2002 National Convention News...

Dan Sullivan, former editor of Southwest Michigan Local APWU newsletter will be providing PostalReporter.com daily updates on the 2004 APWU National Convention.  Check out other articles by Dan Sullivan. and his articles from 2004 APWU National Convention
Delegates say no to pay raises for national officers


By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local

Minnesota, Aug. 15- Delegates today soundly defeated a proposed constitutional amendment which would have raised the salaries of maintenance and motor vehicle services resident national officers to the same level as clerk craft officers.

The vote, 1297 in favor and 1,003 against, fell far short of the 1533 votes needed to reach a two-thirds majority.

The clerk craft director's salary is about $98,000 a year and assistant directors receive about $92,000 a year.

The motor vehicle services and maintenance craft directors earn about $92,000 a year and the assistant directors make about $85,000 a year.

Assistant Maintenance Craft Director Bobby Donelson, who under the original resolution would have gotten a pay raise, said it was simply a matter of fairness to pay maintenance and motor vehicle services officers the same as their counterparts in the clerk craft. He said officers do equal work and deserve equal pay.

Other supporters argued the cost would be negligible, about $36,000 a year, to raise all the officers' pay.

But critics of the plan were loud and outspoken.

"If you want to talk about raising salaries, let's talk about raising the salaries of our members," said Pennsylvania President Leroy Moyer.

"I would urge you to vote this down strong. We're here for our members, not individuals."

Cynthia Flowers Pinkney said, "These officers are currently receiving over $90,000 a year plus benefits. If they can't do the job at their present salary they are getting, then they should quit," adding there are plenty of others willing to take their places.

Maintenance Craft Director Steve Raymer offered an amendment to the resolution postponing the prospective pay raises until after the next APWU officer elections in 2004.

Delegates voted in favor of Raymer's amendment but it wasn't enough to get them to change their minds about raising national officers' pay.

 
Delegates roar as Burrus bends the rules

By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local

Minneapolis, Aug. 15- During debate on a proposed constitutional amendment to establish funding for private sector organizing, APWU President Bill Burrus asked the delegates to set aside the rules of the convention to allow him to speak from the floor on the motion and then return to the podium to chair the debate.

A suspension of the rules requires a vote and two-thirds approval of the delegates. After a voice vote, Burrus first ruled the motion had failed. A call for division was made and another vote taken. Burrus then reversed himself and ruled the delegates had set aside the rules to allow him to speak from the floor without forfeiting the chair.

As delegates hooted their disapproval, Burrus left the stage and headed for a microphone on the floor. Vice President Cliff Guffey took over behind the podium. Hearing the delegates' roar, he said, "Brothers and Sisters, we'll have a teller count."

Just about then Burrus arrived at the mike and began to speak, provoking more boos.
Ignoring the uproar, the APWU President calmly expressed his views in support of his compromise funding plan for private sector organizing. Burrus said the union is committed to organizing private sector workers. "The question is how will it be funded," he said.

He concluded his remarks with an appeal for support. "I ask you to stand with us and support this resolution."

Burrus was greeted with cheers and applause when he finished his remarks and boos when he returned to the podium.

San Fernando Valley Area Local member Yoggi Riley went to a mike and criticized Burrus for speaking from the floor and then returning to chair the convention.

"I think a few rules have been violated," she said.

 "I didn't hear a call for a teller count," Burrus responded.

When another delegate said a teller count should have been taken, Burrus replied, "What purpose would a teller count serve after I have spoken?"

As the noise continued, Burrus announced a teller count would be taken to act on his request for a suspension of the rules. He then called for unity, saying he would step down from the chair for the duration of the debate regardless of the outcome of the teller count.

"I do intend to vacate the chair. I don't want to be a flash point for people to say it was a reason to vote against resolution 12A."

The motion to suspend the rules passed by the required two-thirds majority, 1626 to 750. Burrus then turned the mike over to Vice President Guffey and sat out the rest of the debate.

After some more talk, the motion to fund private sector organizing by taking a portion of future dues increases from the national, state and local unions passed 1768 to 849, surpassing the required two-thirds majority by 24 votes.

Burrus then returned to the podium with a big grin on his face. "I'm back," he quipped, as delegates cheered.

A request for a roll call vote on the resolution failed to get the required one-third support of the delegates in the hall.

The delegates then rejected two other amendments to fund private sector organizing through special assessments or dues increases.

 
Partial dues-paying retirees won't get voting rights


By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local

Minneapolis, Aug. 15- Delegates today rejected a proposed amendment which would have given APWU retiree members who pay partial dues the right to vote in some national officer elections.

Speaking on behalf of the amendment, APWU Retiree Director John R. Smith said 95 percent of all unions allow their retirees to participate in national officer elections. "We're just asking for inclusiveness," he said.

Patty Miller, President of the Flint Retiree Chapter, also said retirees deserved the vote, as did Beth Kramer, who reminded delegates that retirees contribute over $744,000 in dues each year. "It's time we get a voice in who our national officers are."

But Peter Hoiter-Mehren disagreed that retirees who pay the partial $24 a year retiree dues deserve the right to vote. "I proudly pay full dues in order to have that vote." Full dues comes out to about $178 a year.

And amendment to the resolution which would have given each partial dues-paying retiree a one-seventh vote in national officer elections was soundly defeated.

"Vote this down and give us full rights," said Byron Denton of the compromise amendment.

But it wasn't to be. The amendment to give partial dues-paying retirees voting rights came up far short of the two-thirds support required for passage.

Delegates also defeated an amendment which would have given retiree members the right to elect the APWU retiree director.

 
National, state & local unions to share cost of organizing

By Dan Sullivan
Editor
 Southwest Michigan Area Local
Minnesota, Aug. 15- Delegates rejected proposed constitutional amendments which would have raised dues or created a .50 cents per member per month special assessment to fund private sector organizing. Instead, they approved a compromise plan offered by President Burrus which takes a percentage of future contractual dues increases from the national, state and local unions to fund the organizing.

Proponents of the Burrus compromise expect it to generate $1.4 million next year.

The union presently has 7 full-time organizers and has organized about 500 private sector workers in the mailing industry.

The Constitution Committee considered a number of state and local resolutions proposing dues increases ranging from .15 to .80 cents per member per month, before recommending a .50 cents special assessment.

But Burrus, who opposed any dues increase or special assessment, offered his own plan spreading the cost of organizing among the national, state and local unions.

After a lengthy debate, during which delegates booed Burrus for speaking from the floor on behalf of his compromise plan, his proposal passed 1768 to 849, gaining the required two-thirds majority by 24 votes.
Resolutions to expand e-board and extend terms of office rejected

By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local


Minneapolis, Aug. 14- Attempts to amend the constitution to provide 4-year terms of office for national officers and to elevate the national business agent for Support Services to a seat on the national executive board both failed today.

Speaking against the proposal to create a Director of Support Services position Art Doherty, Philadelphia Local President, said we needed to keep the executive board "a lean, mean fighting machine" and that if Support Services got a spot on the E-board other national officers would soon be demanding a seat on the board.

Doherty concluded his remarks by asking the convention chairman where he stood on the issue.

"The President opposes increasing the size of the executive board," President Burrus replied.

During the debate an amendment was made to the resolution which would have disbanded the Support Services Division and placed its members in other crafts. The amendment was challenged by Minneapolis Local Business Agent Peggy Whitney, who argued that it was inconsistent with the intent of the resolution, which was to give the Support Services Division a place on the executive board.

President Burrus ruled the amendment in order, causing a call for division and then a teller count. The delegates upheld Burrus' ruling that the amendment was in order on a 1,288 to 1,124 count. They then voted down the amendment to the resolution and the resolution itself.

 The amendment to increase officers' terms of office from 3 to 4 years was easily defeated.

            Right to recall officers quashed
 Minneapolis, Aug. 14- Delegates today amended the APWU Constitution, eliminating the right of members to recall national, state and local officers. The amendment, requiring two-thirds approval of the delegates, passed by 7 votes, 1701 to 842.

Officers can now be disciplined only for specific offenses after the filing of charges and the holding of hearings. If found guilty, the officer may be disciplined by probation, suspension, expulsion or what the constitution calls "other appropriate disciplinary action."

Illinois-Michigan National Business Agent John Clark spoke eloquently against the amendment, arguing that it was an attack on democracy. Those in favor of the amendment argued that officer recalls deny due process to the officer being recalled.

Under the discarded recall procedure members could recall an elected officer for dishonesty or for actions "detrimental to the best interest of the membership" by filing a petition for recall signed by 25 percent of the members eligible to vote. An election would then be held. It would require two-thirds of the votes cast to recall the office.

Any member can still bring charges against an officer, who would then be entitled to a hearing and lengthy appeal process.

Committee endorses ‘Stop PAT Now!'
Delegates must still act on resolution

 Minneapolis, Aug. 14- The Labor-Management Committee this morning voted to recommend concurrence of resolution 213 requiring the national union to take all necessary means to force the Postal Service to end its nationwide policy of postal attendance terrorism and bring its attendance policies into compliance with the collective bargaining agreement and the law.

Resolution 213 also requires the APWU President and Editor to use the News Service Bulletin and American Postal Workers magazine to publicize and encourage support for the war against Postal Attendance Terrorism.

As earlier reported, committee action on the resolution was delayed because committee chairperson Morline Moore said she the committee hadn't received a copy of the resolution. Copies were provided to the committee this morning and Moore allowed the maker of the resolution to address the committee.

The committee has yet to report the resolution to the entire convention, which can act to accept, reject or amend the ‘Stop PAT Now!' resolution.

Tomorrow delegates will be acting on controversial constitutional amendments which could take up most or all of the day. It's not known when the Labor-Management Committee will get another chance to report to the convention, which ends on Friday.

 
BMC conferences reduced from 4 to 3


By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local

Minneapolis, Aug. 13- Delegates today overwhelmingly rejected an amendment submitted by the Constitution Committee which would have reduced the number of BMC conferences held every two years from 4 to 2. The Constitution Committee had amended a resolution which sought to reduce the number of biennial BMC meetings from 4 to 3.

Because one of the three meetings would be scheduled in conjunction with the union's national convention every two years, "We get three meeting for the price of two," said Assistant Maintenance Craft Director Gary Kloepfer, in support of the original amendment.

After the Constitution Committee's amendment was rejected, the original amendment, requiring 3 instead of 4 biennial BMC meetings, passed overwhelmingly on a voice vote.

  

16th Annual Convention Report

posted August 13, 2002

Anthrax Victims

Postal Workers honored anthrax victims and widows.  Each victim expressed their gratitude to the union for their support during this tragedy.  Both widows Celeste Curseen and Mary Morris spoke of this tragic terrorist attack and how it affected them. They showed great courage in addressing the delegates and brought tears to your eyes because it could have been any one us that could have fallen victim to these terrorist attacks.  Leroy Richmond's statement of how the Postal Service must do a better job at protecting the employees was the consensus shared by both senators and our congressional leaders.

President Burrus stated, " The terror was equal in the New Jersey Facility" as he introduced the Trenton victims.

Jyotsna Patel, Norma Wallace and Pat O'Donnell showed the world the true strength and courage of the Trenton Postal Worker.  They also informed the delegates of how we all are suffering. 

Several of APWU' s strongest supporters in congress had addressed the convention. Rep Martin Sabo, MN, Rep Betty Mc Collum, MN, Rep Danny Davis, IL, Rep. William Lacey Clay, MS, his father William Clay retired congressman also was in attendance.  They all supported our efforts for a safe work place, maintaining the current level of mail delivery.

Senator Paul Wellstone, MN and Senator Lieberman, CT also gave us their pledge of their support to the APWU.

Cheney

The APWU convention delegates gave Vice President Cheney, a very special welcome greeting.  The workers rallied outside the hotel where the VP was speaking at a fundraiser for the GOP.  The rally was peaceful and orderly but very noisy.  The membership of the APWU, sent a clear signal to the VP, that he is basically a union buster and not a friend of the working class Americans.

Resolutions

The delegates debated the pros and cons over retaining your seniority when you transfer installation to installation.  The debate was very heated and unfortunately the resolution was defeated.  The Trenton delegation voted in favor of retaining seniority when you transfer.  A similar resolution should be presented in the following days for only the clerk craft.  I hope this resolution is passed and the Trenton delegation will vote in favor of it.

Resolution 46 passed unanimously.  The delegates voted that when a bargaining unit employee is in a 204b status, that employee will lose their seniority for the period of time they remain in a 204b status.

There has been a lot of discussion at caucuses, over external organizing.  A large portion of the delegates believe that the APWU should devote more money and time into organizing the contract mailers.  The motor vehicle craft is against this motion.  They feel it's a threat against their work.  The position of the APWU is we need to organize these outside contractors to preserve the union.

Credentials Committee

Credentials Committee reported there are 2,557 delegates representing 391 locals, 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  Also in attendance are 84 national officers.

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Right-to-strike resolution passes


By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local
 

After some debate today, delegates re-affirmed the union's longstanding support for legislation granting postal workers the right-to-strike.

New York Metro President William Smith spoke loudly and eloquently on behalf of the resolution, saying postal workers will never achieve their demands without a legal strike weapon.

A Michigan delegate, Guy Lovelace, was one of a handful to oppose the resolution, arguing that postal workers won't support a strike and that management could run postal operations with scabs if union workers ever walked off the job.

The resolution passed overwhelmingly on a voice vote.

 
Teller count settles health benefits for unmarried couples debate


By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local
 

Minneapolis, Aug. 13- A resolution instructing the union to negotiate contractual language providing employer-paid health benefits for same-sex and unmarried couples passed 793 to 640 today on the first teller count of the convention.

The resolution caused considerable confusion on the convention floor as delegates tried to determine its intent. The language explaining the resolution referred only to ‘same-sex' couples but the actual ‘resolve' read: That the American Postal Workers Union negotiate language for health benefits for unmarried same-sex/domestic partnerships and their families.

"Is this also including unmarried heterosexual couples?" one of the delegates asked.

"Yes," replied APWU Vice President Cliff Guffey, who was chairing the convention during the committee report.

When another delegate asked if unmarried couples were included, Guffey said, "Domestic would include heterosexual."

A small smattering of applause greeted Guffey's announcement that the resolution had passed.

 
Burrus calls for harmony in State of Union Address

 

By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local
 

Minneapolis, Aug. 12- In a State of the Union address today that was long on generalities and short on details, APWU President Bill Burrus promised to work toward more harmonious relations within the union.

"I wish to break down the walls between the national and the state and the local unions," he told the delegates to the 16th bi-ennial APWU national convention.

Burrus also said the union needs to "grow our membership" and offered support for private sector organizing while reiterating his opposition to any dues increase to fund the drive. Instead, he challenged local and state supporters of private sector organizing to support a funding plan that would divide organizing costs among the national, state and local unions.

The APWU President didn't say how much was in the treasury now, but he predicted a surplus by the year 2003. He also said he has a plan to reduce headquarters expenses by $2 million a year, but gave no details other than to say the union has to stop wasting money on canceled arbitration dates.

The union is "spending more than $2 million a year on cancellations," he said. "That's got to change."

He went on to call for a complete revamping of the current arbitration advocate system "on a regional basis, not a political basis."

He blasted the Postal Service for being "too closely aligned with the mailing industry" and criticized the other postal unions for supporting the USPS Transformation Plan, which he said will lead to "economic ruin if left unchallenged."

He praised the union's new communication department, headed by Sally Davidow, and urged members to vote this November and support pro-worker candidates.

In his lone reference to the contract, he said he anticipates there will be efforts made to extend the length of the next contract beyond the 2-3 year agreements we're used to, and he asked for a "full dialogue" over the issue.

 

Vice-President Cheney gets a rude welcome

By Dan Sullivan
Editor
Southwest Michigan Area Local
 

Minneapolis, Aug. 12-Vice President Dick Cheney got a small surprise today when he showed up at the downtown Hilton Hotel to make a political speech: 2,500 American Postal Workers Union members were there to greet him, chanting "Cheney's a crook," and other hostile slogans.

Police lines keep the marchers across the street from the hotel, but otherwise did not interfere with the protest. The demonstration lasted more than 40 minutes.

The picketers marched about 2 blocks from the Minneapolis Convention Center to the Hilton, carrying signs criticizing Cheney's close ties to the oil industry and urging support for postal workers.

Addressing the demonstrators directly across the street from the main entrance to the Hilton, APWU President Bill Burrus shouted, "Who wrote the energy bill?" The union members picked up on his chant and then added some of their own.

"We are working people!" the demonstrators shouted. "We are not for sale!"

There was no sign of Cheney during the demonstration.

 

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