Goodbye... (I mean to the clerks being excessed)

Well... I just thought I would wish the clerks who are being excessed a "Good bye and Good Luck" for the new positions they will be taking. Whether it is at a new station, new city, or even a new craft. But, I have heard that some have decided not to continue to be full-employees with USPS anymore. Instead, they have chosen to become Part Time Regulars (PTR) instead of having maybe to move to another city or maybe change crafts. Good luck to all of you who decided to become PTR's. I hope it was the best decision for you.

Now, has anyone heard when the mailhandlers are going to continue with their excessing? Drop a line here and let us know what is going on.

Talking about excessing.... Even management is finally feeling it a little... hahahahahaha Take for instance, Gary Hill from Tour 2 he is being excessed but he dont' seem to mind since he is being detailed over to Maintenance to as a Level 23 (currently Level 20) plus then he still gets to stay on at MLS P&DC.

Now I know some of you have seen little short redhead named Gretchen back on the workroom floor of MLS ove the past two weeks. Why? Was she not detailed up to Moreno Valley to be the Senior MDO for that plant? Maybe it was something that she either was not prepared for or incapable of doing properly. So she is now back at MLS.

Rant and Rave

Been a while since I have updated this blog. Since then I have heard from the mailhandlers that Management has messed up when it come to doing the excessing. They got sent away to a couple of different areas and then they were brought back to where they started. This was actually a lucky thing for the clerks. Since it showed the shortcomings of the excessing when it is done improperly. This is going to cost USPS management more than they expected. So maybe less craft workers will be effected by the excessing due to the cost of moving employees.

Now I am curious about something.... How many of you out there know of or knew of Management being married to craft employees? How does this affect the employees around these individuals? I have not been around as long as many of you. So I would like to begin compiling a list of these individuals, where they are currently and how you think they affect the ones around them.

1. Gary Hill MDO T-2 MLS P&DC and Armi Hill Clerk T-1 MLS P&DC from what I have observed with both of them on separate tours there is not much impact on the employees around them.

2. Charles Sweet T-2 Maintenance Manager (supposedly detailed to Pacific Area but he still is running MLS P&DC and Midway Maintenance) and Veronica Phung (Sweet) T-2 Maintenance Support Clerk from what I have heard and observed there is a large impact on the employees around these individuals both on the craft and management side. For you never know when you speak up about something how soon it will get back to Charles either by Veronica when they go home or when she walks directly into Charles office to speak with him. Now it is even better with her again going to be a 204b in charge of Maintenance employees. Why is she in a 204b position when her husband is in charge of Maintenance. Oh, yes... someone will say that Lee Miller is actually in charge while Charles Sweet is up in Pacific Area. But, since when has Lee Miller had a thought of his own without asking Sweet's permission to blow his nose.

Never again (I hope): Information Overload????

http://php.app.com/usps/search.php

Information Overload????

To all of you who have tried to post where to go and find out about what any Postal employee's base salary and other information is concerning them. You can go to the below link :

http://php.app.com/usps/search.php

So... look up anyone you like by name or by job description or even by facility. Just have fun and spread the word.

Also I would like to extend my congratulation's to Jim Roland who is now our Vice President of our Local 197. Jim, or anyone else who can answer this question for me, When will Bill Tagart be back in his old job at MLS P&DC? Would you care to let us know please? Maybe you can ask Tom Wood when Tagart has to go back?

Thanks,

MOM

Who will be the new "Vice President"

Well on the 2oth of March which is tomorrow all of us will find out who our Vice President of our Local will be to lead us into the future. I know that I voted for the one that I believed best would be for our Local from the three candidates listed below alphabetically:

1. Jim Roland
2. Bill Tagart
3. Gwen Wills

Whichever one of these individuals is elected I pray and hope that they and all of us can put the past behind us as we look and go forward into the future. Our Local and us depend on them to do so.

Thanks,

Mom197

Election Time...

Well.. it is that time again to vote for who we would like to be our Vice President of our APWU Local 197.

1.Why are we going through this special election for our Vice President of our APWU Local 197?

2. Who is paying for this special election? National APWU or our Local 197?

3. Who is the better person to fill this position? Tagart? Roland? or Wills?

So before you vote think about the above questions before you submit your ballot. Chose wisely for this is going to be affecting you and me for the next 2 1/2 yrs. During this time, our National Contract will be negotiated and our Locals Memorandum of Understanding will be redone. How you vote will affect all of us in the Local.

I cannot state any better than this... "CHOOSE WISELY"

Town Hall Meeting

On 18th February at MLS P&DC will be the next Town Hall Meeting given by the MLS Plant Manager John Bertolina. So far what I have heard is that Tour 3's meeting will be at 5pm on the 18th of February.

So what will be told to all the employees at the plant? That things are getting tough and we all must work together to lower our costs. Or will he also talk about the excessing of clerks and mailhandlers. But, let's not forget that with less craft employees that EAS employees will be scampering for jobs or they will be excessed also.

I know ask your help to talk to other employees and to post here if there is going to be more meetings for the other tours at Midway and MLS P&DC. Plus what is going on at the stations?? Are they going to be given Town Hall Meetings by the San Diego Area Manager or his staff? So they can be properly informed of what is going on within their craft and work area.

Communication between each of us is important so that we can respond quickly and efficently to whatever management has planned. As long as Management goes by the contract I have no problems with them. But, let all of us be vigilant and aware that Management will do what it takes even if it goes against the contract to protect themselves.

RE-RUN ELECTION NOTICE

RE-RUN ELECTION NOTICE

FOR VICE PRESIDENT ONLY

APWU SAN DIEGO AREA LOCAL 197

A secret ballot election for the office of Vice President will be conducted by mail. Ballots for this election are being mailed to members on February 27, 2009. Any eligible member who has not received a ballot in the mail at home by March 6, 2009 or any member who spoils a ballot may request a new ballot by contacting the Election Chairperson Judy Curtis at (619) 905-2126. A duplicate ballot will be mailed by the following business day. If you request and return two (2) ballots, only the replacement ballot will be counted.

Ballots will be picked up on March 20, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. from the following location:

PO Box 2355
El Cajon CA 92021

Ballots will be counted directly after they are picked up on March 20, 2009 at the following location:

APWU San Diego Area Local 197
Union Hall
3737 Camino Del Rio
Suite 200
San Diego CA 92108


**Important Facts to Remember**

Nominations will not be re-opened.

The election includes only the office of the Vice President.

The candidates on the ballot will be the only ones running for Vice President.
Write-in votes shall not be valid, counted or considered.

IMPORTANT: Mail your ballot in sufficient time for it to be received at the following
address no later than 11:00 a.m. on March 20, 2009:

PO Box 2355
El Cajon CA 92021

Interesting Information....

I also have heard about Tricky Ricky Cornholieo leaving our Union. Why is he leaving it now? Is it because he did not really want to be a member or was it only for the power trip? So I thought he was going to stay in and "help" other members? Well, in my opinion it is no loss to this Local since he screwed it up during his 3 yrs in office.

Also, I have hear that soon our Local will have to have a special election for the Vice President position. Something about how Will Tagart abused his position as a Chief Shop Steward while campaigning for his office. Any ideas on how long it will take to have this election and get the results back?

NEW YEAR... Old or New Problems.... Solutions??

Well.. I have taken a nice long break away from the computer since my last posting. Now that the new year of 2009 is here I am back ready to begin anew.

This coming year will see several problems carry over from the last year and will have new problems arise that will affect each and everyone of us. Some of these problems will be due to the economy and the fallout of our National problems. Others will be due to Postal mismanagement or just plain stupidity of our coworkers.

But, no matter what each of our unique problems that each of us face just remember that others have had to face these problems also and somehow all of us will find our own solutions that work for us. Look around and do not be afraid to ask others for help... be it a friend , coworker, or even management at your place of work(Yes, sometimes they can help)..... But, just remember that you are never alone... Others will help you if you are willing to help yourself.

Keep the blog alive or not.. that is the question....

Some of you have voiced that you want this blog to stay around. Well, is anyone of you willing to take it over from me? If so you know how to contact me by email.

Craft Employees who think Rules are not for them

How many of us out there work around someone who does not think the Post Office rules or regulations are something that they need to pay attention or follow?

Well, let me start off today with an easy one. I will pick on Maintenance again since they so often do not feel the need to follow the rules like all of us other employees. Just a few days ago, I brought up about how Maintenance Managers/Supervisors/204b's feel they "need" their own private entrance into MLS P&DC that has no security or control on it. Well, there is at least one craft employee that feels the same way. This employee is a support clerk in Maintenance for Tour 3. This employee's name is Veronica Phung. I would like for everyone to think back to when the last time this person actually walked into or out of the employee's entrance like all the other craft employee's. Why should she be any different than any other craft employee? Is it because she believes that this rule is one that does not pertain to her? Or is it maybe because of her relationship with Charles Sweet?

What do you think?

Now let me hear from all of you about employee's you work with that think that rules do not pertain to them. Or is she the only one like this in all of San Diego area?

Bitching time.....

Before I do shut this blog down.. I still have a few things to get off my chest. So I will start with this one today... In a few more days I will continue getting things off my chest.


Even with the excess notices being given out to clerks and mailhandlers I still notice a lot of them let the supervisors continue to do craftwork instead of just supervising. Do these individuals think that this supervisor actually cares about them? Or just that the mail is gotten out of there quicker? Majority of these craftworkers do not remind me of jellyfish... no backbone to stand up and tell the supervisor to leave the mail alone and to let the shop stewards know about it.

Countdown to no more Blog

Over the course of time, beginning with the original blogger who had this sight and till now. Each of us have tried to do something to call attention to things we have considered wrong and in need of correction. So, I feel that it is finally time to lay this blog to rest as of 30 December 2008.

So to all of you who supported this blog from the start when Tricky Wicky was our Local's President through the changes that are occurring now throughout the post office. I, "Thank each of you", for your input no matter whether or not I agreed with it.

May each of us in our own unique way try to change things to make it better for ourselves and others around us.

Mom197

Thanksgiving

I do not know where to begin or to end... I just know that I have many things to be thankful for in my life. Yes, there have been places where I have felt that life could not get any worse. But, looking back over my life, my work, and my country. I feel proud and thankful for what has come my way.

Happy Thanksgiving to all....

Something to be "Thankful" for

Good morning, I apologize for not keeping much information about what is going on in our Union nowadays. I only hear about what is going on via my fellow employees. Their moans and groans about what is wrong in our Union and in the Postal Service. From what I gather so far a lot of folks are wondering just what our Union has been doing for us during this period that we are in now. People talk about being excessed, having to change tours due to jobs being abolished or consolidated, decreased mail volume and many other items that effect our lives.

Well I have thinking about it quite a bit. Yes, I consider myself fortunate to work for the Postal Service and to have our Union working to make this a better job. I could picture our job it we did not have the Union and their representatives working to our benefit. The majority of us would not be as well off as we are now. In this majority of individuals I include anyone who is a craft employee and most of EAS employees. The reason I include the EAS employees is that whenever the craft employees are getting their raises and benefits increased so are the EAS employees many of which belong to NAPS. The Postal Service if it could would love to get rid of the majority of its employees if it could. Because like any business the employees are a major cash drain. Instead of paying employees the wages and benefits that we recieve now. The Postal Service would love to employ individuals who would make only mininum wage with no or minimal benefits.

Look around you... how many jobs do you know of can give you up to 26 paid days of vacation time each year. This does not include the holidays that you are off either. Or would you rather work for someplace like Mervyns, Circuit City, or even Linen & Things or similar stores? You think we have it bad working in our respective areas well the stores I named above the employees have it a lot worse than either you or I. Care to change places with anyone who works there? I think I will stay where I am at and continue to strive to make our Union and the Postal Service something that all of us can be proud of.

Obama or McCain... Today the choice is made

Myself, I am tired of what is going on with this political race. I look forward to having it over and moving on. But, when it comes to my job and the Postal Service I look forward to still many changes that are happening now and in the future. Some of these I may not like or even understand why they are happening. As an Union member, I will continue to follow the contract as well as I can and hold management where I work accountable for there actions/inactions.

What will you do?

Tired of Obama/McCain.....

I do not know about any of you out there. But, I am tired of different individuals who keep harping about either Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin. Why do not some of you individuals who have something to say talk about what is going on here locally at the stations or either of the plants that will effect you or your coworkers? At one time, I thought that this could be used for all of us to talk on this blog about what is going on around the county that is affecting our jobs. But, currently that is not happening. Shall we try to get it back to what goes on here locally?

Thanks

MOM

Getting if off my chest

I am right now feeling like getting a few things off my chest. I think I will begin with saying "Good luck to all who are going up to Morena Facility. I wish you all the best." Boy, that was an easy one... felt pretty good also.

Now time to pick on the mailhandlers... I hear that Bob Monzon won again... by only maybe 10 votes this time. I do wander if there was a recount to verify his winning. Other than see him walk around on the floor periodically I have not seen him do any work for I to long. Also talking about mailhandlers... look at the ones on the LCTS they all appear to be hard working. So why does everyone tell me about how Carmen, Peter, Cristina and Jack (last 2 are 204b's) are doing labeling, scanning, loading and moving equipment? Do not the mailhandlers care enough about their jobs to tell these supervisors and supervisor wannabe's to leave the mail alone? Or is it that they do not care enough.... Then there is Bob and Dwight why have they not talked with these supervisors and 204b's or hit them with enough paper to bury them in paperwork vice doing craft work.

Now onto the clerks.... What is going to happen to the clerks on Tour 2 who work on the 100's? From all rumours and indications appears that all of them are going to be starting either much later in the day like noon... or very late at night. Does this mean that the junior clerks who left earlier are actually in a better position since they have bids and these senior clerks maybe left as unassigned regulars?

What is it that makes you upset? Care to air it out?

AIG Bailout

I'm against the $85,000,000, 000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000, 000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,0 00 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free.

So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000, 000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000 .00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college - it'll be there

Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car - create jobs

Invest in the market - capital drives growth

Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth le t's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion

We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .

And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Kindest personal regards,

A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic.

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it's good for a laugh