Local 316 Council Meeting Minutes

April 27^th, 2007

Members present:

Patrick McClear                    President

Don Sneesby                         Vice President, BP Seattle P&DC 

                                                C\S EDDC, Seattle PMA & AMC

Monica Taylor                      Recording Secretary, Web Mistress 

Irene Lowery                        Treasurer

Leonard Ebio                        Washington State Executive Board Member

Alvie Yancey                        BP, Anchorage P&DC & Fairbanks P&DC (By Phone)

Leon Herrera                        BP, Everett P&DF

Robert Garza                         BP, Spokane P&DC

Gene Rezac                           BP, Seattle BMC

John Warhol                          BP, Tacoma P&DF  

Art Carranza                         C/S Yakima           

Roger Hogue                        C/S Vancouver P&DC        

John Libert                            C/S Olympia P&DF

Virginia Irish                        C/S South DDC

Joseph Christian                   C/S South Sound DDC

Members absent:  Charleen Haddock Chief C/S Pasco P&DF was absent due to personal reasons and was excused.

The Meeting was called to order at 9:10 am

President McClear opened the meeting by announcing that Alaska in 100% Union!  That is 90 all Union, Dues Paying, Mail Handlers!  Kudos to Alvie, all the Alaska Stewards and of course, the Membership J!!!!!

OLD BUSINESS

Council Meeting Minutes October 20^th, 2006:

The Minutes from the previous Council Meeting were read and accepted.

NEW BUSINESS

Step 3s

There have been some problems with Branches not forwarding the Local a complete copy of each Step 3 Appeal.  This causes difficulties in proper logging and grievance tracking.  Additionally, if something should happen to the filing representative the Local would have to clamor to find the file for Arbitration.  Please make sending the Local a copy of your Step 3 part of your appeal process, just like Region.

Update Information

Please notify the Union of Address changes as soon as possible.  When you change your address with the Postal Service the Union is not notified.  Address changes can be sent to Local 316 at npmhu316@inetmail.att.net or sent to 19530 International Blvd., Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98188

Newsletter

If you have contributions for the Newsletter please send via e-mail to npmhu316@inetmail.att.net and cc our editor at debbieretter@comcast.net.

Steward Training

The Local will be conducting Steward Training within the next 2 months.  Those slated to attend should make this a priority and are expected to attend both days. At least 5 names were submitted for Steward Training representing the BMC, Pasco, Spokane, and the Seattle bidding cluster.

Treasurer’s Report

The 2006 Independent Auditor’s Report in available for all Members to read, copies can be accessed by contacting your BP, CS or the Local. The LM2 report was distributed to all of the officers in attendance. The LM2 can be reviewed in all the branch offices. The Treasures report was reviewed. Leo Ebio motioned to accept the report and John Warhol seconded the motion, the motion passed unanimously.

Open Forum The floor was opened for general discussion.  The highlights are as follows: Seattle Branch President Gene Rezac brought up the requirement that trailers must be double strapped every 10ft.  This is a National DOT requirement that most of us ignore.  However, this is Mail Handler work that can increase hours, jobs and light duty accommodations.  It also reduces the amount of mail that must be picked up.  Not only should we be strapping our loads, but also writing up hazard reports on those trailers that arrive in violation of this requirement.

Ø     In this era of electronic media those of us in Representative positions may be able to save some trees (and mailing costs) by having large amounts of information placed on CD.  The Local will be checking if things like clock rings can be submitted on CD at Step 3 and 4.  Requesting that large amounts of information from Management be placed on CD also reduces the charges they slap us with. 

Ø     The conversation about electronic media brought to light the fact that Anchorage Branch President Alvie Yancey’s computer in the union room lacked a USB port.  Secretary Taylor motioned that a new Computer be purchased for the Anchorage Alaska Branch   Gene Rezac seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

Ø     Looking for the new CBA, so are we.  At this time the National is putting it together and then checking it twice.  There has been no announcement on the arrival of printed copies to the Local, but the will be issued as soon as we receive them.

Ø     Meeting adjourned at 2:30 pm

Respectfully Submitted,

 Monica J. Taylor             Patrick H. McClear

Monica J. Taylor                                               Patrick H. McClear

Recording Secretary                                          President