General Membership Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM at 918 Benjamin NE, Grand Rapids; meeting was opened with US Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.

Roll Call of Officers:

Present:
Ray Novakoski, President
James Sweeney, Recording Secretary
Richard Page, Executive Vice President
Sandy Henkel, Treasurer
Bill Scutt, Clerk Craft Director
Linda Norman, Associate Office Director
Scott Larabel, MVS Craft Director
Jim Myszka, Mainentance Craft Director
Mike Long, Sergeant at Arms

PRESENTATION:

Ray presented WMAL Member, Ted McKalip with a watch and plaque for his many years as a WMAL Union Member who is now going to enjoy retirement. Congratulations, Ted.

May General Membership Meeting minutes were accepted as written and posted.

New Members:

Natasha M Johnson, Clerk, Grand Rapids
Lee E Wright, MVS, Grand Rapids
Timothy A Wright, MVS, Grand Rapids

Bills: None.

Officers Reports:

Treasurer's Report: Treasurer's report was accepted as read.

Executive Vice President's Report: Coming off a week of well deserved rest. If calls were not returned, they will be now. June 12, 2002-Steward Training. New stewards coming on board.

Associate Office Director Report: Resolved three letters of demand at the Big Rapids PO. Still lots of problems in Big Rapids. Currently working on vacancy grievance, now at step two. Resolved one grievance in Holland, two more to follow. New step two rep for AO grievances.

Clerk Craft Director Report: Missed the last General Membership meeting. Received the decisions of four arbitration cases: three wins, one loss. Last month was very busy and next month will be busy also. Thank you to Michelle Gregory for all her assistance. Still fighting for steward's time. Still having problems with management adhering to the lawsuit settlement. Ray and Bill pre-arbed approximately 50 cases, please call if you have any questions concerning your case. Solidarity for Charity/WMAL Picnic coming June 09, at Huff Park. Local Negotiations are completed and went very well.

Maintenance Craft Director Report: Was not in attendance at last month's meetings due to representation at a 5,7,9 Committee meeting in DC. Automation/Mechanization Staffing Advocate coming June 18. A decision on custodial cleaning expected in August. Went to Holland to meet with management on MS47, recommendations will follow soon.

MVS Craft Director Report: Contracting issues still ongoing. Contract personnel driving LLV's to "check them out". Informed management and awaiting a response.

Legislative Director Report: Presented information on current legislation, Veterans information and informative web sites.

President's Report: A&E Committee survey has generated a good response. National publication going to a magazine style format with an upcoming photo contest and will now have an EDITORIAL section. Jim McCarthy states MAIL PROCESSING CLERK-5 will replace what is currently known as OCR/MAIL PROCESSOR, yet have not heard if finalized. Will be attending Presidents Conference this weekend in Vermont. Stewards training Wednesday, June 12. Thank you for your work on the Local Negotiations Committee: Dick, Bill, Jim M., Scott, Michelle Gregory, Steve Lang. Some language changes with Annual Leave in stations and small units. Also, changes in language concerning Holiday scheduling. Nothing has gone to IMPASS. Everything our committee asked for, we got. Solidarity For Charity/WMAL Picnic, June 09 at noon at Huff Park. Will continue to talk with management concerning the use of PTF's rather than casuals. FSM 1000 and VSM problems being looked at. Fred Quillin will be in charge replacing Samuel G Leone who is currently serving as District manager. Mike Crissman will be coming to MPO Tour 2 as well as other management shifts. Speaking with management on the "perfect window transaction". No General Membership meeting in July and August.

New WMAL Stewards: David Janes, Zeeland. Bruce Hunter, P1/Tour 1. New OWCP Rep: Jennifer Amos.

Committee Reports:

Audit Committee Report: Motion by C. Beemblossom and D. Kramer to accept the Audit Committee Report. Carried. Ray: Thank you to J. Birman, C. Gregory, Jim Hansma, S. Henkel and D. Page.

POWER Committee Report: Central Region POWER Committee will meet in Kansas City, July 12-15.

Cans for COPA: $47.00.

SOLIDARITY FOR CHARITY: This year's SOLIDARITY FOR CHARITY will be in conjunction with the WMAL Picnic being held June 09 at noon at Huff Park. Still in need of door prize donations and volunteers for cooking and clean-up. Tee Shirts and raffle tickets are for sale.

Correspondence:Letter from Larry Smith. Thank You from Corrine White. United Labor Day parade and picnic.

Unfinished Business: None.

New Business:

Motion to not have a General Membership meeting in July and August. Discussion. Carried.

Motion to distribute "big check" monies on three separate days in three separate weeks (one day per week) with unclaimed monies going into the general fund as recommended by the "big check" committee. Discussion. Carried.

Motion to send Ray and Bill to San Diego, CA September 9-15 for Advanced Arbitration training to include airfare, lodging, per diem, loss time, registration, applicable taxes, ground transportation from airport to hotel and back at an approximate cost of $2200.00 each. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by K. Hodges, C. Beemblossom to appoint Karen a delegate to the national in Minneapolis, MN at no cost to the local. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by C. Beemblossom, K. Hodges to spend up to $500.00 on rental of tent, tables and chairs, hotdog/pop tickets, candy for the United Labor Day parade and picnic on September 02. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by C. Beemblossom, J. Sweeney to spend up to $100.00 for a dunk tank for the upcoming Solidarity For Charity/WMAL Picnic. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by C. Beemblossom, M. Long to send C. Beemblossom and K. Hodges to the Central Region POWER convention in Kansas City, July 12-14 to include travel, shared lodging, per diem, loss time, registration and applicable taxes at an approximate total cost of $1300.00. Discussion. Call for question, Myszka, Sweeney. Carried. Motion defeated. Division. Motion defeated.

Motion by V. Schmidt, M. Long to send K. Hodges to the Central Region POWER convention in Kansas City, July 12-14 to include travel, lodging, per diem, loss time, registration, and applicable taxes at an approximate cost of $770.00. Discussion. Defeated.

Labor/Management:

Call Ray if you have an item for Labor/Management.

Drawings:

COPA: $62.00 total. $31.00, COPA. $31.00, Jim Myszka.

$10.00 gifts: J. Birman, G. Hendricks, T. Byrnes, S. Larabel and T. Larabel.

Adjourned at 8:38 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jim Sweeney
Recording Secretary

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