|
|
|
February 2006 WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? By Jeff Riddell, V.P. Two parking spots is a big deal? Local negotiations and past arbitrations say they belong to this local. The Postmaster of Ft. Lauderdale did not bother to negotiate for these spots, he just took them. I don't know about you, but I see that as a form of stealing! He took what belongs to us!!! Parking has been in the Ft. Lauderdale Local since 1973. In 1984 management tried the same thing as they are doing today, they took parking spots. This local grieved the issue, and prevailed in arbitration in 1986. The arbitrator said that the USPS had violated the National Agreement and that all reserved parking signs be taken down. This local has dealt with this same issue more recently, in other cities, and prevailed. This is a negotiated right! To be told that "I deserve a spot" is demeaning to every member of this local. Are we less than? Are you saying that you are better than us? The recent Local Agreements were signed by this union and the Postmaster in December of 2005. In that agreement both parties signed off that the parking spots were on a "first come, first serve basis." Yet on December 9, 2005 upon signing our Local Agreement, this same Postmaster ordered that individual signs be made for himself and the Plant Manager, to have reserved parking places. He then waited to post these signs until January 2006 after the new president and vice president of this local took office. Coincidence? I think not. I believe it is a power grab, at a time that they think we are vulnerable. Well, they are notorious for their miscalculations, and they have done it again! We shall prevail, and those signs shall come down. What will be next, if we don't fight now, over this? Will it be annual leave percentages? Maybe they will do away with seniority for bid annual, or eliminate breaks? If a person takes what is yours and has no consequences for his actions, then he has no reason to stop. We shall fight for our rights, and negotiate on our terms, not theirs! The time for talk is over. We came in peace, they changed the rules. THAT'S THE BIG DEAL!!! News Flash...News Flash...News Flash... As this paper is going to press, Postal Inspectors of the South Florida District were summoned to the Ft. Lauderdale Plant to inform one of our members that their car would be towed if they ever parked in the new self-designated parking spot for the Ft. Lauderdale Postmaster. National Business Agent Bill Sullivan was in your union office preparing upcoming arbitration cases and was quoted as saying, "hazardous material moving through the mail does not receive the same quick response as parking in the Postmaster's parking spot, unbelievable." |
|
Send mail to apwu1201@bellsouth.net with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
