vol 50, no. 05 official publication of branch 14, nalc …

VOL 50, NO. 05 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF BRANCH 14, NALC MAY 2021 SERVING LOUISVILLE, FORT KNOX, BARDSTOWN, RADCLIFF, LAGRANGE, LEBANON, EMINENCE, SHELBYVILLE, VINE GROVE, & SPRINGFIELD

Branch 14 N.A.L.C. May 2021

TONY WEDDLE President

Hopefully, by this month’s union meeting we will be close to finalizing all the Local Memorandum of Understandings (LMOU’s) for the branch. We are basically clearing up a couple ambiguous provisions and making minor changes in the Louisville LMOU. For the other offices, with the exception of the Lebanon Post Office, our members are content with just updating their LMOU’s. The carriers at the Lebanon Post Office elected to change their off-days from fixed days off to rotating. The LMOU’s we currently have with the Post Offices where we represent letter carriers are pretty good and there’s no sense in trying to fix something that’s not broken. And with the current working conditions we’ve experienced during the pandemic, both parties are basically satisfied to move on and to negotiate any possible new language in the LMOU’s for the next contract. Which, by the way, is just a couple years away since the new national agreement ends in May of 2023. The Louisville Post Office has another new Postmaster, Chris Carroll, that’s still getting familiar with Louisville operations, but we’re confident we’ll get the LMOU finished. But, if I haven’t forgotten one, this will be the seventh acting or permanent Postmaster since 2013. Hopefully, Chris will be around for a while so that we can establish a little stability and rebuild a working relationship with management. In our first discussions, he appears willing to address some of the issues that need some attention which have caused some headaches for carriers in the last couple years. Including a couple other hot issues like improving the work attendance by some of our carriers, as an example. To be honest, we’ve been discussing this topic for months at the union hall and at union meetings and we knew that eventually management would crack down on some carriers for excessive unscheduled absences. But our new Postmaster will likely start with the handful of supervisors and managers whose attendance is pretty darn bad as well. But, just like every new Postmaster we get, there will be some changes on the way that some carriers may not like. Because let’s face it, every

Postmaster has their own ideas, decisions and methods to try to improve operations and most letter carriers just do not like changes, good or bad. But we will adapt, like we always do, and I think many of us can agree that since current working conditions have been so poor that there’s more room for improvement than there is to get worse (hopefully). As we’ve been saying for months, the key to fixing nearly all our disputes and reducing contractual violations by management is to greatly improve staffing. This new Postmaster understands that and will obviously be taking additional efforts to hire new employees. Which won’t be easy since it appears that every company in town is struggling to hire new folks and the Postal Service doesn’t offer some of the hiring perks other companies are currently offering. Hope to see many of you at this month’s union meeting. Until then be safe and remember; if you’re going to do the job, you might as well take the time it takes to do the job right.

May 2021 Branch 14 N.A.L.C.

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Any picture that you would like to see in the Branch 14 Newsletter should be emailed to the

editor ([email protected]) You can also text photos (with a short explanation) to the editor at

502-345-3732 Thank you, Bill Davis.

All facts, opinions and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers

and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or

endorsements by Branch 14 or it’s officers.

BRANCH 14 NEWSLETTER Published monthly by

Branch 14 National Association of Letter Carriers 4815 Poplar Level Road

Louisville, KY 40213 964-3200 964-3276

Officers & Staff President…………………………….…..Tony Weddle Executive Vice-President……………….…...Ron Gast Vice-President……………….…………..Ron Osborne Recording Secretary………….……………Steve Terry Treasurer………………………….…………Bob Hack Asst. Recording/Financial Secretary….…….Bill Davis Health Benefits Rep./Retirement……….….Tom Webb Sergeant-at-Arms/Scribe………....…Adriane Shanklin Community Activities Coordinator.……..Missy Harris Trustee………………………….……..…Daria Duvall Trustee…………………………….……....Larry Terry Trustee . ………………………….…………Tina Davis Trustee……………………………………...Carol Gast Trustee……………………………..…….…Jarett Sims

Branch 14 Stewards

40202……...…………………..…………… Rick Cate 40203/08/10……..……………………Kenya Sumblin 40204……………………………..…………Rick Cate 40205………………….…………....Daniel Weinstein 40206………………...…………………....Bob Cradic 40207……………………………..…….…Josh White 40209/14/15…………………,,,…………Missy Harris 40211/12……………………..……….Damon Braxton 40213……..……………..……...…………..Jarett Sims 40216…………………….……………….……Vacant 40217………………….…………….…..Jeff Richards 40218…………………………………...Matt Weegens 40219………………………………...…Matt Weegens 40220…………………………………….…Carol Gast 40222………………………..………..……..Bill Davis 40228/91…………………………….……..Tina Davis 40229…………………………………………..Vacant 40241/42……………………………Adriane Shanklin 40243……………………………………..........Vacant 40258…..…………………………………Josh Whaley 40272………………………………....…..Josh Whaley 40299……………………………….….....…Ron Gast Bardstown…………..................................Ron Osborne LaGrange…………………………………..…...Vacant Lebanon…………………………..……...Ron Osborne Shelbyville………………...……...C. J. Weingartner Jr Springfield……………………………….Ron Osborne Fort Knox…………………….….……...Renee McCoy Radcliff………………...………...……Reggie Sanders Vine Grove………………..…...……..…Jose Montoya

RON GAST Executive Vice-President


Spring is upon us, but you wouldn’t know it. The weather has been pretty mild lately, even kind of cool. But I feel that we will be seeing a drastic change soon with the return of heat, followed by humidity, and we would have it no other way. But with the warmth of spring and summer, we also get longer daylight hours, which does seem to do a lot for creating a better mood. So with that said, be cautious of your surroundings, stay hydrated and be safe.

Carriers in the Louisville installation have been working some serious hours lately, with no apparent end in sight. The one question that everyone seems to be asking is, why don’t they just hire more CCAs? Well, that would seem to fix all of the problems, but the truth is that they have been trying to hire for some time now. But there are many problems with that as well. It seems that no one wants to work right now with all of the unemployment insurance as well as additional payments. We have had quite a few new hires that just don’t seem to stick around too long. This probably has many reasons. First, in my opinion, is that when they do hire on and begin to work, they are not ready to be worked the way they are. From very long workdays to being treated with anything but dignity and respect, most of the folks coming on board just don’t stick around. Additionally, you have other employers offering more than the Postal Service. This used to be the job that people would stand in line for, and now we can’t even seem to get a short line going. There is no question that the pay could be better, and that lies solely on the Postal Service. There are some ideas in the works to see if this can be changed, but nothing at this time. One other thing that I will mention that I didn’t ever think would happen is that we have a few carriers currently who do not have EINs. Well while you might ask how someone can get paid without an EIN, the answer is that they can’t. Postal Management has been “working” on this issue for some time now and hopefully will have it corrected soon, and never have it happen again. Not holding my breath on that one.

Speaking of Postal Management, we have a new Postmaster (acting) here in Louisville. Not sure how this will turn out as we have definitely had

our share of new management in recent years. We recently had the opportunity to meet and discuss many issues, including staffing and paying carriers without EINs, and I would like to say that we are feeling hopeful that we will see some positive changes soon. But with the history we have had of new leadership coming in and falling well short of expectations, I am hesitant to make that call. But I will say that it does seem that we have a pretty good chance of turning some things around in the near future. Time will tell. Hope to have a better update next month.

Grievances have really been up this year, almost all of which pertain to workhours. We have had many grievances from working non ODL carriers, but with many carriers getting off the list, those violations change. Working carriers over daily and weekly limits has been the large majority of violations. Many of our stewards are working tirelessly to get the grievances filed and we have had some issues with keeping up. We recently were able to settle almost 300 grievances which will pay carriers in excess of $130,000, some of which were from last year. We are working at ensuring that we do not get behind again and continue to stay on top of all grievances. You have my word on that. Last year we broke a record with over 2,100 grievances, but so far this year we are on track to exceed 3,000. It would be great if we could just get management to start following the contract, but I will believe that when I see it.

For the time being, I ask that all carriers continue to work safe, look out for each other and do what you must to protect yourself. Changes should be coming soon, but in the interim we must continue to be as smart as we can in our daily duties. Hope to see many of you at the next union meeting on Tuesday, May 25 at 7:30 pm.

Knowledge is power. Solidarity forever!


RON OSBORNE Vice-President

This month I would like to speak about many of the changes that are occurring within the Postal Service that affect us all as letter carriers. All of you in some way or fashion have been impacted by the COVID pandemic, and most of you have endured some form of hardship, either physically or mentally. Extended working hours, time away from family, no off day and staffing shortages in nearly every Post Office which Branch 14 represents carriers. We, the leadership of Branch 14 has had numerous discussions and proposals with local mangers, district management and labor representatives within the new Kentucky-West Virginia district concerning possible solutions to our staffing problems. Unfortunately, nearly none of these talks have resulted in any real relief for letter carriers or the Postal Service and its customers. I attribute a great deal of this lack of success to what I refer to as “The management shuffle”. You never know who the boss is going to be from one day to the next and with that said, few to none of these managers want to commit to any real positive solution to the problem at hand. This is, in large part, due to the current process of restructuring within the Postal Service. As carriers, we pretty much know what our job is from day to day even if we are working more hours than we want. Many managers within the Postal Service however, have no idea what their position is, or will be, after this restructuring is completed. Fortunately, it appears that the restructuring process is nearly at and end and perhaps we can get back to some sense of normalcy. Unfortunately for some managers though, many may not have a chair to sit in when the music stops. As many of you may remember in the early to mid-2000’s we lost many routes nationwide due to declining mail volume resulting in massive adjustments of city delivery routes. Many of you lost your assignments and had to bid to another, possibly in a location you did not want.

Well, it’s managements turn, and many of them are experiencing what we went through back then. Currently, as I write this article, there are some key management positions being filled with individuals whom we believe will stay for more than a month or two. The Louisville Post Office has a new Postmaster as well as some of our associate offices within Branch 14. Hopefully these individuals will take ownership of these offices and commit to working with us to find real solutions to real problems that we face. I guess we will see, but for now I will remain optimistic and hope for real changes. On another topic, I would like to talk about changes in how I believe we will be managed and how our performance will be evaluated, on a daily basis, as professional Letter Carriers. With fewer mangers on hand, the Postal Service will rely heavily on new technology to manage daily carrier assignments and performance. I’m talking about less observation of carriers and more relying on data produced by the current and future systems the Post Office uses, or will use, such as data collected from the scanners we use. We are being tracked and monitored daily through the use of satellites which feeds information into the programs management uses to evaluate us and track delivery of mail. That’s right, the post office is coming online with rest of Americas businesses and becoming a much more technologically advanced organization. Things are changing and changing fast. For those of you newer folks who may not be aware, many of the current handbooks and manuals that are currently used to manage city carriers were written in the 1970’s. So, the old is dying out and the new is coming fast. So, what does all that mean? They are watching me, tracking me, and managing me without physically seeing me. Well, that’s right, they are. But if you are truly a professional letter carrier, it doesn’t change a thing. No matter what program, system, satellite, camera or other device management uses, if you are doing your job professionally to best of your ability then you will have nothing to worry about when it comes to new technology. If you should happen to be one of the few who are not so professional in your duties as a letter carrier, then I hope you take


STEVE TERRY Recording Secretary

this as a word of warning. You are going to get caught. With that I will close by saying that the COVID restrictions seem to be letting up, so I hope to see many of you at our future union meetings. Your voice is as important as any other member within the NALC and I hope you exercise your right to have it heard at our regular meetings.

I retired last month, 42 years and 6 months. Retirement is good as advertised. I do not miss working, but I do miss the conversations with residents of Hurstbourne that I served for 7 years. I also do not miss getting out of bed at 5:30 A.M. Didn’t take long to adjust to my new schedule, although I really have none. I retired on April 2nd, received my last paystub on April 9th. I have not received my first annuity check, but I have received pay for my carryover annual leave and my excess contributions to the Civil Service Retirement Plan (CSRS). I received the money taken out of my pay after I went past 41 years and 11 months of employment, most of you are contributing to FERS, Federal Employees Retirements System and you will not get any refunds because contributions continue until you retire. Federal employees who leave federal service have the option to withdraw their retirement contributions or wait until retirement age to apply for a retirement annuity, typically at age 60 or 62 depending on years of service. This is called a deferred retirement. Anyway, back to my retirement and the last day of working. My last day was very good because three people chose to celebrate my years of service. They are carriers Bill Davis, Lisa Feather and Caytie Sanders, my supervisor. I can’t thank them enough for making the last day very memorable. I hope all of you should have the same experience on your last day. Bill and Lisa also arranged a party for me at the union hall (OUTSIDE) the following day and many people came to celebrate with me. They did this because management said COVID restrictions would not allow a celebration of my retirement in the office as has happened many times in the past,

but there were cupcakes and decorations at my case. Thanks to all that took the time to visit with me and contribute to my retirement party, you made my weekend special. In the April branch newsletter there were some pictures and nice words written about me. I am not sure I deserve all the kind words, but I thank all of you that contributed to the newsletter. I had a good career. I think the pay and benefits I received during my career were very good. When I started in October 1978 the pay was about $7.30 an hour. It was $31.26 on my last paystub. I got a pay increase almost every year except when contract negotiations took over a year or when negotiations went to arbitration. But I did get backpay for these exceptions and I will receive another for the period from September 20, 2019 until my retirement. I thank the NALC for the pay and benefits that I have received. I was a member of the NALC for all my career. I was introduced to the NALC by my brother Larry. He is also responsible for my career. He started as a letter carrier in 1968. He encouraged me to apply for this job many times and I did when I left the Navy. I can’t thank him enough for his advice and guiding me throughout my career. Being a member of the NALC gave me opportunities to do more than deliver mail. I have been a union steward, arbitration advocate, route inspection trainer, DPS trainer when that started in the early nineties, a delegate to national and state conventions since 1989, branch trustee, secretary for the branch and state association. I have been blessed in my career as a letter carrier and union member. There were many people that gave me guidance in both. Most of these were letter carriers. There were so many that helped me and showed me that unionism is about being involved. These people remembered those that came before and made sacrifices for us to have better pay and benefits. This is the reason I got involved and tried to pay it forward. Our union needs more involved members, and I will help if you ask. I hope to see you at future branch meetings and events.


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TOM WEBB Health Benefits/Retirement MISSY HARRIS

Community Activities Coordinator We are well on our way to raise more money for MDA than last year, Derby has come and gone, and we know what comes next. The Letter Carrier Food Drive will be a virtual collection of donations instead of a door-to-door collection. I would like to ask everyone to please take up a collection in your station and send it to nalc.org/food. Anyone can donate, friends, family, and customers etc.… Please help us fill up the food banks in our area. We will be having a virtual half and half pot. I will put up 100 spots at $20 each. Once all spots are sold, I will have a live Facebook drawing. Payment may be made by PayPal [email protected] or you can text me at 502-759-2276 to arrange to meet me to pay. Congratulations to all the new regulars, I hope you will all get involved in the Union. You are the future of this Union. All the old timers like myself will be ready to retire soon and need someone to carry on the torch. So, step up and get involved. Hope to see you at the next Union meeting.

Disabled Veterans Medical Leave. On July 17, 1930, President Herbert Hoover issued an Executive Order for Special Leaves of Absence for disabled veterans in need of medical treatment. In 1988 the Postal Service and the NALC agreed in case H4N-4F-C 11641 (M-00866) that President Hoover's 1930 Executive Order applied to disabled veterans who are letter carriers. This leave, when used by a carrier cannot be used as a basis for discipline. This Executive Order allows letter carriers who qualify to take leave to receive medical treatment at designated facilities. The requested leave may be annual leave, sick leave, Wounded Warriors leave, or leave without pay(LWOP). Generally, management has the sole discretion to approve or disapprove LWOP. When requesting this leave, the employee should provide the Postal Service as much advanced notice as possible as to date and time of treatment. The need for veterans to obtain medical treatment for service-connected health issues has been recognized and protected for decades. Medical treatment is important and is the basis for maintaining good health. I hope to see you at the May Union Meeting.


Date:__April 27th, 2021____________ Br 14 Union Meeting Attendance by Zone

Annshire 40205 0 Annshire 40213 0 Annshire 40218 1

DTCU 40202 1 DTCU 40203 0 DTCU 40204 1 DTCU 40208 0 DTCU 40210 0

Fern Creek 40228 0 Fern Creek 40291 0 Hikes Point 40220 0 Iroquois 40209/14 1

Iroquois 40215 0 J-Town 40299 0 Lyndon 40222 2

Lyndon 40241/42 2 Middletown 40243 0

MLK 40211 1 MLK 40212 0

Okolona 40219 0 Okolona 40229 1

PRP 40258 0 PRP 40272 1

Shelby 40217 0 Shively 40216 1

St Mathews 40206 1 St Mathews 40207 1 Bardstown 40004 0 Eminence 40019 0

Ft Knox 40121 0 LaGrange 40031 0 Lebanon 40033 0 Radcliff 40160 0

Shelbyville 40065 0 Springfield 40069 1 Vine Grove 40175 1

Retired 12 Guests 0

Total 28

UNION MEETING Officers & Stewards Excused R. Gast T. Davis, C. GAST, WEEGENS, SUMBLIN,

WEINGARTNER, SIMS, McCOY, RICHARDS, & SANDERS

Officers and Stewards Absent:

WEINGARTNER

MDA 50/50 Drawing……...…….$50 to MDA ....................$50 to Steve Terry ****Steve Terry made a $50 Donation to MDA**** $25 Door Prize………………..…..…John Sims

Next Union Meeting May 25th at 7:30pm

Steward Meeting 6:30 pm

United we bargain, Divided we beg


SHIVELY POST OFFICE RETIREES “6th Annual”

“REUNION LUNCHEON”

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 7th, 2021

TIME: 1:30 PM LOCATION: MIKE LINNING’S RESTAURANT 9308 CANE RUN ROAD 40258

IF YOU’VE EVER WORKED AT ANY OF THE SHIVELY POST OFFICE LOCATIONS, ANY CRAFT,

PLEASE COME!

INVITE OTHERS THAT MAY NOT KNOW

WE WILL BE IN THE LARGE GAZEBO RESERVED

SECTION, SEE YOU THERE!! (If Rain-we will be inside)

BRING PICTURES TO SHARE IF YOU HAVE THEM! QUESTIONS? CALL OR EMAIL MIKE SPAULDING 502-439-1154 [email protected]

May 2021

BRANCH 14 QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT TREASURERS REPORT

FOR THE PERIOD OF JAN 1ST THRU MAR 31 2021

GENERAL CHECKING CHECKING BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD $ 88,836.59

DEPOSITS FOR THE QUARTER $ 81,198.80

TOTAL $ 170,035.39 DISBURSEMENTS $ 63,677.12 ACCOUNT BALANCE $ 106,358.27 SAVINGS/CONVENTION FUND $ 90,245.22

DISBURSEMENTS $ 2.22

ACCOUNT BALANCE $ 90,247.44 MORGAN STANLEY $ 131,623.76 TOTAL CASH NET WORTH $ 328,229.47

INCOME FOR THE PERIOD OF 1 JANUARY THRU 31 MARCH 2021

DUES $ 45.00 NEWSLETTER ADS $ 800.00 BUILDING FUND $ - DUES WITHHOLDING $ 77,173.33 GOLF SCRAMBLE $ - MDA $ 2,490.00 MISCELLANEOUS $ 642.90 CHECKING INTEREST $ 2.57 $ 81,153.80 SAVINGS INTEREST $ 2.22

GRAND TOTAL $ 81,156.02

AUDIT REPORTS 1ST QUARTER 2021

National Association of Letter Carriers Falls City Branch 14 4815 Poplar Level Road Louisville, KY 40213 05/21 Address Service Requested

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vol 50, no. 05 official publication of branch 14, nalc …

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