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NEWSLETTER OF THE NJI&BMC BRANCH OF LOCAL 300 “LETS TURN IT AROUND”
VOLUME 17, NO.13 80 COUNTY ROAD J.C.N.J 7097 SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 (201) 653-1767, IN HOUSE 5082,5083 GRADY R. FITZGERALD, BRANCH PRESIDENT FAX NUMBER (201) 714-4869 BRANCH WEB SITE ADDRESS http://www.l300nji-bmcbranch.org/
BRANCH PRESIDENTS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS
I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer. It flies past real fast, so take advantage. Before we know it school will be starting and the fall weather will be with us. Well things continue to change at a rapid pace here at the Bulk. You might recall that just a few mere months ago the situation in the International building was looking rather bleak to say the least. I really thought that we were in danger of losing a few of the SPBS machines. Fortunately, due to the efforts of some of the Managers here at the facility, we now have new mail coming in from West Jersey, Brooklyn, Morgan and DVD. This has completely brightened the picture for that building. The threat of losing the SPBS machines has all but disappeared. Rather then facing the prospect of losing Mail Handler jobs, new jobs are being posted. The next round of Mail Handler bids will include culling jobs, which will be posted on Tour I. The addition of the DVD mail will add a lot of mail for the SPBS machines. So for once I can report to you that things are looking brighter for Mail Handlers at this facility. This also means that the International Tour III will not be disappearing as many had thought. In the Military building we are now processing all the Military Priority Mail, which has greatly improved the situation there. The addition of all this new mail has put the plans for the new tours in the Bulk on hold, as the facility is facing a severe shortage of Mail Handlers. Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture and how it’s all connected. That’s why it’s prudent to think before you leap. My job as Branch President is to look and evaluate how the Mail Handler craft will be affected both in the short and long term. To focus only on the short -term results is crisis management which more often then not results in mistakes being made, many time to the detriment of the Mailhandler Craft. A classic example of this is when I received a petition from the Mail Handlers in the International Building Tour II. While it was true that I pre-arbitrated an agreement that returned sweeping duties on the SPBS to the Mail Handler craft with a provision that all machines will be staffed with nine Mail Handlers. If you recall this case was dying on the vine. However thru the efforts of Vice President Paul Hogrogian and President Larry Adams and myself we were able to breathe new life into the case and eventually Management choose to pre-arbitrate the case in favor of the Mail Handlers. At the time, that the agreement was signed the situation in the International Building was at it’s worse. Then I received the petition from the members on the floor. I was seriously concerned with losing at least one or maybe two of our SPBS machines in addition to the one we already lost. That would have meant the lost of approximately 40 Mail Handler jobs between the two tours. I spoke with the SMDO about the situation and she stated that she was attempting to get additional mail into the facility. She requested that we bear with her while she attempted to get more mail, I agreed. Now, I could have leaped, filed Un-Fair Labor Practice (ULP) charges and demanded that the SPBS machines be manned with the nine Mail Handlers that was agreed too. However I felt it was more important for the Mail Handlers in the facility if we backed off on this to see if more mail could be brought into the facility. Fortunately it turned out that now there is more mail coming to the facility and Mail Handler craft jobs have been preserved.
On top of this, we have a serious lack of Mail Handlers in the facility and with it being the peak vacation. Management often has to juggle people from one operation to another. I have repeatedly requested that additional Mail Handlers be hired. We are severely short on Tour II and III in the International Building as well as on Bulk Tour III. But I must tell you that the situation for the Mail Handler craft is a lot better today then it was just a few months ago. Next month who knows? But you can rest assured that your Stewards and Officers will be working at every level to protect our craft and to keep you posted. It may not all be good news but it’s not always bad either. Thank you for your time it took to read this. Grady R. Fitzgerald Branch President NJI-BMC Branch
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
As part of the new clothing allowance program, employees are reminded not to discard the credit card that everyone was issued. There will be no more paper clothing allowances. Each anniversary date, your card will be credited automatically, with amount negotiated during contract negotiations. So don’t lose or throw away the card. Also if you fail to use your clothing allowance before your next anniversary date you lose it! So use it! If you wish to check your balance there is an 800 number on the back of the card, simply call the number and you will be told your current balance.
NEW JERSEY STATE REPRESENTATIVE
The Local Executive Board has decided to conduct a non-binding straw poll vote to select a replacement for Brother Wally Merwin, who recently passed. The Constitution provides that the Local Executive Board shall select a replacement if a vacancy should occur. With Brother Merwin’s untimely passing there is a need to replace him on the Local Executive Board. There is less then a year remaining before the next Local wide election of officers. Rather then simply appoint someone to fill the position the Local Executive Board has decided to conduct a non-binding straw poll vote to allow the members to have a say on who the replacement will be. It was stated that it was the more democratic way to go. The first occasion was when previous President George Baker was forced out of office. At that time there was no talk of democracy, or any mention of giving the members a say. The Board simply appointed our present President Larry Adams. No mention of democracy then or that the members should have a say in who should be the next President. The other occasion was when they needed a replacement for Recording Secretary, the Board appointed Patricia Hunter, who, just happened to not meet the requirements of the position (she wasn’t current in her dues.) and a waiver from then National President, the notorious Glenn Berrien had to be obtained.. Again no mention of democracy then or that the members should have a say on who the replacement should be. Now don’t get me wrong I have no problem with more democracy in the Labor movement. I’m all for it! My concern is that it should be evenly applied and not just when it is politically expedient for the concerned parties. Consistency!! Consistency!!! Consistency!!! Recently we have had a few Straw Poll Elections when Branch Presidents needed to be replaced. This is good and I encourage it, but this practice too has not been consistently applied. We have had, then Administration Vice Presidents who were appointed by the Executive Board. The point that I’m trying to make is that we as a Union should be consistent with what we do. You don’t do things one way one time, then another way another time. Again I say consistency! Not political convenience!
An argument can be made, that to conduct a straw poll vote during the peak vacation period will result in an extremely small turn out. Another factor that should be considered is the cost involved. With less then one year of the term left, cost should be considered. As many of you are aware our Local lives from dues check off to dues check off. On at least one occasion the Local has had to request that the National give us an advance on the next dues check off so that we could make payroll. Despite these arguments the decision to conduct a straw poll vote has been made. Nominations have been solicited and there are eight candidates seeking the position. We have yet to receive any time frame or procedures that will be used to conduct the vote hopefully they will be forth coming.
CAN WE SHOW A LITTLE CONSIDERATION Once again it has become necessary to ask those of you who drive to show some consideration for your co-workers who take public transportation and then have to make that long walk. When it’s raining out and the lakes have formed please slow down when passing people who are walking. You wouldn’t like to be slashed would you? Well they don’t like it either so lets be a little considerate. Thanks for your cooperation.
MAIL HANDLER VOICE TEE SHIRTS Are now on sale. We have two colors available black with gold lettering and ash gray with maroon lettering. Sizes are x-large, xxl, and xxxl. All are priced at $10.00. See any Steward to place an order. LABOR DAY PARADE LETS SEND THE BOSSES A MESSAGE In this current period of corporate aggression where everywhere you look or turn there is something bashing public employees and overstating the strength of private sector. It’s urging buying stocks, privatizing, downsizing and contracting-out. On the real tip, this climate is not the progressive solution for all the people or even most of the people. For these reasons, we as wageworkers aren’t swayed, by utopian outlooks. We are focusing on our future by organizing our fellow wage earners into stronger and larger organizations. Labors big challenge is to assert our voice in the future direction. To do this we must realize our potential. Labors strength is our numbers. Our potential, rest in our mass being organized focused and ready when called. Until we pull it together we will get no respect at the bargaining table or in general. Getting our act together is what Labor Day began as (the struggle for the 8 hour day) and what workers must reaffirm today as we move to up the ante in our relationship with employers. Putting the strength of labor on display is necessary! Our presence should stretch from 44th St. all the way to 72nd Street and beyond. No one should be at work! How can you expect respect for our condition when the call is made for solidarity and some of you are no shows or like sheep go to work? Why should the employers be concerned? They’re confident you’ll do just what they want. Until we turn it around by standing up for our future it’ll be no progress. Labor Day should be our collective message to the employers “things must change”! This year our assembly point will be East 45th and 5th Ave. Assembly time will be 11:30A.M. This year we’re not the last group to march. We’ve been moved up to Sector II. It’s very important that we get a decent turnout for the parade. These parades have always been a fun event. Refreshments will be provided as usual. Many members bring their children and spouses. So come out and join us, and the rest of the Labor movement. We have no contract, come out and express your outrage. Many Unions get hundreds of their members to turn out. We usually turn out around 50 members and for a Union of our size this is an embarrassment. You want a strong Union you have to make it strong by supporting your Union! Every year we hear all kinds of excuses and reasons why you the members can’t make it. Well the Teamster members make it. The Plumbers and Electrical workers make it. Maybe that’s why they have strong Unions and get good contracts. They support their Unions. They don’t make excuses. When their leaders ask them to show up at a Union event they’re there in force. The longer we make excuses and remain divided the odds are that we will continue to get unfair contracts. One percent of the wealthy, control this country. If we, the other 99% ever get our act together, we’d control it! A big turnout at the NYC Labor Day Parade would shake them up and loosen the purse strings at contract time. The Central Labor Council knows this, the Teamsters know this, and Electrical workers know this. When are Postal workers going to realize this??? Now the question is, will it be excuses or will you join with us to shake up the one percent? We’re doing our part, it’s time you stopped blaming others and do your part.
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