CONVENTION !
The 21st annual national NALC Food Drive is Saturday, May 11. Click here to find out more and to download the latest Food Drive artwork.
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PLEASE DONATE USED, CLEAN, CURRENT UNIORMS
TO THE BRANCH OFFICE FOR OUR INCOMING MEMBERS
MINNESOTA Day of action on March 24
NALC a day of action to mobilize public support for Saturday delivery service. Reminding our representatives in Washington to maintain the six-day mail delivery language in the continuing budget resolution.
DAY OF ACTION: NALC held a national day of action on Sunday, March 24, to mobilize public support for Saturday delivery service. “Our fight is about the cost of losing Saturday mail delivery and how it would affect people in each and every state,” said NALC President Fredric Rolando (l), who led one such rally in Boston. Across America, thousands of letter carriers joined friends, family, co-workers and community coalition partners at specified post offices in major media centers, holding signs and wearing T-shirts reflecting the feelings of the citizenry. Click here to read scores of news media stories about the rallies, and click below to browse through nearly 2,200 event photos. Check back—more links and photos are being added daily.
Postmaster General attempts to unilaterally switch to 5-day service
• Announces the end of Saturday delivery on August 5
• NALC calls for postmaster general to step down
Postmaster General Pat Donahoe held a press conference on Feb. 6 to announce his intention to end Saturday delivery on August 5, 2013, even though current law mandates six-day delivery. Carriers will be subjected to stand-up talks on the unilateral decision. The PMG is dubiously claiming a “loophole” in the law will allow him to do this. NALC released this statement to the press denouncing Donahoe’s arrogant decision and calling for him to step down. The union is exploring all legal and political options to block Donahoe’s gambit. If he were allowed to get away with this brazen attempt to override the law and the will of Congress, he would be free to go to four-day or even three-day delivery in the future.
NALC President Rolando responds to Donahoe
• PMG to Congress: Out of the way, I’m ending Saturday delivery
• NALC to PMG: Not without a fight!
Postmaster General Pat Donahoe’s unilateral and brazen plan to end Saturday mail delivery in August led many reporters at a press conference yesterday to question its legality, given Congress’ 30-year legislated policy to mandate 6-day delivery. Donahoe was vague and evasive in responding. The PMG also made a number of claims about employee support for his plan. National Association of Letter Carriers President Fredric Rolando issued the following statement in response.Here is the link for the petition to save Saturday delivery:
Statement of NALC President Fredric Rolando on Postmaster General Donahoe’s plan to eliminate Saturday mail delivery:Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe’s plan to end Saturday delivery is a disastrous idea that would have a profoundly negative effect on the Postal Service and on millions of customers. It would be particularly harmful to small businesses, rural communities, the elderly, the disabled and others who depend on Saturday delivery for commerce and communication. Read more here.
Arbitration board issues award
Sets terms of the 2011-2016 National Agreement;
‘NALC achieves its major goals,’ Rolando saysJan. 11, 2013 –The three-person board of arbitrators has issued a final and binding award that sets the terms of a four-and-a-half-year collective-bargaining agreement between the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service, NALC President Fredric Rolando announced on Jan. 11 read more
NALC President Emeritus
Vincent R. Sombrotto, 1923-2013
Jan 10, 2013 --Vincent R. Sombrotto, 89, a towering figure in the history of the National Association of Letter Carriers and one of the most significant U.S. labor leaders of recent decades, died Jan. 10. more
Memorandum of Understanding: The NALC and USPS have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which will alleviate some of the staffing issues in many delivery units by providing for a) the conversion of over 6,000 part-time flexible city letter carriers to full-time regular, b) the filling of vacant residual CC-01 and CC-02 positions that are not withheld for Article 12, and c) the limited authorization to hire an additional 3,400 bargaining unit transitional employees. PDF
and other convention videos
Thank you, Minneapolis: The NALC's 68th Biennial Convention finished up in Minneapolis on Friday, July 27. Friday's events included the conclusion of the convention's business, committee and awards presentations, and a showing of "The Strike at 40," the 2010 look back at the Great Postal Strike of 1970.Click here to read each day's Convention Chronicle on the main convention page and to check out the latest uploaded photos from Minneapolis. (Friday's Chronicle is now online.)
Branch 9 Publications Contest Winners
Best Website
Honorable Mentions:
• Branch 9, Minneapolis, MN, branch9nalc.comBest Editorial or Column
Honorable Mentions:
• Branch 9, Minneapolis, MN, “We Are Letter Carriers,” by Chuck Glover, Branch Nine NewsClick here to view the other winners of the Branch Publications Contest.
Branch 9 Stuffed Delegate Bags- Thanks All
‘Save America's Postal Service’ Branch 9 demonstrated: April 12,
The National Association of Letter Carriers held “Save America’s Postal Service” demonstrated outside of Senate offices across the country,
NALC’s response to closings announcement: The postmaster general announced on Thursday, May 17, that he would move forward with the closing of hundreds of mail-processing plants. That followed his announcement on Wednesday, May 9, that rather than proceed with post office closings he would sharply reduce hours in thousands of rural post offices. In response to the latest announcement, NALC President Fredric Rolando said: “Since $3.1 billion of the reported $3.2 billion loss in the most recent fiscal quarter stems from pre-funding future retiree health benefits—which no other entity in America is compelled to do—the USPS and congressional response ought to address the actual problem. Moreover, what’s lacking is a business plan for the future that takes advantage of opportunities to meet the needs of an evolving society. Dismantling the network and reducing services to Americans and their businesses is not a business plan.”
New data indicates proposed cuts could mean greater losses in volume, revenue: The proposed cuts in service sought by the U.S. Postal Service could result in a far-greater loss of mail volume – and thus of revenue – than postal authorities previously have disclosed, new testimony indicates. In fact, the losses – outlined in a preliminary study commissioned by the USPS but which the agency has since kept under wraps – could outweigh any savings realized by the cuts. Click here to read more. POSTAL FACTS.
• Click here for a point-by-point guide to help you spread the truth about the Postal Service and the need for immediate congressional action.• Click here to find out how the NALC Communications Department can help you get the NALC's message out.
NALC runs veterans ad on national TV: see it here
- *route protection materials here
Updated list of vacancies available for transfer opportunities (as of April 29): Pursuant to the memorandum of agreement M-01809 and the March 19, 2013, Memorandum of Understanding Re: Part-time Flexible Opportunities (M-01808), the updated list of vacancies available for transfer opportunities is available here. For more information on the process and how to apply for these full-time vacancies,click here.
DeFazio starts petition to support H.R. 630: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) has started a “We the People” petition at the White House’s website, asking the Obama administration to support H.R. 630 and S. 316 to “save American jobs and allow USPS to remain competitive.” The administration requires 100,000 signatures within 30 days—by May 24—before it will respond. You can sign the petition here.
S. 316: In the Senate, 8 senators so far have co-sponsored S. 316, a postal modernization measure that preserves Saturday mail delivery. Has yours? Find out here, then go here to look up members' contact information and ask yours to sign on.
"Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the econom
POSTAL FACTS: On Friday, Oak Brook, IL Branch 825 letter carrier Melissa Rakestraw apeared on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" to describe how she calmly defended the Postal Service to Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) during his recent headline-grabbing meet-and-greet.Click here to watch the video.
Not As Recent News archived here
Steward's Hour NOW 1 hour before the GMM, no need to stay late for answers, come early.
Thanks to the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation and their support of Branch 9 events in their publication. Check them out at http://www.minneapolisunions.org
* General Membership and Steward Meetings are held at the VFW Post 7051 in Golden Valley, 7775 Medicine Lake Road in Golden Valley Minnesota, (map) website http://www.goldenvalleyvfw.com/
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