NEWSLETTER - Nyrlca

H4ALBANY NOTESBy Frank Opper,Albany District ADRere we go again! The days will be getting a little cooler, the leaves will bechanging and falling to the ground, and theHolidays are just around the corner. Eventhough it is only September I am going to focuson the Christmas Overtime period this issue.The Christmas Overtime period (Saturday, December 5ththrough Thursday, December 24th this year) is the only time ofthe year a Rural Carrier is guaranteed overtime, right?WRONG!!! Overtime is NOT an entitlement to Rural Carriersthroughout the “OT Period”. During the three weeks leading toChristmas, Postal management has the right to utilize auxiliaryassistance, either on the street or in the office, to keep Rural Carriers from going into overtime. Why then is this such a contentious time of year? It’s not all managements’ fault.Many of our fellow Carriers do things to contribute to the sometimes “harsh” treatment we all endure during the OT period. Doyou take an “LWOP” day just to get management off your back?Do you cut corners to get back to the office within the prescribedtime? Do you run your back-side off just to appease your manager so that you will not go into overtime? If you do any of these,or worse yet, work unsafely, YOU are the problem. City Carriershave no problem taking OT, Clerks and Mail Handlers get plentyof OT, but heaven help the lowly Rural Carrier that goes overevaluation! It is expected that Rural Carriers will do what theyhave to NOT to go into overtime. Too many of us have workedthis way for too long and in return we all get the annual Christmas flogging!It may be that the evaluated system we work under, with the incentive to finish up and go home, is held against us during December. After all, most of us beat the evaluation all year so thatmanagement figures we should be beating it during the Christmas season. What is it that takes most of the time to deliverduring the OT period? THE POST! Not only is the volume up(post is projected to be up over 15% from the previous year) butthe size of the post throughout these three weeks is on averagemuch greater. We get more dismountable post but are still expected to maintain an evaluation based on 80% of the parcelsfitting in the mail receptacle. Management has been conditionedto think that if they browbeat us enough they can keep us fromgoing into overtime. What is a Carrier to do?We do not have to take the beatings anymore! In no way am Itelling you to slow down during the OT period, rather it is timewe start working safer, more efficiently, more PROFESSIONALLY while serving our customers. If you feel that you are being pressured to work in an unsafe manner, request a PS Form1767, (Report of Hazardous, Unsafe Condition or Practice) fromyour immediate Supervisor or Postmaster and follow the instructions. Feel free to call me (Albany District Carriers only!) at(607) 744-9122 if you are being forced to work in an unsafemanner! Rural Carriers have the protection of Article 14 whichstates “It is the responsibility of management to provide safeworking conditions in all installations and to develop a safeworkforce”, which seems to be in direct contrast to the way someCarriers are pushed to beat their evaluations during the OT period.Another ploy Postal management uses to force us under our evaluation is to threaten us over where we fall in the day to day evaluation of our route. They start looking on the Saturday of theweek and monitor our daily hours against the evaluation. This isall fine and well, but when they chastise a carrier for being overon any given day and force them home once they have hit theday’s evaluation is counter to what the evaluated system is about.Article 8.2 is pretty clear in that it points out that “the carrier’sworkday may vary above or below the daily evaluation depending on mail volume, road and weather conditions”. In some casesmanagement takes it to a whole new level by changing the carrier’s schedule with no advance notice, figuring the carrier willwork even harder to still finish the day at the “normal” time. Inthis case, Article 30.1.G comes into play as the carrier WILL(strong word, concrete intent) receive a reasonable advance notice when the schedule is to be changed. “Reasonable advancenotice” can be defined as the “Saturday of the service week preceding the effective week of change” as also found in Article30.1.G.The intent of this article is to bring to light the fact that the brutaltreatment rural carriers receive during the Christmas OT periodrests solely on our shoulders! If you work in an abusive office inwhich threats and harassment are as common as carols throughout the three weeks before Christmas, it is your responsibility toyourself, the other carriers in your office, brother and sister carriers everywhere, to step up and put an end to the harsh treatment.Not all managers are that abusive, but if you are in such an officedo not hesitate to call the nearest District Representative or Assistant District Representative to let us know what is going on sothat we can enforce the contract and put an end to the abuse.Christmas is supposed to be a festive time of year and it is justnot right that anyone should have to dread going into work.In closing, a few words about safety. As far as “industrial” accidents, the Albany Rural Carriers are about even with last year.Slip/trip/fall incidents are dependent upon our observing our surroundings and attention to working safely. With more dismountsto more addresses and no two driveways exactly the same wehave to be extra careful when dismounting the vehicle to affectdelivery. Dog bites, while not as problematic as in the spring, arestill occurring. Are your dog warning cards up to date? Many ofthe recent attacks are by dogs that the Carriers are familiar withso treat all dogs as a threat and don’t become a victim. Motorvehicle accidents are up 22 events over last year! “Failure toyield” accidents are up due to Carriers pulling into traffic afterdelivering a mail receptacle and striking oncoming traffic. Remember to use your turn signals and check those mirrors beforepulling back onto the road surface! The statistic that grabs myattention is the fact that a full 50%, that’s half, of all motor vehicle accidents are recorded by non-career employees (RCAs).NOTICE: THE ALBANY DISTRICT IS IN DESPERATENEED OF LOCAL STEWARDS.THE JOB YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!PAC DONORSSeptember 2015James Ainslie, David Arnold, Sheila Auslander, Lois Bailey, Norma Bower, Deanna Brinkerhoff, Linda Burr, RobCorey, Wendie Cowherd, Dean Delavan, Katherine Duke, Judy Elias, Debby Everts, John Fancher, Chris Fitzgerald,Frank Foster, Bill Fowler, Earl Gaden, Jeff Gilman, Maria Hackett, Jeff Hawley, Karleen Hilsman, Don Jones, MikeJoy, Sherri Kavleski, Donna Keller, Paul Keller, Fred Kinner, Lora Laine, Sarah Laliberte, Chris Lall, ElizabethLester, Melissa Libby, Barb Lohiser-Telis, Ron Marris, Mike McKee, Michele Mickum, Terry Miner, PatriciaNowicki, Kenneth O’neill, Frank Opper, Betsy Ott, Victoria Reacher, Susan Schaefer, Joanne Sherwood, Garry Smith,Jenny Smith, Kathy Schreiner-Smith, Robin Stallman, Charmae Sykes, Roxanne Tomak, Phil Tremper, GlenyceVerschneider, Madison Wehnau, Sue West, Joe Westling, Lori Wight, Kim Wood

RCA CORNERBy Sheila M. AuslanderHello. Hello. I have received some questions about when a leave replacement isable to transfer to another office. Article30.2.F.1 of the NRLCA Contract states, a substitute, RCA, or RCR employee, who hascompleted the probationary period and then submits a writtenrequest for reassignment, may be reassigned from one office toanother, provided a vacancy exists in the leave replacementranks in the office to which reassignment is requested. The probationary period ends when the 90 working days or one (1) yearof service is reached. Also, if the gaining office accepts the employee’s request for transfer, the losing office must release theleave replacement. The transfer will be effective within 30 daysof the notification to the losing office. (Andrea Wilson, Sept. 1,2000 Letter)I would like to briefly go over the Leave Replacement Assignment List (commonly known as “The Matrix). The Matrix mustbe posted in each office, including stations and branches, andwill list all regular rural routes alone with the assigned leavereplacement and those substitutes, RCAs, and RCRs designatedas the second and third leave replacements for each route. Thesubstitute, RCA, or RCR employee with the longest period ofcontinuous service in the office, will be listed under an assignedprimary route then designated as the second or third leave replacement on two routes other than his or her prime assignmenton which the employee is qualified. However, each substitute,FROM THE DESK OF:Phil Tremper,Westchester/Long IslandDistrict RepresentativeIwould like to thank all the carriers thatrepresented their county, district and stateat the national convention. It is always goodto see old friends and get a chance to meetnew ones. It still is overwhelming to me that over a thousandpeople will meet in one place to promote a common cause, abetter work place environment. While we all have differingopinions on how to reach that goal, the goal remains the same.Please try to bring a fellow carrier to your next county or district meeting. Hopefully they will get involved and want toattend the state and national conventions next year. The“Recruit a Friend Today” incentive still pays you to sign up anew member. The Union has negotiated general wage increases, Cost of Living Adjustments, better working conditions andcountless other perks that we otherwise would not have. Whywouldn’t you want to have every carrier in your office becomea member? Strength in number is not a theory it is a fact.The new Postmaster General attended the national convention and spoke with a more upbeat tone then her predecessor. Itwas good to hear that she wants to grow the business, not tearit down. Growing the business in the 2010’s means parcel delivery. This is a far different Postal Service than the company IRCA or RCR will appear no more than three times on the assignment list. When a substitute, RCA, or RCR elects to serve theauxiliary route six days per week and relinquishes his or her leavereplacement assignments will create blanks on the assignmentlist. In addition, an RCA converting to regular carrier, transferring, or resigning, etc. would result in the creation of blanks onthe assignment list. When a substitute, RCA, or RCR who previously elected to serve and auxiliary route six days, later accepts asubsequent leave replacement vacancy, the employee will be annotated on the assignment list as the primary leave replacementfor that route. If there are blanks on the assignment list for a routein the second and third leave replacement slots, and the employeeis qualified on the route(s), the employee may be designated accordingly on the assignment list. There is no “bumping” on theleave replacement assignment list designations under any circumstances. If the leave replacement assigned to serve a route is temporarily unavailable, management will refer to the leave replacement designated as second replacement for the route. If the second leave replacement is unavailable, then the third replacementwill be called upon. If the second and third leave replacementson the list are unavailable, the assignment will then be offered toqualified substitutes, RCAs, or RCRs assigned to that deliveryunit in the order of the longest period of continuous service in theoffice. If management is unsuccessful in its effort to provide coverage for the route after utilizing the leave replacement list andoffering to qualified leave replacements within the delivery unit,it may designate another qualified employee in the delivery unit.Safe travels .joined so many years ago. My route went from 30 parcels being aheavy day 25 years ago, to over 100 parcels not being out of theordinary. I am aware that there are routes that receive well overthat amount. The continued success of the parcel business reliesin part on real time scanning. It is important that carriers scan theparcel, or any barcode at the delivery point. That may mean thatyou will have to carry the scanner to the door. That has alwaysbeen part of the scanning process. It is not a new directive. RuralReach is also part of the process of promoting the business. If youhave a business on your route that uses a competitor drop a leadcard in their mail box. If they start using the Postal Service it willhelp your evaluation after the next mail count. I cannot talk parceldelivery without talking safety. When making dismount deliveries or pick-ups always follow the correct dismount procedures;curb your wheels, place the vehicle in park, turn off the ignition,remove the key and secure the vehicle. Always be aware of dogsand place dog warning cards in the case. Be mindful of what youare walking on, I have seen too many carriers who have beeninjured because they tripped on loose or cracked sidewalks, debris in the walkway or other obstacles. As we get into the heaviest mail volume of the year do not let management force you towork unsafely because they feel you should work under yourevaluation. Remember your evaluation is an average some daysare higher some days are lower. If you feel you will not be backto the office before dark ask management to curtail some standardmail,. Remember, only management can authorize this.Eastern Counties MeetingOur Eastern Counties meeting will be held October 25, 2015 at Pizza Uno on 842 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY. 1-4pm. We will havePhil Temper just back from training. Please join us! Take the Taconic Parkway north or south to the exit for Poughkeepsie(rte.55). Come down 55 until you hit the arterial and stay in the left lane. Make a left turn at the light to main street. Cross Main street andtake a left into the Pizza Ueno parking lot. See you there!5

FROM THE DESK OF NYRLCA SECRETARY: Fred KinnerHighlights of the 2015 convention are as follows: An increase in the per diem for delegates to the state convention from 150.00 per business day to 175.00per business day this is in addition to mileage. This begins with the 2016 State Convention. An increase in the amount that the state rebates back to the individual counties from 7.5% to 10%. An increase in the cap for mileage paid to State paid National delegates from 700.00 to 900.00 as well asan increase in the number of alternate delegates that get reimbursed from 3 to 5. ELECTION RESULTS: Garry Smith President, John Delles Vice President, Fred Kinner Secretary, ElizabethLester Treasurer, Joseph Westling 3 yr Executive Committeeman.2016 convention will be at the Radisson Hotel in Corning NY dates June26-29, 2016. Look for more information on theNYRLCA website, it will be posted as it becomes available.NRLCA NATIONAL BOARD ANNOUNCES RAFT WILL CONTINUE: Recr uit A Fr iend Today (RAFT)The National office has announced that the RAFT program will continue. National is offering the new member three (3) months ofmembership free; the referring member will receive 15.00 for each RCA and 50.00 for each PTF or Regular Carrier they refer bysigning them up on PS Form 1187, dues withholding.NYRLCA WILL CONTINUE THE NEW MEMBER BOUNTY PROGRAM: NYRLCA state boar d has also r enewed the referral rewards for recruiting a new member, both the new member and the one referring will receive 25.00 for RCA’s and 50.00 forPTF’s and Regular Carriers. New Hires may join the union immediately! There is NO waiting period with the union. If you have a newhire relief carrier in your office hand them, P.S. Form 1187 dues withholding form and the Membership Application, that are in thispublication to fill out, make sure the referring person is listed and then mail it to me.Current membership is at 2945 total members, your help is needed to increase these numbers please take advantage of the RAFT andNew Member Bounty programs.OPEN SEASON FOR THE 2015 FEHB IS NOVEMBER 9-DECEMBER 14, 2015. Make sure you compare the Rural Carrierplan you may be surprised at how competitively priced it is as well as the number of participating providers there are.6Check out the NYRLCA website this venue has the most up to date information that is available to members. Some of the information that is available are current forms, contact information for Stewards, State Officers, Appointees, and county officers.www.NYRLCA.ORGThere are links to several sites that are relevant to you as a Rural Carrier. Rememberyou will need just your complete EIN or CSA number to log on to the protected parts of the site.Thanks for your continued support and I hope to see you soon.NATIONAL GENERALREPORTBy Joe Westling,RepresentativeMy first year appointed as State Representative has come to an end and it hasbeen a great learning experience. I had theopportunity to meet many members at County Meeting, StateConvention and at National Convention. I look forward to thechallenges this year will bring.The goal set for our first six months of 2015 was to receive 12quotes and surpassed that with 21 at the end of June. Thank youto all of you that accepted my challenge and called for a quote.Our goal for the end of 2015 is an additional 10 to match lastyear’s total of 31.If you have never called National General Insurance for a quotein the past NOW is a great time to call and see what they can foryour Vehicle Insurance coverage. Not only is National Generalan expert when it comes the Tort Claims Act but they truly understand the Rural Letter Carrier and what we have to deal with.You can call National General Insurance for a FREE rate quoteon your car insurance, call 1-888-325-7727 and be sure mentionSavings Code R-43.National General is a full service agency which can write yourhome, renters, boat, ATV’s, RV’s, flood and other coverage socall and see what they can do for you.If you call for a quote, I would like you to contact me and tell meabout your experience.Joe WestlingPO Box 88Perrysburg, NY. 14138Tel: 716-353-3785email: bigjoe3015@yahoo.com

2015 NYRLCA State Convention First Timers(Not in order) Don Jones, Melissa Libby, Susan Schaefer, Christopher Lall, Dianne Green, Sue West, Rosaline Clanton, MichaelMcGuiness, James Tom Baker, Deanna Brinkerhoff, and Duane HowellPAST OUTSTANDING MEMBERS OF THE YEAR2015 - 2016 Mike McKee2014 - 2015 Fred Kinner2013 - 2014 .Jeff Gilman2012 - 2013 John Delles2011 - 2012 .Karen Kipp2010 - 2011 Frank Opper2009 - 2010 .Kermit Mott, Jr.2008 - 2009 .Terry Miner2007 - 2008 . Robert Dykeman2006 - 2007 Jan Bartow2005 – 2006 Linda Wilkinson2004 - 2005 Verna Hanson2003 – 2004 Francis H. Ross2002 – 2003 Robert P. Bliven2001 – 2002 Peter N. Kowal2000 – 2001 Brenda L. Guffey1999 – 2000 Betty Lester1998 – 1999 Jim Gotham1997 – 1998 Judy Kipp1996 – 1997 Leo Bozydaj1995 – 1996 Larry Whitney1994 – 1995 Kenneth O'Dell1993 – 1994 John T. Smith1992 – 1993 William F. Larsen1991 – 1992 Marie K. King1990 – 1991 Rosemarie M. Cheeseman1989 – 1990 Wayne R. "Doc" Horton1988 – 1989 Joseph Shumanski1987 – 1988 Dale C. Coleman1986 – 1987 Edson M. Smith1985 – 1986 C. Robert Grippin1984 – 1985 Amby Loomis1983 – 1984 Dorothy J. Smith1982 – 1983 Ralph N. Witkowski1981 – 1982 Madison D. Wehnau1980 – 1981 Ann Ernest1979 – 1980 Carl Crist1978 – 1979 Robert W. French1977 – 1978 Robert B. Bower1976 – 1977 Arthur Hurlburt1975 – 1976 Walter A. Wolf1974 – 1975 Carl B. Proper1973 – 1974 James Wiltsie1972 – 1973 George Banfield1971 – 1972 Ralph C. Brown1970 – 1971 Thomas M. Hallett1969 – 1970 Walter Lis1968 – 1969 Claude E. Olmstead1967 – 1968 Lester L. Ward1966 – 1967 Daniel Lyon1965 – 1966 Gordon B. Nielson1964 – 1965 William H. Sprague1963 – 1964 Richard Barnes1962 – 1963 Kenneth M. Henry1961 – 1962 Leon Smith1960 – 1961 John Cawley1959 – 1960 Robert G. Bennett1958 – 1959 Clifford BishopEastern States ConferenceThe Holiday Inn North Beach, Virginia Beach, Va. will be the host of E.S.C. in 2016.Their website is vboceanfrontnorth.comThe rate of 94.00is good for two days prior and after.The dates are April 1-3, 2016There will be a change in format this year to allow for seminars on Friday. This is a great location so make your plans early so you don’tmiss out! Check our website for further details as they become solidified.7

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REPORT OF THE NYRLCA CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE2015Maria Hackett - ChairFred Kinner and Will Glass - Committee MembersConstitutionArticle 3. Section 5 Paragraph 1a, 2a.Amend by: Striking 7.5% and inserting 10%PASSED10Current WordingSection. 5. Dues. Every member, exceptduly elected life members, of a county orarea association is liable for state and national dues.Annual State Per Capita dues shall be:Proposed AmendmentSection. 5. Dues. Every member, exceptduly elected life members, of a county orarea association is liable for state and national dues.Annual State Per Capita dues shall be:If Adopted, Will ReadSection. 5. Dues. Every member, exceptduly elected life members, of a countyor area association is liable for state andnational dues.Annual State Per Capita dues shall be:1. Regular Carriers, PTF Carriers, andAssociate Members shall be equal to .456(thousandths) % of the annual salary of a40 Hour Step 1 from table two of the effective Rural Carrier Evaluated Scheduleon January 1.a. Seven and one half percent (7.5%)of the annual sum shall be rebated to theCounty or Area Association of which theyare a member of as of April of the currentfiscal year.2. Leave replacements (Substitute RuralCarriers, Rural Carrier Associates, RuralRelief Carriers) shall be equal to .133(thousandths) % of the annual salary of a40 Hour Step 1 from table two of the effective Rural Carrier Evaluated Scheduleon January 1.a. Seven and one half percent (7.5%) ofthe annual sum shall be rebated to theCounty or Area Association of which theyare a member of as of April 1 of the current fiscal year.1. Regular Carriers, PTF Carriers, andAssociate Members shall be equal to .456(thousandths) % of the annual salary of a40 Hour Step 1 from table two of the effective Rural Carrier Evaluated Scheduleon January 1.a. Seven and one half percent (7.5%)Ten percent (10%) of the annual sumshall be rebated to the County or Area Association of which they are a member of

Eastern States Conference - April 1-3, 2016 at The Holiday Inn North Beach, Virginia Beach, Va. THE EMPIRE STATE RURAL LETTER CARRIERS’ NEWSLETTER www.nyrlca.org OCTOBER 2015 VOLUME 15 NUMBER 3 This issue is dedicated to the NYRLCA Outstanding Member of the Year MICHAEL McKEE Deadline for the next newsletter is November 15, 2015