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President’s Column

Dave Darrough

Dec. 2002

Extension Is a Mistake

For the first time in the history of our Union, our national leadership has asked that we vote to approve an extension of our current agreement. In selling the contract extension Burrus stated, a year from now, the economy may still be soft, mail volume is likely to be low, and postal debt will remain high. By then President Bush’s appointees to the USPS Board of Governors will be in place. “The new board members favor privatization, Burrus noted, and “It’s the board of Governor,

Contract extension is just that, a contract extension. A contract extension does not allow new issues to be raised that we face today. Some of the issues that need to be raised are the Postal Service Attendance Programs that threaten postal workers each time you have to call in for sick leave or emergency annual. Things like applying for, or using FMLA. Things such as refusing to abide by contract agreements, reposting assignments and excessing employees. Although, the contract extension did place a moratorium on excessing out of the installation until May 2003, what happens after May? That’s only a 6-month extension that is affecting the lives of Postal Workers all over the country. While the Postal Service announced their intent to cut another 12,000 jobs, Burrus announced, there is a moratorium on excessing more than 50 miles in place until May 2003. Is this just another band-aid solution to a real problem that will continue to rise? One week after Burrus announced the moratorium on excessing, I met with Postal Management in El Dorado. In El Dorado, there is a vacant Full-time position being withheld for an excess employee from Manhattan, Kansas. I talked with that employee and he opposes being forced to move to El Dorado. If the excessing does not occur a PTF for over 15 years will be converted to the vacant Full-time position. As of the writing of this article, the Postal Service refuses to recognize the excessing moratorium.

Presently, we are faced with a backlog of grievances with no solution in sight. From our local alone, more than a dozen employees have been fired and no arbitration date has been set. Although the contract calls for four arbitration panels, to my knowledge we only have one panel, with one arbitrator to hear cases throughout the area. Our hands have been tied by a contract that I find very difficult to enforce. I have written letters and made many calls asking that the arbitration panels be filled. I have received only lip service. It hurts me to say that management’s stonewalling and the National Union Officers inability to enforce the written agreement have seriously hampered our ability to get cases heard. These are but a few of the problems that should and needs to be addressed in contract negotiations.

The officers of the Union were elected because the rank and file members believed they were up to the challenge of meeting management face on, enforcing the written agreement and having the ability without fear of their adversaries, to negotiate a fair and equitable contract for the members of the American Postal Workers Union.

Frankly I believe the contract extension will be ratified. I am saddened that very few have came out in opposition. I have always supported our national officers and will continue to do so. However, I think that an extension of the present contract is a mistake. As you have probably gathered, I am not at all pleased with the current contract and I cannot support an extension. Whether you agree or disagree with my assessment of the current contract extension, it will affect you and your livelihood. So please vote.