't Martinez the one the kicked out of Egan MN some years back, for being a dumb ass?

///www.apwupvd.org/Documents/April-09%20minutes.pdf

/www.apwupvd.org/Documents/April-09%20minutes.pdf

I too, have been recieved a letter stating that I will be excessed out of my current level 7 positon. In the meeting, I was told if I did not bid, I would be placed into a carrier position as far as 400 miles away and I would lose all of my 16 years of bidding seniority because I would be in a diffrent craft, so I bidded to a level 6 position. Before I even left my current postion it was placed up for bid with the days off changed. I used to really like and respect the postal service but now I am too mad that I had to give up my job to another employee with higher seniority.

I started in 74. In 76 when the first lsm's started arriving I was told that I would be excessed if I didn't go to another craft. I called their bluff and stayed manual untill 2008 when I retired. I am SO glad I didn't blink and go to the mail handlers. I would be getting less retirement now if I had.

'Retired Old Clerk'

Just think how many dumbass stupidviosrs/managers you and I have seen over the years that started on the LSM as clerks.

Bet Potter worked on the LSM, and that would explain his total stupidity, and lack of knowledge on what makes things work properly.

Potter started out as a handler,that would explain the inheritant stupidity of the MH craft.

Wopony

Mr. Wong--you're WRONG about Potter, his bio says he started out as a Clerk in New York in 1978. No biggie, but you must be a self-important clerk too!

I only have one suggestion for you clerks. Buy comfortable walking shoes as carrying mail is not a walk in the park!

Postalized,are you talking about the mail clerks will be carrying from the FSS machines to dispatch.You know,the DPS'ed flats?If you are,then what will happen to all carriers(including clerks with sometimes 20 or 25 years who transfer to carrier).

Two wongs dont make a white.

Postalized
Theyz gonna git shitcanned like a wong.

I notice HR has made visits to each pay location twice encouraging clerks and mail handlers to look at switching to the carrier craft.So,indeed,something is up.