NPMHU Local 317 - Alabama
Official Site of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 317. Postal News for NPMHU 317 members. We consist of branches in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery.
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| NPMHU 317 |
"...Mail processing plants are not only needed to continue to maintain high delivery standards, such as overnight and prompt delivery, but they’re also the livelihood of countless workers. With 82 plants slated to close nationwide—..."
Reference: kokomoperspective.com
"...The MBUSI plant in Tuscaloosa County is the only Daimler plant in the world that does not currently offer employee representation. Organized by MBUSI employees, UAW Local 112 offers workers the opportunity for a voice in the workplace that aligns with Daimler AG's global commitment to the German principle of "co-determination" between management and employees..."
Reference: Huntsville Economic Development
"...Most people we found dropping off mail at Jacksonville's main sorting facility had no idea anything would be changing with their mail. But the King Street sorting facility is getting set to take on new responsibility: handling mail not only from this region but Alachua County area too when the sorting faculty in Gainesville closes...."
Reference: www.actionnewsjax.com
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union has initiated a Step 4 grievance concerning violations arising from the Postal Service's plans to close or consolidate approximately 82 facilities starting in January 2015. In particular, the NPMHU believes that the Postal Service's decision to close or consolidate these facilities is a violation of Handbook P0-408, Area Mail Processing (AMP) Guidelines, which is incorporated into the National Agreement through Article 19.
"... Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the biggest U.S. private sector employer, said on Tuesday that its 1.3 million workers would have to pay more for healthcare and it would end benefits for some part-time staff in a move that could prompt other companies to follow suit...."
Reference: www.reuters.com
"...Released Sept. 4, the report said the agency spent more than $33 million while not following its policy and contract requirements. “Without proper knowledge of and control over applications in the cloud environment, the Postal Service cannot properly secure cloud computing technologies and is at increased risk of unauthorized access and disclosure of sensitive data,” the report said...."
Reference: fedscoop.com
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| Map found on Government Executive |
Effective on September 6, 2014, all career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive both the second and fourth of seven possible cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments as outlined in Articles 9.3 and 9.7 of the 2011 National Agreement. These two COLA increases are based on: 1) the upward change in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) Base following release of the July 2013 Index (this amount totaled $540, and as prescribed in the Fishgold Arbitration Award, the implementation of this COLA increase was delayed by one year); and 2) the upward change in that Index Base following release of the July 2014 Index (this amount totaled $687, but was not subject to a deferral period). Taken together, these two COLA adjustments resulted in an annual increase of $1,227 for all Steps in Table 1 and for Step P of Table 2. The remaining Steps in Table 2 have received the proportional COLA increase percentages as outlined in Article 9.7 of the National Agreement.  |
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The primary message of an NPMHU-endorsed August 15, 2014 “Dear Colleague” letter by Congressman David Joyce sent to all House members is to Support the Preservation of First-Class Mail Delivery Standards. In response to the United States Postal Service’s plans to close 82 mail processing facilities throughout 37 states in January of 2015, Representative Joyce writes, “[w]e ask you to support our efforts in obtaining a one-year moratorium on the closure of these 82 processing facilities and the preservation of First-Class mail delivery standards while Congress continues to work on comprehensive postal reform.” The letter highlights the degradation of mail service, and the possible elimination of up to 15,000 Postal Service jobs. It is hoped that this one-year moratorium will give Congress the time it needs to enact the comprehensive postal reforms that are necessary for the Postal Service to function effectively into the future.
"...The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 1.9 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 234.525 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index fell 0.1 percent prior to seasonal adjustment...."
Reference: www.bls.gov
"...The Postal Service has released a schedule showing when the phase-two mail processing plants will be consolidated next year. The spreadsheet shows the date on which each type of mail will be relocated from a closing facility to a gaining facility. As the schedule shows, the process would begin in January 2015 and continue until October, with much of the activity taking place next summer. ..."
Reference: www.savethepostoffice.com
"...in the vehicle maintenance facility. It's unclear if the suspect worked in that part of the post office or not. Police did say the shooting occurred inside a fenced off area...."
Reference: www.koat.com
"...So without congressional reform, the post office has already consolidated 141 mail-processing facilities since 2012 and more closures are expected, which the bipartisan group wants to halt by including a provision on the omnibus or continuing resolution Congress is likely to pass before the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year.
“In the absence of Congressional compromise, the Postal Service will propose more sweeping changes to its operations,” the letter warned...."
We The Judges of Election have received a protest from a member in good standing of Local 317 concerning the notification of the nomination meeting.
It has come to our attention that the nomination meeting held on July 19, 2014 was not in accordance with the National Constitutions of the NPMHU. This letter is serving notice that the before mention meeting and all of the nominations are rescinded immediately. This is also to advise all members in good standing of Local 317 of the NPMHU that a new meeting will be held on September 6, 2014 and will be at 12:00pm. The meeting will conclude following the reading of all properly mailed nominations and nominations from those on the floor at the commencement of the meeting. The meeting will be held at: Local #317 Headquarters, 216 Oporto Madrid Blvd; Birmingham, Alabama 35206. Nominations shall be made in the following order:
A candidate shall not be entitled to simultaneously run for more than one office in the local union, except candidates for Branch President who may also run for one other position, which entails membership on the Executive Board. Branch President must be nominated and elected by members in good standing from their branch.
If you are unable to attend the Nomination Meeting you must send your nomination(s) via registered, certified or express mail to:
Nominations made in advance of the Nomination Meeting by other methods, such as regular mail, facsimile, or hand delivery will not be accepted. Mailed nominations must be received by the Nomination Meeting and shall be read by the Judges at the Nomination Meeting. No member may not nominate more than one (1) candidate for each office. If a member nominates more than one (1) candidate for a particular office, all nominations for that office by that member shall be null and void. A member need not be present at the Nomination Meeting in order to be nominated. After the nominations have been completed, the judges shall determine whether or not each nominee possesses all of the qualifications for serving as an officer. Any member in good standing wishing to protest the eligibility of a nominee must communicate his/her objections to the Judges as soon as possible, but in no case later than five (5) days after the close of nominations.
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| Union Plus $20K Student Loan Giveaway |
(June 30, 2014) The Union was notified this afternoon that the Postal Service plans to reinstitute the “Network Rationalization Plan” starting next year, in January 2015. You will recall that many of the plant closings and consolidations were put on hold earlier this year, in February 2014, when the Postal Service announced in the Federal Register that it was suspending any further implementation of its changes to service standards.
"... If the court follows National Right to Work's lead, every state in the country would essentially turn into an anti-union "right to work" state, which would be a significant blow to public sector unions' collective bargaining efforts and also complicate thousands of existing contracts..."
Reference: www.prwatch.org
"... I urge you to oppose eliminating Saturday mail delivery as a “pay for” to replenish the federal highway trust fund. The Highway Trust Fund cannot be allowed to run out of money, but Congress should not make one bad policy choice to avoid another...."
Reference: www.npmhu.org
"...The National Postal Mail Handlers Union continues to demonstrate outstanding support for the Stop Staples campaign, with its National Executive Board voting unanimously to endorse the APWU’s ‘Don’t Buy’ call. “All Union members are being asked to avoid patronizing Staples during this boycott. The outsourcing of postal jobs and services must stop,” the NPMHU wrote on its website. “All NPMHU Local Presidents are encouraged to adopt a Don’t Buy Staples policy, said NPMHU President John Hegarty. “I am hopeful that our members, their families and friends will support this important cause by boycotting Staples.” “We greatly appreciate the expression of solidarity,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein...."
Reference: www.apwu.org
"...A gunman opened fire at a FedEx Corp facility in suburban Atlanta early on Tuesday, injuring six people before killing himself, apparently with his own weapon, police said...."
Reference: www.chicagotribune.com
"..."The Bensons were never in the zone of danger," the motion states. "The closest the complaint describes any debris coming to the Bensons is 40 feet from the bedroom in which they were sleeping."..."
Reference: www.waaytv.com
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| PMG says no buyouts |
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| NPMHU 317 |
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| Stop Staples Petition |
"... So the president’s budget puts Obama at odds with unions that helped elect him and on the side of Issa, with whom he rarely agrees. Such are the politics of postal reform in the United States...."
Reference: www.businessweek.com
