Bonus Episode: Listen to our November/December Magazine

**BONUS**

Episode Transcript

(00:12):
This is Mark Dimondstein sharing my President's Column article from the November December APW Magazine entitled, Workers on the Move.
Without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn while corporateprofits and any income inequality soar and galloping inflation makes life harder.

(00:36):
More and more workers are standing up and fighting back with an encouraging new militancy.
The Teamsters waged a powerful contract campaign against immensely profitable UPS and with a 96 percent strike authorization vote won major gains.
75, 000 Kaiser healthcare workers won better wages and staffing for patients after a successful three day strike.

(01:04):
160, 000 actors represented by SAG AFTRA are on strike against the boss's use of artificial intelligence that undermines their work.
Declaring one job should be enough.
Hotel workers are engaged in rolling strikes in Southern California and a major strike is looming in Las Vegas.

(01:25):
Starbucks workers are unionizing store after store.
1, 400 Blue Bird school bus manufacturing workers unionized in the Deep South.
Amazon workers are stirring against an immensely wealthy and anti union company.
A major union drive is underway at Delta Airlines.
Auto workers showing the way as this article is being written.

(01:50):
Auto workers are the big three.
Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.
Are engaged in a historic strike to overcome years of give backs and concessionary bargaining in the2000 and eight recession caused by Wall Street greed that sunk the housing market and the economy.
The auto companies were in deep financial trouble.

(02:12):
The Obama administration led in bailing out the big three.
Much of it was done on the backs of the workers who lost cost of living adjustments and retirement.
New hires were placed into a divisive two tiered wage system, earning 40 percent less than their co workers.
While workers lost 30 percent in purchasing power, the big three made 250 billion in profits.

(02:37):
over the last 10 years and top management enjoyed raises of 40%.
Enough was enough.
The promise made to the auto workers was that if they sacrificed to save thebig three, They would be rewarded when the companies got back on their feet.
That promise was broken as the wall street investors and the 25 million a year compensated CEOs laughed all the way to the bank.

(03:05):
The companies use their massive profits to enrich shareholders and the CEOs.
They are laughing no more.
The United Auto Workers U A W President Sean Fein.
Workers are demanding sizable raises to make up for years of declining wages.
Restoration of cola, eliminating the divisive 2 tier structure define benefit retirement plans for all workers.

(03:32):
A shorter work week with no loss of pay and ensuring the needed transition to electric vehicles is not used to bypass unionized workers and standards.
Harkening back to the auto workers historic sit down strikes of the 1930s that led tothe creation of the UAW and helped spark a union organizing wave across the country.

(03:55):
The unionized auto workers are standing up for all working class people.
In our struggle to win dignity, safe and rewarding jobs, and more time to spend with our families.
As UAW President Sean Fain framed their fight, quote, We'll keep fighting for justice for the working class, while the bigthree keep price gouging the American consumer, ripping off the American taxpayer, and shortchanging the American worker.

(04:23):
It's a battle of the working class against the rich.
The haves versus the have nots the billionaire class versus Everyone else.
End of quote.
The APW is a solidarity union born out of our own historic great postal strike of 1970.
Many members join rallies picket lines and sign petitions, understanding thatan injury to one is an injury to all, and that a rising tide lifts all boats.

(04:51):
By the time you read this article, I am optimistic that the power of the autoworkers will have led to solid new union contracts,workers on the move winning union representation and strong contracts will strengthen postal workers, including next year.
As we once again engage in negotiations for a new union contract solidarity forever.

(05:19):
This is your executive vice president, Debbie Zeretti, and I'm excited to be a part of this new way of communicating to our members.
My article in the November December magazine is about faith and hope for our union.
At the September, October, 2023, young members conference.

(05:45):
We had the All Craft Conference, we had an Auxiliary Conference, and a Retiree Conference.
And every one of those conferences brought faith and hope to our union.
Young members brought back many memories of what it was like to start out with eyes wide open to what APWU could mean to our workers.

(06:12):
We did not have a Young Members Committee back in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, but it sure would have been great.
The only way you really had opportunities was if someone informally mentored you, or you gottogether with your peers and, working together you shared, everything that you were learning.

(06:34):
We all learned as we grew, we dealt with those unscrupulous managers back then and now, of course.
There was just no way we were going to give up on our members.
We would not leave them with no representation.
It is a battle zone and we became the worker's guardians.

(06:58):
Looking back, we probably could have done better.
We really needed to give our coworkers strength and help them.
To stand with us on the workroom floor as well as educate them to becoming active with us in everything we do.

(07:18):
We are more powerful when we stand together as coworkers retirees.
Families and as part of our communities and helping our communities be there to support us as well.
Thank you young members for taking the leap to stand with us and your willingness to help get ourmembers on the workroom floor to understand the importance of getting involved in our movement.

(07:48):
You're so capable and so loved.
The All Craft Conference brought new ways to look at our need for solidarity, mentoring, and educating.
The new APWU Leadership Institute brings a pathway to help inspire and educate.

(08:12):
New APWU leaders, the legislative panel that we had, the veterans discussion and theclimate justice roundtable at the conference all let us know that we have much work to do.
The PMG 10 year plan will not end well without you helping to make a strong union that protects and educates everyone, including our communities.

(08:42):
Our services must be protected and expanded.
Our retirees and our auxiliary also want to help to reach out to our locals and states and to help mentor new and younger members.
And they're working right now on a union mentoring program.

(09:04):
Mentoring will provide extra help to officers who do not always have time to mentor.
We really need everyone.
The holidays are upon us.
This is our most overstretched and pressured of times as a postal worker.
May you be safe and be blessed with the strength and the love for each other and to stand union strong.

(09:31):
Thank you.
Against those who choose to destroy our country's public postal service.
We need every member to be our army of angels that save our public postal service and our future.
In union, solidarity, and love, peace be with you and take care of yourselves this holiday season.

(10:00):
This is Secretary Treasurer Elizabeth Liz Powell sharing with you an article titled Fulfilling a Treasurer's Responsibility.
There are several important responsibilities that local and state treasurers will need to familiarize themselves with and fulfill.
Whether you are newly elected, appointed, or have maintained a treasurer's positionfor a length of time, maintaining fiduciary responsibility is of the utmost importance.

(10:27):
After ensuring local and state finances are being maintained with appropriate checks and balances, and financialcontrols are in place, a treasurer should verify that the local or state follows all legal requirements.
The Department of Labor legal requirements are, one, local and state affiliates are required to have a constitutionand bylaws, and a copy must be electronically filed with the annual LM report to the Department of Labor.

(10:55):
Local and state affiliates are required to have a fidelity bond covering 10 percent of the local or state's liquid assets.
We strongly recommend local and state affiliates bond 100 percent of the liquid assets.
3.
Local elections are required to be held every 3 years and state affiliates every 4 years.

(11:16):
The Constitution may require elections be held more frequently.
Four.
The Department of Labor requires an LMM report, LMM two, LMM three, or Lmm four to be filed annually.
Five.
Treasurers are required to maintain financial records for the last five years.
Six.
They must also maintain executive board and general membership Meeting minutes.

(11:41):
Internal Revenue Service IRS in addition to local or state payroll requirements.
One and I nine for all employees.
Filing W 2, W 3 and W 4s, electronically filing Form 940, Payroll Taxes Deposited, Collect andDeposit State and Municipal or County Taxes, electronically filing Form 940, Federal Unemployment Tax

(12:08):
Deposited, 1099, Issued for Non Employee Compensation, and a W 9, Tax ID for Independent Contractors.
Number two, the IRS requires an annual 990 report.
It can be 990 990 EZ 990 N.
Electronically filed with the IRS.

(12:31):
Other legal requirements are state workers compensation insurance.
To ensure local and state affiliates are complying with Article 16, Section 4 of the Constitution and bylaws of the APWU as amended.
A copy of the following is required to be forwarded to the Secretary of Treasury's Department.
A copy of your local or state constitution.

(12:52):
A copy of your local or state signed annual LM report that was filed with the Department of Labor.
Written verification that your local or state filed an annual 990 report with the IRS.
A listing of local or state offices and verification that the local or state has held the elections in accordance with the Union's Constitution.

(13:13):
Treasurer should contact Annette August Teller, Executive Assistant to the Secretary Treasurer, at 202 842 8538.
or a august at apw.
org if you're not sure whether your local estate is complying during 2023 the secretary treasurer's department providing in personsecretary treasurer's training opportunities in april june and september for presidents and treasurers to attend save the date the next

(13:42):
treasurer's secretary treasurer's training is scheduled for national harbor maryland at the mgm for March the 4th through the 8th, 2024.
Details will be posted in the event section of the APWU website.
I would like to wish all the members of the APWU happy holidays and a prosperous new year.

(14:06):
Updates on national disputes, penalty exclusion period, and a holiday greeting by Industrial Relations Director, Charlie Cash.
Happy holidays, my union family.
Your hard work will once again bring happiness and smiles to millions of people, not only in the United States, but around the world.

(14:28):
No matter if you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or observe any other tradition during thistime, please make sure you take some time to enjoy this time of year with your family and friends.
As a reminder, the penalty exclusion period begins with the start of pay period 26 2023.

(14:48):
December 2nd, 2023, and ends with the conclusion of Pay Period 1, 2024, on December 29th, 2023.
The penalty exclusion period means that the penalty overtime rate will not be paid for hours that normally qualify as penalty overtime.
Rather, the regular overtime rate will apply.

(15:11):
I would like to update you all on some pending national disputes.
The first is the national dispute regarding the Article 12 accessing issues surroundingthe Postmaster General's Delivering for America plan and changes to the overall network.
In general, our dispute is over Article 12.
5.
B.
1.

(15:33):
Dislocation and inconvenience to full time and part time flexible employees shall be kept to the minimum.
It is our position that the USPS is not making every effort to follow this provision.
On its face, the USPS seems to be doing just the opposite.
I've been pushing for an accelerated schedule to meet and discuss this dispute and arbitrate if necessary.

(15:57):
The current plan is to arbitrate this dispute as quickly as possible if a settlement agreement cannot be reached.
One of the next cases that will be scheduled for early in 2024 is what most members know as the direct deposit theft or light blue hack dispute.
This dispute involves around the issue that happened at this time last year.

(16:21):
Hundreds of APWU employees had their light blue login information stolen.
The thieves took this information.
Logged into the victim's Postal Ease accounts and changed the direct deposit information the USPS had on file.
This led to some employees losing their largest paychecks of the year.

(16:43):
The direct deposits were sent to accounts not owned by the victims.
Where the money was then immediately emptied out.
The USPS has taken the position that it was the employee's fault that their login information was stolen.
The APWU takes the position that it was Postal Management's lack of adequate security protocols that led to the thefts.

(17:05):
We believe we have the, the evidence.
That proves the USPS was aware of the security flaws and we will be asking an arbitrator to rule in our favor.
We are seeking that employees who lost their direct deposits be reimbursed in full by the USPS.
One other case being addressed is the welcome to the U.
S.
P.

(17:25):
S.
or the new employee orientation case.
This case was scheduled for August 2023, but was canceled because we were making progress towards settlement due to unforeseen health emergency.
I was unable to continue the settlement discussions, but those are back on track.
If the case cannot be settled, we will seek to arbitrate it in the spring of 2024 as well.

(17:50):
I'm going to take a moment of personal privilege to close out this column.
I want to congratulate and thank my friend and mentor, Jim Bean, from the Salt Lake City area local on his retirement.
Jim served for over 35 years as an officer or steward in his local.
He is one of the most dedicated Unionists I know, and one of the most loyalfriends that everyone who has had the honor to call him a friend could have.

(18:17):
Jim taught me much about the Union and helped me become a successful member, steward, and officer of the APWU.
Thank you, Jim, for all you did for the APWU and for me.
Solidarity, Sisters and Brothers in Union Family, Happy Holidays.

(18:40):
My name is Idowu, AKA Director Balogun I'm reading my article Successful Maintenance Crop Conference in 2023.
We successfully completed 2023 APW, all crop held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

(19:02):
The maintenance conference started on Monday, October 2nd, 23,
Saturday before the conference.
We attended the Maintenance Council meetings, which consisted of all the maintenance non MBA and pre residence officers.
The Maintenance Regional Breakout was held on Tuesday, and Maintenance Division Workshopsfocusing on recuperating two subcontractors and land agent small offices followed on Wednesday.

(19:34):
During the conference, we were addressed by several guest speakers, held a meaningful, lively debate about all the menprep issue among the bodies, and ended in solidarity to return home and continued to conduct the business of the unit.
Assistant director Terry B.

(19:54):
Martinez.
Welcome the delegates to the session and the maintenance division leadership.
Including Assistant Director B, Jason Pryor, MBA John Gerhardt, Jeff Beaton, Bruce Kimbley, Cordis Walker, Carlos Pass, Craig Fisher.

(20:18):
And NBH list Western region took to the podium and members to his region hasspoke about the impact of 12 on maintenance of employ because of management.
So-called 10 year delivery permit.

(20:41):
The National Executive Council also addressed the members.
I introduce our president, Senator Matt Demelstein, who attended the session with Executive Vice President David Zeredi,Secretary Treasurer of this power, Industrial Relations Director Charlie Cash, Southern Region Coordinator Jarek Wonde, Northeast

(21:04):
Regional Coordinator Tiffany Foster, Eastern Region Coordinator Angie Jones, Um, and central region going on a full house.
But I said, and then we'll still spoke about the ongoing labor dispute of allied laborunions, including United auto workers and culinary union, local tourists, Friday, Vegas.

(21:26):
He concluded by saluting the leadership and the hardworking of the maintenance division representative in the current issue facing.
Our report, I discussed the following priorities in the maintenance, we are in the final stageof finalizing the settlement on maintenance capable disputes, which are of this very name.

(21:53):
Other notable issues the officer are working on include part time 7.
2.
small delivery unit SOTA, as you know, is CLAC dispute.
Promotion cancellation, maintenance management order, APW concern regarding share, communitytoolbox initiating, MS 47 revision, Q& A, new E4776 pilot, and self laundering MMO.

(22:27):
And also this includes ticketing program, mail processing equipment relocation, and last but not least, in service national Q& A.
that we're developing.
Maintenance officer also discussed pending national level subcontracting, article 19 of litigation, and theresolution submitted by Albuquerque local 3A regarding the payment of grievances to separated or retired employees.

(22:58):
The General Censure concluded with a presentation by Northeast Regional Maintenance MBA, James Zanacchi, on Article 38, updatesto the Joint Contract with Taputin Umano, and New Maintenance Division Memorandum of Understanding in the new 2021 National Act.

(23:19):
I could finally have concluded the meeting by telling everyone that it was a great conference.
We all got 400 in attendance.
We're also glad to have almost 20 percent of new attendees.
It's a very successful deliberation.

(23:40):
After the conference, we had the original breakout for all of the coverage.
I'm so proud.
I'm so energized that the future of maintenance looks so bright.
bright.
this is Daleo Freeman, Human Relations Director, and this is the Human Relations Department's Year in Review.

(24:04):
It has been an exciting and noteworthy year.
We are proud to report that the Human Relations Department has been on the move tobetter assist locals and states with issues under the jurisdiction of this department.
Here is just some of the work that we have accomplished over the past 12 months.

(24:25):
Office of Workers Compensation Programs, OWCP.
First, under the area of OWCP, we have successfully trained over 1, 000 members, activists, stewards, and officers.
We conducted trainings in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Hawaii, Maryland, Iowa, Alabama,North Carolina, Rhode Island, Utah, New Mexico, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, and many other states and cities.

(25:04):
The word is out on the outstanding training that we provided, and we are looking forward to continuing the work that is both wanted and needed.
Also, as a department, we've provided much needed assistance to members who need representation for specific OWCP cases.

(25:25):
We have successfully won favorable decisions.
For a number of members.
So again, the department is moving forward with excellent representation for our members.
The employee assistance program is much needed and a contractual right under the collective bargaining agreement.

(25:47):
We have been meeting actively to assure the importance of having assistance available to members as they need it.
Veterans rights and benefits.
We are encouraged to report that the department has set forth a program to activateour members that have served this country as well as those that represent veterans.

(26:11):
We have started building a coalition across the country.
to mobilize around issues that affect our service members, whether they are active or not.
I am looking forward to continuing the work.
At the All Craft Conference, we were proud to hold a meeting for APWU veterans.

(26:38):
The well attended meeting discussed the issues that veterans face within the Postal Service.
And how we can protect the earned rights and benefits of the union's veterans members.
Civil rights and engagement.
It is a priority of the department to remain active around our civil rights.

(27:02):
Which are either being threatened or attacked.
We stand together with the civil rights issues of the day.
We participate in the movement daily.
And proudly organize a group of APWU members who attended the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington.

(27:25):
So, we continue to strive for equality for all and to protect the rights and benefits of allwho have served, as well as mobilize and continue to secure assistance for all who are in need.
As we become more knowledgeable and empowering, we provide education to give our members assistance and help everyone understand.

(27:52):
We have a right to compensation when we get injured on the job.
I want to thank all of those who have participated and provided this information in all these areas.
I appreciate you all.
Please have a safe and productive new year and stay tuned to what we have in store for next year.

(28:17):
Thank you for encouraging continuing progress.
Remember.
The struggle won't continue without work.
In solidarity, Daleo.
Freeman, your Human Relations Director.

(28:38):
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