Spring is finally here. With it comes change. To start with we have a new Plant Manager, Terry Morrow. Mr. Morrow started his career in 1984 as a mailhandler. He switched to the Clerk Craft in 1985. He has held a variety of positions. He has even been a Union President. Mr. Morrow was brought in to straighten up Columbus. Currently, Columbus ranks 55 out of 67 sites in the country. He plans to start with a cell phone policy. No cell phones on the workroom floor. If you need to use your cell phone, get permission from your supervisor. He is also implementing a dress code policy. Mr. Morrow said some of the employee's dress like they are going out to a disco. Also, a badge card policy, leave your badges in the rack. Don't take them home. These policies are not new. But Mr. Morrow is going to enforce them. Manage- ment has been lax with these issues for a lot of years. Supervi- sors should be giving service talks about these policies. Craft Director Sherry Pickens and I sat in on a meeting with Plant Manager, Terry Morrow, had with his supervisory staff. Mr. Morrow went over the poli- cies. He spoke on accountability. Mr. Morrow told the meeting he wrote-up his own Mother. That's how serious he takes his job. Mr. Morrow said he thinks the em- ployees want to do a good job. They need some training to get there. So far, I don't know what to think of Mr. Morrow. We have had a lot of Plant Managers come and go, so time will tell. We held our installation of of- ficer's dinner in February. NBA Mike Schmid did the swearing in of officers. The food was catered by Milanos. We had a nice turnout of members. How many people know what Wounded Warrior Leave is? It is an authorized absence from the Postal Service to undergo medical treatment for a service- connected disability rated at 30% or more. It is a separate leave category from sick leave. Each January, disabled veterans with a 30% or more combined disability will receive 104 hours of WWL to use during the calendar year. Veterans must establish they are eligible for WWL. If you have any questions about this leave, ask for a steward or call the Union Hall. Forms 5980 (WWL verification) are available at the Union Hall. At our next Union Meeting we will be discussing where to have the APWU Yearly Picnic. If you have an idea or opinion, come to the meeting. Recently I was at one of the Associate offices where a clerk had received discipline. This in- dividual had received a seven-day suspension. The individual had not grieved the letter of warn- ing he had previously received. Discipline starts with a letter of warning, next a seven-day COLUMBUS OHIO AREA LOCAL 232 2019 ELECTION RESULTS Continued on page 3 by Jennifer Sigmon The President's Message . . . COLUMBUS OHIO AREA LOCAL SERVING COLUMBUS AND CENTRAL OHIO Volume #47, Issue #4 April, 2019 AREA OFFICES Union Furnace Amlin Brice Circleville Frazeysburg Grove City Johnstown Magnetic Springs New Albany Pleasantville Reynoldsburg Stoutsville Unionville Ctr. Alexandria Canal Winchester Coshocton Fredericktown Harrisburg Kilbourne Marysville Newark Powell Rockbridge Sugar Grove Wash. Ct. Hse. Baltimore Canesville Delaware Fresno Haydenville Lancaster Milledgeville Pataskala Prospect Rushville Summitt Station Westerville Bloomingburg Carbon Hill Dublin Gambier Hilliard Logan Mt. Vernon Pickerington Radnor Sedalia Thornville West Jefferson Bremen Carroll Etna Groveport Jeffersonville London Murray City Plain City Raymond South Solon Thurston West Lafayette
Transcript
Spring is finally here. With it comes change. To start with we have a new Plant Manager, Terry Morrow. Mr. Morrow started his career in 1984 as a mailhandler. He switched to the Clerk Craft in 1985. He has held a variety of positions. He has even been a Union President. Mr. Morrow was brought in to straighten up Columbus. Currently, Columbus ranks 55 out of 67 sites in the country. He plans to start with a cell phone policy. No cell phones on the workroom floor. If you need to use your cell phone, get permission from your supervisor. He is also implementing a dress code policy. Mr. Morrow said some of the employee's dress like they are going out to a disco. Also, a badge card policy, leave your badges in the rack. Don't take them home. These policies are not new. But Mr. Morrow is going to enforce them. Manage-ment has been lax with these issues for a lot of years. Supervi-sors should be giving service talks about these policies.
Craft Director Sherry Pickens and I sat in on a meeting with Plant Manager, Terry Morrow, had with his supervisory staff. Mr. Morrow went over the poli-cies. He spoke on accountability. Mr. Morrow told the meeting he wrote-up his own Mother. That's how serious he takes his job. Mr. Morrow said he thinks the em-ployees want to do a good job.
They need some training to get there. So far, I don't know what to think of Mr. Morrow. We have had a lot of Plant Managers come and go, so time will tell.
We held our installation of of-ficer's dinner in February. NBA Mike Schmid did the swearing in of officers. The food was catered by Milanos. We had a nice turnout of members.
How many people know what Wounded Warrior Leave is? It is an authorized absence from the Postal Service to undergo
medical treatment for a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more. It is a separate leave category from sick leave. Each January, disabled veterans with a 30% or more combined disability will receive 104 hours of WWL to use during the calendar year. Veterans must establish they are eligible for WWL. If you have any questions about this leave, ask for a steward or call the Union Hall. Forms 5980 (WWL verification) are available at the Union Hall.
At our next Union Meeting we will be discussing where to have the APWU Yearly Picnic. If you have an idea or opinion, come to the meeting.
Recently I was at one of the Associate offices where a clerk had received discipline. This in-dividual had received a seven-day suspension. The individual had not grieved the letter of warn-ing he had previously received. Discipline starts with a letter of warning, next a seven-day
COLUMBUS OHIO AREA LOCAL 2322019 ElEction REsults
Continued on page 3
by Jennifer Sigmon
The President's Message . . .
Columbus ohio AreA loCAlServing ColumbuS and Central ohio
Volume #47, issue #4 April, 2019
AREA OffICES Union furnaceAmlin Brice Circleville frazeysburg Grove City Johnstown Magnetic Springs New Albany Pleasantville Reynoldsburg Stoutsville Unionville Ctr.Alexandria Canal Winchester Coshocton fredericktown Harrisburg Kilbourne Marysville Newark Powell Rockbridge Sugar Grove Wash. Ct. Hse.Baltimore Canesville Delaware fresno Haydenville Lancaster Milledgeville Pataskala Prospect Rushville Summitt Station WestervilleBloomingburg Carbon Hill Dublin Gambier Hilliard Logan Mt. Vernon Pickerington Radnor Sedalia thornville West JeffersonBremen Carroll Etna Groveport Jeffersonville London Murray City Plain City Raymond South Solon thurston West Lafayette
2 THE VINDICATOR April, 2019
EditoRiAl Policy The Vindicator is published monthly and is the official publication of the Columbus AreA loCAl/APWu, 610 lancaster Ave., reynoldsburg, oH 43068, 614-501-1900.Editor ....................................................Brad toth opinions expresses in the Vindicator are those of the individual workers and not necessarily those of the c.o.A.l. the editor reserves the right to approve material submitted for publica-tion. the deadline for all articles is the 16th or at our regular union meeting, whichever is first. if for any reason the editor is not present at month-ly meeting, the article is to be given to the presi-dent. Articles are to be typed, double-spaced and in duplicate. Article should not exceed approxi-mately 11/2 pages typed.
tOUR INorma Quijas ...........................................Chief StewardJacob Wayt .........................................................Steward
tOUR tWOShannon Colburn ............................................ City GateCheryl Diltz ........................................................StewardSherry Pickens .................................. Clerk Craft Director and Steward
tOUR tHREEStephanie Braxton ......................... National Safety Rep.Larry Canady ...........................................Chief Steward
TrusteeRick Farrell .........................................................TrusteeMelissa Rubadue ................................................StewardXaviare Reed ................................. Steward at City Gate
Ken Bradley .............................................Chief StewardDave Collins Angie Lyshe Brad Toth
AREA OffICESJennifer Sigmon...................................... 614-501-1900ALt: Jennifer Staten ............................. 740-622-4821Baltimore, Etna, Lancaster, Brice, Newark, Pleasantville, Carroll, Summit Station, Thornville, Canal Winchester
Bruce Pargeon ........................................ 740-345-4021Delaware, Dublin, Kilbourne, Powell, Prospect, Westerville
Jennifer Staten........................................ 740-622-4821ALt: Bruce Pargeon ............................. 740-345-4021Bremen, Carbon Hill, Conesville, Coshocton, Frazeyburg, Fresno, Haydenville, Logan, Murray City, Rock Bridge, Rushville, Sugar Grove, Thurston, Union Furnace, West Lafayette
Velekia March ......................................... 614-836-5452Amlin, Bloomingburg, C Winchester, Carroll, Circlev-ille, Dublin, Groveport, Grove City, Jeffersonville, Milledgeville, Pataskala, Pickerington, Sedalia, S. Solon, Stoutsville, Washington Courthouse
ALt: Velekia March .............................. 614-836-5452Brice, Harrisburg, Hilliard, London, Marysville, Plain City, Raymond, Unionville Center, W. Jefferson, Westerville
Jennifer Sigmon...................................... 614-501-1900Alexandria, Delaware, Fredericktown, Gambier, John-stown, Kilbourne, Magnetic Springs, New Albany, Powell, Prospect, Radnor
Use designated steward first, then the designated alternate. Supervisors must call the designated steward’s Supervisor to ensure their release.
Sherry Pickens Craft Director .................. 614-472-0595Renie Nelson, Veteran’s Affairs Officer ... 614-501-1900Bruce Pargeon, Chief Steward AOs ......... 740-345-4021Velekia March .......................................... 614-889-6571
If you are tired of management knowingly and willfully violating the contract, there are many ways to fight back, and one way is on-the-clock. By using the grievance procedure, you can get paid for improving the Postal Service while you are at work. GRIEVANCES ARE fILE ON tHE CLOCK. The employer is paying employees to do the important work of hold-ing abusive, unethical supervisors and managers accountable, because violations of the contract and violations of basic moral decency have a negative impact upon the employer. Management counts on the fact that employees will not grieve every violation and that management can delay grievances
to discourage participation in the grievance procedure. Manage-ment will unreasonably deny stewards request for steward time and information in order to limit the ability of the union to hold management account-able. Management’s decision to knowingly violate the contract undermines the grievance pro-cedure as an effective tool to resolve disagreements. Every employee has the right to talk to a steward on the clock after getting permission from their supervisor. It is the responsibil-ity of your immediate supervisor to provide you with a steward under Article 17. Most employ-ees current approach is that the burden for enforcing the contract is mainly on our representative
(stewards and officers) with the cop out phrase; “that’s what I pay dues for.” That statement only works when management honors the grievance procedure. Your stewards and officers cannot be the only ones fighting back. Can you imagine the impact if only 10 percent of our members would request a steward every day to ad-dress the violations on the clock that every violation was grieved, witness statements provided and documents obtained through a “request for information”. This is the only way that we can build power and management account-able.
In solidarity.frank PayneVice President
April, 2019 THE VINDICATOR 3
Hello fellow union members. Hopefully everyone is enjoying the spring time. Recently we got a new acting plant manager his name is Terry Morrow. We can expect to see some changes, I’m sure. During a meeting he ad-
dressed clerks running one to a machine citing this as a violation unless you’re at the beginning of a short DBCS run or at the begin-ning of a startup. So, make sure if you are running a machine by yourself that you file a grievance on this. Paperwork to submit to the union is hanging on the door of the cubicle in the plant. If the file is empty, please ask your steward for the paperwork to submit. Also, if your supervisor is doing bargaining unit work file a grievance on this. This is your job and possibly bid positions on both of these issues. If we allow management to run one to a ma-chine and don’t file this shows the
need for less positions. Recently we won several
grievances to get more positions. One is an Expeditor on tour one; one lead clerk in the FSS unit at Twin Rivers; and a total of 8 new positions in the automation unit. Which all should have already been posted by the time you read this article. Management also has reverted several tour 3 five o’clock bids recently stating that earlier start times are needed. So hopefully we will see some more positions posted at 13:00 for the automation unit.
Management is still canvass-ing city residual positions. It is better to choose a position rather
than be assigned a position. Also, if you wish to remain live on a position please put in a buck slip within ten days of the posting to in-plant support specialist, Sherri Bentley, and also keep a copy for yourself.
Recently we had an installa-tion dinner for the local officers for the next three years. I want to think everyone for their confi-dence in allowing me to serve you for the next three years and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
In union solidaritySherry Pickens
A Message from your Clerk Craft Director
by Sherry Pickens
I would like to thank all my union brothers and sisters for electing me as your new Record-ing Secretary. The position of Recording Secretary is an im-portant position. The Recording Secretary documents all of what transpires at our union meetings and Executive Board meetings.
As your Recording Secretary I will also hold a position on
A Message from your Recording Secretarythe Executive Board and will be able to help make decisions that directly affect our union and all our members. I appreciate our members voting for me and trust-ing me to be a part of their future. I have been an active member of our union for twenty-six years and a steward for over a decade. Now as Recording Secretary I will be able to be even more involved.
I look forward to serving your needs in the future.
I would also like to thank out-going Recording Secretary, Kim Harrington, for her many decades of service and for all that she has done for our union over the years. Ms. Harrington is now the Presi-dent of our retirees’ chapter and will continue to be an asset to our members.
Again, I thank you for the op-portunity to be of service to our membership and to help guide us into the future. And as always, you are my boss. I work for you.Rick farrellRecording Secretary - APWU
suspension, then a fourteen-day suspension and lastly Removal. If you do not grieve your discipline, it stays in your file for two years. The individual that did not grieve his LOW said he deserved the dis-cipline. I understand owning up to something you did but grieve the
COLUMBUS OHIO AREA LOCAL 2322019 ElEction REsults
discipline so it doesn't stay in your file for two years. A lot of things can happen out of your control and you can get to the Removal stage pretty fast. You should always grieve any discipline. A letter of warning is the first step to getting removed. Protect yourself and
your future. Since the weather is changing
for the better, take some time to get outside and take a walk or bike ride. It will make you feel better.
Jennifer SigmonPresident
APWU Monthly Membership
Meeting
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: APWU Union Hall
610 Lancaster Ave.
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
uNioN organizing
isn’t about signing
cards – it’s about
empoweriNg
people and
ChANgiNg lives.
President Continued from page 1
4 THE VINDICATOR April, 2019
WelcomeWelcome
Traci AbbottZachary AlleyJessica Gough
Ebony SharrockRonda Wolfe
Merrissa ShephardMustafe Abdirahman
Retired clerk Timothy Maines passed away.
Clerk Randy Frank passed away.
In SympathyThe members of Local 232
wish to express ourcondolences for your loss.
Spring is here! The birds are singing and
it’s actually warm enough to go outside without a coat. One of the really nice things about being retired is you don’t have to go out
Retirees Cornerin the cold and snow but it’s still nice to see the start of spring.
We had our first meeting of 2019 at the Union Hall. It was a really nice turn out. We have starting planning our activities for this year. We have decided on a Clippers day game, May 23, 2019. Game starts at 11:35 am vs the Toledo Mudhens.
We also have decided to go to The Wilds this summer, date TBD and a train ride this fall on the Hocking Valley Railroad.
If you are interested in any of these outings, contact the Union Hall at 614-501-1900 or come to a meeting. Meetings are held the
third Monday each month at the APWU Union hall, 601 Lancaster Ave, Reynoldsburg. Food and fel-lowship begins at 12 noon and the meeting begins at 1pm.
If you know any past APWU members who are retired and not a member of the Retirees’ Chap-ter invite them to a meeting. Our dues are $42 per year with $36 of that going to national and $6 payed to the Chapter. For that you get to keep your APWU health insurance, monthly magazine from National, the opportunity to vote in APWU national elections for major offices. For the $6 to the Chapter you can participate in
all of the activities plus you get access to all the activities of the Local-Annual Picnic, Children’s Christmas Party, Adult Holiday Party, other functions during the year and you qualify for a reduced rental rate of the party facilities at the Union Hall. It really is a good investment for your $6!
We now have a Facebook page-APWU Retirees-Columbus Ohio Area Chapter.
Hope to see you at the next meeting-Monday April 15, 2019, 12 pm.
Kim Harrington-fergusonRecording Secretary
Kim Harrington-ferguson
Jasmine JonasLamar Hammons
Kynee LakeDonald Roberts
Stacey DiehlRyan Van BiskirkRaymond Woods
How Members can participate in
their Union
• Vote for union officials• Attend union Meetings• Take part in action• Pay union Membership • Vote on taking action e.g. secret ballots
To the American Postal Workers Union Local 200
live Better H Work Union H
This summer, the White House proposed selling off the United States Postal Service to private corporations.
As a 22-year postal worker, I recently joined my coworkers, our families, and neighbors across the country to rally in support of our public Postal Service. Our message to those who want to sell off our national treasure to the highest bidder: U.S. mail is not for sale.
Many may think that in the internet age, the Postal Service has outlived its usefulness, and that the decline of letter mail is the cause of the Postal Service’s financial troubles. But the Postal
it' your Post . . . . office Keep itService actually turns a profit on its deliveries.
The truth is that the USPS’s problems were largely created by Congress.
A bipartisan 2006 law, the Postal Accountability and En-hancement Act, law mandated that the USPS pre-fund future retiree health benefits 75 years into the future. That means we have to fund retirement benefits for postal employees who haven’t even been born yet.
It’s a crushing burden that no other agency or company — public or private — is required to meet, or could even survive.
The mandate drained $5.5 bil-lion a year out of Postal Service funds and accounts for more than 90 percent of its losses. In fact, if it weren’t for this manufactured pre-funding crisis, the USPS would have reported profits in four of the last five years — all without receiving a dime of tax-payer money.
While it’s true that the way people use the mail is changing, the Postal Service is still a vital part of the country’s infrastructure.
Package volumes have ex-ploded with the e-commerce
boom. Companies as large as Am-azon and as small as a one-room Etsy vendor rely on the Postal Service. USPS delivers 30 percent of FedEx Ground packages and 40 percent of all of Amazon’s many shipments. Vitally, the USPS is at the heart of a $1.7 trillion mailing industry that employs more than 7.5 million people.
The people of this country love the Postal Service. A recent Pew Survey showed 88 percent of Americans view the USPS favorably.
One reason for this success is our commitment to serve 157 million homes and businesses six — and sometimes seven — days per week at affordable, uniform prices. Our public Postal Service reaches everyone, everywhere, no matter one’s health, wealth, age, or race. We should never lose sight that it’s veterans, seniors, and people in rural areas who rely most on the Postal Service for essential goods and life-saving medications.
What could the public expect if the Postal Service were sold to off to private interests? Higher prices, slower delivery, and an end to universal, uniform, and
affordable service to every corner of the country.
And who would pay the price? All of us.
Postal services that have been privatized abroad provide a cau-tionary tale: In the UK, postage is up nearly 80 percent since 2007. The privatized Portuguese post has closed nearly a third of their post offices.
Our postal system is older than the country itself. It was a vital component of our country’s public good then. It still is today. And along the way, one fundamental fact has always been true: Our postal system has never belonged to any president, any political par-ty, or any company. It’s belonged to the people of this country.
Postal workers are rallying to urge lawmakers to stop the selling off of the public postal service for private profit — and to remind everyone the Postal Service is yours. Keep it.
Julie Bates is a 22-year postal worker, and a contributor to Otherwords.org
other Wordsby Julie bates
April, 2019 THE VINDICATOR 5
AMERICAN POStAL WORKERS UNIONCOLUMBUS OHIO AREA LOCAL 232
SAtURDAY, MARCH 16, 2019
tREASURERS REPORt: Available to view at the Union Hall
PRESIDENtS REPORt: Thanks to Sherry Pickens, Frank Payne, Kim Harrington and Ron Ferguson for all their help in preparing the installation dinner at the union hall. We have meetings coming up with the new Plant Manager and the new Postmaster. We will be sending the E-Board and 3 delegates to the Ohio Postal Workers Convention in Cleveland May 3-5, 2019.
Motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes as they are printed in the Vindicator, made by Kim Harrington, second by Sherry Pickens – Passed.
CLERK CRAft REPORt: Nothing currently to report.
MAINtENANCE CRAft REPORt: We would like to welcome our newest maintenance Steward Shannon Coburn, who will be serving on Tour 2.
MVS CRAft REPORt: Nothing currently to report.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS: Motion to allocate funds to send the E-Board and 3 delegates to the Ohio Postal Workers Union Convention in Cleveland May 3-5. Made by Kim Harrington, second by Mike Schmid – Passed
GOOD Of tHE ORDER: National Business Agent, Mike Schmid spoke about the new Plant Manager at Citygate. Frank Payne mentioned the new Plant Manager as well. Angie Lyshe suggested that we post any information about new Managers and/or Postmasters in the Vindicator.
Motion to hold the drawing and adjourn. Made by Holly Endruschat, second by Barb Farrell – passed.
Clerk Craft Director Sherry Pickens PresentMaint. Craft Director Larry Butts PresentMVS Craft Director Dave Collins Present
ROLL CALL Of OffICERS:President Jennifer Sigmon PresentVice President frank Payne PresentSecretary treasurer tim Glover PresentRecording Secretary Rick farrell Present
Ohio Postal Workers Union AFL - CIO
King/Valliere Scholarship Application Name:________________________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Telephone:___________________________Email:____________________________________ I will graduate from_____________________________________High School, located in __________________________________________(City) on____________________________. I will attend or currently attend__________________________________________(College, University or Technical School in______________________________________(City & State). I will be enrolled for the_______________________(term) of ___________________(year). My mother, father or legal guardian is a member in good standing in a local of the OPWU or is a member - at - large Name of parent:________________________________________________________________ Name of Local Union:____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Applicant’s Signature * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This is certification that__________________________________________________________ is a member in good standing in the________________________________________________ (OPWU Local) For members - at - large the certification will be completed by the state president. Date:________________________ Signed:________________________________________
President or Secretary/Treasurer of Local
Application Deadline – April 19, 2019 Return Application to: Steve Charles, President OPWU, 1026 Doherty Rd., Galloway, Ohio 43119
Ohio Postal Workers UnionAFL-CIO
“Proud & Positive”Steve Charles
PresidentOhio Postal Workers Union
AFL-CIO“Proud & Positive”
Steve CharlesPresident
april QuotesSweet April showers do spring May flowers. ~ Thomas Tusser
April ... hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~ William Shakespeare
Winter’s done, and April’s in the skies, Earth, look up with laughter in your eyes! ~ Charles G.D. Roberts
But baseball bounced back in the next decade to reclaim its place as the national pastime: new heroes, spirited competition, and booming pros-perity gave birth to dreams of expansion, both within the major leagues and around the world. ~ John Thorn
“The April winds are magical, And thrill our tuneful frames; The gar-den-walks are passional To bachelors and dames.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, “April”
SERVICESLimited fax–Free at Union Hall. For emergency use only. Not to take the place of the postal service.Limited Copying Limited Copying available at the Union Hall at no charge.Website: [email protected]
ItEMS Of INtEREStUnion Jackets – Sm., Med., Lg., $17.00Aprons – Male Denim $11.00 - Male Twill $12.00 - Female Denim $12.00t-Shirts: Charcoal Gray and Navy Blue – New - $10.00event: Hall Rental available at a discounted rate for APWU Members. Available at Union Hall, 610 Lancaster Ave., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 • (614) 501-1900
ticKEts–these discounts are better than AAA's andare exclusively for Members only–it Pays to Belong
AMC Movie tickets–$10.25 each member
All other tickets will be available online through the Tickets At Work website. Go to www.ticketsat-Work.com, then click “Become a Member” to fill out your information. When asked to enter a Company Code you will type in KIAPWU.
