In 2006 a lot was accomplished by the Local, the biggest of which was the conversion of part time flexible employees to full time regulars to make a full time work force in the city; 91% membership; and over $1,500 given to COPA.  We gave more per capita to COPA compared to any other local in the state, 4th year running in a row!   Wasn't it nice to finally see a significant cash settlement before the holidays?  It was also very sad for us to all experience the loss of one of our members with the passing of our APWU brother Terry Oliver.  Please remember Terry's family with your thoughts and prayers.  We will all truly miss him.

2007 has started out with the ratification of a new negotiated contact.  We are awaiting notification that the new contract has been officially signed and the announcement of how and when employees are to receive the 1.2 % pay increase effective November 21, 2006.  In addition, once the new contract is official a date will be announced to enter into local memorandum of understanding (LMOU) negotiations in which we have 30 days to negotiate for any changes that we may want to consider of our LMOU.  If you have any suggestions (Art. 30 of the collective bargaining agreement lists the issues that are open for negotiations.) Please submit them in writing to APWU Aurora, CO, Local PO Box 471234 Aurora, CO 80047-1234.  Your officers and stewards are also available to answer any questions about the negotiations of our LMOU. Remember just because you make suggestions or we choose to negotiate a particular item does not guarantee its adoption or change to the LMOU until both the union and management sign off on it.   

February 2007

President’s Report

by Shelly Alvarado

There are three major issues from 2006 that carried into 2007, they are (1) supervisors performing bargaining unit work, (2) crossing crafts and (3) staffing.  The staffing issue is not a problem that is going be resolved at the local level.  There are two committees that are composed of a district compliment committee & the area complement committee.  They make staffing decisions that effect the local and the local is making inquires with our national and other locals that are fighting this same battle.  Thank you to the many who have stepped up to protect their jobs by requesting stewards, providing information and statements in the struggle to keep management and other crafts off of our windows, out of our lobbies, from spreading mail or doing other APWU bargaining unit work.  We continue to keep up the fight and hopefully more will join this battle to protect our work instead of allowing it to go away.

Recently management reverted the Nixie level 6 job at the Main Office.  That mail is now being sent back to the stations or sent out with PARS without being properly worked or endorced.  The Union needs to know how much mail, when it was received, when it was worked, who worked it and for how long it took?  We also need to know if the mail was delayed in the process.  We need the all facts so we can process that information in a timely manner.  Remember we have 14 days from the day of incident or the violation to file a grievance.  The burden of proof falls on that of the union with the exception being discipline cases. We have to have facts, specifics to be successful in the grievance procedure.  Therefore that burden falls on the APWU represented employees to get this information to the stewards or officers.  Get ready to rumble in 2007.  It is in unity and solidarity that we will accomplish the most.