News From The Road...

November 16, 2007  

Well, we are already halfway through November.  It is amazing how times flies as we get older, or is that just me?  This may be the last edition of the ‘Citrus Center Express’ for 2007 so I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a joyous and safe holiday season.  This past year has seen quite a few changes within our Local and we look forward to representing each and every one of you by protecting your contractual rights in the future!  We now have a ‘new’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (light brown cover) and a ‘new’ JCIM (yellow cover).  Not having to go to arbitration with our contract was a monumental achievement as well.  We are served best by not having an outside Arbitrator making binding decisions on our contract.  Our Local has a few new Officers and they have been working hard to tackle the problems that we all encounter in our day to day work life.  I appreciate all of the hard work and diligence that they have put in for all of us.  Now, let’s get into your neck of the woods.

Auburndale:  Not too much happening here unless you count Frank Prevatt’s transfer to that office as a carrier?  That in of itself ought to be a bit noteworthy?!?

Arcadia:  All seems to be simmering down here.  We had a PTF converted to FTR and a couple of retirements.  We are still keeping a keen eye on this office so we don’t let anything get out of hand.

Avon Park:  Carole Clark, Steward, has been a bit quiet as of late so all is going pretty good here.  I have heard that the Haines City Postmaster, Minnette Williams, has just been crowned Postmaster of Avon Park.  Many of you may not know this but Minnette was one of our Stewards many years ago in that very same office.  We can only hope that she continues to remember where she came from and continues to treat every one fairly.

Bartow:  We are still hashing the PAA (Principal Assignment Area) issue out here.  We have appealed the Window shortage grievance of $1000.00 up to Step 3.  There were a couple of issues concerning overtime but I believe they have been worked out.  The ‘maximization’ grievance was denied but we are going to be re-appealing this very issue once again.  We received some valuable information at the Clerk Craft Conference that will make this process a bit more concrete.  I reported on this information in my other article in this newsletter under the heading of ‘Report from the Clerk Craft Conference’.

Bowling Green:  Not much to report from here other than we had one of our members transfer to Wauchula.  I am told that they are happy to have her as well.

Davenport:  I was successful in finally getting the (14) day suspension reduced down to a ‘verbal discussion’. Too long of a story for this forum I suspect.  Some questions pop up from time to time but no calls to me recently.  Remember to let me know if and when a question or problems arises!

Eagle Lake:  All seems smooth here!  The two girls are just plugging away without any problems.  Thanks!

Eaton Park:  Nothing to report here so no news is good news?

Frostproof:   I have not heard any rumblings from down here as of late.  Keep in touch if and when you have any questions/concerns.

Haines City:   Just a few minor issues here lately but I believe they are under control.  The Postmaster, Minnette, has departed and Rodney has once again taken over the reins.  Maybe he will wind up as the new Sheriff here….time will tell.  The maximization grievance in this office is still at the Step 3 level and certified for arbitration.  As we find out anything on this we will let everyone know.

Highland City:  This office seems to be in an area that will generate more revenue and hours in the upcoming future with the large Shopping Plaza that is adjacent to the office.  We will be keeping a keen eye on this and will act accordingly in so far as conversions and so forth.

Kathleen:  Quiet here.

Lake Wales:  We are still ‘hashing’ out the Lead Sales and Service Associate (LSSA) grievance.  This was remanded back to the Step 2 level for much more detailed information.  We are still attempting to prove our case for the level 6 position.  Overtime has been a bit of an issue but we took care of that and we had a Labor/Management meeting a couple of weeks ago as well.

Mulberry:  The PTR (Part Time Regular) that was somehow promoted to FTF (Full Time Flexible) has been converted to FTR.  I am not quite sure how all of that transpired, as illegal as it was, but the end result is the same as our corrective remedy would have been.  Once a Full Time Flexible position were to become vacant, it would just go away without any contractual obligation for reposting, but now the FTR position is a more secure position! 

Polk City:   All quiet here as well.

Sebring:  We have a few grievances that have been appealed to the Step 3 level.  Smitty’s and Debra’s ‘reverted’ positions and an OWCP issue are awaiting an answer from Step 3.  A (7) day suspension has also been issued and we are in the process of grieving this.  There seem to be a complicated set of issues in this case and we will proceed delicately.  I had a Labor/Management meeting here a couple of weeks ago with the Postmaster, and Billy Shannon, Steward, and I think we made some progress.  We will just have to see how things go here in the upcoming days and weeks ahead.

Winter Haven:  Richard is still ‘fit to be tied’ with the Labor/Management conditions here.  I believe we now have come to a clearer understanding with a plan to be set in motion.  We are also planning a District Labor Management meeting to be held very soon.  There are some issues here that need to be addressed and we are doing that.  We have some personality issues that we also need to address and this District L/M meeting should address those as well.  There is a back load of grievances that need to brought up to date and Richard will be working to achieve that goal.

Zolfo Springs:  We have a grievance on the conversion of a PTF to FTR that we sent to Step 3.  We also have another grievance for (139) hours of overtime pay to be paid to the affected (2) Clerks here.  I have just met at Step 2 and we will see what answer we receive and we will go from there.

Southside:  We just settled a grievance that amounted to the payment of approximately $9500.00 to be broken down between (9) Clerks for a limited duty Rural Carrier performing OUR work!  I have heard that the money is due any day now so let me know if it is not received within a pay period or two.  We are also grieving the issue of yet another Limited duty Carrier working in our craft.

Lakeland Plant:  We just received a positive settlement for the payment of $2800.00 to be paid to the (4) Clerks in BMEU.  This revolved around management bringing a ‘borrowed’ Bulk Mail person from Tampa and basically taking away work from our people.

  Well, as you can see, we are constantly working and watching what is going on all around each and every one of you.  The upcoming months will bring heavy mail volume and longer hours so try to get some rest.  Remember to talk to a non-member when you get an opportunity and ask them to join our collective voice.  We are much stronger with larger numbers. 

In Solidarity….Joe Paul/ Executive Vice President

‘News from the Road’

August 20, 2007

 It seems as though the summer is rapidly coming to an end…date-wise that is.  You wouldn’t be able to tell by way of the soaring temperatures, that is for sure.  I hope that everyone has been able to enjoy some of the Florida summer with some much deserved annual leave.  Unfortunately, the problems out in the field never seem to dry up. 

Auburndale:  Things seem to be pretty calm as of late.  I spoke to Tom down there and he says all seems to be ok….for now anyway.

Arcadia:  We had another retirement (Fred) and of course, another ‘reversion’ of a ‘needed ‘position!  We just filed a Step 1 on this and I will be proceeding to the Step 2 level within the week.  According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement Article 37.3.A.2 (page 168), there are a few things that must be done when management is attempting to revert a position.  In this case not all of the steps were followed and we are attempting to have this position put back up as it was!  I will keep you informed as we progress.

Avon Park:  Not much to report here.

Bartow:  We had a number of grievances remanded back to the Step 2 level from Step 3.  This will give us here locally, a chance to once again try to settle these without sending them up into the proverbial ‘black hole’ called Step 3.  We were successful in having one of the jobs changed from split off days back to Saturday-Sunday.  I am about to re-enter another round of Step 2 meetings concerning the ‘Principal Assignment Areas’ being placed on bids correctly.  We have some ‘new and improved’ contractual language in the ‘new’ contract and in the ‘new’ JCIM (Joint Contract Interpretation Manual).  I believe that we will be able to make some positive progress in this endeavor. 

Bowling Green:  Not much to report here.

Davenport:  I am still attempting to settle a (2) week suspension grievance here.  Remember, if and when you are having discipline issues, such as Letters of Warnings, Suspensions, and etc...Let me know!  Don’t just let these things go unchallenged because they will stay in your file for at least (2) years if not reduced. 

Eagle Lake:  All seems okay down there!

Eaton Park:  Another office that seems to be running fairly problem free….right now anyway.

Frostproof:  I have not heard any grumblings from here is a while…no news is good news….right?  Call me if there are any questions

Haines City:  We have a PTR Custodian position that has gone unfilled here.  Evidently, there is no one on the ‘e-reassign’ for that area.  The Postmaster is looking to go to the hiring register to attempt to fill this position.  It is a (30) hour per week job in case anyone is curious.  We have still not heard anything concerning the maximization grievance that we sent to Step 3 a few months ago.  I will inquire this upcoming week with the National Business Agents and let the affected individuals know the status of this issue. 

Highland City:  Looks like it may be time to get on with this ‘maximization’ grievance.  Apparently, there will probably be a lot more business coming in there with the addition of the Publix shopping center under construction a ‘stones throw’ from the back door of the office.

Kathleen:  Nothing to report here.  If anyone does any shopping in there it wouldn’t hurt to ask any of the Clerks there to join ‘OUR’ union. 

Lake Wales:  The Lead Sales and Service Associate position was abolished and we grieved this action!  This issue was also remanded back from Step 3 to the Step 2 level.  Apparently, the LSSA position was stripped away from the Clerk yet management still has her doing the core duties associated with the position!  Although this abolishment will require that the Clerk receive ‘save grade’ Level 6 for a (2) year span, we want this to remain as a level 6 position nonetheless.  Congratulations on our Steward, Lucy ‘Goosby’, on her recent marriage.  No relation to our past President Dennis Goosby by the way.

Mulberry:  We are having some issues here.  I have initiated a grievance on management not ‘reposting’ the vacant PTR position.  As I stated previously (in the Arcadia paragraph above) that there are steps that management must take in order to do away with a position.  Not only were those steps ignored but it was sneaky and kept under the radar…or so they thought.  There was a conversion of a PTR to a Full Time Flexible (FTF) but that is a contractual no-no.  Never should have happened.  PTR’s can not be promoted to FTF, maybe to a FTR, but not the latter.  I will be keeping an eye on this situation as we do have some strategy in the works.

Polk City:  Nothing to report here.

Sebring:  There are some issues here.  There was an Investigative Interview conducted the other day on ‘time card’ issues.  From what I saw and heard, this seems to be somewhat petty at best.  We will be checking into this right away though.  The Steward and Alternate are keeping their fingers on the pulse of this office so we will be in pretty good shape here.  I had a Step 2 meeting with the Postmaster Gary Jones a couple of days ago concerning the …you guessed it…a ‘reversion’ of yet another position!  Once again the steps were not followed nor was management anywhere near the contractual time frames for this action.  In my opinion, this looks like a pretty clear cut case for us. 

Winter Haven:  We are addressing some concerns here regarding Steward release time and the back log of grievances.  Lew Amis, Richard Cornell, and I will be attempting to get some resolves on an array of issues in the next couple of weeks.  The grievance committee will be meeting next week to attempt to look these (70 plus) cases over first prior to our meeting with management.  I will report in my next article on the progress.  There is a ‘Removal’ case that Lew Amis just appealed to Step 3 and a couple of people with ‘Letters of Warnings’ that Richard is working on.  I posted a couple of letters on the Union Bulletin Boards in Winter Haven and the Florence Villa Station for people wanting to take a more active role in ‘YOUR’ union.  We could use some Alternate Stewards and we will train you and give you the tools to be confident and efficient.  Let me know as we welcome your assistance.

Zolfo Springs:  I have filed a ‘maximization’ grievance here and am meeting on it at the Step 2 level next week.  Apparently, the (2) PTF’s (as there are no FTR’s) here are each working (40 plus) hours per week and have been for years!!!   Management has even admitted, in writing, that they also utilize Rural Route Carriers on an average of (15) or so hours per week in the Clerk Craft.  I am attempting to get both of the PTF’s converted.  I will keep you updated as well.

Southside Branch:  I have a grievance being presented at the Step 2 level concerning a ‘limited duty’ carrier working (40) hours per week in OUR Craft.  This is ‘OUR’ work and we are just sick and tired of management dumping every injured employee into the Clerk Craft without attempting to first utilize them in their own craft.  We are attempting to question management on each ‘limited/light’ duty employee that is not in our craft, that is performing Clerk craft functions.  There is a format of (70) questions that we are going to be asking of management.  With management constantly reverting Clerk jobs and giving away our work, we must work at preserving ‘OUR’ jobs and ‘OUR’ futures.

Downtown Station:  We were successful in removing a Letter of Warning for attendance.  We were able to show that, not only was the letter ‘weak’, but that the dates in question were FMLA covered absences.

  As you can see, we are busy around the 338 area.  We are diligently working around the clock to make sure that all of ‘YOUR’ contractual rights are preserved and that we are as comfortable as we can be at our workplace.  Remember, if and when you have any question; feel free to ask one of your Stewards or Officers.  No question is a bad question.  Keep checking ‘YOUR’ website at

www.ccal3799.com for updated information and etc...  We are here for you!!!

In Solidarity…………..Joe Paul/Executive Vice President

News from the Road

By Joe Paul

Executive Vice President

May 2007

  By the time you are reading this article we all should have received our ‘retroactive’ pay in the May 18^th paycheck.  We have not seen any hardback Collective Bargaining Agreements (contracts) yet either but we have been told that they are in the process of being printed.  As always, there has been a lot of activity in the field concerning grievances and etc.  At the present time we are in the process of trying to get the Local Memorandums Of Understandings (LMOU’s) negotionated and ‘tightened’ up a bit.

It has been (6-7 ) years since they have been able to be opened up so we want to make sure we get a good look at them.  Well, lets look at what has been happening in our area.

Auburndale:  No grievances to report on at this time.  We are planning on attempting to add some additional language concerning annual leave and some other incidental items in the upcoming couple of weeks.

Arcadia:  A new Postmaster has been appointed here.  Her name is Cathy Hague and she was detailed here about (4) years ago.  This office has historically never had its bids documented so as to make heads nor tails of who does what and when’s and even the where’s.  The Postmaster, along with Lew Amis and myself, looked in the bids and had them worded properly and done as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  They went up for bid and were awarded accordingly.  Of course there were some minor issues with a couple so they had to be re-posted but the dust has settled and now they are complete.  We are in the process of grieving the ‘reversion’ of Nate’s bid due to his retirement.  The ‘reversion’ is not only improper, but untimely as well. 

Avon Park:  The Postmaster here is going to be detailed to the Sebring Post Office due to Barbara Greenwell’s upcoming retirement.  No word yet on who will be the OIC here but we will stay on top of that.  An issue arose concerning management assigning a PTF Clerk to carry mail for a couple of days.  I have been told that the Carrier Steward did not have a problem with it so why should we?  We care if the PTF Clerk does not get hours of work as long as it doesn’t hurt our Craft people.  Although I am quite sure it is improper from the get go, we just want to look out for our own people.  After talking with the Supervisor the decision to utilize this Clerk to carry mail was squelched!!

Bartow:  As always a hot bed of activity.  I must have (13) different grievances going on in this office at the present time.  They range from the ‘bids being posted incorrectly’ to ‘overtime’ to ‘maximization’.  We are exploring new avenues to thwart this blatant disregard of the National Agreement.  I will update everyone as the resolves start rolling in.

Davenport:  We had some questions concerning overtime and PTF’s here lately but I believe I have handled them as they came up.  If there are any more questions and or concerns here I need to hear from you.

Eaton Park:  Nothing new to report here.

Eagle Lake:  A couple of questions here but all seems to running smoothly.

Haines City:  We have sent the ‘maximization’ grievance up to Step 3 and now we are waiting to hear back on that issue!!  We also want that vacated Custodial position posted immediately!  I have been in touch with the Postmaster concerning this. 

Highland City:  Nothing much to report except that the ‘maximization’ issue is still being looked into.

Frostproof:  Not much to report here lately.

Mulberry:  Call me if there are any questions and/or concerns.  I have not heard of any problems so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Lake Wales:  The issue of the Lead Sales and Service Associate (LSSA) position being abolished is a problem here.  There is and was no contractual reason to abolish this bid held by the Senior Clerk.  It seems as though, in my opinion, that management just wanted to strip away the Level 6 title and still continue to have the Clerk do basically the same job?!   We are at the Step 2 level as of this writing. 

Polk City:  No much to report here except that the Postmaster had a pretty bad stroke over the Easter holidays.  Our prayers are with her and her family and we hope for a speedy recovery.

Wauchula:  We were successful in having the PTR position reposted.  Management had decided that they didn’t need to repost but we prevailed through the grievance procedure.  We hear that Zak has retired but no one seems to have heard much from him lately.

Winter Haven:  Richard has a multitude of grievances in various stages of the grievance process.  Apparently, management is not giving him the Steward time that is required to handle these issues.  We are attempting to get that resolved in the very near future. 

Zolfo Springs:  I sent a ‘request for information’ down to the Postmaster requesting an array of things relevant to maximization.  Apparently, the PTF’s here have been working (40) plus hours for far too long and now it is time to pursue this through the grievance process.  I will update as we move forward.