General Membership Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM at 918 Benjamin NE, Grand Rapids.
Meeting was opened with the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.

A moment of silence was observed for former NBA, Jerry Martin, whom passed away in December.

Introduction of Lynn Pallas- Barber, NBA from the Chicago area, who did the swearing in of the newly elected officers of the Western Michigan Area Local.

Roll Call of Officers:

Present: Jennifer Amos, President
Ronda Payne, AO Director
Amy Marcus, Executive Vice-President
Dan Quillin, Clerk Craft Director
Karen Hodges, Recording Secretary
James Myszka, Maintenance
Craft Director
Linda Chandler, Treasurer
Scott Larabel, MVS
Craft Director
Steve Karbutowski, Sgt-at- Arms
December General membership meeting minutes were accepted. Corrections were, Dan Quillin’s name was misspelled in the clerk craft director’s report, and the Vice-President Dick Page and Maintenance craft director Jim Myszka were not present at the membership meeting.

Applications for Membership

Grand Rapids TE clerks – Nikia White & Eric Bolton Sr.
Grand Rapids maintenance - Dan Reid
Grand Rapids retained member – Karen Goosen
Shelby clerk – Jennifer Atkins
Officer’s Reports:

Treasurer’s Report: Chandler: Approved as read. Hendrick’s questioned the amount of the retirees checking.

Maintenance Craft Director Report: Myszka: Willie Nelson new manager, micro manager. Problems at the Annex, problems with custodians filing grievances, P-2 new 5 year lease signed, new ventilation system, problems with custodian staffing. Vacancies not being filled. Depleted register, possible new in service test. Closing AMF, will lose a maintenance position. All moving to the P-2.

MVS Director Report: Larabel: Congrats to the new E-Board and Lynn Pallas –Barber for swearing us in. Dozens of Step 1 Grievances, the AMF closing impacts the MVS drivers, meeting set up with management. Step 2 will hire 4 new drivers by mid summer. Still short 1 driver, short 2 mechanics, having problems with religious beliefs, this person cannot work the weekends and so management will have to hire, contract states hours and duties. Mechanic opening in Muskegon. No one on register. Can’t remember last labor management meeting. Info requests are being totally ignored. Labor charge forms have been processed. Management will have to answer to labor board. PTF convertings, Casual in lieu of Grievance, struggle to keep our craft, talks of transportation being biggest cost, talks of contracting out vehicle maintenance.

Clerk Craft Director Report: Quillin: Thank membership for voting for me, I am fully commited to do the best job as Clerk Craft Director. Bill Scutt has been off work with back injury for last 8 weeks. This made the transition not easy. Had to go to Bill’s to pick up all files, keys and other things. Spent nearly a week at the union hall sorting thru 6 tubs of files. Still not done. Future plans, I will be spending time on all tours in all buildings, looking at grievances, Have already spent time on T-1 MPO and T-3 at the AMF. The APPS is up and running at the P-1. Even though mailhandlers have been designated to work the APPS, APWU is challenging that decision. Grievance has been filed locally for clerks to be compensated for all hours mailhandlers are doing the work. It has been stated by our own senior plant manager, Jerry Kubik, that the APPS is efficient enough to run as much mail as 2 SPBS, We all know the SPBS are run by clerks. Minneapolis, MN, was the first facility to get the APPS installed over a year ago. Still have major problems with jamming. One reason mailhandlers cannot cull the mail properly. It’s so bad they have assigned 2 maintenance employees per machine constantly. The USPS is so unhappy with the machine performance that they refuse to cut the check to Lockheed, the manufacturer, until they get it running right. Oklahoma City, OK, had theirs installed in July, still delaying the acceptance of the machine due to so many problems. I am sure our clerks will have it running smooth at the P-1.

AO Director Report: Payne: Would like to thank Linda Norman for all the hard work she put into this position for the last 4 years. From the volume of files and records that she gave, I can see it is no easy task and will be a lot of work. We were very lucky to have her as our representative. She honestly cared about our members and their contractual rights. We are still waiting for the requested information from the USPS at the National level regarding the excessing that occurred in six associate offices last year. Once the information is received, we will determine how to proceed with the grievances. I am looking forward to working with the new board.

Executive Vice-President Report: Marcus: Thank all that supported me in the election. Look forward to the next 3 years, have great confidence in this executive board. I know we will all work together in representing this local and what the APWU stands for. JCIM (joint contract interpretation manual) training will be Jan 20 and 21. Training manual that was jointly prepared by the APWU as well as the USPS to provide mutually agreed upon explanations on how to interpret the contract for each individual article. This manual will assist the stewards and officers. Stewards’ training is in the process of being scheduled sometime in February, wanted to schedule in January but JCIM training came up so I decided to wait until the JCIM training was complete so questions and concerns can be addressed. Jennifer, Linda and I will be attending Lansing’s JCIM training on February 7th. Would like to thank Ray, Dick, Bill and Linda for a spectacular job they have done as leaders of this local.

President Report: Amos: Thank the membership Thank Lynn Pallas-Barber for swearing executive board in tonight. Thank Ray personally for being my mentor and for the good advice and for the good job he did with the union. Will be following up with the AMF closing, hearing rumors there will be no excessing just changing duties to the new building Scott and I will be talking with management, meeting is scheduled. I will be keeping the membership well informed thru our web site, WMAL.org, bulletin board. Will be putting local agreement and constitution on it. The Labor Management meeting is scheduled for February 2. Thanked membership for supporting me in this election. Thanks for sending Chandler, Marcus and I to the treasurer’s training in California. Will bring back pamphlets.

Committee Reports:

Retiree: George Hendricks: Retiree Louis Smith passed away. The Retiree Chapter Election results were as follows: President, George Hendricks; Vice President, George Beattie; Secretary/Treasurer, Rose Cole; Trustee-3 years, Ed White; Trustee 2 years, Jim Weber Sr; Trustee 1 year, Ken Robach; Trustee alternate, George Abbott. Membership stands at 138, as of October 31, 2004. Members from the 493, 494, and 495 postal zip code area sections are getting acquainted and becoming more comfortable with each other. Am pleased with our progress in the last 9 years. The retiree chapter meets every other month, in February, April, June, September, and November. Lunch meets at 11:30 am. We still need to solidify a given day in the month as well as 5 or 6 good restaurants with separate room for doing chapter business.

P.O.W.E.R. Committee: Jennifer Gilbert: Wish upon a Star, we had a great response with the donations of toys, clothing and money for our family from Somalia. Murphy Shumpert was Santa and I dressed as Mrs. Claus. The kids had never celebrated an American Christmas; they were so tickled to see Santa. Mar Shultz and Karen Hodges were winners of our restaurant gift certificates that were donated by the Postal Service.

A & E Committee: Amy Marcus: The Christmas party was a huge success. Winners of the family door prizes were Leonard Crane, Marlene Fry and Steve Pitsch. Planning a Casino bus trip To Little River Casino in Manistee on February 20th. RSVP’s must be in by February 7th. Look for Posters with all the details and cost. Still looking for new members to join the committee, there will be a meeting January 27, at 6:30 pm. Jim Stoddard chairman of golf outing on May 22nd at the North Kent Country Club, all proceeds going to the Amercian Diabetes Association, our goal is $5000. Look for more information in the very near future.

Correspondence: Thank you from God’s Kitchen for the donation of $250.

Unfinished Business: Austin, Veteran’s Committee was ruled out of order; Jennifer will talk to Austin in regards to this.

New Business:

Board recommendations:

MSC to purchase a PDF scanner for the Benjamin Office, to spend up to $400. Discussion

MSC sponsor a logo on the back of t-shirt for the United Labor Charity Bowl.

MSD to purchase a new gavel. One was found.

MSC to pay Ray Novakoski, 24 hours of LWOP to train the President and Treasurer to do LM2, W-2’s and other tax forms.

Motion Austin, Second Pike; to reimburse Mike Long for loss sick leave and annual from using LWOP for union business while performing his job as editor and dental coordinator. Motion Karbutowski to table Second Gilbert until Mike Long can be there to explain to membership. MSC

Motion Birman Second Page; to give notice to the retirees of this local when district meetings are held. Discussion. Friendly amendment to contact the Local retiree’s chapter president when a function is being planned in Grand Rapids. It will be his job to contact the retirees. MSC

Motion Austin Second Hendricks; to have an independent auditor to audit the books. Discussion MSD

Point of personal privilege: Page: establish a time for checks to be cut by the treasurer. Linda will let people know. Hendricks: will need a copy of treasurer’s report and minutes sent to him.

Motion Austin Second Makovich In order for member to qualify for drawings that they be present through new business Friendly amendment unless they have a legitimate excuse. Discussion MSD

Jim Myszka wants to go on record that he donated his $25 drawing prize to the Wish upon a Star Tree Project.

Motion Marcus Second Pike to extend meeting MSC

No VOE entries this month.

Motion Karbutowski Second Austin. In order to be eligible for the regular monthly drawings you must be present. Discussion MSD

Labor Management: Meeting to be February 2nd. Any questions get then to President Amos.

Drawings:

COPA $30 Tammy Brynes $30

$10.00 door prizes: Scott Larabel, Jennifer Amos, Dick Page, Tammy Brynes, Jim Stoddard, Linda Chandler, and George Hendricks.

Meeting adjourned at 8:57 PM.

Respectfully Submitted

Karen Hodges
Recording Secretary

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