General Membership Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 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 the passing of former APWU President Moe Biller on September 5, 2003.

Roll Call of Officers:

Ray Novakoski, President
Dick Page, Executive Vice President
Barbara Tubbs, Recording Secretary
Jim Birman, Treasurer
Bill Scutt, Clerk Craft Director
Jim Myszka, Maintenance Craft Director
Scott Larabel, MVS Craft Director
Mike Long, Sergeant At Arms
Linda Norman, AO Director

June membership meeting minutes were accepted with the correction that AO report should have referred to “ Gil Brown” instead of Doug Warner.

Applications for Membership:

TE Clerks: Allison King, Renee Whitten, Ruth Short, Therese Warren

Maintenance: Natalie Ziton, Tom Maguire Clerks: Richard Jackson, Pat Mondry, Tim Hindenach, Mark Hipp

Transfer From Carrier Craft: Teresa Genia

Officers’ Reports:

Treasurer’s Report: Birman: Treasurer’s report was accepted as written.

Executive Vice President’s Report: Page: Labor management meeting for Grand Rapids scheduled for Tuesday, September 9th. New Postmaster may be easier to work with. Tentative date for Stewards training September 24th. We placed an ad in Grand Valley Labor News. Commended stewards, especially the Tour 1 stewards filling in for Catherine.

Clerk Craft Report: Scutt: Casuals taking KDE test and being offered TE positions. Meeting with Arbitrator on Casual in lieu of grievance rescheduled for September 17th and 18th from October 18th. We are asking for a decision to be made immediately. SPABS jobs need to be reposted.

MVS Report: Larabel: Fleet manager job is not yet filled. Six arb cases scheduled to be heard Friday, 26 more waiting to be heard. Waiting for 6 moredecisions, 3 decisions reached. Pulling drivers from driving and having them do other work, citing for fitness for duty - may be trying to contract out more work. This will be grieved.

AO Report: Norman: New Postmaster in Big Rapids, already resolved a couple grievances with him. Seems to be willing to work with the clerks there. Things have been a little slow in AOs. Some inquiries about early outs. Sent up some Holland grievances. Doug Warner denying FMLA grievances in Grand Haven. Learning a lot about FMLA, thanked Michelle and Bill for help.

Sergeant at Arms: Long: It is your responsibility to sign the book, LEGIBLY.

Maintenance: Myszka: Finished grievance shakeout and it went well. Settled many grievances. USPS doesn’t want to offer early outs to maintenance personnel over level 5. Doesn’t look good. Grievances filed on contracting out have been denied and appealed.

President’s Report: Novakoski: Showed video from National on Postal Commission. Their recommendations favor big mailers at the expense of postal workers. Thanked Dick for filling during his absences this summer. Was sent to Minnesota to see new APS machine prototype. Talked to stewards there. Currently they have an in house rec site, but will not after they deploy new machines. USPS wants to use mail handlers instead of clerks on these machines. We will be fighting this. Expected to have new APS machines in GR in March 2004, but they are having software problems. Labor Day parade went well. Thanked Ed Lesiewicz and his polka band for playing. Dropped off water and pop to sheet metal workers picketing downtown over standard of living issues. Board voted to send $500.00 to Wolverine World Wide strikers. They are striking not for wages, but against outsourcing. Cat Beemblossom is doing better, and hopes to be out of the hospital sometime next week. She probably will be off another 4-6 weeks. Please keep her in your prayers.

Committee Reports:

Audit Committee: Jennifer Amos: Audit committee comprised of Amos, Patti Stowie, and B Tubbs, met July 10th. Audited books from January 2002 through June 2003. Problems found: Two check numbers were transposed on register. Tax penalty was incurred due to problem with QuickBooks software and needs to be corrected. Did not have copy of bond. Could not find record of membership approval for donation to Heart of West Michigan for 2002 golf outing. No record keeping system in place to track LWOP use by Officers. Recommend that motions be made to correct problems. Ray presented Board poll giving approval for the golf outing. Copy of bond has been requested from National. Jim will track LWOP usage for officers. MSC to accept audit report as written.

A & E Committee: Amos: Labor Day parade went well. 25-30 members participated. Upcoming events: Amy Puhalski will be organizing an October Bowling for Solidarity charity event. Bus trip to Chicago will be September 27th. Tickets are $15.00. Bus will leave from Union hall at 7:30 AM and return at midnight. Questions, see Jennifer or Amy or Tina Myers. Committee is seeking new members.

Cans for COPA: Scutt $78.00

Correspondence:
Thank you notes from: Jim Sweeney’s family, American Cancer Society for memorial donations for Lucille Jolls and Lawanda Sue Quillan, two from Bill Burrus for COPA donations, from the Union Label Coalition for Labor Day raffle donation, four from kids who attended the Juniors Bass Tournament by River City Bass Club, UFCW Local 600 for donation to the WWW strikers.

Unfinished Business: None

New Business:

Board Recommendations:

MSC to sponsor a hole at the 2003 Heart of West Michigan Golf Event for $100.00

MSC to sponsor a team of 4 players selected at the September General Membership meeting for the Thursday September 18th Heart of West Michigan golf outing at a cost of $240.00. Selected were CJ Lozon, Scott Larabel, Ed Lesiewicz, Tina Myers. Alternates: Ray Novakoski, Dick Page, Jim Stoddard, Steve Austin.

MSC to allow any eligible steward not attending Clerk Conference to attend the Area 10/11/12 District meeting in Gaylord MI September 12 & 13 to include mileage, lodging, lost time, per diem, and registration at a cost of approximately $582.00.

MSC to authorize Michelle Gregory and Dick Page to attend training session on ADA and FMLA sponsored by MSU Labor department at the Union hall and they will teach at the next stewards training session.

Five Constitution Change Proposals were submitted and will be posted and voted on at October General Membership Meeting.

Motion by Amos 2nd Long to expend $500.00 for Labor Day activities. Friendly amendment by Long to expend $500.00 for Labor Day activities in addition to the amount authorized in the budget. Carried.

Motion by Amos 2nd Myers to give $50.00 to each of the 3 polka band members who played in Labor Day parade. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by Karen Hodges 2nd Puhalski to change the October General Membership meeting to a weekday. Ruled out of order.

Motion by Sally Lesiewicz 2nd Linda Yarnott to change regular meeting time to 5:00 from 7:00. Yes-8 No-16 Defeated.

Point of Privilege: George Hendricks: Ray Snyder passed away recently. Please come to meetings at the Union hall on the 2nd Thursday of each month.

Point of privilege: Yarnott: Let family and friends know that if they privatize anyone can have access to your mailbox.

Motion by Austin 2nd Hendricks to endorsed Rick Tormala for 2nd Ward Commissioner and George Heartwell for GR Mayor. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by Richard Fletcher 2nd Norman to change regular meeting time to 6:00. Defeated.

Motion by Stoddard 2nd Myszka for WMAL to sponsor a golf for charity event in 2004. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by Birman 2nd Austin to donate $1000.00 to striking Wolverine World Wide workers. Discussion. Carried.

Labor Management:
Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday September 9th.

Drawings:

COPA $33.00 Ray $33.00

$10.00 Door Prizes: Richard Fletcher, Scott Larabel, Rose Jerrils, Jackie Pike, Sonya Bergers

Meeting Adjourned at 8:50 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Barb Tubbs
Recording Secretary

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