FROM THE PRESIDENTS DESK:
NALC National Convention:
As you read this edition of the News and Views, there is a very good
chance the delegation from Branch 43 will already be at the NALC 67th
Biennial Convention which will be taking place the week of August 9-13,
2010 in Anaheim, California. This convention will ultimately go down in
the history of the NALC as one of the most intriguing and challenging
conventions ever to be held. With the threat of 5 day deliver, postage
rate increase, the final report of the Postal Regulatory Commission to
Congress concerning the future of the Postal Service, mid-term fall
elections and finally the discussions surrounding the upcoming contract
negotiations, will undoubtedly raise strong debate among the delegates
on each topic. Since the Officers and Branch meetings for August were
canceled due to the National Convention, a complete rundown of the
convention highlights will be discussed at the September Branch
meeting.
While we are away at the convention, normal business will take place
at the office. Denny Doud, one of the Branch Trustees will be in the
office working the normal office hours of the Branch. VP David Kennedy
and I will be in touch with Denny on a daily basis to address any issues
unresolved by Denny. As I announced at the July Branch meeting, the
parties at the National level have agreed (M-01735) to extend time
limits on all grievances through the month of August due to the
convention. However I have encouraged the Branch stewards to continue
to process all grievances regardless of the extension in order to get a
resolution to the dispute as quickly as possible. If you have any
questions, please contact the office.
Last call for Branch 43 Picnic reservations:
Make your plans NOW to attend Branch 43 picnic at Coney
Island on September 6, 2010---Labor Day! If you plan to attend, you
MUST submit your registration form and money to the Branch office
NO LATER than August 13, 2010. The registration
form can be found in this edition of the News and Views on page 6 or at
the Branch web site:
www.branch43.com.
Last year we had over 300 people attend the picnic and we hope for an
even larger crowd this year. The cost is $5.00 per UNION family
member which includes food, drinks, rides and Sunlight Pool passes
provided by the Branch. Get a group from your station and come out and
enjoy a day of fun in the sun for the entire family. Hope to see you
there!!
Steve Driehaus and Jean Schmidt on board with HR173:
Last month I wrote about this new campaign strategy being
implemented at the national level by the NALC. The goal is to preserve
Saturday delivery and to have legislation enacted by both the House and
Senate whereby the Postal Service will be reimbursed the $75 Billion it
overpaid to the CSRS pension plan. In doing so, this money could be used
to pre-fund the future retiree health benefits which will ensure a
viable Postal Service for years to come which in turn will provide job
security for YOU!
The first step in the strategy is to mount grassroots pressure on
Members of Congress to enact legislation through face to face meetings,
writing campaigns and phone calls. Since my last article I wrote in the
July edition of the News and Views concerning Representative Jean
Schmidt, I addressed her refusal to sign on to HR 173. I’m very
pleased to announce Ms. Schmidt has decided preserving six day delivery
is a priority and she signed on July 14, 2010 as a co-sponsor of HR173.
I along with Vice President David Kennedy and our Legislative liaisons
Ed Wesseling and Jim Meale met a representative of Ms. Schmidt and
apparently our members have been able to express their concerns to Ms.
Schmidt about the Postal Service and HR173 which finally persuaded her
to sign on to HR173. We also asked for her support on HR5746 just
introduced and asked for her to review and consider co-signing this bill
also.
We also had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Steve Driehaus
while he was in Cincinnati and he is fully behind HR173. Mr. Driehaus
signed on back in April and has continued to support legislation
addressing the concerns of the Postal Service. Ed Wesseling and I are
following up with Mr. Driehaus about HR5746 so we will update the Branch
as we get more information on this issue.
What you see playing out right now concerning the Postal Service
and Congress is a perfect example why we push politics so hard. Most
people including me don’t care for the politics but unfortunately we are
at the cutting edge being Postal employees. What is going on in
Congress will affect our livelihoods and if we don’t fight and instead
just roll over and play dead, they will pick our pockets clean. Do you
want to lose your retirement pensions, wages, paid sick and annual leave
and other benefits without a fight? This union has fought long and hard
to get what most people take for granted and we are not about to give up
now.
However, we cannot do this alone. Our COLCPE funds help to pay for
our political watchdogs. These folks are politically savvy enough to
keep an eye on which congressman is voting for and against the issues
which will directly affect our livelihoods. They know who is on what
committee and what each committee is working on and if it will affect us
directly or indirectly. Is $5.00 a pay for active carriers and $5.00 a
month for a retiree to protect your livelihood too much to ask? I’m
asking every member, active and retired who is not signed up for COLCPE
to please sign up immediately. If you need help, call us. This is a
very small price to pay to secure your future. If you don’t believe me,
just ask someone who is unemployed or the retired auto worker who had
their retirement benefits slashed. This is too small a price to pay for
what you could ultimately lose. Don’t take that chance---sign up
TODAY!
Sincerely
Jerry Giesting, President
