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05/26/2004 Entry: "California State APWU Convention Report"

The California State APWU Convention began on Thursday, May 20, 2004 with the convening of the California State APWU Executive Board. This meeting gives union officials from all parts of California an opportunity to discuss current issues. In addition, the financial status of the state organization is updated. The state organization appears to be financially sound. Our state officers have a good handle on current issues. Major concerns are excessing, labor scheduler staffing model, unwarranted discipline, PTF conversion, maintenance staffing, and postal reform which could have an effect on every one of us.

The actual California State APWU Convention began on Friday, May 21, 2004 and ran through Sunday, May 23, 2004. One of the most important reason to attend the state convention is the fact we get an opportunity for face-to-face meetings with national union officers from Washington, D.C. as well as regional officers. Another important reason is we get to discuss issues with local union officials from all parts of the California.

The following officers address our delegates:

· APWU, AFL-CIO President Bill Burrus
· APWU, AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Terry Stapleton
· APWU, AFL-CIO Maintenance Director Steve Raymer
· APWU, AFL-CIO Clerk Director Jim McCarthy
· APWU, AFL-CIO Director of Research and Education Joyce Robinson
· APWU, AFL-CIO Director of Legislation Roy Braunstein
· APWU, AFL-CIO Assistant Motor Vehicle Director Mike Foster
· APWU, AFL-CIO Assistant Maintenance Director Idowu Balogun
· APWU, AFL-CIO Assistant Clerk Director Pat Williams
· National Auxiliary President Doris Poland
· California State Auxiliary President Dorothy Burr
· Western Region Coordinator Omar Gonzalez
· San Francisco Clerk NBA “A” Leonard Trujillo
· San Francisco Clerk NBA “B” Shirley Taylor
· San Francisco Clerk NBA “C” James Scoggins
· Western Region Maintenance NBA “A” Charles "Chuck" Sundgaard
· Western Region Maintenance NBA “B” Richard Shepard
· Western Region Motor Vehicle Service NBA Bruce Bailey

The message was very clear we are in a battle at all levels of the union: national, regional, state, and local as well as with the congress. Issues such as excessing, labor scheduler staffing model, unwarranted discipline, PTF conversions, new equipment and staffing, and postal reform, which could have an effect on every one of us as well as our families and friends. The union is on top of all of these issues as well as many others. Nothing is being taken for granted.

The long delay with grievances is being addressed. Most of the delay is due to sheer volume of the grievances we file. Nationwide the backlog of grievances has been reduced from approximately 90,000 to 47,000 grievances. This has not been an easy task and has been accomplished due to the efforts of many union representatives at the national, regional, and local levels. We have approximately 8,800 grievances pending arbitration in the Pacific Area. We have 586 grievances pending arbitration in the Santa Ana District. Santa Ana has 41 clerk craft, 7 maintenance craft, and 1 motor vehicle craft Step 3 grievances pending discussion. We have made some positive headway.

Some of the key issues addressed by the California State APWU Convention delegates are:

· Adding a new Oxnard SCF Representative was not approved.
· Four years elected terms for state officers was approved.
· Reduced the state executive board meetings to once a year was approved
· All California State APWU office to be located in a home was not approved.
· Recommendation National Conventions every three years rather than two years was not approved.
· Recommendation National APWU Officers term increase from three to four years was approved.
· Resolution California State APWU commends the Postal Press Association on its 40th anniversary.
· Resolution seeking military buy back provision for retirement credit be repealed was approved.
· Resolution seeking REC site TE’s get reasonable medical benefits was approved.
· Resolution seeking Caesar Chavez national holiday was approved.
· Resolution seeking veterans the right to be off on Veteran Day Holiday was approved.
· Resolution seeking no lunch provision was not approved.
· Resolution seeking union LWOP for part time union officials will not reduce employee’s benefits.

Congratulations to California State APWU President Isabelle Bailey, and all of the other state officers elected for the state term of 2004-2008.

The 2004-2008 California APWU Officers are:

President Isabelle Bailey
Vice-President Bill Villa
Secretary Carolyn Fullerton
Treasurer Larry DeNayer
Clerk Craft Director Zedie Ramage
Maintenance Craft Director Jimmie Waldon
Motor Vehicle Service Director Phillip Parham
Support Services Director Edwin Cox
Legislative Director Phillip Warlick
Retiree Director Tex Severe
Alhambra SCF Director Terry Stoller
Bakersfield SCF Director Gaare Davis
Eureka/Redding SCF Director Nanci Resendez
Fresno SCF Director Brian Eldridge
Inglewood SCF Director John Driver
Long Beach SCF Director Norma Jones
Los Angeles SCF Director Bridget Wolfe-Williams
Marysville SCF Director Rick Page
Oakland SCF Director Lisa Herrera
Pasadena SCF Director Mike Evans
Sacramento SCF Director Chuck Locke
San Bernardino SCF Director John Ewanizyk
San Diego SCF Director Gwen Wills
San Francisco SCF Director Refugio (Moses) Ramirez
San Jose SCF Director Tina Vanderpluym
San Rafael SCF Director Dave Swaney
Santa Ana SCF Director Ralph Lefter
Santa Barbara SCF Director Steve Green
Santa Rosa SCF Director Colman Pigott
Stockton SCF Director Toni Allison
Van Nuys SCF Director Gloria Banta

The Greater Los Angeles Area Local provided a presentation related to the National APWU, AFL-CIO Convention.

The national convention is in Los Angeles, California from August 18-27, 2004. The national convention provides training on many subjects, craft conferences to address craft needs, resolutions for collective bargaining, and resolutions addressing the directions and administration of the National APWU, AFL-CIO.

Bobby Donelson
Southwest Coastal Area Local