LABOR-MANAGEMENT MEETING
Friday, April 28, 2000

Friday afternoon at 2:30 Labor-Management meeting was held at P&DC 
conference 
room in Fayetteville.  In attendance for Unions were Loren Adams (Local 
Pres.), Dennis Taff (State Pres.), Vickie Alves (Local VP), and Gini 
Hickman 
(Local Financial Secretary).  In attendance for postal management were 
Linda 
Patrick (Postmaster), Lee Thompson (Plant Manager), Rick McComber 
(Customer 
Service Manager), and Mark Bush (T-3 Supervisor).  Meeting lasted 
almost 2 
hours.

Meeting was conducted in professional, courteous fashion (both sides).

Main topics of discussion were:

1.  New postal facility on Joyce Street; staffing package for such
2.  RI-399 -- getting it finally resolved
3.  Stewards' rights
4.  Requests for information to be honored
5.  Steward time
6.  BMEU clerks; how they should be scheduled and where
7.  Disparity of treatment in approval/disapproval of schedule changes
8.  Job postings, reversions, abolishments
9.  Withholding and how it will affect PTF conversions when residuals 
open up

Concerning RI-399, Lee promised to schedule meeting right away with 
mailhandlers and APWU to iron out differences; if nothing resolved, 
then it 
will go to San Antonio.  I insisted that there should be no 
"walk-through" as 
demanded by Bill Woods and Mark Lucas at last meeting; that it had 
already 
been decided.  Future local meeting will probably go nowhere and will 
have to 
be carried up step.

BMEU clerk jobs were discussed.  Linda Patrick indicated bulk job on 
Dickson 
presently held by Frank Fickle will be abolished and moved to plant.  
Another 
clerk, she said, would check in carriers at Dickson Street.  Then I 
read 
portion of letter from Charletta Williams (bulk mail supervisor, Little 
Rock), who suggested that Fayetteville have one BMEU clerk begin tour 
at 10 
am and the other at 12 noon, thereby covering for each other's lunches 
and 
providing reliable service to customers.  At this point Linda Patrick 
became 
visibly irritated that I had laid my hands on a copy of this letter 
from 
Little Rock because it was addressed to her.  She asked where I 
received it, 
and I replied, "From BMEU clerk who got it CC:ed from Little Rock."  We 
went 
on to discuss times, etc.  Lee seemed determined to have one BMEU clerk 
come 
in later afternoon, thereby covering several plant operations instead 
of 
being primarily bulk clerk.  We injected that the customer is what's 
important here; PTFs can cover miscellaneous tasks at plant.

The new building on Joyce Street, Rick McComber reported, would be 
complete 
sometime around the end of May and ready for occupancy sometime in 
June.  He 
and Linda Patrick reported they had put in for 12 new positions at new 
facility but had been allowed only 4 new ones until the impact of the 
new 
facility can be computed a month after opening.  The 4 positions, they 
said, 
would be window clerks / distribution clerks; they would perform dual 
roles.  
They said that was the best they could do given Little Rock's refusal 
to 
grant 12 and until they could see what is needed after a month.

They also reported that carriers for 72701 and 72704 would be located 
at 
Dickson Street facility; and carriers for 72703 would be located at 
Joyce 
Street.  However, Rick McComber added that the changeover would come 
later 
than the new facility's opening.  He said they would have to work into 
the 
changeover, leave the Annex operation in place until such time they are 
prepared for the move.

I asked that the Union be a part of ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new 
facility.  I told them last time we went to the groundbreaking and they 
didn't even mention that we were present.

I invited Dennis Taff up for the Labor-Management meeting to add his 
experience to the question of steward time and stewards' rights.  
Dennis 
explained to managers that local president can, at any time, certify 
someone 
to function as steward, including the president himself (if need be).  
In 
Fayetteville we have been battling semantics over frivolous 
interpretations.  
Dennis, I believe, cleared it up for all.

Dennis was also a great help in explaining the new Art. 12 withholding 
now 
upon us.  He told Lee & Linda he would be mailing up a copy of 
McCarthy's 
report and national MOUs concerning the subject.  Little Rock, 
according to 
Lee, has notified Fayetteville to hire T.E.'s NOW to fill window jobs, 
etc., 
and this (from what I learned in Dallas in March) is diametrically 
opposed to 
the agreements.  T.E.s are only to be used when automation impact 
statement 
is presented and are to perform one basic function -- and that function 
must 
be directly affected by the new technology.  They are not to fill in 
anywhere 
at anytime.  Dennis is going to send more information to us and local 
management explaining the T.E. situation.

I will send more information concerning this meeting at another time 
and will 
include a section in May's newsletter about the Labor-Management 
meeting.

-Loren Adams
President