August 8, 2014
To: Members of Local 317
Subject: National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local #317
2014 Nomination Meeting for Local Officers
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 This letter is serving notice that the before mention meeting and all of the nominations are rescinded immediately.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:
- Local President
- Vice President
- Recording Secretary
- Treasurer
- State Executive Board Member(s)
- Branch President(s)
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:
- Judges of the 2014
- Election of Officers of Local #317
- P.O. Box 610630
- Birmingham, Alabama 35206
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.
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. 
