HISTORY CORNER

Techniques of Scheme Study
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This 1968 booklet is a good reminder that we are part of a craft and this is not "just a job" to us.

News Watch
It's Your Business

Follow the Money Trail

News Watch
Your Work Environment

Are you stressed out at work?

WHERE MAIL GOES TO DIE: PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS FRONT STORY

December 1, 2008 - What many of us have been complaining about for months has finally hit the front page news: mail is being intentionally delayed and then hidden or "looped" from office to office in an attempt to cover up the disastrous understaffing at the Philadelphia Plant and mismanagement in the Philadelphia District.

Read Monday's story

December 2, 2008 - The Daily News received a flood of customer complaints following the publication of their story about delayed mail at the plant on Monday, and will be publishing a follow-up story each day.

Read Tuesday's story

DID SOMEBODY SAY "PARCEL POST?"

November 28, 2008 - Sales and Service Associates across the country have been repeatedly instructed not to offer Parcel Post to our customers, and APWU representatives have been contacted by many SSA's complaining that they have been threatened with discipline and even termination if their supervisor catches them offering Parcel Post. This widely issued message is now denied by a USPS spokesperson on a hidden camera investigation conducted by NBC local news in Washington, DC.

Watch the hidden camera video on NBC local news in Washington, DC

FOLSOM SHOP STEWARD CATHY DEPROSPERO FEATURED IN EASTERN AREA UPDATE PHOTOGRAPH

November, 2008 - Folsom Shop Steward and Retail Associate Cathy DeProspero was featured in a photograph with Postmaster Jim Burke in the November 2008 issue of the USPS Eastern Area Update. The accompanying article chronicles Postmaster Burke's belated award of the Korea Defense Service Medal, honoring his service in Korea. The photograph depicts Postmaster Burke showing the medal to Ms. DeProspero.

Visit the Photo Gallery to view the Photo

CONGRESSMAN SESTAK SPONSORS H.R. 282: NO CONTRACTING OUT

Congressman Sestak has written a letter to President Hennessy announcing that he has co-sponsored House Resolution 282, which discourages the use of private contracts by the USPS. Please visit the link to the President's page above to read the full letter.

BUY UNION WEEK: November 28 - December 7

Each year, the AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department designates the 10 days following Thanksgiving—typically the heaviest retail days of the year—as "Buy Union Week" to encourage union workers and their families to shop for union made products and services when they buy for the Holidays. For 2008, that observance starts November 28th and runs through December 7th.

The September/December issue of the Label Letter published a DO BUY list of Union Made Gifts for the Holiday Season.

Visit www.unionlabel.org

ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

The Tri County First Area Local's annual children's Christmas party will be held on December 7, 2008 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at 801 Yale Avenue, Suite 519, Swarthmore. Come and join us for a fun filled afternoon with your children! Our special surprise Santa will bring a gift for each registered child. Lunch menu will include chicken fingers and cookies for all. Registration deadline is December 1. Please contact the union hall for more information: (610) 544-6415 or (610) 639-4406.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP CONSIDERS PROPOSAL TO RESTRUCTURE WITH FULL TIME POSITION

At the Tri County First Area Local general membership meeting in October, we discussed a proposal to request that USPS management release one Officer from their office on union time on a full-time basis, with no change to their USPS salary and benefits. The idea arose after discussions about proper representation for members of our smaller offices where there is no steward available. Due to a decline in membership and therefore dues money, the Local cannot always afford to pick up the tab to release a steward on LWOP to travel to the small offices.

Read the full proposal

USPS INVESTIGATES POSTMASTER GENERAL POTTER

(November 17, 2008) The USPS Board of Governors has hired an outside investigator to look into concerns about discounts the PMG may have received on his mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corporation. This investigation comes on the heels of the retirement of the nation's Chief Postal Inspector, Alexander Lazaroff, following an ABC news investigation into Mr. Lazaroff's postal expenditures.

Read the Associated Press story about the Postmaster General

APWU AND USPS COME TO AGREEMENT ON MYSTERY SHOPPER DISCIPLINE

(November, 2008) - The Tri County First Area Local, APWU, received a number of complaints in the past year from members who received discipline after failing retail observations, mystery shopper observations, and other similar programs used by USPS management to measure performance of Sales and Service Associates. The national APWU has signed an agreement with the USPS stating that the mystery shopper program AND any similar programs will not be used for the purpose of disciplining employees.

Read the Agreement

TRI COUNTY FIRST AREA LOCAL ELECTIONS

At the general membership meeting on November 19, all incumbent Officers were certified as elected without opposition to another three year term, as follows:

• President - Mark Hennessy
• Vice President - Carol Ann Santosusso
• Treasurer - John Patterson
• Recording Secretary - Rhonda Foreacre
• Administrative Secretary - Birgit Clarke
• Director, Industrial Relations - Lindamarie Peabody
• Legislative Director - Gail Ganiszewski
• Business Agent - Rich Brown
• Clerk Craft Director - Joanne Brown
• Maintenance Director - Tony D'Angelo
• Assistant Clerk Craft Director - Fred Heller

Incumbent stewards have also been certified for an additional term, with the exception of Norristown and Wynnewood. Elections are currently underway for these positions.

TRI COUNTY FIRST AREA LOCAL OFFICE HAS MOVED TO SWARTHMORE

Our union hall is now located at 801 Yale Avenue, Suite 519, Swarthmore, PA 19081. Visit the Photo Gallery for a picture of the condominium highrise housing our new office.

Directions

IT'S TIME TO CHECK OUT THE UNION PLUS HOME HEATING OIL PROGRAM

The Union Plus Home Heating Oil Discount Program offers an average savings of 15-25 cents a gallon or $300 a year, free full-service contract, a discounted first-year membership of only $15 (regular fee is $25), and $50 worth of free heating oil, for union members only. For more information, call 1-800-660-0691 or Visit the Web Site.