Oakland – PTF Grievance has been stalled at the Arbitration level by management but negotiations are being done and although I know it has been taking forever it should be resolved soon.
There is a bid realignment going on which brought more bids to tour two and created different reporting times and days off on all tours. The representatives in Oakland did a great job in eliminating any excessing and together we were able to get through this change in good shape. Discipline has increased as everywhere but is being dealt with.

San Francisco – Has been going through their changes as the original ISC building is closed and the previous AMC building changes into the new ISC. There are many grievances being filed due to managements neglect of the National Agreement. Management has not addressed section changes, craft juristiction or proper bid assignments. This has resulted in many Mail Handlers being unassigned. During the same time period there has been notification given to the 65 junior Mail Handlers that they could possibly be excessed, I believe if excesing happens they will end up in San Jose. The mail volume is low as it is everywhere but we will be fighting to keep those jobs. We are also waiting on an arbitration decision that could possibly convert PTF Mail Handlers in S.F. There is also talk about changing the reporting times at the P&DC.

S.F. NDC – Is going through a bid realignment also which created bid opportunities on tour 3 & 1 but is eliminating bids on tour 2. The 30 junior Mail Handlers have been given letters to inform them that they may possibly be excessed. Management has not indicated where they may go but I believe they may end up in Oakland or San Jose. There are grievances pending regarding the Concord Mail Handlers that were excessed into the NDC and the Oakland PTF Mail Handlers that could possibly eliminate most of the excessing.
Marysville – The Marysville Plant is scheduled to close and it was originally managements plan to send are Mail Handlers to offices all over California but due to our intervention the Mail Handlers will end up in Sacramento. We are still trying to fight the closure as a whole and all unions are working together to get that accomplished.
Sacramento – They are also going through a bid realignment that is basically eliminating tour two bids. They are still on line to recieve the new FSS machine that will create Mail Handler jobs.
San Jose – They are also are changing bids but their changes are creating more jobs and they are also in line to recieve the new FSS machines that will create work for all our Mail Handlers in the Local.
This is just a small amount of the changes going on through out the Local and your stewards are working hard to minimize the impact to you. In fact they have accomplished that task. They do need your support during these pressing times. The times are creating problems for everybody no one is left out. This is a time for union members to unite and get through these rough times, file those grievances when supervisors are acting like Mail Handlers, file grievances when clerks are doing our work, do not do the work of five Mail Handlers work safe. Protect your jobs!

In Solidarity,

Ernie