the voice of the oregon state association of · pdf [email protected] 1512 se del rio ave,...

S U M M E R |

1 Historic Philadelphia

3 Own Your Future

4 I Got Mine, the Rest of You Are on Your Own

4 Rewarding Efforts

5 Oregon Convention Photos

6 A Good Day in Medford

7 Life-Changing Event

7 My History

8 Opportunities Ahead

10 OSA Board Meeting Minutes

11 Dedicated Retirees

C A L E N D A R

NALC National Convention Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 21-25, 2014

Labor Day September 1, 2014

2014 Regional Assembly Sunriver, Oregon Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2014

T HE NALC WILL RETURN TO Philadelphia, birthplace of the post office and hometown of America’s first postmaster, Benjamin Franklin,

for the union’s 69th annual convention and 125th anniversary. This will be our fourth convention held in the city of Brotherly Love — the first was in 1895.

The convention delegates will consider important union business, including elections of national officers and amendments to the NALC constitution. But their mission will extend far beyond that — the delegates will discuss issues that relate to the future, and even the survival, of the U.S Postal Service.

With Congress considering terribly misguided legislation that treats USPS as a failing institution-ignoring its recent financial recovery and success — the delegates will talk about strategies for standing up for our jobs, pay, benefits and collective-bargaining rights. If past conventions are a guide, they will also unite to follow up on these strategies. They will bring their message back to their branches resolved to lead all letter carriers to participate in the struggle and speak with a single, strong voice. The delegates also will

consider the many challenges letter carriers face in their jobs each day, such as safety issues, overtime and start times, as well as ongoing efforts to assure that managers understand and honor the National Agreement and local agreements.

The future of the union and the Postal Service, and how city carrier assistants (CCAs) fit into it, also is a likely topic. The

delegates may discuss how best to welcome and train CCAs, how to encourage them to

join NALC and how to inspire them to take leadership positions in their union.

The delegates also will attend some of the several dozen training sessions and workshops offered at the convention on topics such as grievance investigation and research for shop stewards, effective communications and grassroots activism, OWCP and health benefits, retirement and the Mutual Benefit Association (MBA), to name a few.

T H E V O I C E O F T H E O R E G O N S T A T E A S S O C I A T I O N O F L E T T E R C A R R I E R S

HISTORIC

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia’s history is tied to Benjamin Franklin, the colonies’ first postmaster general, and the American Revolution. By PR Staff | the Postal Record NALC

are on Your Own

No. 2 The Oregon Satchel

Summer 2014 Building a life of significance

OSA CONTAC TS

Ricky Horton President [email protected] 1920 Norkenzie Rd, Eugene, OR 97401 h 541-654-2516

Paul Rodriguez Vice President [email protected] 563 St. Ausustine Dr, Medford, OR 97504 h 541-261-3149

Richard Strahm Secretary Treasurer [email protected] 1919 Barons Ave, Medford, OR 97501 h 541-779-4178, w 541-608-8234

Ted Lulich Asst Sec-Treasurer/State Editor [email protected] 1226 SW Hume St, Portland, OR 97219 h 503-502-8149

Steve Devereaux Director of Retirees 3036 Brett Loop, Eugene, OR 97404 [email protected] h 541-968-7649

Jerry Fitzsimmons Education Director [email protected] 645 SE 130th St, Portland, OR 97233 h 503-254-1236, w 503-493-5903

Kevin McKinstry Executive Board Chair [email protected] 1336 SW 40th, Pendleton, OR 97801 h 541-278-1234, w 541-278-6910

Willie Groshell Executive Board [email protected] 4814 NE 14th Pl, Portland, OR 97211 h 503-560-4685

David Norton Executive Board [email protected] 3600 NE 78th Ave, Portland, OR 97213 h 503-887-5122

Bill Roderick Executive Board [email protected] 93658 Bay Payk Ln, Coos Bay, OR 97420 c 541-217-1730

TJ Sanders, Jr. Executive Board [email protected] 1512 SE Del Rio Ave, Albany, OR 97322 h 541-990-9278

NALC

For more information about the National Association of Letter Carriers, log on to www.nalc.org. or the Oregon State Associ-ation website at www.oregonnalc.org

You can find information about the national contract, legislation and politics, The NALC Health Benefit Plan, the Mutual Benefit Plan, postal history and the latest news from headquarters.

The NALC is proud to be a democratically elected organization. Every one of our National Officers has carried the mail!

REGIONAL OFFICERSPaul Price National Business Agent

Coby Jones Regional Administrative Asst

Nick Vafiades Regional Administrative Asst. 11818 SE Mill Plain Blvd, #303 Vancouver, WA 98684 360-892-6545

OREGON STATE AUXILIARY OFFICERSSarah Scott President 2123 San Juan Ct NE, Salem, OR 97305 503-363-4241

Vice-President Currently vacant

Gladys Hall Secretary 8017 N Washburne Ave, Portland, OR 97217 503-285-8468

Ruth Myers Treasurer 4695 Horseshoe Ct SE, Salem, OR 97301 503-581-0934

www.oregonnalc.org

T H E Satchel

is the official publication of the Oregon State Association of the National Association of Letter Carriers. It is published seasonally approximately six times per year, as well as posted to the OSA website in color, as provided by the by-laws of the Oregon State Association. Opinions published in the Satchel do not necessarily represent the official position of the Oregon State Association. Submissions are gladly accepted, and are subject to editing and available space. Please send or email your submissions to:

OSA EDITORTed Lulich, [email protected] 1226 SW Hume Street, Portland, OR 97219

For all address changes or deletions, refer to the OSA website at www.oregonnalc.org

No. 3The Oregon Satchel

Summer 2014Building a life of significance

EDITORS note

Ted LulichOSA Assistant Sec. Treasurer

OSA State Editor

Trustee, Branch 82

Own your FUTUREBY RICKY HORTON

R ECENTLY, RETIRED CARRIER Debby Burbank and I had an amazing opportunity to be

included in Hollywood style filming for U.S Senator Jeff Merkley at his Portland home alongside his family for his Fall campaign media blitz

Senator Merkley proudly lives in a modest, iconic 50’s-style neighborhood. Not a McMansion as you might imagine, that’s just not who he is. A film director told me the Senator never uses fake props or models, it has to be real, which is why he wanted to include some good friends — including letter carriers. At the end I asked the Senator if he had one thing to say (in the Satchel) what would it be? He replied, “We have to get America working for working Americans.” I assured the Senator, letter carriers will be “boots on the ground” during his campaign! n

The downtown Philadelphia Convention Center site of the 2014 NALC National Convention, with historic City Hall in the background.

I T’S YOUR FUTURE...I’M ON MY way out...I have less time left in my career than you have in...” Those are words I will never forget. They

were spoken to me as I turned down the first invite to get more involved with my Union besides just being a member. During the years that passed after they were said to me, I always had someone who had my back, my Shop Steward. He or She was always there when the boss had an issue with me, performance, sick leave and attitude, whatever. Even when I didn’t think I needed them they were there looking out for my best interests. For that matter, the best interests of all of my Sisters and Brothers who wear the blue uniform of labor.

Our Labor Union the NALC has the best Shop Stewards in the world. Our region, NALC Region 2, has produced some of the best in the Country. I would guess that National Director of City Delivery – Jim Edgeman (retired); NALC Executive Vice President — Jimmy Williams (retired); National Director of Education — Jamie Lumm; National Director of Retirees — Ron Watson; National Business Agent — Paul Price; National Safety Committee member — Tom Gates (deceased); NALC Contract administration unit — Sue Wellhausen; Denise Brooks, National AFL-CIO Rep. and Assistant to the NALC President on OWCP — Kevin Card, were all shop stewards at one point during their NALC careers and they are all from region two.

Like the other states in our region, Oregon has a Steward College. Recently the OSA Board named it the Tom Gates Oregon State Steward College. The reason I’m bringing this up is, the fourth class of a four year rotation is complete and it’s time to start planning for the next wave of Shop stewards. If you have the

desire to stand up against management, protect the rights of your fellow Carriers and enforce the contract. Work your ass off-on and off- the clock on grievances, put up with the daily ration of stupidity that management serves, and challenge it head on. You might have what it takes to be a Shop Steward. I’m not going to try to hide the truth, it’s not a glory job, at times it can downright suck.

My path to Stewardship was forged by the ones who walked this tightrope before me. They were the ones who pioneered the way for the rest of us who want to make a difference. Like them, I feel it’s my obligation to keep up the fight and make sure the path is clear for others who want the knowledge.

If you are interested in going to steward college in the spring 2015 let your branch President know. Please don’t waste the unions time and yours if you only want to be a steward because you have an axe to grind with management. Management comes and goes, think about it, they are always looking to move on to something better, or that consists of less work. I’ve lost count of how many I have seen come and go.

My Stewardship is and has been about pulling watch when the others slept, making sure they had breathing room when the pressure was on them...somebody has to push back! It’s your future...I’m on my way out...I have less time left in my career than some of you have in...who’s willing to walk the tightrope and clear the path for those who will follow? n

Ricky HortonOSA President

President NALC Branch 916



BY WILLIE GROSHELL

T HAT IS THE UNDERLYING message coming from corporate America. It is the antithesis to our union movement. We stand

up together to make life better for all workers. Strong communities where people get a fair chance in life are what we fight for in the union movement. I got mine, now let’s make sure you all have the chance to get it too is our system.

That is why the elections this November are so important to us and our way of life. New attacks on the postal service and our jobs keep coming and we keep fighting. We only win when we are actively engaged with our elected officials. That is why we must be ready to vote for our jobs, families and future every single election. As well, we need to be willing to do a little extra work to make sure we have the support needed in Washington DC.

We have a strong voice for labor in our Senator Jeff Merkley and he is up for re-election this year. On May 28, Senator Elizabeth Warren came to support Senator Merkley, I was lucky enough to be there. She is actively pushing to get banking services back into the USPS to grow the business and strengthen the public postal service. I wanted to share some of her inspirational speech with my brothers and sisters:

“We believe that people with the most money shouldn’t be able to buy elections — and we’ll fight for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United!”

“And I can’t believe that I have to say this in 2014, but I do: We believe in equal pay for equal work – and we will fight for it!”

“We believe that workers have a right to come together to bargain together and rebuild America’s middle class — and we will fight for it!”

“We believe that kids should have a chance to go to college without getting crushed by debt — and we will fight for it!”

“We believe that people should retire with dignity and that means strengthening Social Security — and we will fight for it!”

“We believe that no one should work full time and still live in poverty and that means raising the minimum wage and we’ll fight for it!”

“So here’s the deal: Those are progressive values. Those are America’s values!”

“It’s up to us — to get out and fight for what we believe in!”

So my brothers and sisters are we ready to stand up together to fight for what is best for our future? I know I am and I look forward to standing with you this fall. We will fight for it! n

I GOT MINE, the Rest of You are on Your Own.

T HIS YEAR IS JUST FLYING by, in fact, it seems like just yesterday we were in Coos Bay for the State Convention. We

are very appreciative of the Coos Bay and North Bend branch for hosting such a great, fun filled event, where everyone got to reconnect like family and ultimately raise a total of over $3,000 for MDA. It took a lot of people pulling together to get to that goal and every individual involved in making this happen deserves a round of applause. On that note, I am very happy to be re-elected to the state board and I will work harder to make our state stronger.

One thing our state can strive to achieve is to get our e-Activist numbers up. To do this, all it takes to become an e-Activist is to go to nalc.org and click on the link on the first page. After that you just fill out some basic information and you are registered. To spread the word, make it a goal to encourage others you know to sign up as well. It is beneficial to everyone to be an e-Activist in order to stay informed on current news and events, including those that could possibly affect our jobs.

I hope everyone takes the time to enjoy the summer and I can’t wait to see most of you in Sunriver this year. And remember stay strong, stay informed and work together. n

BY T.J. SANDERS

Rewarding EFFORTS

TJ Sanders, Jr.OSA Executive Board

Albany Branch 959

Willie GroshellOSA Executive Board

Organizing Chair, Branch 82



Photography by Vickie Piotter, Branch 916 Eugene, and the U.S. Coast Guard, Coos Bay Station.



R EMINDER: OUR UNION, the NALC, did not create the position of CCA (City Carrier Assistant). The CCA category

came about because of the postal management’s desire to hire a lower-wage, no-benefit, temporary workforce to replace the many career carriers that are moving on to retirement. In contrast, NALC wanted new carriers hired as permanent, career employees, with the same pay and benefits most of us receive.

Since the parties couldn’t agree, the rules of our national collective bargaining say that a team of arbitrators decide how to write the contract, and we are bound by the decision they make. After both sides presented their arguments, Shyam Das, the head arbitrator, set the terms of our current employment agreement in January 2013. He created the CCA position, explicitly stating that carriers in that class will receive vacant career appointments as they become available.

This was a “win” for our union and our new hires, but I personally don’t think it was a huge “win”. The new agreement settlement also includes a kind of split-wage pay scale, with new people starting out making less per hour than before. But if they stick it out, their pay grows to match the same top level that current senior carriers get. Still, the best part has to be the notion of “relative standing” for CCA’s, meaning that they have a path to career starting the day they get hired. There is that promise, for new hires, that when the jobs open up, they will be in line for them.

And the jobs have opened up. In some places, it’s been painfully obvious, with overtime mandated for uncovered routes, the need for new people was there for a long time. But the first management foot-dragging exercise involved getting people who wanted transfers relocated to where they wanted to be. Or was it making sure that all the PTF’s in the installation were converted first? These were just a couple of the stumbling blocks that rose up in front of our new CCA’s (many of which were originally TE’s who had been doing the job for years) before they could gain career status and benefits.

I think it was also shameful the way management forced all the currently working TE’s to retake the postal exam (on short notice) and then “re-apply” for their current jobs, (that they were, again, working for years) just because they changed the name. But I’m getting sidetracked, and I admit that can really only speak for how this broad national agreement has affected some people in our local office.

It finally came down to when our local branch has fought all the fights and the need is obvious and the people are there, and the date is set. They (management) are going to live up to their promise, abide by the contract, and make a couple of our CCA’s regular career employees with benefits. A few days before the conversion, a call is made from upper management, and a deal is offered. We will go along with making your CCA’s career, they say, if the branch will agree to some minor route adjustments.

A Good Day in MEDFORD

BY RICHARD STRAHM

Hearing that, my brain short-circuited on the text message, WTF? What do route adjustments have to do with the obligation of management to convert CCA’s to career, as guaranteed by the contract? Well, the voice on the phone goes on, if Medford won’t agree to that, maybe we should convert CCA’s in Eugene, instead. Our branch’s stewards stood tall and didn’t back down. More calls were made, and the CCA’s were converted as scheduled (but long delayed from when they could have been), and there was no ransom paid.

As the national agreement, our working contract between management and union, states:

“When the Postal Service hires new city letter carrier career employees, CCA employees within the installation will be converted to full-time regular career status to fill such vacancies based on their relative standing.”

I think that’s pretty clear, understandable language. And when I hear stories like the one above (I was not involved; just an observer, and the details are only as I understand them) I can’t help but wonder, “who are these people?” When I come to work each day, I’m asked how long it will take to complete my office duties and deliver all the mail. I’m asked to make a promise to do the best I can. What if I call the supervisor later in the day and say, “hey, I know I signed out this registered parcel. I’ll go ahead and deliver it, but only if I can have next Thursday off.” No, not me. I try to do what I’m supposed to and live up to my word.

Richard StrahmOSA Secretary TreasurerSec.- Treasurer, Medford Branch 1433

Continued on page 7



So how is it different for management? What world do they live in? Our next-in-line CCA’s are scheduled to be converted to regular career on the 28th of this month. We’ll see if management can’t put on their big boy pants and do the right thing without making a fuss this time. n

Continued from page 6

LIFE-CHANGING EventBY PAUL RODRIGUEZ

S UMMER GREETING TO ALL Oregon Letter Carriers, I hope you are enjoying the change of season and no “rain gear” for

the next few months. CCA conversions seem to be occurring in some stations across our state, in Medford we have had two CCA’s converted to Regulars in May, and the word is two more conversions by the end of June. It seems that just until recently the only conversions happening were in Portland and although I am glad to see some movement, more conversions need to be done.

There are two other pieces of news that are important to be mentioned. One is that I want to say congratulations to former CCA Heather Raison of Medford Branch 1433, you are now a REGULAR! Whew, it only took seven years, six breaks in service, and an advocate to make it happen, thank you for being a loyal NALC member the entire time.

The second is to recap on the OSA annual convention that took place in beautiful Coos Bay this past April hosted by branch 1450 and went very well. Executive Board elections were also held this year and we welcome new board state officer Bill Roderick – Branch 1450 Coos Bay. While at the convention I was able to meet many more delegates throughout the state and listen to their workplace conditions.

I became aware many problems, including the issue of plenty of help, but not enough vehicles. Some stations, including Medford, are renting U-Haul vans for delivery. I am glad that the agency is getting vehicles but I would have hoped for a more professional solution than rentals. We need more postal vehicles ASAP; we also need real

customized, professional commercial grade, right-side drive delivery vehicles and not more left-side drive passenger mini vans. Let us save the money of renting a truck that advertises for U-Haul while making us look like amateurs rather than the professionals we are. One can only hope.

While there are many issues to still be worked out, we are on our way to creating solutions. Next year’s OSA State convention will be held in Eugene and I encourage more individuals to

participate and get involved with making decisions that will affect your work and life. n

My HISTORYBY BILL RODERICK

O SA BROTHERS AND sisters, I would first like to say that I couldn’t be more proud being elected to the

Oregon State Association Executive Board. I would also like to thank outgoing OSA Executive Board Member, Kevin Coleman for his hard work during his time as our board member. Kevin is a good man and I’m sure he will be a force in two years

A little about myself, I am married to my wife of 16 years, Owin. We have five children, Nick, Nicole, Joe, Will and Grace. I’m a veteran and served four years in the United States Navy during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I was born and raised here in Coos Bay, Oregon. I first was hired as a clerk in North Bend, Oregon when I started with the US Postal Service in 2000. After two years, I then transferred to Coos Bay, Oregon to become a City Letter Carrier and a proud member of the National Association of Letter Carriers. During my time as a NALC member , I have been mainly focused on my local, which is branch #1450. I have served as President, Chief Steward, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer and as a Shop Steward. More recently, I have stepped back from being an officer at the local level to get some newer members active, while also completing Shop Stewards College this year to become a Certified Steward. Currently, I am the Branch #1450’s Shop Steward.

Paul Rodriguez OSA Vice-President

Vice-President, Medford Branch 1433

A Good Day...

Continued on page 9

Bill RoderickOSA Executive Board

Shop Steward, Coos Bay Branch 1450



H ELLO OSA MEMBERS. AS Chief Steward of Branch 82, I regularly write an article for our newsletter, the B

Mike. Last month, I wrote an article pertaining to a new Memorandum of Understanding, affecting CCA conversions and the ability to transfer in the future. This MOU also affects (maybe even more so than Branch 82) the entire state. So, I write this preface for my Branch 82 brothers and sisters. You may have already heard some of this before, but it is important, contractual information that should be shared throughout the state.

Effective June 1, there is a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that takes effect. M-01834 covers the process of filling residual vacancies. Many aspects of this memo are carryovers from the original inception as M-01824, but there are some key changes that may affect Letter Carriers who wish to transfer.

The importance of M-01834, as well as its predecessor M-01824, cannot be understated. M-01834 is the memo that controls when, and how, residual vacancies are filled. This is important for many reasons, but certainly, if you’re a CCA Carrier, you probably keep a close tab on the vacant routes that go unbid. Ultimately, it is your road to becoming a career employee.

So everyone knows what exactly a residual vacancy is, a residual vacancy is a route that is vacated by a carrier, is placed on the city-wide bid sheet and goes un-bid. A route at that time becomes residually vacant.

Reading these Memorandums can be confusing, so to hit the important parts, here are the steps that happen after a vacant route goes un-bid on the city wide bid sheet.

Item #1 of M-01834 reads: 1. Full-time regular opportunities defined above will be filled within 28 days of becoming available in the following order:

a. if the opportunity is a residual vacancy(s), assignment of an unassigned full-time regular or full-time flexible city letter carrier in the same installationb. conversion to full-time regular status of a part-time flexible city letter carrier in the same installation pursuant to Article 41.2.8.6(b) of the collective bargaining agreement

This means that if there are any unassigned regular carriers in the installation, they get assigned to the route.

Item #2 of M-01834 reads:

2. Full-time regular opportunities that cannot be filled through Item 1 above will be posted in eReassign for a 21 day period during the next available posting cycle. The eReassign posting will indicate the installation and number of full-time regular opportunities available. Application for these full-time opportunities will be accepted from all qualified employees. However, only requests from part-time flexible city letter carriers will be approved under Item 2.

OPPORTUNITIES Ahead

BY DAVID NORTON

Approval of such requests will be made based on the order the applications from part-time flexible city letter carriers are received and will include reassignment requests from part-time flexible city letter carriers already pending in eReassign as of the date of this…agreement. Requests from part time flexible city letter carriers will be acted upon without regard to normal transfer considerations. Requests from all other qualified employees may only be considered under Item 3 below.

If there are no unassigned regulars in the instillation to take the residual vacancy, the residually vacant route goes on a national posting for 21 days. This gives PTFs from around the country the option to accepting that residual vacancy. This also gives carriers outside of the instillation the opportunity to put in a transfer request to the residual vacancy. Transfers, however, are not automatically accepted. I’ll explain why later.

Item #3 of M-01834 reads:3. Full-time regular opportunities that remain after Item 2 will be filled by 1) conversion of city carrier assistants to full-time regular career status in the same installation as the full-time regular opportunities or 2) acceptance and placement of voluntary reassignment (transfer) requests pending in eReassign from qualified bargaining unit employees (including full and part-time regular city letter carriers) or reassignment of bargaining unit employees within the installation (if there are insufficient requests from

M- 01834- Residual Vacancies, Conversions and the Future of Employee Transfers



In closing, the main thing I have focused on throughout my time as a local union official is to help others. In my opinion, if someone is only out to have a title or to get another “bullet point” on their resume, they are missing the mark. And in the end your members will see that. I want you all to know that I am truly honored to be a part of the Oregon State Association Board. I’m eager for the challenges ahead and excited to learn new ideas. More importantly I look forward to serving all of you, regardless of any title I may or may not have. n

Continued from page 7

My History

qualified bargaining unit employees, non-bargaining unit employees may be reassigned to a full-time regular opportunity). Reassignment (transfer) requests will be made with normal considerations contained in the Memorandum of Understanding, Re: Transfers, based on the order the applications are received. The number of career reassignments allowed under this paragraph is limited to one in every four full-time opportunities filled in offices of 1 00 or more work-years and one in every six full-time opportunities filled in offices of less than 1 00 work-years. At least three or five, as applicable, of full-time opportunities will be filled by conversion of city carrier assistants to full-time regular career status based on their relative standing in the same installation as the full-time opportunities. Such conversions will take place no later than the first day of the third full pay period after either the close of the posting cycle or, when an employee is being considered for transfer, the date the employee or employer rejects the offer/request.

Ok, if the residually vacant route is still available after step 1 and 2, then that route must be filled under the guidelines of step 3; that is to either take an approved transfer off of e-reassign (if one exists) or convert a CCA Carrier to career. The difference between M-01834, and its predecessor M-01824, is that the updated M-01834 takes into consideration the Memorandum of Understanding, Re: Transfers (the

transfer memo). The transfer memo has been around for a long time. It narrows down how many transfers are allowed into an installation vs. how many career appointments (CCA conversions in this case) are made. In larger installations that ratio is 1 in every 4, and in smaller installations that ratio is 1 in every 6. That means, for every 1 transfer that is taken here in Portland, they must convert 3 CCAs prior to taking another transfer. It doesn’t have to be in that exact order. It could be 2 conversions, then 1 transfer, then another conversion. And remember, PTFs can always jump into a spot and not mess up the ratio. Either way, this is a big deal if you are a CCA.

Instead of watching transfer after transfer come in from out of the district and snatch up vacant routes while you wait to convert, you and your conversion takes a contractual preference. This is especially important in smaller installations. If you are a carrier in Tillamook, and they accept a transfer in to take a residual vacancy, the next 5 residual vacancies have to have a CCA converted into them in.

Personally, I am happy for our CCA brothers and sisters in smaller post offices, many of which who have waited and waited for a residual vacancy to open up, just to see it taken by a transfer. This memo is great for them. Other aspects are troublesome. M-01834 greatly reduces a regular letter carrier’s ability to transfer. If you live in Beaverton, and work in Portland, and you want to get closer to home to avoid the commute, well, your chances of transferring just

became very slim. If your aging father with Alzheimer’s lives in Newport, and you want to move closer to take care of him, the chances of that happening became much more difficult. The hypothetical sceneries go on and on. The reality is, that sometimes in one’s life, there becomes a need to move. It used to be that, in most cases, your job as a letter carrier could move with you. Not anymore. My advice to anyone that thinks that they may want to transfer anytime soon is, you should do it now and be that “1” in the “1 in every 4” or

“1 in every 6.”For better or for worse, M-01834 is

here. June 1 starts the process and the ratios. It will be interesting to see what happens. Depending on your situation at the Postal Service, or in life, M-01834 will either affect you positively or it may be an obstacle in your way. n

David NortonOSA Executive Board

Chief Steward, Branch 82



OSA Board Meeting minutes 4/24/14Present: Ricky Horton, Paul Rodriguez, Richard Strahm, Ted Lulich, Jerry Fitzsimmons, Kevin McKinstry, Kevin Coleman, TJ Sanders, Dave Norton, Willie Groshell, Steve Devereaux.Executive Board Visitations: Reports, McKinstry, Rodriguez, Sanders. Issues: time restraints by management, fluff, lack of safety meetings. Most stations visited, the rest scheduled, all contacts made. Consideration of two (2) visits per year due to positive finances i.e.: possible elimination of education director and increased CCA membership.Steward College: Maximum training hours. Silver Falls location under new mgmt. Training is evolving and refocusing. 2015, 1st class rotation, CCA involvement opportunities.CCA’s: Conversions/overworked/quitting/mentoring/rightsRoute Adjustments: Quarterly 3999’s, no status on national J-Rap, six-day counts. Parcel data availability. Movement on earlier start times. One month testing window left – possible

fall test. Educate members on 271 G – minor route adjustments vs. six-day count and inspections. Visitations.OSA Satchel: Seasonal issues, resource corner, buzz section, etc., more interactive. Design changes. Special issue for Fall elections possibly combining two issues due to importance.OSA Budget: Board recommends to maintain budget at the same level, even without the D.O.E. position eliminated. Increase workload distributed.Legislation: AFL-CIO Fall elections recommendations inserted into a special Satchel issue. Recommend to re-instate affiliation of ORARA.2015 RAP/Eugene, Springfield. 2014 important election year – more budget needed/re-distributed funds. In 2013, Branches paid 50% of cost, a temporary measure to split. Detailed discussion of cost/budget of sending all officers to Fall RAP in Sunriver, within Oregon. Each year different. Agree to table Fall meeting at RAP/Sunriver

Director of Education: Fitzsimmons retirement, state convention body vote to maintain/eliminate, National to concur.Paul Price, NBA, OSA Meeting Visitation: Discussed; National officer classes/updates. Mike Walquist RAA – resigned for Salt Lake City Utah family issues. Nick Vafiades – New RAA. LMOU arguments. Appeals 1/4, 230 Arbs in Alaska. Steward College update 2015. Fall Rap – agenda ideas submit to Paul Price. Looking for new leaders in Oregon, Washington, Montana. OWCP update. National elections, Paul Price re-running as NBA. National Sec. Treasurer – retiring. Arb and Pre – Arb wins. CCA’s 1834 – craft conversions on new national agreement. Article 12 cases, Region 2 current. Congress, national legislation attacks. CCA’s – National consideration of part/75% dues. Seattle 3849 cancelled – grieve by zone. CCA’s count increasing percent Sunday parcel delivery. Load leveling test sites. Distinct safety update; Paul Rodriguez appointed to District Team. 2014 Fall RAP/Sunriver – $100 per night lodging.Adjourn.

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I RECENTLY HAD THE opportunity to mingle among old friends. Not my old friends necessarily, although I did see a

few. The old friends I mingled with were Branch 347 retired members who, judging by their hugs and smiles, had not seen each other in a while. Eavesdropping on the conversations around me reinforced a long-held belief

— once a letter carrier, always a letter carrier — and in particular an NALC letter carrier.

NALC is one of a handful of national unions that permits members to retain their union membership status upon retirement. Today, Ron Watson, National Director of Retirees and former President of Corvallis Branch 1274, heads a department that serves over 89,000 retired members, including over 5,500 here in Oregon. These are Brothers and Sisters with no obligation to remain in the NALC, but yet they choose to do so. Of course there are some practical benefits in remaining a member, but it goes beyond that — it’s in the blood.

From NALC President Fred Rolando to Branch 347 members George Steinmann with 65 year’s membership and George Knox with 63 year’s membership to the CCA with 90 days, we all have common on-the-job experiences. The title of the published history of our craft “Carriers in a Common Cause” suggests it is that common experience that unites us in pursuing our common cause of fairness and justice in the workplace for all letter carriers. Passing on the traditions

and history of our craft to succeeding generations of letter carriers is integral to our survival as a union. To know how far we’ve come we must know where we started. Who better to learn the lessons of the past from than the brothers and sisters that led us here? Our NALC retirees provide historical perspective and insight on many of the issues facing letter carriers of today. Their continued membership and contribution on all levels of activism is vital to NALC’s collective strength if we are to win the day against those who would destroy us.

NALC has long recognized the contributions and dedication of our retirees and has continued to seek ways to honor them. Delegates to the 1939 NALC National Convention in Milwaukee celebrated our 50th anniversary as a union by creating the NALC Gold Card. The Gold Card signifies life time NALC membership without payment of union dues and is presented to letter carriers with 50 years of membership. Hoping to encourage continued membership upon retirement the 1956 NALC national convention delegates established a lower

DEDICATED Retirees

BY STEVE DEVEREAUX

dues structure for retirees. At the 1976 convention NALC created the elected position of National Director of Retirees so that retired letter carriers could have an advocate dedicated to retiree issues.

Of course not every branch has the finances to honor their retirees with a banquet in the way that Branch 347 did, but there are other ways. Article 2 Section 5 (a) of the NALC Constitution provides that membership pins will be provided at no charge in five year increments beginning at 25 years continuous membership up to the 50 year Gold Card status. At 55, 60 and 65 years lapel pins will be provided and at 70 and 75 years suitable plaques will be provided, also at no expense. The only requirement is that the NALC Secretary-Treasurer will provide such pins and plaques “when receiving proper notification by the Branch Secretary” in the year when a member completes required number of years. These pins can be presented by the branch at regular meetings, picnics or at any branch get together and are a great way to recognize the dedication of our long standing members and to show that you appreciate them. It has been said that we stand on the shoulders of giants, and I couldn’t agree more. Honor your giants by pinning a service pin on their shirt or putting a gold card in their hand. n

Steve DevereauxOSA Director of Retirees

Springfield, OR

Oregon State Association NALCP.O. Box 596Springfield, OR 97477

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oregonnalc.org Oregon Letter Carriers – Building a Life of SignificanceNALC, Celebrating 125 Years

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