General Membership Meeting Minutes

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, AO Director
Jim Myszka, Maintenance Craft Director
Scott Larabel, MVS Craft Director
Mike Long, Sergeant at Arms

June General Membership Meeting Minutes were accepted as typed and posted.

New Members:

Brenda Sukstas, Clerk, Grand Rapids
Jerry Poll, Clerk, Alto
Jamie Lyn Snyder, Clerk, Ada
Barbara Kalinka, Clerk, Ada
Terrie Kulczak, Clerk, Grand Rapids
Daniel Cunningham, Maint., Grand Rapids
Nancy Meyers, Clerk, Ada
Donald L Bassett, Clerk, Big Rapids
Lawrence P Bayer, Maint., Grand Rapids
William Males, Clerk, Grand Rapids
Edward Cunningham, Maint., Grand Rapids
Julie Bell, Clerk, Caledonia
Cynthia W Cunningham, Clerk, Grand Rapids
Frances M Bush, Clerk, Grand Rapids
Thomas Dewitt, Clerk, Grand Haven
Brian W Slamkowski, MVS, Grand Rapids
Pattie Matthysse, Clerk, Hamilton
Rosemary Smith, Clerk, Grand Rapids
Donna Lee Biek, Clerk Grand Rapids
Bills: None.

Officers Reports:
Treasurer's Reports: Treasurer's reports were accepted as written and read. (Includes July and August).

Executive Vice President's Report: Currently in the middle of an ORGANIZING DRIVE. Actively recruiting new members. Incentives for non-members to sign up as well as for members who sign non-members up. Thank you to Novakoski, Myszka and other members for their assistance. Steward training coming in October. At the National Convention, many issues were discussed including the controversial issue of outside organizing. Picketed the Grand Hotel in downtown Minneapolis assisting the local union. Picketed VP Cheney at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Minneapolis. Grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on the Human Relations Committee and thank you to President Burrus. We need to remember that management calls the shots and we must do what we are instructed and follow orders. Auto factories went through similar struggles and eventually, after slowly following orders, which had to be repeated on a daily or hourly basis, management agreed to come to the table for discussions.

Associate Office Report: Thanks to the membership for the opportunity to attend first National Convention. Made some good contacts and attended some good training. Thanks to all the delegates for the support at the convention and special thanks to Jim Sweeney, Cat Beemblossom, Karen Hodges and Tina Myers. Very proud to be a part of this Union. Thank you from Tina Shields on behalf of The Cystic Fibrosis Society for our donation. Becoming more comfortable with filing grievances and am very busy with numerous problems in Big Rapids. When a craft employee in an associate office becomes a 204b, other clerks are given more hours which benefits all. Trying to put a stop to employees working over 12 hours, filing grievances.

Clerk Craft Director's Report: Welcome. Thanked the membership for sending him to the National Convention. Contrary to some beliefs, it is not a party and we do have to use our own annual leave to attend the convention. It is the best opportunity to meet and speak with our peers. Attended pre-convention workshops and a class on own time dealing with LEXUS NEXUS and was well worth it. Spoke with Clerk Craft Director, Jim McCarthy about the 20-hour workday and other problems in GR. Spoke of the problems of abusive supervisors with Senators Levin and Stabenow as well as Central Regional Coordinator, Sharon Stone, APWU President, Burrus and Clerk Craft Director, Jim McCarthy. The picketing in Minneapolis went very well and believed to have helped create dialog between the union and management. Mystery Shopper: we need to ask the questions because it is part of the job. 20-hour day plan is a fiasco. Management has only granted the WMAL about an hour's time for input. There are many concerns with this fiasco including childcare needs. LIFECARE.COM is a free service to members and there are many services available. The Union asked for management to agree to a daycare program and management has refused. Was thrown out of the Management/Mailhandler meeting by management when inquiring when management will meet with the APWU. We realize many are upset and we must fight the fight with the contract we have and sometimes it takes time. We have contacted an attorney and are pursuing the fight this way as well. Filed over 500 grievances on this subject as well as 237 more coming soon on the recent bid job postings. No class action yet, only individual grievances in order to get their attention. Will be delegating more authority to stewards due to a swamped grievance load and starting to affect health. Thank you to membership for opportunity to attend the up-coming Advanced Advocate training. Seniority rules when it comes to overlap of tours. Senior members will be on machines. Stand together, no fighting, don't slam the union, support your hard working stewards and show true solidarity. If you have a problem, come see us.

Legislative Director's Report: Proposals and candidates for up-coming election submitted at meeting.

Maintenance Craft Director's Report: The 20-hour day plan should only minimally affect the Maintenance Craft. Three vacancies in the Custodial Occupational Group, test is September 16, hoping to get rid of the casuals. Thank you for opportunity to attend the National Convention. Craft recognition for craft conferences puts resolutions directly to the convention floor. Outside Organizing: Budget will allow the financing for a two-year period.

President's Report: Thank you for opportunity to attend the National Convention. Thank you to the delegates at the convention. Lots of information and knowledge was gained. Issues discussed: Outside organizing, Retiree issues. Got new ideas from classes on excessing and discipline as well as the SEARCH class. Attended as an ABA Delegate and attended the President's conference. Thank you to Tina Myers and the A&E committee for the work done on the Labor Day activities which went very well. If you have questions or problems with the 20 workday plan, ask a steward for assistance. Spoke with labor about unassigned employees getting their hours the day before they are implemented and got it somewhat resolved. Use the current parking stickers until the "dust settles". Thank you to Sandy Henkel for taking charge while at the convention and thank you to Dick Page for taking charge while attending the upcoming training. Appreciation to Craft Directors and Executive VP for the check distributions. The amount of stewards may change due to the 20-hour workday and a battle is brewing over this subject with Fred. Again, we're waiting for the "dust to settle".

Committee Reports:
COPA: Scutt: $45.00 from P1 pop cans.

A&E : Jennifer Amos: Currently planning Christmas Party. Upcoming trip to Manistee casino, October 13, will have two buses, bring a friend. Any questions, contact Jennifer Amos or Tina Myers. Solidarity for Charity/Union Picnic went well and was very hot and humid.

Correspondents: Thank you from Gordy Meyer. Thank you from Marissa Villums. Thank you from Ed Lesiewicz. Thank you from the MI Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Support request and information from 75th District Democratic nominee to the MI House of Representatives, Peter Vander Muelen.

Unfinished Business: There will be one final day prior to September 22, 2002 for check distribution of the "Big Check".

New Business:
Motion to send Jim Sweeney to the APWU Retirement Counselor Seminar in Oakland, CA on October 23, 24 and 25, 2002 to include airfare, lodging, loss time, perdiem, airport transfers, registration and applicable taxes. Discussion. Carried.

Motion to authorize up to $5000.00 from the general fund to retain the current attorney for the ongoing problems at the Post Office. Discussion. Carried.

Motion to spend up to $550.00 for a new copier for the P1 union office. Discussion. Carried.

Motion to give Associate Office Director, Linda Norman, $10.00 a month for her Internet service account for union business. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by S. Austin/M. Long to send Tina Myers, Catherine Beemblossom, Dan Quillin, Dan Bourassa and Linda Norman to the Education Conference in Iron Mountain , MI on October 11, 12 and 13, 2002 to include registration, loss time, perdiem, lodging and applicable taxes. Discussion. Question called for by Long/Austin, carried. Division on the motion. Motion carried with 15 for and 13 against.

Motion by Austin/A. Puhalski to appoint an organizer to hold a picket at A/Plant Manager's home and Senior Plant Manager's home. Discussion. Division. Motion carried with 13 for and 9 against.

Labor/Management: Any concerns, let us know.

Drawings:

$10.00 gifts: A. Matkovich, S. Henkel, V. Timmer, S. Austin, D. Page and C. Grysen.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

James Sweeney
Recording Secretary

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