FROM THE PRESIDENT
Loren Adams

Major Changes Coming!
I just attended a special meeting for all local union presidents from 
the 
Southwest called for by Terry Stapleton, APWU Southern Region 
Coordinator.  
The crux of the matter is -- many changes are ahead for the Postal 
Service 
because of REC site closings, deployment of FSM100s, tray management 
systems, 
and other additions to automation.  Essentially, the entire Postal 
Service 
over the nation will be facing a hiring freeze for quite some time.  
The 
changes are monumental.

Does this mean there will be no conversions of PTFs to Regular?  No!  
Conversions may take place when an office has been placed under Article 
12 
withholding, according to contract.  Conversions will continue as jobs 
go 
residual or are shown to be warranted because of maximization.  
Management 
may mistakenly withhold conversions, but the agreement states 
otherwise.  The 
new TE-1 program will be implemented, but (according to contract) they 
may 
only be used for specific duties for specific new automation, such as 
the 
FSM100.  The new T.E.s may only be used in the following three 
situations:

1.  In withheld duty assignments that have been properly identified on 
a 
withholding notice due to automation.

2.  In withheld pending reversions.

3.  Attrition of Part-Time Flexibles due to automation impact.

Impact statements, by contract, will have to be provided to the union 
by 
management at several intervals.  REC site regulars will be excessed to 
various locales over the country, not limited to the specific 100-mile 
radius 
but encompassing an unspecified circumference.

The meeting at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport on March 27th lasted for 
about 6 
hours.  Terry Stapleton, Jim McCarthy and Bobby Donelson were the 
principal 
speakers.  So much information was disseminated, it will be some time 
before 
I can write a full report.  For those interested, I have tapes 
available of 
the meeting.  In fact, I strongly encourage all local union leaders to 
listen 
to these recordings.  I will attempt to have tapes transcribed to 
word-processing by computer voice transcription software in the 
meantime  -- 
to have available to all union activists.  It is a must that we prepare 
now 
for the future.

My final question to Jim McCarthy at the meeting was, "Where then will 
be 
Postal Service be in 15 years?"  He paused, then strongly responded, 
"The 
Postal Service will be alive and well in 15 years.  There is no danger 
of the 
Postal Service going away because of the Internet or any other 
technology."  
The Postal Service will continue to be the foremost 
delivery/communication 
system in the world.  Jobs may change, but there will still be about 
the same 
number of jobs.

Casuals in Lieu of Career Employees Arbitration Win
I asked national officials at the Dallas meeting about our arbitration 
win of 
December 1999.  They assured me that it is not lost, nor is it being 
used as 
"bargaining chip."  They made it clear that an arbitration win (such as 
ours) 
cannot be used in this fashion and that eventually the postal service 
would 
have to honor the award.

Payscale Anomaly
According to national leaders, Executive VP Burrus is still negotiating 
this 
problem (Steps A-D) with the USPS.  Ditto on Automation Level 4 to 5 
grievances.

The Year 2000 Convention -- Arkansas Postal Workers Union
Thursday - Saturday
June 1 - 3, 2000

Fayetteville is privileged to host the 2000 Convention of the Arkansas 
Postal 
Workers.  Since Fayetteville is strategically located near the center 
of 
America, we also welcome union friends from nearby states as well as 
our 
native Arkansas.

National APWU Leaders
Of interest to everyone, several of our leading national union leaders 
will 
be speaking and teaching.  There will be time also for private 
consultations. 
 These gentlemen are leaders because they have proven themselves by 
winning 
battles like we all must face.  They are leaders because they know how 
to 
handle difficult situations which many local stewards and officers 
encounter 
on a daily basis; they've been there, done that.  Some are the most 
dynamic 
and gifted speakers in the country.  They are also the most informed of 
where 
our union is headed [as well as the USPS].  Jim McCarthy, recognized as 
one 
of the nation's most gifted speakers, will be the Keynote Speaker at 
the 
Friday night Banquet.

Fayetteville Members Invited!
All Local members are encouraged to attend classes, hospitality and 
banquet.  
Banquet will be held on the first floor of the Hilton in the Garland 
Room.  
Buffet entreés will include Chicken Breast, Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes 
w/ 
Gravy, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans, Baby Carrots, Tossed Salad w/ Assorted 
Dressings, Hot Rolls & Butter, etc.  The Local will be covering cost 
for 
banquet, educational materials and hospitality for all Local members.  
National leaders will share much information important to your job and 
its 
future!  Parking is provided in covered parking building next door 
(east) of 
the Hilton Hotel on Meadow Street.  Please have your parking ticket 
validated 
(stamped) at front desk on your way into hotel.

For those outside Fayetteville, important notice!
The state convention will coincide with (guess what?) the WAL- MART 
STOCKHOLDERS' CONVENTION.  Therefore, there will be hardly any 
hotel/motel 
rooms available in all of NorthWest Arkansas.  The room rate at the 
Hilton 
for convention is only $55.  However, you must get your reservations in 
NOW!  
The deadline is May 18th, but the Hilton (and all other facilities) 
will be 
booked up for the weekend of June 1-3.  Don't delay; reserve now.

Hospitality
Hospitality will be offered from 7 to midnight (+) on Thursday and 9 to 
midnight (+) on Friday.  The Albert Pike Suite, Room 204 (where 
hospitality 
served), is located on the 2nd floor overlooking the University of 
Arkansas.

New Clerk Craft Director
Jeanine Haught has been appointed the new Clerk Craft Director.  She 
will be 
tracking and monitoring all job postings, job descriptions, times, etc.  
Feel 
free to ask her questions concerning jobs, postings, etc.

My Health
I have been experiencing health difficulties of late and will be 
undergoing 
extensive tests to find remedy.  Meanwhile, Vickie and Jake have been 
taking 
up the slack, and I appreciate their work.  Thank you for your concerns 
during this time.

Hope to see you at the meeting at 1:00 pm on Sunday, April 16th.

In solidarity,
Loren Adams