General Membership Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM at 918 Benjamin NE, Grand Rapids.
Meeting was opened with the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation. 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

January General membership meeting minutes were accepted with the following corrections:
Under the President’s report it should have read Scott not Scutt filed labor charges.

Applications for Membership:

Melvin Hammond CFS Clerk Grand Rapids
Gregory Corliss Retained member P-1 Annex

Bills: $224.85 Ideal Printing

Officer’s Reports:

Treasurer’s: Chandler: Read January and February Reports MSC

Executive Vice-President: Marcus: March 29th stewards training 1-9 pm, Retirement training, not sure if it will be opened up to all members.

Clerk Craft Director: Quillin: I want to thank Tina Myers, Jennifer Amos, Jennifer Gilbert and Amy Marcus for covering me while I was off on emergency annual for two weeks. Had a meeting scheduled with Ronda Reister to talk about placing PTF’s into residual vacancy jobs. Will have to reschedule. Personnel made a mess of placing employees into flat sorter positions the last bid cycle. Jennifer Gilbert worked hard to straighten it all out. There were 7 employees involved and some will be paid out of schedule premium for some of it.

Mailhandlers seem to be convincing management to sign off on grievances to be awarded work that should be Clerk jobs. Those grievances are not valid. The clerk stewards are filing grievances in the areas that mailhandlers are taking work. If it’s a new operation, it must be decided who’s work it is through RI399. If it had already been established through RI399 that it is clerk work. There is no valid grievance the mailhandlers can file to change that decision.

Had stewards training on Feb 14th. Think they were playing a game of “stump” the new Clerk Craft Director. District meeting this weekend, no clerk craft stewards were voted to attend but some are going on their own time and money, that’s how much some stewards value training and I commend them for their wanting to learn more.

I had a couple of 204B’s exceed 120 days and filed a grievance that their bid job go up. One was sustained and went up, Shalondra Shanks. The other, the employee went to craft a couple days and stated that he only did it to protect his bid job. Two more 204b’s jobs are in jeopardy and soon will be filing those.

Maintenance Director: Myszka: Was on vacation last month, I am filling custodian Vacancies. Bill Nelson, new maintenance manager will be sending some of our people to Norman, OK, for update training. Tour 2 no custodian on Sunday to do maintenance on the days MSDP class started up, 8 people in class. Starting to do re-staffing packages. Having problems with the APPS nationwide. Only 1 APPS has been accepted nationwide. Automatic feeders for the 100’s soon to come.

MVS Director: Larabel: Gave fair warning to management before filing the labor charges. Some problems have been resolved, Still having problems with information requests. Issues HCRS taking over MVS- still having problems. Clerks, mailhandlers, and supervisors transporting mail to the star routes. Grievance awards in the thousands of dollars have been made to the MVS drivers. Still need to hire 4 more drivers.

AO Director: Payne: We finally received the comparative work hour report from the USPS that was requested last September, regarding the excessing that occurred in six associate offices. I have given notice to management that we are seeking the retreat rights for the employees who were reassigned involuntarily in contradiction to the report. If the USPS does not comply with the request, I will be filing grievances in the affective offices.

We are still having problems with postmasters requiring clerks to sign documents when they re not scheduled to perform the duties associated with signing forms. This is especially prevalent on Saturdays, when some clerks are being ordered to sign the Greater Michigan delivery unit review/collection fax sheet, prior to the return to the office, of all of the carriers who perform the collections. The postmasters and OIC’s are telling me that they are being directed by the Poom to give these direct orders. If this is happening in your office, please contact me because I need to know exactly which offices are in violation.

President: Amos: Thank you for being here tonight. Thanks to Don Kramer for providing the funds to sign up for flag alert. I signed up for the email notification service to receive flag alerts. Labor rep, Amos, Novakoski won $43,000 in grievance settlements.

As the chair (president) I am limited when it comes to speaking on motions and I don’t have a vote. I have heard comments from our members expressing their concern for the proposed constitutional changes, secretary-treasurer training and the Multi Craft Conferences.

Several constitutional changes were proposed at the last meeting, these changes originated from “members” of this local. We are all members whether we are an officer, steward or active member. All too often when make the mistake of separating ourselves into groups or factions, attempting to sway the membership. This kind of division is destructive and counter productive. We all have the same constitutional right to propose changes as well as the right to vote them up or down. The E-board doesn’t have any more power to get these proposed changes voted up or down than the rest of the membership. We are on equal ground. It’s obvious that several members want constitutional language changed and we are here to discuss whether there is a need to do so. Just because a proposal was submitted doesn’t mean it will be adopted. Listen closely and vote your conscience. You are here to help us make decisions for our local. We all have the right to express our opinion and the right to disagree. But sometimes take it personally. It should never be personal. This is not me or us against you. When you rise to speak on an issue, affirm whether you are “for’ or “against” the motion, then briefly state your opinion. There is no need for lengthy speeches or grand standing. It is never acceptable to berate another member or speak out of turn. Please remember we are here for the same reason, to do what is best for our membership. If our actions are self serving or counter productive, we all suffer. We are one body. You hurt one, you hurt us all.

Amy, Linda and I were sent to Secretary-Treasurer training in Palm Springs, California, in January. It was necessary and important training. We don’t dictate where or when the training will be held. With two new officers to the board and my first term as President, the previous board felt it necessary to send us. Without knowing when the next training would be held, it became crucial to get us to this class. The entire board is fiscally responsible for our local funds, but the three of us more so, since we physically work with the records. The cost of airfare and hotel wasn’t unreasonable. No matter where you go, the local will incur these expenses. The training just happened to be in California. I do not personally care where I go to get the training, I am there to learn. Our educational conference this year is in Kalamazoo.

I’ve heard a lot of talk about the multi craft conference motion to send general members instead of limiting the training to stewards. The board recommended sending the president, vice president, craft directors (including the AO director) along with 11 clerk stewards, 2 maintenance stewards and 1 MVS steward. I’ve heard several comments from the workroom floor, members expressing their displeasure with the motion. There was a concern that the amount of stewards going didn’t accurately reflect the number that was sent two years ago. I am not sure the general membership understands the process of board recommendation so I am going to explain. When a recommendation is brought forth by the board, the decision is based on many factors that may not be known by the general membership. We use our experience and knowledge to debate and tweak a motion in the executive board meeting until the final product is the best possible motion we can present to the general membership. These motions don’t get passed by one or two members of the board. “It takes all members, collectively. And since we have such a diverse E-board, no “one” special interest is catered to. The bottom line: it’s best for all of us to work together for the same cause. United we stand: divided we will fall. Appearance is not always fact. If you hear something that concerns you contact one of us for clarification. Don’t let your concerns go un-addressed, we are here for the members.

Committee Reports

Retiree: Hendricks: Need the January and February treasurer reports. Entitlements for all of us. We lost a retiree from Wayland.

A & E: Marcus: The picnic will be June 12th at the Millennium Park in Walker. Golf outing On May 22nd hoping to get $2500 for charity. Discussing The 2005 Christmas party. Maybe doing a kids party in afternoon and adult party that night. Griffins Hockey game, group rate (at no cost to the local) April 16. Last home game. The Casino trip went well had some empty seats, we had one big winner from the group, over $6,000 won. We might possibly do another October. It cost the local $158.

P.O.W.E.R.: Hodges: Meeting this Tuesday March 8th at the Perkins Restaurant on Alpine Ave at 8:30 AM. Will be discussing a fund raiser for the Caring for Healing Cancer Group.

Solidarity for Charity: Beemblossom: American Heart Association check presentation $1224.92, raised last year from the softball and bowling games, t-shirt sales and raffle tickets. Heart disease is the number #1 killer silent killer in women.

RI399: Austin: Jennifer and I met with Walt. Mailhandler Union have appealed that prepping the mail is a mailhandler. Filing an appeal on the APPS.

Correspondence:

None

Unfinished business:

21 proposed constitutional changes. Motion to read just the changes:

Motion. Austin Second Hendricks to extend the meeting thru the drawings MSC @ 6:55 PM

ARTICLE 7 OFFICERS CHANGE #1 CARRIED

ARTICLE 7 “ CHANGE #2 CARRIED

ARTICLE 7 “ CHANGE #3 CARRIED

ARTICLE 7 “ CHANGE #4 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 7 “ CHANGE #5 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 7 “ CHANGE #6 CARRIED

ARTICLE 7 “ CHANGE #7 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 9 DUTIES OF OFFICE CHANGE #8 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 9 “ “ “ CHANGE #9 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 9 “ “ “ CHANGE #10 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 9 “ “ “ CHANGE #11 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 11 DELEGATES TO CONVENTION CHANGE #12 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 11 “ “ CHANGE #13 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 11 “ “ CHANGE #14 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 11 “ “ CHANGE #15 TABLED UNTIL OCT

ARTICLE 11 “ “ CHANGE #16 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 11 “ “ CHANGE #17 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 13 AMENDMENTS CHANGE #18 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 15 LOCAL PUBLICATION CHANGE #19 DEFEATED

ARTICLE 15 “ CHANGE #20 CARRIED

ARTICLE 15 “ CHANGE #21 DEFEATED

Board Recommendations:

To pay Ideal Printing $224.85 for copies made for the constitutional changes and meeting minutes. Secretary did not have keys to the Benjamin office and we had close to 4,000 copies made. Carried

Last months oversight of paying Kabutowski $10 for mileage for picking up refreshments Carried

To install DSL for the Benjamin St office at a cost of $99 hook up fee and extra $10 per month on phone bill.Carried

To establish a policy to post deaths, births, marriages, anniversaries in the local paper for members & families. It’s the member’s responsibility to contact the editor Carried

To include Loss time for those members going to the Multi Craft Conference in Las Vegas in August. Amended to Pay Only the Stewards lost time MSC Amended to include officers and stewards MSD, Amended to pay just the 2 days of actual training MSD

To sponsor Karbutowski’s daughter’s softball team from the Greenville Rec Dept at a cost of $110 to have the WMAL logo on their T-shirts. (There is a policy of the local to sponsor up to five sports teams at a cost of $250 Carried

To purchase a $55 Membership to Costco, to purchase items from the union Carried

New Business:

Motion Larabel Second To establish duties of Sgt at Arms Ruled out of order

Motion Aranguren, Second to consider changing the time of the next general membership meeting MSC

Point of Interest: Hendricks: Tues Debbie Stabenow will be at 622 Godfrey, Social Security big fight.

Motion Karbutowski Second Hodges to pay Sgt-At-Arms Mileage at standard rate, Up to 22 miles per month MSC

Labor Management:

Constitution calls for it to be the 3rd week of the month. March 14th any items for the agenda Can minutes be posted on Web site.

Drawings:

COPA $42.50 Amy Marcus $42.50

VOE March Tim Hagan $50.00

Hams:

Gordon Meredith
Steve Kabutowski
Todd Irons
Mike Hill
Ronda Payne
Dan Quillin
Tammy Burns
Jim Youmans
Cat Beemblossom
Scott Larabel
$10 drawings:

Mar Schultz
John Gregory
George Hendricks
Paul Harp
Rich Fletcher
Meeting adjourned at 9:38 PM.

Respectfully Submitted

Karen Hodges
Recording Secretary

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