Wilkes-Barre Area Local 175

APWU Members Urged To Take Action As Senate Considers Postal Reform
(02/06/12) Postal reform is a hot topic in Congress as the Senate prepares to vote on the 21st Century Postal Service Act, and APWU President Cliff Guffey is urging union members to contact their senators and let them know: Senate bill 1789 is unacceptable in its current form. As lawmakers review the bill, Guffey is asking union members to let their senators know that S. 1789 must be amended.

Finally! Movement on Maintenance Craft Jobs Memo
Finally, we have some movement in the Maintenance Craft on implementation of key provisions the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement! On Feb. 1, 2012, President Cliff Guffey and postal management signed a Questions-and-Answers document regarding specific sections of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Maintenance Craft Jobs. The document does not address all outstanding items, but resolves items 1a, 1b, 1c, 2 and 3 of the Jobs Memo.

APWU Serves Homeless Vets at Winterhaven Stand Down
(02/01/12) The APWU participated in the Veterans's Administration annual Winterhaven Stand Down on Jan. 21. More than 500 homeless and underserved veterans were bused to the event to receive a variety of social services and necessities.

APWU Discourages Members from Participating in 'Align Networks'
(01/26/12) The APWU "strongly discourages" union members from participating in physical therapy through Align Networks, Human Relations Director Sue Carney says. "As a contract provider, Align Networks can share information with the Postal Service that would otherwise be protected by doctor-patient confidentiality, including information that is unrelated to workplace injuries," she warned.

Postal Workers Have The Right To Speak Out Against Facility Closures
(01/18/12) Recent notices posted by management have generated questions about APWU members' right to participate in activities opposing the closure of postal facilities. Off-the-clock, postal employees have the right to: circulate petitions, participate in public meetings, encourage others to attend public meetings, encourage local merchants and business organizations to speak out against postal closings, and to contact elected officials to urge them to oppose postal closings.

APWU Warns Members: Beware of Risks in USPS Campaign for Voluntary Transfers to Letter Carrier
(01/13/12) The APWU is warning union members of risks associated with a management campaign to encourage career Clerk, Maintenance and Motor Vehicle Craft employees to volunteer for reassignments to the Letter Carrier Craft. In a letter dated Jan. 3, management notified the union that it will mail a letter to all career employees in the three APWU-represented crafts (and employees in the Mail Handler Craft) touting the benefits of voluntary reassignments to the Letter Carrier Craft.