Publication #3May/June 2011Volume 43

It's Official: APWU, Signs New Contract

Inside This EditionIt's Official: APWU, Signs New Contract.................1Guffey Encourages Postal Veterans to Spread the Word About New Job Opportunities...................................2Condolences...............................................................2Fort Worth Area Local 2011 Graduate's.....................3Fort Worth Area Local Twins.....................................4Service Awards................................................4,5,9,15Double Dues...............................................................5Violence Against Women in the Workplace...............6Tax Delinquent Bill Aimed at Federal Workers.........7Retirement..................................................................7Not The First Time.......... ..........................................8Address Change.........................................................8Constitutional Amendments............10,11,12,13,14,15Voter Participation Contest.................................16,17APWU Testimony: Changes to Federal Workers Com-pensation Laws Would Negatively Affect Postal Work-ers........................................................................17,18Headlines Predict Demise of USPS........................18Raise your hand if the cost of education is holding you back..........................................................................19Next Union/Auxiliary Meetings...............................20Articles Due Dates...................................................20

It’s Official: APWU, USPS Sign New Contract

(APWU Web News Article 062-2011, May 23, 2011) APWU President Cliff Guffey and Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe have signed the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement. Their signatures formalize the new contract, which was ratified by APWU members on May 11.

“I am pleased that we were able to negotiate a contract that will strengthen the Postal Ser-vice for the future and protect the job security of union members,” Guffey said.

A permanent printed version of the contract will be finalized soon. The union will post a notice on www.apwu.org when it is available. Two charts showing the effective dates of various provisions of the contract are posted. One chart is organized by topic; the other is organized by date.

“Now it is time for the members of Congress to do their part and correct the funding in-equities that are driving the Postal Service toward insolvency,” Guffey said. “I encour-age every APWU member to contact their Senators and Representative and ask them to take action now.”

Pending Legislation The APWU supports H.R. 1351, a bill in-troduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA), which instructs the Office of Personnel Man-agement (OPM) to recalculate USPS pay-ments to its pension accounts using updated methodology. Independent actuarial studies

have concluded that as a result of improper funding formulas, the USPS has overpaid the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) by $50 billion to $75 billion. Overpayments to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) are estimated at $6.9 billion.

Under the terms of H.R. 1351, if overpay-ments are found during OPM’s recalculation, the surplus would be transferred to the Postal Service. OPM would also be required to

proposed legislation would give the Postal Service authority to close post offices solely for financial reasons, and would require arbitrators to consider the financial health of the USPS when contract negotiations end in arbitration. The APWU will continue to work with senators and their staff to address the issues in this measure that are of concern to our members.

refund the USPS any money it overpaid to its FERS account. The Postal Service could then use this money to meet its pre-funding requirements.

A similar bill, S. 1010, introduced by Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), would permit the USPS to use overpayments to its pension accounts to meet obligations to pre-fund the health-care liabilities of future retirees, but it also contains several negative provisions. The

Postmaster General Patrick DonahoeAPWU National President Cliff Guffey

PROUD MEMBER OF THE POSTAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

FORT WORTH

Outpost

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FORT WORTH AREA LOCAL

AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION, AFL-CIO

OUTPOSTPage 2 May/June 2011

Editorial PolicyThe Fort Worth Area Local Outpost is published bi-monthly. Any and all opinions appearing in the Outpost are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or the Union. All contributions must be received by 3:00pm for the following months issue. Submissions must be accompanied by the writer’s signature and phone number. A hard copy must accompany each article. If a person wishes to remain anonymous, please state so. Artwork must be in ink only, no ball point or pencil, please. All submissions are subject to editing. In accordance to the Constitution & By-Laws of the local no article will be published that demeans or attacks another member of this local. Articles may be submitted on a disc (Rich Text Format) at the Union Hall, 5609 Glenview Dr., mailed to Tonya M. Brooks, Box 162121, Fort Worth, TX 76161. Articles may also be person-ally submitted to the Editor at the GMF Tour 1 Automation or e-mailed (Rich Text Format) me at fwal-editor@sbcglobal.net.

Fort Worth OutpostThe Fort Worth Outpost is the official publication of the Fort Worth Area Local which includes Aledo, Alvarado, Azle, Bedford, Burleson, Breckenridge, Cleburne, Crowley, Denton, Euless, Granbury, Grapevine, Hurst, Joshua, Keene, Keller, Mansfield, Midlothian, Roanoke, Springtown, Stephenville and Weatherford.

AffiliationsAFL-CIO, Texas Postal Workers Union, Texas AFL-CIO and Tarrant County Central Labor Council.

Fort Worth Area Local OfficersPresident Ed Thompsonfwal@sbcglobal.net 929-0081Vice President Alvin E. Curtis Secretary Gloria Rice fwalsecretary@sbcglobal.netTreasurer Ethel Kirklandftwal_treasure3224@sbcglobal.netEditor Tonya M. Brooksfwal-editor@sbcglobal.net Sgt. At Arms Rosie PruittClerk Director Ben Martinez 317-3856 992-1748Maintenance Director Harold Parkey317-3880 992-3397Motor Vehicle Director Joe Dickens317-3881 992-1287Trustees Karen Reed Kaye Strawther Angela TurmanEducational Director Nereida NorrisAccident Benefit Rep Earl StewartOWCP Director Toni Dimas 781-6771Human Relations Director Marsha BlankenshipLegislative Director Harold ParkeyParliamentarian Kaye Strawther Health Plan Director Dana Martinez 929-6196Chief Steward Stations/Branches Dora Rodriguez 522-6787

Communication NumbersUnion Hall - 281-1902 Fax Machine - 485-9028

APWU Health Plan1-800-222-APWU TDD 1-800-622-2511Pre- Certification 1-800-447-1704

CondolencesThe Fort Worth Area Local #098 offers condolences to the following members who have lost loved ones recently. We apologize for anyone we overlooked.

Helen Anderson.......................BrotherDonald Burris..........................MotherChristopher Davis....................MotherSandra Green...........................BrotherSonia Hayden..........................DadDale Nichols............................MotherFelecia Pigrum........................GrandmotherPamela K. Smith......................Mother

Guffey EncouragesPostal Veterans to Spread the Word About New Job

Opportunities

Cliff GuffeyAPWU National President

Guffey Encourages Postal Veterans To Spread the Word About New Job Opportunities

(APWU Web News Article 066-2011, June 1, 2011) APWU President Cliff Guffey is encouraging postal workers who have served in the armed forces to reach out to fellow Veterans and encourage them to take advantage of new hiring opportunities.

“The APWU negotiated a Collective Bargain-ing Agreement that will create thousands of new employment opportunities for Veterans, and we need your help to ensure Vetrans are hired,” Guffey said in a May 27 letter.

In many instances, the Postal Service is obligated to hire Veterans before civilians, provided they are on the appropriate hir-ing register, Guffey said. Veterans should be educated about the benefits of being a postal employee and encouraged to take the necessary tests to be considered for employment.

“We want to make sure that Veterans across the nation are on the list when hiring begins,” he said.

Along with the letter, the union included a short tutorial that explains how Veterans can conduct job searches and apply for new positions.

“We are proud to be able to offer employ-ment opportunities to the thousands of men and women who serve our country in these tough economic times,” Guffey said. “I ask all members to reach out to veterans who are looking for work.”

OUTPOST Page 3May/June 2011

Fort Worth Area Local 2011 Graduate's

Micah Brianna BarbollaBirdville High School

Proud daughter of Michael D. Barbolla

Britney Beatty-AlamanWilliams Elementary School

Proud Niece of Tonya M. Brooks

Kyla CooperNorth Side High School (Indiana)

Proud Niece of Tonya M. Brooks

Avary DavisDanville High School

Proud Nephew ofTonya M. Brooks

Shondre'a Ashlei FordCrowley High School

Proud daughter of Roderick C. and Sandra Ford

Chasmin LaThea JenkinsKennedale High School

Proud Niece of Berta Joseph

Brittany Alissa JohnsTarrant County College

Proud daughter of Denise and Mariano (Chico) Tedana

Russell William JohnsCrowley High School

Proud son of Denise and Mariano (Chico) Tedana

Michael Lee Price, JrNorth Crowley High School

Proud son of Robin and Michael Price

Kayla A. ThonesenFossil Ridge High School

Proud daughter of Clinton and Shana Thonesen

The Journey Now Begins

OUTPOSTPage 4 May/June 2011

Fort Worth Area Local Twins

(l-r) Manuel and Daniel Becerra (l-r) Logan and Luke EubanksProud cousins of Jolly Watley

(l-r) Myron and Mya HodgesProud twins of Tanja Broadus

(l-r) Lilly and Julian LopezProud twins of Alicia J. Lopez

(l-r) Jolly Watley and Jackie Coleman

Service Awards

Service AwardsContinued on Page 5

Mark Ashraf25 Years of Service

Donna Bissonnette25 Years of Service

Willie Dunn25 Years of Service

OUTPOST Page 5May/June 2011

Gloria RiceFort Worth Area Local Secretary

Double Dues

Double DuesIf you are paying dues to APWU and another post office craft union, you must contact Gloria Rice, Local Secretary. I do not have anniversary dates for union members. You must contact Shared Services if you want your anniversary date. Only you know when dues start coming out of your check and that would be your anniversary date, not the date

you fill out your 1187. I can not make another union reimburse you for dues you paid to them after you joined the APWU. They will only give you information concerning your dues to them; I can not get any information concerning your dues to them.

I have put this information at the end of all of my minutes as well as in the Outpost every month. At this time, there should not be any APWU members still paying double dues. If you are, you need to contact me immedi-ately. It is actually the responsibility of the member to stop the double dues, especially if you were paying another union for the sole purpose of having their health plan.

In Union Solidarity

Service Awards

Linda Hightower25 Years of Service

Arturo Magana25 Years of Service

Carolyn Infante25 Years of Service

Roland Navejar25 Years of Service

Etheria M. White25 Years of Service

Yoma Johnson25 Years of Service

Women's History Month, POWER Hon-oring Gloria Rice (second from left) (l-r) Dana Martinez, Kaye Strawther, Nereida Norris (pictured in back) Ed Thompson

OUTPOSTPage 6 May/June 2011

Tonya M. BrooksEditor/Steward Tour I

Violence Against Women in theWorkplace

Violence Against Women in the Workplace

Violence in the workplace has become an issue for employees and unions. Although workplace violence is receiving increased attention in the media, the incidents that make the news are only the tip of the iceberg.

According to the National Crime Victim-ization Survey (NCVS), some 1.7 million American workers are victims of violent vic-timizations. Workplace violence accounted for 18 percent of all violent crime between 1993 and 1999. In 2000, 13,935 women had injuries or illnesses involving days away from work that resulted from assaults and violent acts (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS]). Homicide is the second-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries for women, after traf-fic accidents. Thirty-one percent of women who die at work are killed as a result of an assault or violent act. In 2003, 119 women died as a result of an assault or violent act in the workplace (BLS).

12.7 percent of all female violent crimes were committed while the victim was working or on duty. These acts of nonfatal violence include rape and sexual assault, robbery, ag-gravated assault and simple assault (BLS). Some 36,500 rapes and sexual assaults oc-cur annually in the workplace. In 80 percent of these incidents, the victim was female (NCVS).

Nurses experience workplace crime at a rate 72 percent higher than medical technicians and at more than twice the rate of other medical fieldworkers (NCVS).

Professional (social worker/psychiatrist) and custodial care providers in the mental health care field were victimized while working or on duty at rates more than three times those in the medical field (NCVS). Junior high

school teachers have a rate of victimization in the workplace similar to convenience store clerks—54.2 versus 53.9 per 1,000 workers (NCVS).

The data on workplace violence is scattered and inadequate to understand the extent of the problem. Many acts of nonfatal violence and threats in the workplace go unreported be-cause there is no coordinated data-collection system to process the information. More than 936,000 of the nearly 2 million workplace crimes committed yearly were not reported to the police. Rape and sexual assaults were reported to the police at an even lower rate of 24 percent.

Four Types of Workplace Violence

1. Violence committed by clients or pa-tients. This category includes customers, clients, patients, students and inmates. These incidents occur largely in the health care industry, such as nursing homes or psychi-atric facilities, where the victims are often patient caregivers. Police officers, prison staff, flight attendants and teachers also are examples of workers who may be exposed to this type of violence.

2. Violence associated with robbery or other crimes. The perpetrator has no le-gitimate relationship to the business or its employees. Convenience store clerks, taxi drivers, security guards and “mom and pop” store employees are exposed to this type of violence.

3. Violence among co-workers or man-agers. The perpetrator is an employee or former employee of the business who at-tacks or threatens another employee in the workplace. Although this type of violence accounts for about 7 percent of all workplace homicides, these incidents receive intense media coverage.

4. Domestic violence that spills over into the workplace. The perpetrator usually does not have a relationship with the business but has a personal relationship with the intended victim. The U.S. Department of Justice esti-mates that husbands and boyfriends commit 13,000 acts of violence against women in the workplace every year.

PreventionThere Are Three General Approaches to Preventing

Workplace Violence:1. Environmental: Adjusting lighting, en-trances and exits, security hardware, panic alarms, closed circuit TV cameras, mobile phones for field personnel and other engi-neering controls to discourage would-be assailants;

2. Organizational/administrative: Develop-ing programs, policies, work practices and training aimed at maintaining a safe working environment, including additional staffing, a ban on working alone, recording accidents, verbal abuse and “near misses”;

3. Behavioral/interpersonal: Training staff to anticipate recognize and respond to conflict and potential violence in the workplace.

Taking Action, Preventing Violence

It is the employer’s responsibility to maintain a safe workplace free of violence. Supervisors should not assume violence is just “part of the job” and that workers shouldn’t complain.

Work with your union. If you experience workplace violence and are represented by a union, talk to your union representative. Urge other members to document all assault incidents, close calls and abusive behavior. Union representatives should discuss the violence with management, using the re-cords, and develop a plan to prevent future workplace violence. If management refuses to respond, the union should take action: file grievances, develop contract language, build coalitions or go to the media. Unions also can help address workplace violence by educating their members on violence preven-tion measure and ensuring full reporting and documentation of incidences.

Unions have been pushing for the recognition of workplace violence as an occupational issue, not just a criminal justice issue, and support voluntary implementation of work-place violence prevention programs.

In Union Solidarity

OUTPOST Page 7May/June 2011

Rosie PruittSergeant at Arms/Steward Tour I

Tax Delinquent Bill Aimed at Federal Workers

Retirement

Dana MartinezHealth Plan Director

RetirementWhat You Need To Know WhIn it’s Time To Retire

For those who are thinking about retirement, here’s some information about the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program require-ments for continuing your health insurance when you retire.

Retirement EligibilityEnrollment continues with the same benefits

when an employee retires if the employee remains in a FEHB program plan during retirement. An annuitant who voluntarily cancels his/her enrollment in the FEHB program can never re-enroll.

Basic Rules of Eligibility For Continuing Health Benefits

Into Retirement Are:The Employee must retire on an immedi-• ate annuity. If the employee retires on a deferred annuity he/she is not eligible to continue health benefits even when the annuity begins. The monthly annuity check must be • sufficient to cover the cost of the health insurance premiums.The annuitant must have been continu-• ously enrolled in a FEHBP plan for at least 5 years immediately preceding retirement or from the individuals 1st opportunity to enroll. *OPM has the

right to waive the 5-year requirement at its discretion if exceptional circum-stances exist.

As a member of the FEHB program you have various options about how you want your benefits to pay out, please be sure to review the OPM guidelines on survivor benefits to ensure that your loved ones are covered.

For more information on the FEHB program and retirement, please refer to the OPM website at: www.opm.gov/retirees.

For more information on how APWU Health Plan works with Medicare please contact the Health Pan to obtain your Medicare guide or visit www.apwuhp.com to download a digital copy.

Contact information(800) 222-2798custser@apwuhp.com

Tax Delinquent Bill Aimed at Federal Workers Passes House Oversight and

Government Reform Committee (APWU Web News Article 045-2011, April 15, 2011) Anti-labor legislators are endorsing another measure aimed at federal employees — including postal workers. On April 13, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, led by Chairman Darryl Issa (R-CA), approved The Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2011 , which would require the Postal Service and other federal agencies to terminate any employee who is delinquent in his or her federal taxes.

The bill would exempt workers on active military duty and employees who are making a “good faith” effort to pay their taxes.

Support for the bill, which was introduced by Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) on February 28, was split along party lines. Democratic representatives deemed the measure unnecessary, as existing laws al-low for garnishment procedures in cases of unpaid taxes. They also pointed out that terminating delinquent employees would be counterproductive, because it would deny the government any real opportunity to collect taxes from fired workers.

Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) offered an amendment that would have excluded postal workers from the measure because they are not paid with tax dollars. He also argued that any actions taken against postal workers would be subject to their collective bargaining process. Those arguments fell on deaf ears and the amendment was defeated by Republicans on the committee.

The only concession was the adoption of an amendment that would require a waiting period before the termination process begins. The delay would give employees the opportu-nity to pay the delinquent taxes or challenge the liability. Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA) offered an amendment calling for a 90-day waiting period, but the committee settled on 60 days.

Despite acknowledgement by both parties that more than 96 percent of current federal and postal employees pay their taxes on time, the bill will now go before the full House for a vote. A companion bill, S. 376, has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) and has been referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Reform.

OUTPOSTPage 8 May/June 2011

Not the First Time

Ben MartinezClerk Craft Director

Guffey to Testify Before House Committee

Chairman Blasts Contract as Too Generous to Workers (APWU News Bulletin 04-2011, March 31, 2011) APWU President Cliff Guffey has been asked to testify about the union’s tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, whose powerful chairman has publicly condemned the new agreement and said it is too generous to postal employees.

Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) said the April 5 hearing will “examine the sustainability and affordability of the postal workforce, in light of the USPS’s looming insolvency and poor financial outlook.” Contract renewals present the best chance for the USPS to find savings, Issa said, but the Tentative Agreement “looks like a missed opportunity.”

Representative Dennis Ross (R-FL), chair-man of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy, also expressed “serious concerns” about postal employees’ pay.

The union president was undaunted. “Postal workers are part of the great American middle class. Political leaders should find ways to create new and better jobs – they should not try to knock ours down,” Guffey said.

“The Tentative Agreement is an example of the benefits of Collective Bargaining – even in difficult economic circumstances,” he added. “The proposed contract is good for postal workers and good for the USPS.

“The union’s main goals were to preserve jobs and to lessen the hardships associated with excessing. The Tentative Agreement will help accomplish those objectives. The USPS is seeking to reduce costs and increase

workforce flexibility. The agreement will help management meet its objectives as well,” he said.

Not the First Time The April 5 hearing will not be Representa-tive Issa’s first incursion into the APWU’s collective bargaining process. In September 2010, during negotiations, he wrote in a guest editorial in the Washington Times that, “No union has or ever will lobby for a layoff, so it’s up to USPS management and Congress to demand concessions.”

Citing the USPS’ financial difficulties, Issa said in September that the “postal lobby” would seek a “bailout” of the USPS, and he implied that employees are the source of the Postal Service’s financial difficulties.

Nothing could be further from the truth,” Guffey said. “As we have pointed out many times, the requirement to pre-fund future retiree healthcare liabilities is the cause of the USPS economic crisis.

“This unique and unreasonable requirement of the Postal Accountability and Enhance-ment Act (PAEA) is pushing the Postal Service toward insolvency,” he said. No other federal agency or private company is required to make such payments, which cost the USPS more than $5 billion annually for 10 years.

“The Postal Service does not need a bailout, and no one has requested one – not the USPS, not its customers and not its unions,” Guffey added. “In truth, the USPS is bailing out the federal government.”

Two independent auditors have concluded that the Postal Service has overfunded its Civil Service retirement fund by $50 billion to $75 billion. If the USPS were permitted to apply those overpayments to the Postal Service’s future retiree healthcare obliga-tions, the agency’s financial crisis would be resolved. The Federal Employees Retirement System is also overfunded by approximately $9 billion.

“Postal workers did not cause the Postal Service’s financial difficulties,” Guffey said, “but our Tentative Agreement has features

that will help the Postal Service address them.

“Across the nation workers are being stripped of the right to collective bargaining,” he said. “We will not stand idly by and let the American dream slip away.”

Address ChangeChange Your USPS Employee AddressKeeping your address and contact informa-tion up-to-date is important. Now you can do it online anytime, 24×7. You can update your residence and mailing addresses, phone numbers, and emergency contacts on LiteBlue.

Log on to LiteBlue using your Employee ID and USPS PIN. Then click on the Change of Address/Phone/Emergency Contact link under Employee Resources. Your current information will be displayed on the Address/Phone/Emergency Contact form. To update your information, click the Edit button, and you’re on your way. Follow the prompts to review, save and confirm your changes. That’s it, you’re done.

Once you’ve completed your updates, you must close your browser window. By closing the browser you will be logged out of the Change of Address application and out of LiteBlue. Next time you log in, your updated information will be displayed.

Source: USPS

Unite

OUTPOST Page 9May/June 2011

Service Awards

Sandra Sanders30 Years of Service

Jesse Contreras40 Years of Service

Jose Garcia30 Years of Service

Cathy Garnett35 Years of Servce

Gloria Rice 32 + Years of Service

Rosie Pruitt25 Years of Service

Eddie BurrellBanking Sick Leave

Juan FraustoBanking Sick Leave

Beverly JordanBanking Sick Leave

Service AwardsContinued on Page 15

OUTPOSTPage 10 May/June 2011

Article X – Amendments

Section 1All Constitutional Amendments must be submitted to the Constitution Committee in typed written form for review in concurrence or non-concurrence by the Committee no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the next monthly union meeting(s) in which the Constitution may be amended.

Section 2This Constitution may be amended by submitting in typed written an original and duplicate of the complete proposed wording of the Article(s) affected in accordance with Section 1 Article X in the April, and October meetings. The proposed amendments shall be held over, after reading, until the next regular meeting when these proposals shall be voted on. A two-thirds vote of members present and voting shall be necessary to amend.

Section 3 Constitutional amendments, which have been previously submitted, voted on by the members and failed, will be disqualified if the same amendment is submitted within one (1) year from the date it was rejected by the membership.

Article XIII - Publication

Section 2.The appointment, resignation, or change of any existing committee or the formation of any new, permanent, or temporary committee, and any proposed Constitutional amendment changes shall be published in the following month’s issue of the Union newspaper.

The following Amendments were read and handed out in the April 17, 2011 General Membership meeting and voted on in the May 22, 2011 General Membership Meeting.

Proposed Constitutional AmendmentsApril 2011

Constitution Committee

Article III - Membership

Section 3. All members will be placed in one of the following four classifications:

Current Reading:

(B) Associate members: Federal classified employees may be accepted as associate members for Health Plan participation only. They shall pay Thirty-Five Dollars ($35.00) per annum for this privilege, five dollars ($5.00) of which shall go to the Local in the area where the federal classified employee is employed.

Proposed Reading:

(B) Associate members: Federal classified employees may be accepted as associate members for Health Plan participation only. They shall pay Forty-one Dollars ($41.00) per annum for this privilege, five dollars ($5.00) of which shall go to the Local in the area where the federal classified employee is employed.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence:

Constitutional AmendmentsContinued on Page 11

Withdrawn

OUTPOST Page 11May/June 2011

Continued From Page 10

Current Reading:

(D) Retired Members: All retirees who desire to become members of the APWU Retirees Department shall pay twenty-four ($24.00) dollars per year per capita tax to the National Union.

Proposed Reading:

(D) Retired Members: All retirees who desire to become members of the APWU Retirees Department shall pay thirty-six ($36.00) dollars per year per capita tax to the National Union.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence:

Constitutional Amendments

Constitutional AmendmentsContinued on Page 12

Passed

Article V - OrganizationCurrent Reading:

Section 1. (A) The elective offices of the Fort Worth Area Local APWU shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer,

Editor, Sergeant-at-Arms, three (3) Trustees and three (3) Craft Directors, one (1) from each of the three crafts comprising the APWU.

Proposed Reading:

Section 1. (A) The elective offices of the Fort Worth Area Local APWU shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, three

(3) Trustees and three (3) Craft Directors, one (1) from each of the three crafts comprising the APWU. Effective Jan. 01, 2013. With the election of new officers. When the end of the current term of office expires the changes will be incorporated.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence:

Withdrawn

Current Reading:

(C) The Executive Board shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, the three Craft Directors, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Editor.

Proposed Reading:

(C) The Executive Board shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, the three Craft Directors. Effective Jan. 01, 2013. With the election of new officers. When the end of the current term of office expires the changes will be incor-porated.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence:

Withdrawn

OUTPOSTPage 12 May/June 2011

Withdrawn

Constitutional AmendmentsContinued From Page 11

Current Reading:

(F) Appointed officers shall be APWU Health Plan Representative, Parliamentarian, Human Relations Director, Educational Direc-tor, Legislative Director, Organizational Director, and Workers Compensation Representative. Appointments shall be made by the President with the approval of a majority of the Executive Board.

Proposed Reading:

(F) Appointed officers shall be APWU Health Plan Representative, Parliamentarian, Human Relations Director, Educational Director, Legislative Director, Organizational Director, and Workers Compensation Representative, Sgt At Arms, and Editor. Appointments shall be made by the President with the approval of a majority of the Executive Board. Effective Jan. 01, 2013. With the election of new officers. When the end of the current term of office expires the changes will be incorporated.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence:

Current Reading:

(G) Each Craft Director shall be responsible for the appointment and removal of stewards within their respective crafts.

Proposed Reading:

(G) Each Craft Director shall be responsible for the appointment and removal of stewards within their respective crafts with the concurrence of the President.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence: Failed

Article VII - FinancesCurrent Reading:

Section 1.

(A) All officers and members shall be reimbursed for authorized expenses on behalf of the Local. Any person receiving reimburse-ment for LWOP from the Postal Service shall be paid at a rate equal to two (2) levels above their present level and step.

Proposed Reading:

Section 1.

All officers and members (A) authorized to be reimbursed for LWOP per the FWAL Constitution & By-Laws shall be reim-bursed for Constitutionally authorized LWOP or paid at a rate of ($20.00) per hour “In Lieu of LWOP” reimbursement. All compensation must be authorized in advance, documented, and approved by the President. The purpose for any

Constitutional AmendmentsContinued on Page 13

OUTPOST Page 13May/June 2011

Constitutional AmendmentsContinued From Page 12

hourly pay in lieu of LWOP must be fully documented on each occasion in order to receive the hourly compensation. Hourly pay for such work will be paid in lieu of LWOP. In no case will hourly compensation increase the total amount of hours authorized by the FWAL Constitution & By-Laws or result in any lost leave reimbursement from the local by said officer or member. No officer or member may be reimbursed for LWOP or receive pay in lieu of for overtime or more hours than normally working in their bid except where the FWAL Constitution & By-Laws specifically provide. Any person receiving reimbursement for LWOP from the Postal Service shall be paid at a rate equal to two (2) levels above their present level and step.(The change in only the final sentence will be effective Jan. 01, 2013).

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence:

Passed As Amended

Current Reading:

Section 5. (A) Monthly dues for members level 4 and below shall be two (2) hours pay at level 3, step J. (Effective February 16, 2008) (B) Monthly dues for members in level 5 and above shall be two (2) hours pay at level 6, step L. (Effective February 16, 2008) (C) Associate members shall pay full dues in accordance with sub-paragraph (A) and (B) above. (D) Any member failing to pay dues on or before the last day of the current month shall become delinquent. A member in arrears for a period of 3 months shall be notified 30 days in advance, by certified mail, of the specific date in which they will be required to bring their dues current or be dropped from the rolls.

Proposed Reading:

(A) Bi-Weekly dues for career members level 4 and below shall be one (1) hour pay at level 3, step J. ( Effective May 11, 2011 ) (B) Bi-Weekly dues for career members in level 5 and above shall be one (1) hour pay at level 6, step L. ( Effective May 11, 2011 )

(C) Bi-Weekly dues for Career Employees hired into the new pay scale in level 3 and above shall be one (1) hour pay. ( Effective May 11, 2011 )

(D) Bi-Weekly dues for PSE ( Postal Support Employee ) members level 3 through 8 shall be one (1) hour pay. ( Effective May 11, 2011 )

(E) Associate members shall pay full dues in accordance with sub-paragraph (A) and (B) above.

(F) Any member failing to pay dues on or before the last day of the current month shall become delinquent. A member in arrears for

a period of 3 months shall be notified 30 days in advance, by certified mail, of the specific date in which they will be required to bring their dues current or be dropped from the rolls.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence: Constitutional Amendments

Continued on Page 14

Passed

OUTPOSTPage 14 May/June 2011

Constitutional Amendments

Constitutional AmendmentsContinued on Page 15

Article VIII - Meetings

Current Reading:

Section 1.

In the interest of good fellowship and membership attendance, giving the maximum number of members the opportunity to attend meetings, the regular monthly meeting shall be held at 3:00 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month. There will be no December meeting.

Proposed Reading:

In the interest of good fellowship and membership attendance, giving the maximum number of members the opportunity to attend meet-ings, the regular monthly meeting shall be held at 3:00 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month. There will be no December meeting.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence:

Non-Concurrence:

Passed

Withdrawn

Article IX - Elections

Current Reading:

Section 5. Referendum Voting Procedures.

At the August meeting prior to the election, the President shall appoint an Election Committee composed of regular members who are not nominees for elective office or delegate to conduct an election under the following guidelines:

Proposed Reading:

Section 5. Referendum Voting Procedures.

At the July meeting prior to the election, the President shall appoint an Election Committee composed of regular members who are not nominees for elective office or delegate to conduct an election under the following guidelines:

Constitution Committee: Concurrence:

Non-Concurrence:

Continued From Page 13

OUTPOST Page 15May/June 2011

Constitutional Amendments

Failed

Continued From Page 14

Section 11.

Current Reading:

Section 11.

No Current Language.

Proposed Reading:

Section 11.

The Election Committee will keep all Ballots received in secure location until the date for opening and counting of ballots. The Election Committee will open and count the Ballots at the union hall within three days after the deadline to vote has expired. A detailed written accounting of the Ballots counted and the votes received by each candidate will be the official count. Each member of the Election Committee will be required to sign the completed election results. Any candidate or candidate’s designee may observe “ from an appropriate distance “ as determined by the Election Committee the counting of the Ballots. Any desig-nee must be in writing from the candidate and provided to the Election Committee at least one day in advance of the counting of Ballots.

Constitution Committee: Concurrence: Non-Concurrence:

Respectfully Submitted By the Constitution Committee:

Alvin E. Curtis

DiAnne Kuykendal

Ed Thompson

Service Awards

Not Pictured: Linda Allen Sutphen 25 Years of ServiceKevin Anderson 30 Years of ServiceRaymond Chadwick 25 Years of ServiceMary P. Ferguson 25 Years of ServiceRobert Payne 25 Years of ServiceDarlene Proctor-Seis 25 Years of ServiceJudy Walton 25 Years of ServiceLinda Webb 25 Years of Service

Service Award photos provided by: Christina Navarro

OUTPOSTPage 16 May/June 2011

Voter Participation ContestVoter Participation Contest

And the Winners Are…

(APWU Web News Article 064-2011, May 25, 2011) APWU President Cliff Guffey has announced the winners of the union’s voter participation contest. The challenge, intended to encourage participation in the ratification process, offered rewards to locals that were most successful in mobilizing APWU members to vote.

The contest provided that the top three locals in several categories would be rewarded, with the categories based on the size of the local. The program stipulated that any local that achieved 100 percent participation would be rewarded, and to be eligible, locals must have reached voting levels of at least 50 percent.

In the category of 1-49 members, 35 locals had 100 percent participation, and each will be awarded $200. They are:

LOCAL Percent Voting Price Local (UT) 100 Bonham Local (TX) 100 Newport Local (AR) 100 University Local (MS) 100 Iowa Falls Local (IA) 100Blair Local (NE) 100Bellows Falls Local (VT) 100Valentine Local (NE) 100Meredith Local (NH) 100 Radcliff Local (KY) 100 Roxboro Local (NC) 100 Fort Morgan Local (CO) 100 Fort Knox Local (KY) 100Charleston Local (IL) 100Pleasant Grove Local (UT) 100 Pagosa Springs Local (CO) 100Jacksonville Local (IL) 100 Havelock Local (NC) 100 Cody Local (WY) 100Las Vegas Local (NM) 100 Sandwich Local (IL) 100 Tucumcari Local (NM) 100 Eden Local (NC) 100 Carlinville Local (IL) 100 Brazoria Local (TX) 100 Colby Local (KS) 100 Liberal Local (KS) 100 Laurens Local (SC) 100 Alpena Local (MI) 100 Elizabethton Local (TN) 100Wolf Point Local (MT) 100 Montpelier Local (VT) 100 Manitowoc Local (WI) 100 Pierre Local (SD) 100 Anderson Local (IN) 100

In the 50-99 member category, the locals that will receive $200 rewards are: Southern IL Area Local 87 Kokomo Area Local (IN) 81 Norfolk Local (NE) 80

Voter Participation ContestContinued on Page 17

OUTPOST Page 17May/June 2011

Voter Participation ContestContinued From Page 16

In the 100-499 member category, the locals that are eligible for $1,000 rewards are:

Flint MI Area Local 84 New Castle Local (PA) 79 Johnstown Area Local (PA) 79

In the 500-999 member categoy, the locals that are eligible for $2,000 rewards are:

Madison WI Area Local 75 Northeast MA Area Local 74 Lehigh Valley Area Local (PA) 70

The locals with more than 1,000 members that are eligible for $4,000 rewards are:

Pittsburgh Metro Area Local 64 Milwaukee Area Local 64 South Jersey Area Local 62

Results were provided by the American Arbitration Association, which conducted the balloting under the supervision of the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee. The report was corrected by the American Arbitration Association on May 27, 2011.

APWU Testimony: Changes to Federal Workers Compensation Laws Would Negatively

Affect Postal WorksersAPWU Testimony:

Changes to Federal Workers Compensation Laws Would

Negatively Affect Postal Workers (APWU Web News Article 055-2011, May 12, 2011) Proposed changes to the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) “will negatively affect public servants and their families,” APWU Human Relations Direc-tor Sue Carney said in testimonybefore the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protec-tions. The Department of Labor’s proposed Federal Injured Employees Re-employment Act (FIERA), if adopted as written, would strip injured workers of benefits.

At a congressional hearing on May 12, “Re-viewing Workers’ Compensation for Federal Employees,” Carney enumerated significant deficiencies in the proposed legislation, stat-ing that the sweeping changes proposed in FIERA provisions would “bring additional favor to employing agencies; cause unneces-sary harm, in some cases irreparable harm, to injured workers and their families, and do

little to promote the non-adversarial program FECA is intended to be.”

“They should not be permitted to stand,” she said.

Among other sweeping changes proposed by the Department of Labor, FIERA would grant authority to place employees with temporary medical restrictions into OWCP’s vocational rehabilitation program; would permit a reduction in wage compensation even when workers are unable to find suitable work; and would reduce benefits for total and partial disability when injured workers reaches retirement age.

The APWU also objected to proposals that would corral all injured workers, even those with existing approved claims, into FIERA — regardless of their individual medical circumstances. In addition, the union opposed provisions that would reduce income from families of injured workers.

“Injured workers do not reap greater benefits, nor do they lack motivation to return to work when capable, as some have wrongly implied,” Carney testified. “In addition to the physical, mental, and emotional pain that workplace injuries bring, it is important to understand the losses compensationers presently suffer before we consider asking more of these workers.”

The APWU pointed out that the FECA rep-resents a long-standing agreement between the government and federal workers: Its primary purpose is to shield injured federal employees and their families from loss, while limiting the employers’ liabilities.

The Department of Labor failed to support its claims that the proposals would “produce potential cost savings of approximately $400 million over a 10-year period for the Ameri-can taxpayer,” Carney said. The APWU

APWU Testimony: Changes to Federal Workers Compenssation Laws Would

Negatively Affect Postal WorkersContinued on Page 18

OUTPOSTPage 18 May/June 2011

Headlines Predict Demise of USPSHeadlines Predict Demise of

USPS Legislative Action Needed(APWU News Bulletin 11-2011, June 6, 2011) Recent headlines that predict the Postal Service will collapse within one year demonstrate the importance of APWU mem-bers getting involved in legislative affairs, President Cliff Guffey said.

“To ensure the survival of the Postal Service — and our jobs — I urge each and every member to make a commitment to legislative action,” he said.

“The USPS is under attack by anti-labor politicians and some sectors of the business community,” Guffey continued. “It is crucial that APWU members get involved.

“When your local calls on you to visit your Congressional representatives, you must act as if your job depends on it, because it does,” he said.

Recent news stories suggest that the Postal Service’s financial problems will lead to the downfall of the USPS. Bloomberg Busi-nessWeek published an article on May 27 titled “The U.S. Postal Service Nears Col-

lapse,” which blamed the Postal Service’s financial crisis on labor costs. “The Postal Service’s business model [is] so badly bro-ken that collapse [is] imminent,” the article concluded.

Other news sources blamed e-mail for the Postal Service’s decline. A report on National Public Radio (NPR) said, “The U.S. Postal Service can’t shrink fast enough. Its revenues are falling and its losses are rising as mail migrates to the Internet.”

“The true cause of the Postal Service’s fi-nancial woes is the congressionally-imposed mandate that requires the USPS to pre-fund future retiree health benefits,” Guffey said, “but you wouldn’t know it from reading many of the recent articles about the USPS.

“Absent this pre-funding burden, the Postal Service would have experienced a cumula-tive surplus, despite falling mail volume and the worst recession in recent history,” he added.

“We must support measures that will enable the USPS to remain viable in the future, such as H.R. 1351,” Guffey said. The bill,

introduced by Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA), would correct postal pre-funding inequities.

We also support some provisions of S. 1010, introduced by Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE). The “POST Act” would address the pre-funding requirement by allowing the USPS to use overpayments to its pension accounts to meet the pre-funding obligations. It also would give the Postal Service authority to close post offices solely for financial reasons, and would require arbitrators to consider the financial health of the USPS when contract negotiations end in arbitration. APWU sup-ports the overpayment provisions, but does not support the bill entirely, as written. We will continue to work with Senators and staff to address the issues of concern to our members.

The union president urged members to get involved. “It is imperative that we contact our legislators to win support for bills that will provide immediate relief to the USPS,” he said. “It is essential to our future.”

Continued From Page 17

APWU Testimony: Changes to Federal Workers Compensation Laws Would Negatively

Affect Postal Worksers

refuted the figure, pointing out that not all of the costs related to workplace injuries are borne by taxpayers.

Establishing procedures that favor employers over injured workers does little to maintain a fair and equitable atmosphere, she said. “Shrouding them as ‘modernization, return-to-work and administration simplification’ is disingenuous.”

The union believes that the current law should be improved to create more meaningful safety and health mandates to protect workers, and provide better mechanisms to enforce them, Carney said. “APWU feels strongly that

the FECA should continue to strive to be a model program, not work to be comparable to insufficient state programs.”

The union offered suggestions to improve the program that would provide better training for claims examiners; improve outreach to employee representatives, physicians, and claimants; and grant OWCP authority to compel employers who have been skirting return-to-work obligations to comply.

“Before we consider passing legislative changes, we must ensure they are meaningful changes,” Carney said, “and examine how the consequences of our actions will impact workers and their families.”

Other witnesses at the hearing were Daniel Bertoni, Director of Education, Workforce and Income Security, Government Account-ability Office; Elliot P. Lewis, Assistant Inspector General for Audit, U.S. DOL Office of Inspector General; Gary A. Steinberg, Acting Director of OWCP, U.S. DOL, and Scott Szymendera, Congressional Research Service.

For more information about FECA, visit the Human Relations Deptartment pages at www.apwu.org.

OUTPOST Page 19May/June 2011

OUTPOSTPage 20 May/June 2011

Next Union /Auxiliary MeetingsJune 26, 2011July 24, 2011

August 28, 2011September 25, 2011

October 23, 2011Executive Board: 1:30 p.m.

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Fort Worth, Texas 76161

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APWU POWER MeetingJune 26, 2011July 24, 2011

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