This one's for you.....

Roger this one is for you. Since, your toolbox had to be cleaned up and flags removed. Here is a pic of Emily's work area. Since the toolbox and also these cabinets in her area are USPS property why is it that you were made to clean up your postal property and she is not made to clean up the her postal property in her area? Disparate treatment between craft employees or is it more preferential treatment since she is only a maintenance clerk who is operating as a general secretary for our Maintenance Managers.

Notice the US Flag and family pictures.... If this is the policy is no personal items on USPS postal property then I would hope that it is completely enforced to include Sweet's office all the way down to the custodian lockers.

Rumor????? or Fact?????

I am now looking into something I just heard about the other day. Maybe one of you fine upstanding individuals know more than myself and can correct me if I am wrong. I heard that Bertolina is going to be leaving us and going up around the San Fransisco area. That Jim Land will be taking his place for sometime till his replacement is here. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor for me?

AutoPilot....

Seems that I have been neglecting this blog for awhile. Yes, I have... I completely admit it. Been taking the time to say good bye to friends who have been excessed from MLS and others who have become part-time regulars instead of having to relocate and move to other locations.

Also been trying to keep track of the comedy show that is going on in Maintenance. Especially since, Maintenance has taken 2 of operations finest(bullshit) into it. Talking with people from Maintenance I find it amusing that Gary Hill believes that he can run Maintenance like he has been running operations before. Has he not heard of the old adage "If it is not broke leave it alone".... I sincerely doubt that he has. Also, I see on Tour 2 that Veronica has stepped down from being a 204b due to not enough Support Clerks are available to do the work in Tool and Parts. I do give out a sincere support to Sandy Liss who is currently away due to illness. I wish her the best and for a speedy recovery.

Just a reminder for everyone... On Thursday, 21 May, there will be a General Membership meeting at the Local 197 in Mission Valley office at 6pm or 1800 to all you military types. Hope to see you all there... later

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?