THE NEWS.....

Multiple Grievances
Last night I was informed by the Plant Manager that Little Rock would 
not 
accept a CLASS ACTION GRIEVANCE on behalf of the several employees who 
received Letters of Demand on July 7, 2000 signed by Linda Patrick.  
All the 
letters were identical, save the amount for each.  The problem is that 
the 
USPS made an error in calculation relating to the pay anomaly if clerks 
or 
maintenance staff jumped between pay levels.  Some are a significant 
amount; 
others minor.  I am sure we don't have account of all in our bargaining 
unit 
who were issued letters; we only have record of 5, but there may be as 
many 
as 15 all told.

When I was informed that we would have to file the grievances 
individually, I 
told the tour supervisor it would take a phenomenal amount of time, 
perhaps 
the whole night.  If they want to play games, I can play too.  The 
supervisor 
(Kjosa) allowed me all the time I needed.  I did all the paperwork in 
preparation for Step 2; then turned Step 1 over to Vickie Alves because 
it 
had to get into the system by Friday the 21st.  (I had informed 
management 
Monday that we would have to grieve these LOD and asked if we could do 
it as 
a class action since they were the same.  They didn't give me an answer 
until 
Thursday night, one day until deadline.)  So, I filed all the 
individual 
grievances plus I did a class action for those who may not be known at 
this 
time.  I based it on Bill Burrus letter in the national APWU 
newsletter, June 
2000.  We shall see what comes of it.

Job Award Confusion
Many of you are aware of the problems we've faced with the Scheme job.  
The 
fowlups began when management failed to notify the principal bidder of 
his 
deferment period on time, then proceeded into more confusion.  I called 
State 
President Dennis Taff last night and he's going to fax me a copy of a 
1984 
National MOU which more clearly spells out the procedure.  Apparently, 
according to Dennis, the job should have first been awarded to the 
senior 
QUALIFIED PTF (if going residual after 2nd senior bidder turned it 
down); 
then back to the next senior bidder if no qualified PTFs existed, at 
which 
case Tina Warford was rightly awarded the job, according to this MOU.  
We 
shall see.  We just did not want to circumvent the Contract and cause 
conflict as a result.  If nothing else, it would seem better to re-post 
the 
job.  However, if we see that according to this 1984 MOU the correct 
procedure was followed, we will rest at ease.

Chris Clark, Tour One Steward
Chris took the Tour One job that Kevin Bowman had, beginning at 1 am 
with 
Sat/Sun off.  Since he is no longer on Dickson Street and the T-1 
Steward 
position has been open for some time, I just transferred him into that 
position.  Let's welcome Chris to the Plant and to the Tour.

Cook-Out Last Week
Last week we had a wonderful cook-out on Tour 3, courtesy of everyone 
who 
brought potluck, but especially thanks to Bill Cassidy who stood out in 
100+ 
degree temperatures barbecuing burgers and hot dogs.  Let's show our 
appreciation to Bill.

Tom Keck Awarded Box Section Job on Dickson
Tom will be leaving to Plant for Dickson Street to assume Chris Clark's 
old 
job in box section with Tue/Wed off; 3 am begin time.

 
To National Convention
I will be leaving Saturday morning at 7 for National APWU Convention in 
Anaheim, California.  I will be a state delegate, since Randy Copy of 
Fort 
Smith decided not to go.  If any of you need to contact me, I will be 
at the 
Residence Marriott Inn at Anaheim.  I'll be back late Saturday night 
the 
29th.  Fred is lending me one of his cameras for photos.

Vickie Alves will be in charge while I'm away.  If you have a problem, 
see 
her or your floor steward / alternate.