MICHIGAN RURAL LETTER CARRIER'S ASSOCIATION
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It has been an honor; it has been a pleasure, and it has been a job serving as your president this past year. I am proud to be a member of the RLCA and proud to have been your representative and administrator. The association is in very good shape and turned over to a very good new state board. It has been an extremely busy, demanding and rewarding five years of service to the members of the Michigan Rural Letter Carriers Association. I began my first term in high hopes that I might be of service and that I might be part of helping to keep our union moving forward well prepared for the future, and whatever challenges that time may bring. I recall the evening I was first elected to the state board former State President Al Witherspoon stopped me to congratulate me and told me to “stay true to myself”. Later that same evening “Beezie” Homer Bale long time PAC Representative stopped me to congratulate me and also told me to “stay true to myself”, I have to confess, I was puzzled by their statements that evening, but over the years I learned the meaning of what they said to me, and I have always done what I think best for the association and for the members.
In March of 06, the budget was seriously threatened. We had to invoke the escalator clause, by the following year, we were able to remove it and our assets have been stable and growing ever since.
Trainings and Meetings
As it turns out, the president position includes everything from
trainings conducted by the National Office, training by the Department of Labor,
state board and association meetings, District Leadership Meetings and
appointments on Capital Hill to lobby Congress on behalf of
Committees Appointments Made
Minutes Review Committee, we learned in a training given by Parliamentarian Jim Slaughter to do this so that convention minutes do not go unapproved for an entire year. The Finance Committee to continue the study of the feasibility of the additional two full time stewards and reducing the number of part time assistant stewards. Employee Handbook Committee, to create a comprehensive guide for all employees.
Steward System
I have heard nothing but good comments from the members on the continued Steward Trial, which has run for the entire association year now. With the use of cell phones carriers call their steward when a problem crops up during the day, not always waiting until evening to contact them, they are pleased to have someone answer the phone or get back to them quickly because the steward is not carrying the mail and having to wait until after the route to begin returning calls. The Finance Committee gave a complete report at convention.
Service to Members
The MIRLCA President is now included in the “Notification of Request for Donated Annual Leave”, allowing us to publish a list of requests in our State Paper.
Losses
Sadly, as we all know Lori Cleveland died on
Modernizing Practices
The President and the Treasurer are personally responsible by law for the funds of the Association. We were able to more thoroughly streamline the process for the president’s authorization for bill payment, with a copy to everyone on the board. This helped to keep everyone on the board educated on our expenses and the status of our budget. This method fulfills the President’s obligations to both the membership and the Department of Labor.
Modernizing Equipment
This year we are transitioning into a more modern and efficient way of
recording the convention. Instead of
having someone tape record and then type every single word spoken, we have
followed the lead of some other states and have purchased our own “Samson H2”
and “Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Professional”, this equipment should record
everything and then easily allow us to put all the information onto a CD.
This year the total purchase price is
close to what we spend on the recording secretary for just one convention, so
after this year there will be great cost saving every year.
Again, this year
we had Tom Bittner of
Acknowledgement
A special thank you to the Appointed Representatives that have made this such a successful year with all the wonderful services they give to the members. I would like to especially recognize those who are moving on to new adventures, Betty Denison will no longer serve as our Chaplin, I am so happy that she stayed on for a fifteenth year and served with me this past year. Also, I thank Sandy Calhoun for her years as our Provident Guild Representative, and Doug Bartlett for the great job he did serving as Legislative Representative.
I wish to give a big thank you to the State level Stewards whom have worked tirelessly defending our contract, answering our questions, and educating all of us as to or rights and our responsibilities.
I would like to thank the National Office for all the training, resources and support that they offer to the Presidents and the State Board.
In addition, most sincerely, I thank the members for allowing me to serve as your President. It has been wonderful getting to know so many of you over the years, and I will always treasure your friendship.
In addition, to my family, my grandsons Dylan and Gavin, thank you for wanting to be involved with the union and juniors, thank you to my husband Melvin, my daughters Melissa and Angie, my son in-laws Matt and Chris for always supporting my efforts, for planning family events from birthday parties to weddings around my MIRLCA schedule!
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Long
A New Beginning President
Cyndi Parks--- President
State Convention 2010 in Pontiac in the record book as a success. size, there are bound to be a few members who stepped in to help. We now have four newly appointed our Member Services. Welcome, editorship Welcome, Patti, and welcome, of Legislative/as Linda Guild Rep.. To those appointed, year for thank you Calhoon, Betty Bartlett Provident Guild rep., Chaplain respectively. Also thanks to Jim Smith Paper Editor although he remains Representative for the new Association year. My first official meeting as your convention board meeting held Your new board is a slate of positive, with the interest in working together members. I believe this next any issue and address the affairs dedicated team. Our stewards are the other dedicated team so important to the membership and all working carriers. Bridget, Barb, Julia, Rhea and Mike serve the carriers all over the state as if the jobs they are protecting are their own. In reality, management often needs help realizing carriers have rights that have been negotiated in the form of a contract. The stewards are are present to see the contract is followed and member’s jobs are protected. Our most northern steward, John Fishback has turned over the task of covering his former area to Mike Spellicy. Enjoy your retirement, John, you deserve it! The business of the Association is serious and not to be taken lightly. That being said, I am going to lighten things up occasionally by sharing some of my most memorable moments of 30+ years on an H route. Stay tuned, be safe and come to a meeting.
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State Steward’s Corner
Another
State Convention has passed. We have several new State Board members; there were
things that changed and things that stayed the same. There were heated debates
on many issues…where were you? The convention is the Democratic Process in
action and your right and duty to participate in the decisions that guide our
state association. We can have differing ideals and take opposing positions on
issues, but the remarkable or maybe not so remarkable thing is that after all
the arguing and voting is done, we move on and still have friendships with those
that opposed us just a few short hours before. We had many presentations at this
year convention that could affect all carriers. We saw the new “on line” bidding
process that is scheduled to be rolled out on or about July 27, 2010. This is
something that could radically change your life. If you’re a regular and do it
wrong you could be stuck on a route that you don’t like. You’re still a regular
but it could be a long time before you can change routes again. If you’re a
relief carrier and you do it wrong, you will remain a relief carrier and not go
regular...this could be devastating! We saw a presentation on FMLA and the
Department of Labor explained some of the rules and regulations placed on
Unions, very helpful! We also had a presentation on the proposed National
Steward System. You can get a copy of the presentation on the NRLCA web site.
This would be a change like we have never seen, if it happens. Safety This
portion of my article is going to focus on YOUR safety. We have had too many
rural carriers killed on the route this year and it pays to be extra cautious.
Below is a repeat of the “story” about the 7/10 of a second after an accident
happens: It takes seven tenths of a second to kill a person in a vehicle crash.
Studies at Yale and Cornell University’s provided a dramatic split second
chronology of what happens when a car rams into a tree at 55 mph. To get an idea
of this short amount of time, it takes approximately 2/10 of a second to blink!
We suggest you picture yourself in the drivers’ seat. At 1/10 of a second, the
front bumper and grill collapse. At 2/10 of a second the hood crumbles, rises,
and smashes into the windshield while the grillwork disintegrates. At 3/10 of a
second you are sprung upright from your seat, your knees break from being jammed
under the dashboard, and the steering wheel bends and twist under your grip. At
4/10 of a second the front of the car is destroyed and dead still, but the rear
of the vehicle is still traveling at 55 mph. The half-ton motor impacts with the
tree. At 5/10 of a second your fear-frozen hands bend the steering column into
an almost vertical position as you are impaled on the steering wheel shaft.
Jagged steel punctures your lungs and arteries. At 6/10 of a second the impact
rips the shoes off your feet. The vehicle chassis bends in the middle, and your
head is slammed into the windshield. The vehicle’s rear end begins its downward
fall as its spinning tires churn into the ground. At 7/10 of a second, the
entire body of the car is twisted grotesquely out of shape. In one final
agonizing convulsion, the front seat rams forward pinning you against what used
to be the steering wheel shaft and dashboard. Blood pours from your mouth, the
result of massive internal injuries. Your face is torn into horrible lacerations
from smashing through the windshield and almost every bone in your body is
broken. Shock has frozen your heart . . . but you don’t mind . . . because you
are already dead. Think about this when you get into your vehicle; let your
teenage children read it before they go out to have fun with their friends!
State of the State We have 2879 total routes in the state. That represents a
reduction of 83 routes since last state convention. We hit a high of 3004 in
2008 and with the current numbers we have a net loss of 125 routes in the past 2
years. The current break down is: Lakeland 82 regular routes and 23 auxiliary
routes, 105 total (17H, 22J, 43K, 25A) Detroit 432 regular routes and 27
auxiliary routes, 459 total (173H, 165J, 94K, 27A) Southeastern Michigan (Royal
Oak) 569 regular routes and 57 auxiliary routes, 626 total (270H, 206J, 93K,
57A)
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Your rights for a relief carrier and
understanding “Free Saturdays”
Assistant State Steward
We just finished an interesting and informative state convention. Here are just
a few things I would like to cover this time. As stated on the National website
a few months ago, there is NOT a hiring freeze for RCAs or TRCs. If you do not
have a sub assigned to your route, I suggest you submit a written request for
one to management. Sign and date it (keep a copy for yourself and please send a
copy to your assistant). Management can no longer hire off the street. All
applicants must apply on line. Applicants cannot go on line and look for
employment as a relief carrier. A vacancy must be posted on-line first. The
managers have several steps they must follow before getting to the HR Generalist
in their District who will actually put the RCA/TRC position on E-Career. This
process takes time. If you are short on subs in your office do not delay. Submit
your request. Article 30.2.A.2 states, The Employer shall make every effort to
expeditiously fill leave replacement vacancies when they occur. Regular rural
carriers shall have the right to require that a leave replacement be assigned to
their route. If you have submitted a PS3971 and are being denied annual leave
because you do not have a replacement carrier (sub) for your route, You have the
right to file a grievance. FREE SATURDAY Article 10.4 covers this provision A.
The approved absence on a Saturday of a regular rural carrier,substitute, or
rural carrier associate in a leave earning capacity, which occurs within or at
the beginning or end of a period of annual or sick leave, shall be without
charge to such leave or loss of compensation provided the appropriate leave
balance on the Form 1223 (Earnings Statement) reflects at least 6 days of leave
and the following conditions are met: 1. There are more than 5 days of annual or
sick leave within the period; or 2. There are more than 4 days of annual or sick
leave plus a holiday (see Article 11) within the period. If a holiday falls on
Saturday, which is a scheduled work day, absence on the preceding Friday shall
be without charge to leave. If the leave period is 4 days or less, absence on
Friday shall be charged to leave. 3. Interruption during the approved period of
annual or sick leave by court leave due to circumstances beyond the employee’s
control shall not disqualify the carrier for coverage as provided in 1. or 2.
above. The pertinent points of this article allowing a carrier to get a Free
Saturday are the leave balance must be EARNED leave and the period of sick or
annual leave must not be interrupted by a relief day. All the requested days off
should be coded as either sick or annual leave. The carrier will be paid for the
day off, but will not be charged a day of annual or sick leave (hence the “Free”
in the Free Saturday). The contract further reads under ARTICLE 10.4.
“Upon request, a rural carrier shall be granted annual leave or leave without
pay on Saturday, at the carrier’s option, provided a leave replacement is
available”. Note the language. The use of LWOP on a Saturday is at the carrier’s
option, regardless of their leave balance. Management is not required to use the
RDWL to grant LWOP on a Saturday but if a sub, any sub is available, then
denying the Saturday LWOP is a contractual violation. If you suspect that your
route mileage is incorrect you have the right to request to have it remeasured
by the official car. Remember the car drives down the center of the road, not
the shoulder and does not measure up the driveways for parcel delivery. The
mileage IS included if you drive into a parking lot to service a business mail
box or if you have a hardship that would require you to travel up a driveway to
the customer’s residence. You need to put the request in writing and submit it
to your manager. Article 30.1.E. Route Re-measurement - Rural routes shall be
remeasured upon request of the rural carrier or when the Employer determines it
necessary. The rural carrier assigned to the route has the right to be present
in a non-duty status at the remeasurement. We are well into the lazy hazy days
of summer. Mail is light and there are gardens to be tended, kids to be
entertained, and picnics to be planned. Enjoy these pleasant months of beautiful
weather. Stay vigilant on your route and as always - be safe!
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Link to Michigan State Government
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MICHIGAN RURAL LETTER CARRIER'S ASSOCIATION