UPDATE #57 October 26, 2001

The October 25 teleconference was a huge success. Approximately 500 
sites were
connected, and thousands of local leaders and employees had the 
opportunity to
hear the present status of the anthrax situation and to ask questions. 
The
reception was positive, and I have committed to conducting a similar
teleconference once per week. The next teleconference will be held on 
Friday,
November 2, 2001 at 1:15 PM Eastern Time. Any local wishing to 
participate
should contact their state president to be connected.

The relationship between the union and management in the efforts to 
provide
secure and safe conditions for employees has met its first test and has
survived. Information was received that Morgan Station in New York had 
been
tested as positive for anthrax by the CDC, and local management 
determined to
vacate the floor where the contamination existed and reassign the 
employees to
other locations within the building. I discussed the issue with the 
postmaster
general and conveyed that APWU-represented employees would not work in 
any
building found to be contaminated with anthrax. After serious 
discussions, it
was agreed that the employees would be advised of the possible exposure 
and it
would be left to the employees to decide if they would continue to work 
in the
building.

There will be occasions when testing will reveal trace contamination 
which
does
not pose a serious threat to employees, but the question of trace or 
serious
must be left to the discretion of the employees. The American Postal 
Workers
Union insists that any building found to be infected with anthrax must 
be
vacated, with the exception of those employees who voluntarily continue
working
in the facility. The national union will enforce this action. Any local
experiencing conflicting local orders should contact Corey Thompson at
202-842-4273. This number should be used only in those circumstances 
where
anthrax is confirmed in a facility and local management refuses to 
vacate.

Any other deviation from the rules that have been published on the APWU 
web
site should be forwarded through the local president, Business Agent 
and
Regional Coordinator for resolution. This does not involve detailed 
reports,
but a simple telephone call outlining the specific facts. It is my 
intent to
resolve every issue within a 24-hour period.

There are media reports that selected government employees will be 
vaccinated
for anthrax, and a study will be undertaken to determine risk. The 
medical
community recommends that vaccinations for large groups of employees be
avoided
because of the risks involved. Until the study is completed, postal 
employees
will not and should not be subjected to the experiment. If it is 
concluded
that
vaccinations will be effective and not harmful to postal employees, we 
will
pursue that option. 

Bill Burrus
Executive Vice President





APWU Safety Hotline Message October 24, 2001 

On behalf of the APWU National Executive Board, this is to extend our deepest sympathies 
to the families of the deceased postal employees who have been murdered by unknown persons. 
These acts of terrorism will be recorded among the darkest days of American history. 
Postal employees are heroes, too; and these individuals are examples of the thousands of 
dedicated postal employees who have committed to serving America. 

In an effort to show a united front among the postal community, 
I have elected to limit my availability to the media for comments. 
Every news organization in the country has contacted my office for an interview; 
and while I have consented to some, at this time of peril I believe it appropriate 
to have a single spokesman for the postal community. 
This does not mean that we are not continuing to pursue the union's agenda, 
but this fight is not one of APWU alone vs. the terrorists. It is a fight by every postal employee. 

I meet each day at 10 a.m. with the postmaster general and his top staff, 
along with the presidents of the other unions and the management associations, 
to discuss how we can provide maximum safety to every postal employee. 
Much progress has been made, and the following procedures have been established: 

* Testing will be performed (at no cost to the employee) on every employee who has possibly come in contact with anthrax. 

* Any work center or office found to be contaminated with anthrax will be closed 
until it has been cleaned and declared safe for human inhabitants. 

* Gloves will be provided to every requesting employee and may be worn on any assignment. 

* Mail-processing employees will be permitted to wash their hands no less than once every two hours. 

* Protective masks will be provided to every employee for use in mail processing or in any 
function that handles mail. Cartridge masks will be provided to Mail Processors and other 
employees engaged in the mail- processing areas. The wearing of masks or gloves is voluntary 
on the part of the employee, even though it is strongly recommended that both gloves and masks be worn. 

* Employees who have facial hair are advised that the masks will not provide total protection 
unless a tight seal can be maintained. 

* Employees who experience respiratory difficulties when wearing masks may elect to work 
without a mask or be reassigned to other tasks. 

* Employees may purchase different masks than those provided by the Postal Service. 

* Presently, the Postal Service is purchasing equipment that will irradiate all mail items 
prior to being introduced into the processing environment. 
This will provide absolute protection against this deadly disease. 
Four of the machines have already been purchased, and additional ones are on order for 
deployment throughout the postal system. 

* Employees should provide an updated address and telephone number to Personnel for 
use if a co-worker develops symptoms and immediate contact is required. 
Post Office boxes are not an expedited means of timely notice, and hours of delay 
can be critical in the treatment of this deadly disease. 

* Any employee experiencing flu-like symptoms should notify their supervisor for 
immediate testing for anthrax; and, if treated by their physician, 
they should identify themselves as postal employees so that medical personnel may provide proper medication. 

* The Postal Service will provide free flu shots, and it is recommended that all employees take the protective shot. 
The symptoms of flu and anthrax are very similar; and as we enter the flu season, 
we do not want any mis-diagnosis that may imperil the lives of employees. 

We have established a system to correct any local interpretations of the national policy 
to provide maximum protection to every employee. Any employee having a complaint regarding 
any local decision on safety should contact their local president, 
who should pass on any unresolved issue to the National Business Agent, 
who will then pass it on to the Regional Coordinator. 

The Regional Coordinators have been provided E-Mail addresses and FAX numbers 
to forward every unresolved issue to the national level for immediate resolution. 
They are to be used only by the Regional Coordinators. The locals and members should 
not use these E-Mail addresses and FAX numbers. 

The national union is planning to honor our deceased brothers during the week of 
November 12th through the 16th, the week of Veterans Day, when our nation honors its military heroes. 
The theme will be "Postal Employees Are Heroes Too!" We will be requesting that every postal 
employee wear the red, white and blue ribbon in honor of the victims of this terrorist attack. 
We will also be requesting donations from our locals and our members for distribution to the affected families. 
Executive Vice President-elect Cliff Guffey will be providing additional information in the coming days. 


Bill Burrus 
Executive Vice President