JANUARY 2017 MINUTES

MINUTES OF MONTHLY MEETING OF NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN AREA LOCAL #2247

Date:  Thursday, January 19, 2017

Place:  Buster’s Bar & Grill

President Kelly Heaney called the meeting to order at 1150 hours.

A quorum was declared with 19 members in attendance.

Kelly Heaney led the Pledge of Alliance and Steve Paradise read the invocation.

The following officers were present:

President: Kelly Heaney, Vice-president: Steve Paradise,  Motor Vehicle Craft Director: Tim Alberts, Maintenance Craft Director: Dave Villwock, Recording Secretary: Jenny Starry, Secretary/Treasurer: Bryce Thomas and Bay Breeze Editor: Kelsey Helf.  Clerk Craft Director: Dave Kroll was absent.

Minutes of the November 2016 meeting were printed in the Bay Breeze.  A motion was made by Nick Ratajczyk and seconded by Steve Paradise to suspend to accept the minutes until everybody reads them.  Motion passed unanimously.

The financial reports for October and November 2016 were read by Bryce Thomas.

REPORTS

Executive Committee:   The e-board recommendations:  Spending up to another $3000 on top of the $2000 already approved on new computers and repairs, to buy 10 $9 tickets for the legislative breakfast on March 18, 2017, to spend up to $5000 on the union picnic on the 1^st Sunday in August, and to spend up to $2500 on the kids Christmas party.

Labor/Management:   There was a labor management meeting on January 17, 2017 attended by Kelly, Bryce, Jeff Grendziak and 9 other people. RI399 was discussed.  People are not being trained on their bid-jobs and reliefs.  Morale on the floor with the no radios was discussed.  Jeff said he’s going back to a long standing practice that you can wear headphones but no radios.  There are no quotas in piecework.  DBCS optimization was discussed.  This means running as much mail as possible on the machines.  Mandating PSE’s 12 hours and using the ODL on holidays was discussed.

Grievance:

Scheme:   

Automation:                                                                                                                  

Safety/Health:   The gate is open because the company that does the salting doesn’t have a badge.

Legislative:   Steve Paradise read the Legislative Report.  The 114^th U.S. Congressional session is over and the Trans-Pacific Partnershop is officially dead.  Specifically, for APWU members, the TPP would have opened the doors for the U.S. Postal Service to be permanently outsourced and privatized.  If passed, it would have eliminated postal jobs and lowered wages.

Postal reform legislation in both the House and the Senate would have required all eligible postal retirees and their spouses to enroll in Medicare or forfeit their earned retiree health benefits coverage through the FEHBP.  Ultimately, sponsors of the legislation were unsuccessful in bringing it before Congress.  This means you can carry your insurance when you retire until death.

USPS will discontinue retail services at Staples stores by the first week in March, according to the APWU, which led the fight.

The Greater Green Bay labor Council will sponsor its 29^th annual legislative breakfast on Saturday march 18^th, 2017 at the Labor Temple.

A range of Republican proposals on federal hiring, firing and retiring will have them under fire during the Trump administration.  One on which poses a threat to the purpose of the civil service.  It would essentially dispose of federal employee due process rights.

The fiscal 2017 Budget Resolution-Klobuchar Amendment Concerning Drug Importation was defeated.

OWCP:  If you get hurt outside of work you get $14/day from ABA. When you file for FMLA, you must have worked 1250 hours in the previous year.

Constitution:

New Members:  Rachael VanArk, Jessie Collins, and Shawnee Phipps.

Lost Members:  Mary Gezella

COMMUNICATIONS

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

A motion was made by Steve Paradise and seconded by Donna Hansen that the NEWAL shall spend up to $3000 in addition to the $2000 already approved for new computers and repairs.  Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Nick Ratajczyk and seconded by Steve Paradise that the local buy 10 tickets for $9 each for the 29^th annual Legislative Breakfast on Saturday, March 18^th 2017 at the Labor Temple.  Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Dave Villwock and seconded by Nick Ratajczyk that the union spend up to $5000 for the union picnic on Sunday August 6^th at the New Zoo if available.  Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Tim Alberts and seconded by Jessie Collins to spend up to $2500 on the kids Christmas Party on the 1^st available Saturday in December at the Labor Temple.  Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Steve Paradise and seconded by Tim Alberts to amend the NEWAL book of standing resolutions to rescind the boycott of staples effective March 1^st, 2017.  Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Art Ciesielczyk and seconded by Kelsey Helf to have the next meeting on Sunday, February 26^th at  6 pm at Buster’s.  Motion passed unanimously.

 OTHER BUSINESS                               

ADJOURNMENT   A motion was made by Steve Paradise and seconded by Tim Alberts to adjourn the meeting.  Motion passed unanimously.  NEWAL meeting adjourned.

The $10 door prize was won by Nick Ratajczyk.

Attendees: See attached sign-in sheet.

Minutes submitted by Recording Secretary Jenny Starry.