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P.O. Box 87386
Vancouver, WA 98687-0386
Phone: 360-892-6545
Fax: 360-892-2889
Contact the webmaster:webmaster@nalcregion2.org
Representing Letter Carriers from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
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COLCPE.....is not just another add-on to your union dues, brothers and sisters, it's the NALC's Political action committee (specifically: NALC's Committee on Letter Carrier Political Education).
The report from The President's Commission on the United States Postal Service contains contains many recommendations, including some troubling ones (click here for the NALC's response). Consequently, the NALC has created the E-Activist network to allow a lightning fast response to any postal legislation that may be considered by congress. Traditional methods of rallying members, postal mail, phone calls and word of mouth, can easily take 2 or 3 days to exact a response from members. The E-Activist network makes it possible to send network members the "call to action" in seconds using email. This, combined with the resulting word-of-mouth, could easily result in thousands of letters, emails and calls to congress within 24 hours of the notification. We can't allow congress to ignore our interests in favor of the special interests of our competitors, who'll be campaigning just as vehemently for their cause (and against our cause).
Ladies and gentlemen, this may be the single most important time period in the history of our jobs. Join this network and heed the call when it comes; it just may protect you and your family's way of life.
To join the E-Activist network, take this link to the NALC.ORG home page. About the center of the home page is the heading, " Join the NALC E-activist Network ". Enter your email address where indicated, click " join " , and you're in.
Ron Watson received an appointment in March from NALC President William H. Young as the "Assistant to the President for Compensation".
Watson, 56, previously specialized in workers compensation issues in the National Business Agent's office, working with two Regions, Denver and Seattle.
Watson succeeds Linda DeCarlo who has accepted a US Labor Department position in the branch of Technical Assistance in the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP).
Ron served region 2 as a part-time Regional Administrative Assistant (RAA) and local business agent for several years before accepting a full-time position in 1999. Prior to that, he had been president of NALC Branch 1274 in Corvallis, Oregon, a position he held for more than 10 years.
Filling the vacancy left by Ron Watson's move to a job at national headquarters, Jamie Lumm was appointed by NALC President Bill Young as the new Regional Administrative Assistant.
Lumm succeeds Ron Watson, who has accepted a position at NALC headquarters as the Assistant to the President for Compensation.
Jamie previously served Region 2 as the Regional Liaison for Training; heading up the team of trainers for the region's critically acclaimed Steward's College and has been serving on the Step B grievance team in Portland.
At long last, the House Government Reform Committee approved a bill this week to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service.
The first major bill to head to the House in three decades, it was steered through the committee by Chairman Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.). The bill, approved by the committee 40 to 0, was authored chiefly by Rep. John M. McHugh (R-N.Y.), who has worked diligently to bridge differences among mailers, postal unions and the post office.
The letter carrier's union, the NALC, applauds the bill's retention of collective bargaining rights including no wage restrictions. Also lauded by the union are recommendations to continue a six-day delivery week and to maintain universal service.
There is a long way to go before these committee bills become law, however. They must survive the requisite house and senate debate and may very likely be opposed by the Bush administration.
According to committee chairman Davis, major provisions of the House bill would revise the process of setting postal rates, keeping them in line with the consumer price index and increase the oversight of the Postal Rate Commission.
The Senate draft bill includes a proposal to reduce disability payments provided to postal workers who are injured and will not likely return to work. This item is not appreciated by the postal unions.
Currently, injured employees with a dependent can receive 75 percent of their salary tax-free. Employees may elect to continue receiving disability pay after they are eligible for retirement.
The Senate bill would seem to be an attempt to push older, disabled workers towards retirement. The bill would cut disability payments to 50 percent of salary for any workers injured on or after Sept. 30, 2004 if they otherwise qualify for retirement benefits.
Hang on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen; Region 2's 2004 Regional Assembly is about to begin.
This year's Assembly is being held at beautiful Snowbird, Utah.
Paul Price, Region two's National Business Agent will be on hand; speaking on various Regional and National issues all day Saturday, the 25th. Our region's highly knowledgable RAA's, Mary Martinez and Jamie Lumm will be offering a good deal of the courses. This year's agenda includes courses to suit almost any delegate's needs; ranging from Unity on the Workroom Floor to the Basic Steward Track to Retirement Issues and Influencing Managers.
In addition to Jamie and Mary, some of the best and brightest minds from the NALC and Region 2 will be on hand; Dave Allred, Jim Baxter, Brooks Bennett, Randy Blalock, Terry Culp, Coby Jones, Kirk McLaughlin, Don McQuigg, Mike Miller, Keith Nelson , Jim Raymond, Linda Smith, Julie Todich and Tom Young are all on the current itinerary, which is subject to change.
It won't be all work, though, with the hospitality room open each afternoon from 4-5:30 and Utah's beautiful Autumn scenery to explore and enjoy, this should be a time to remember.