NOVEMBER 2017 MINUTES

MINUTES OF MONTHLY MEETING OF NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN AREA LOCAL #2247

Date:  Tuesday, November 21st, 2017

Place:  Denny’s

President Kelly Heaney called the meeting to order at 1000 hours.

A quorum was declared with 17 members in attendance.

Kelly Heaney led the Pledge of Alliance and Dave Villwock led the invocation.

A motion was made by Steve Paradise and seconded by Dave Villwock to suspend the order of business to order food.  Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Steve Paradise and seconded by Art Ciesielczyk to resume the order of business.  Motion passed unanimously.

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 excused.

Minutes of the October 2017 meeting were read by Recording Secretary Jenny Starry.  A motion was made by Steve Paradise and seconded by Tim Alberts to accept the minutes as printed.  Motion passed unanimously.

The financial report for October 2017 was read by Secretary/Treasurer Bryce Thomas.

REPORTS

Executive Committee:    The e-board discussed cancelling the Christmas party, steward training, ordering more t-shirts, $100 charitable donations each to NEW Shelter and Salvation Army, custodian grievances and staffing, and mail handlers doing incoming letter staging.

Labor/Management:  Residual vacancies have to go on e-reassign for 21 days and then should be given to PSE’s if not filled.  Customer Service PSE’s should be working 12 hours on holidays.  No ET coverage for one day and short staffing ET’s on the holiday, annual leave bidding, 204B’s, the rumors about December 14^th, supervisors moving equipment were discussed.  Moving the mail handler area and the manual letter cases were discussed.   There are no certified trainers on tour 1.  TACS is supposed to be done by lead clerks.  Refresher training for expeditors is needed.   Snow and ice as it pertains to team cleaning was discussed.

Grievance:  There are 6 AO custodian grievances and a major custodian grievance in Green Bay filed.  Incoming letter staging grievances are still being filed.  The grievance report will be printed in the Bay Breeze.

Automation:

Safety/Health:  If a Supervisor hands you service talks to read, swipe 781 or 630 and take the time to read them.  If you sign up the APWU Health Plan, Kelly has pill organizers if you want one.

Legislative:   Steve Paradise gave the Legislative report.  The TSP Modernization has passed both the House and the Senate and has been sent to the President for final approval.  The Board has two years to issue regulations necessary to implement the expanded withdrawal options.  The Senate is set to vote on a disastrous tax bill in a couple of weeks.  This bill would punish working families and reward the wealthy.  This bill would raise taxes on everyone making under $75,000 a year by 2027.  It would also eliminate deductions that many working people rely on, like State, Local, Property and Income Tax payment deductions.  It will force a lot of people to take the standard deduction.  The Postal Reform bills in the Congress and Senate are still on hold.

OWCP:

Constitution:

New Members:

Lost Members:

Communications:

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

A motion was made by Kelsey Helf and seconded by Bryce Thomas to spend up to $1500 to have the 2017 financial books gone through by an accountant before turning over to the new Secretary/Treasurer.   Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Tim Alberts and seconded by Kelsey Helf to cancel the APWU kids Christmas party this year because only one person signed up.   Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Steve Paradise and seconded by Sue Pranke to spend up to $500 to order more NEWAL APWU t-shirts.  Motion passed unanimously.

A motion was made by Steve Paradise and seconded by Lucy Hauser to give $100 each to the Salvation Army and the NEW Shelter.  Motion passed unanimously.

OTHER BUSINESS     

ADJOURNMENT   

A motion was made by Lucy Hauser and seconded by Tim Alberts to adjourn the meeting.  Motion passed unanimously.  NEWAL meeting adjourned.

The next meeting will be on Sunday January 28^th at 7pm at the Labor Temple.

The $10 door prize was won by Barb Glaser.

Everyone in attendance got a $20 Festival Foods gift card.  Loren Wilber, Sue Pranke, Matt Vadala, Steve Paradise, Art Ciesielczyk, Barb Glaser, Jean Wald, and Ken Appleton all got two of them.

Attendees: See attached sign-in sheet.

Minutes submitted by Recording Secretary Jenny Starry.