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LABOR DAY 2010
Take a moment during your end-of-summer holiday to remember the people who built America and to recognize the strengths of our ever-evolving workforce today.
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DUES INCREASE DEFEATED
PRESIDENT SUSLAK LEADS QUEENS AREA LOCAL CONVENTION DELEGATION AND HELPS DEFEAT A $3.00
DUES INCREASE.
Proposals to raise dues were submitted by more than a dozen locals, and were supported by several national officers. “Representation costs money.”
President Suslak suggested that locals who are struggling financially should reduce their expenses or increase dues locally.
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AUGUST 2010 LOCAL UPDATE BY PRESIDENT SUSLAK
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE IMPACT OF
ON GOING USPS COST CUTTING INITIATIVES AT NY/ ISC
President
Over the last few months I have been meeting with Plant Manager Conti on a regular basis concerning the many USPS cost cutting initiatives impacting or potentially impacting our members in the NY/ISC. The latest issues of concern are as follows:
1) The approval of various Port Authority construction permits needed to realign some areas in building 250 to accommodate the installation of the “Rapastan” machine. This machine when deployed will be programmed to sort foreign parcels that are scheduled to once again be worked in the ISC sometime early next year. We have tentively agreed on the creation of over 100 Clerical positions in order to properly staff the machine. The in sourcing of the domestic mail is tentively scheduled to take place simultaneously with the deployment of the Foreign Parcel operation. We are in agreement to offset any potential loss of domestic positions with the creation of foreign parcel post positions. As usual, when additional information becomes available all impacted employees will be notified.
2) As a result of management’s determination to dismantle the SPBS operation in building 197, I have recently negotiated an agreement to merge the 197 foreign and domestic crews into the building 250 foreign and domestic crews by seniority in accordance with Article 12 Section 6 of our Local agreement. This was done in an effort to avoid abolishing positions which would have left many employees unassigned. The agreement was reached with negotiated language keeping all impacted employees with their same tour, hours and layoff days.
3) Both Executive V.P. Ralph DeVito and I have been meeting regularly with management in an effort to maintain the current complement of 40 hour per week light and limited duty positions. Fortunately, as a result of the excellent Local Agreement language negotiated, any adjustments to these positions must be made through the “Ill or Injured Employees Committee”. I have assigned Executive V.P. Ralph DeVito to represent our local on that committee and he has done an excellent job in maintaining all the full-time 40 hour per week light and limited duty APWU collective bargaining positions.
4) At a recent meeting we were advised by Plant Manager C. Conti and Maintenance Manager A. Voight that as a result of the findings of the headquarters staffing review team recently deployed in the NY/ISC, we had an excess of Custodial, MPE and BEM positions in the ISC. We were advised that they could not release any official information until they meet with the N.E. APWU Regional Coordinator. I am extremely suspect of their findings and have contacted National Maintenance Craft Director, Steve Raymer and requested that an APWU staffing team be sent into the NY/ISC so that we could verify management’s numbers. I have assigned NY/ISC Maintenance Shop Steward Mary Ellen Draude to oversee the staffing review. We are awaiting additional information from our Regional office concerning any notifications involving any potential reduction in maintenance staffing. Additionally, in an effort to insure that our maintenance members remain in the installation, I have notified Triboro District Labor Relations that all of our Custodial residual vacancies must be held for our ISC Maintenance employees in case of any potential staffing reductions. As additional information becomes available any and all applicable grievances will be filed.
5) After cancellations by management and the arbitrator we now have an agreed upon arbitration date of October 15, 2010 for our MS-47 Custodian staffing grievance. NBA Rick Logan and Queens Area Local Industrial Relations Director, Anna Anderson have been assigned to handle the arbitration case for the Union.
6) We were advised that the National Reassessment team would begin their interviews with limited duty employees sometime after July 29th, 2010. The team is obligated to notify our Union at least one week prior to meeting with any employee. Several of our Officers have been trained in the National Reassessment process and will be available to represent our members throughout the interview process.
With the loss of volume and revenue along with the USPS’s obligation to pre-fund our Retiree Health Benefits Fund, cost cutting initiatives will continue at all facilities across the country in an effort to offset the billions of dollars lost by the USPS over the last couple of years. However, with the passage of H.R. 5746 , OPM would be directed to transfer approx. 75 billion dollars in retirement overpayments into the Retiree Health Benefits Fund which would alleviate the majority of the USPS’s economic problems. I have contacted our local Congressional Representatives asking for their support of this bill.
While the downturn in the economy has bloated the unemployment lines with over 10 million Americans, let’s not forget that the only resource we as Postal Employees have to protect our employment and prevent us from becoming a statistic in the weekly unemployment figures, is our Union. Let’s not take it for granted, let’s support and promote it.
Yours in Union Solidarity
Ron Suslak
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
Ron Suslak
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UPDATE ON HEALTH COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 26
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS
COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 26
The new health law approved earlier this year will allow adult children up to age 26 to be covered family members under health insurance plans purchased by their parents or legal guardians, effective at the start of the next benefit plan year. For employees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, that means Jan. 1, 2011.
There are steps employees can take prior to Jan. 1 to make sure dependent children who turn 22 — the age limit under existing rules — continue receiving FEHB coverage.
- Dependent children who reach their 22nd birthday between now and Jan. 1 are automatically covered for an additional 31 days.
- Dependent children — or their parents or legal guardians — can continue receiving FEHB coverage beyond the 31-day period by electing Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) for up to 36 months. The child will receive “self-only” coverage.
- TCC is not subject to underwriting or pre-existing condition exclusions.
- USPS will not contribute to the TCC premium, which also includes a 2-percent administrative fee.
- TCC-eligible children can discontinue TCC coverage once they become eligible under the increased age limits that take effect Jan. 1, 2011.
An employee has 60 days from the child’s 22nd birthday to notify the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSCC) that the child has turned 22. Or, the child may notify the HRSSC within 60 days and request TCC enrollment information. Contact HRSSC at 877-477-3273 (option 5).
The 31-day extension of coverage and TCC do not apply to the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Dependent children are eligible for FEDVIP coverage after they reach age 22 only if they’re incapable of self-support due to a physical or mental condition that existed before their 22nd birthday.
www.qalapwu.com KEEPING OUR MEMBERS INFORMED
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2010 OPEN SEASON
DATES FOR THIS YEARS OPEN SEASON ARE.
November 8, 2010 through December 13, 2010
Federal regulations require an annual Open Season to be held each year from the Monday of the second full workweek in November through the Monday of the second full workweek in December. You can find more information about the annual Open Season dates in the FEHB Handbook.
You must submit your Open Season enrollment change before midnight, Eastern Standard Time, on the last day of Open Season to be considered timely filed. Open Season enrollment changes take effect the first day of your first full pay period in January of the following year. You can find more information in the FEHB Handbook.
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AMERICAN DENTAL SUPER CENTERS
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Dear Member,
In my continuing effort to bring you improved dental benefits, I have recently entered into negotiations with the new American Dental Super-Centers to offer you the following comprehensive dental plan:
· No out of pocket costs for oral exams and diagnosis, oral cancer screenings, full mouth x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants.
· No out of pocked costs for all examinations, consultations, x-rays, cleaning, white and silver fillings, pulp capping, pulpotomy, scaling & root planning, endodontics – root canal, oral surgery, extractions, emergency palliative care.
· No out of pocket costs for all dental repairs and emergencies.
· Discounted rates for cosmetic, implants, orthodontia, crowns, braces and only a $250 lab fee for full or partial dentures.
· No maximum.
This is a no-nonsense exclusive dental plan that can cover you and your family for the majority, if not all of your dental needs. The below rates represent a two year membership (you will be enrolled in this plan for a period of two years) which will be automatically added to your Union dues each pay period. Dependent children are covered up to 19 years old, 23 years old for full time students.
Member individual $15 / pay period
Member plus spouse or one child $25 / pay period
Member plus entire family $35 / pay period
There are now 300 dentists, specialists, and para professionals at the new American Dental. They have treated over 1 million New Yorkers in the past 50 years. All dental lab work is guaranteed “Made in America”. This plan will go into effect on August 1, 2010. Please return to me by July 19, 2010.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Ron Suslak, President
If you are interested, please fill out your information sheet located on the left side of the web site under the "AMERICAN DENTAL SUPER CENTERS" Just print it, fill it out and mail to the Union Hall
QUEENS AREA LOCAL, A.P.W.U.
98-11 101 AVENUE
OZONE PARK, NY 11416
THE NEW AND IMPROVED
DENTAL PLAN FROM
AMERICAN DENTAL SUPER
CENTERS
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New
at
QAL-APWU 1022
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VIEW PAST ARTICLES
Posted
On: Sep 11, 2009 (19:21:32)
TO VIEW PAST ARTICLES YOU CAN SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK ON THE "VIEW PAST ARTICLES" TAB ON THE RIGHT SIDE JUST ABOVE THIS NOTICE.
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WELCOME
Updated
On: Sep 11, 2009 (19:15:00)
WELCOME TO THE QUEENS AREA LOCAL 1022 A.P.W.U. WEB SITE,
WE PLAN TO KEEP OUR MEMBERS UPDATED ON ALL THE LATEST NEWS THAT EFFECTS THEIR EMPLOYMENT WITH THE US POSTAL SERVICE.
WE ALSO WILL BE MAKING AVAILABLE ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION ABOUT ALL YOUR BENEFITS AS AN AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION MEMBER.
YOU CAN ALSO RESEARCH PAST ARTICLES BY CLICKING ON THE "VIEW PAST ARTICLES" TAB ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF What's New at QAL-APWU 1022 HEADING. ON THE TOP OF THIS POSTING.
SO CHECK BACK OFTEN.
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THIS WEBSITE IS 100% UNION MADE AND MAINTAINED
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