Monthly Archives: September 2018

History of the Southwest Coastal Area Local

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The history of our local is very important.  These were our local Presidents, and all worked full time for the union:

  1. John Gaffney from Orange Post Office 1973-1977 (Two-Year Term)
  2. Peter Katz from Newport Beach 1977-1979 (Two-Year Term)
  3. Bonnie Nelson from Huntington Beach 1979-1987 (One two-year Term and two three-year terms)
  4. Bobby Donelson from Santa Ana 1987 -1990 (One three-year term and a second 1-day term)
  5. Ralph Lefter from Santa Ana 1990-1996 (Two three-year term)
  6. Richard Cantu from Santa Ana 1996-1999 (One three-year term)
  7. Ralph Lefter from Santa Ana 1199-2005 (Two three-year term)
  8. James Chaing from Santa Ana 2005-2005 (Seven-Month term)
  9. Bobby Donelson from Santa Ana 2005-2011 (Three& half year term and a three-year term)
  10. Richard Cantu from Santa Ana 2011-2017 ((Two three-year term)
  11. Phil Khong from Santa Ana 2017-? Current president

Our local has been very active through the year with the Orange County Labor Council now the Orange County Labor Federation, the California State APWU organization and the regional and national union.

Members of our local have also served in other union capacities.

Matt Ogorek – APWU Hospital Plan Representative (appointed position)

Bobby Donelson – Western Region Maintenance NBA, National Maintenance Representative at Large, and National Assistant “A” Maintenance Director.  In addition, Bobby also served as a SCF Representative for the California State APWU.

Lenny Trujillo – San Francisco Region Clerk NBA.

Bruce Bailey – Western Region MVS NBA and California State MVS Director.

Richard Shepard – – Western Region Maintenance NBA and California State Maintenance NBA.

Mike Stinson, Frank Townsend, Richard Cantu, Walter Lovett, Kevin Cole, Bonnie Nelson, Isabelle Bailey, Bruce Bailey, Bobby Donelson, Richard Shepard, and Roosevelt Smith all have served as delegates to the Orange County Labor Council now the Orange County Labor Federation.

Bobby Donelson served National Rank and File Bargaining Committee two different time.

Bonnie Nelson, Ralph Lefter, Richard Cantu, and Bobby Donelson served the National Convention Constitution Committee.

This little bit of history is so our newer officers and members can know something about our local union.  I sincerely hope I did not miss anyone.

I was honored to serve at two different times as your local president and had two long time Southwest Coastal Area Local members working with me – Frank Townsend and Mike Stinson, as well as the support of the Southwest Coastal Area Local Executive Board.

One local accomplishment when Frank Townsend, Mike Stinson, and I along with the 2005-2011 Executive Board Members obtained was to purchase a local union office for our members without carrying a mortgage payment.

This has saved the local thousands and thousands of dollars over the year.

The membership in the Southwest Coastal Area Local increased to our peak of approximately 2300 members and then excessing, abolishment, early retirement, and automation caused our local to decrease to its current level of approximately 1400 members.

The Southwest Coastal Area Local was 45 years old on August 1, 2018.  We were formed as an area local in 1973.  Prior to that time each Postal Installation was a separate local union.

The Southwest Coastal Area Local Retiree Chapter will be 14 years old on Monday, September 10, 2018.

The history of our local is very important

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bobby Donelson bd62748@aol.com 2045 So. June Place Anaheim, CA 92802 Phone: 714 750-3656 Cell: 714 206-2931 Postal Reorganization Act -Public Law 91-375 – August 12, 1970 Southwest Coastal Area Local Chartered – August 1, 1973 Southwest Coastal Area Local Retiree Chapter Chartered – September 10, 2004

“We are not the Enemy”

https://swcalretirees.org/

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Retiree Information

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Brothers and Sisters:
There is no way the Retiree Department should be shrinking.  However, do the comments from some national officers and local presidents this what is happening.  In formation came from the National APWU’s LM 2 for 2013-2017.
2013 – 40,583 Retired Members
2014 – 39,721 Retired Members
2015 – 39,504 Retired Members
2016 – 38,908 Retired Members
2017 – 38,285 Retired Members
The constant attack on Retiree Issues at the National Convention does not serve the Retiree Members, Retiree Department, or Retiree Director.  Those close to retirement age are retiring but not joining the department.
We have far too many local union members (not all) who fear retirees and national officers (not all) who fear retirees.  They want to use retirees to support the union’s positions and provide “cheap labor” to do the work. 
The top three officers of the APWU have said retirees are important, yet fail to say the same in front of the convention.
The current philosophy to be seen but not hear must change.
Currently the retirees are a cash cow for the national union.  The retiree department after all expenses netted the APWU $2.408 million  for accounting periods 2016 and 2017, $2.419 million from 2014 and 2015, and  $2.459 million from 2013 and 2014.  This information is from the Convention Finance Committee Report.
What is not mentioned is the millions of dollars the retirees generate for the Health Plan fee that the union received which exceeded $21 millions dollars in 2016/2017.
Currently retirees’ years of service are not appreciated or respected.  
I predict if the APWU does not change its ways toward retirees’ membership in the Retiree Department will continue to decrease.  This truly a shame.
Eastern Regional Coordinator Mike Gallagher and Southwest Coastal Area Local Maintenance Director Will Khong comments at the 2018 National APWU Convention were hurtful and were an insult to retirees.
Retirees do belong at the APWU National Convention and deserve the right to speak on issues and vote for the issues.  The convention is not just for negotiated or collective bargaining issues.  If that was the case, then why did the APWU spend so much money on legislative issues and COPA.
Retirees want to stay involved. 

 “We are not the Enemy”
This is a message from a retiree:  As I expressed before this is not going to happen unless the higher officers of our National Union support the retirees. it will have a domino effect when leadership supports retirees until then we’re just the back roll trying to get the attention of the people on the platform. It starts with local presidents who support the retirees and not make excuses why they don’t. most retirees have a heart and a passion for the union because they loved it they have been union members their whole career some people once they leave and retire don’t look back and just keep going forward that’s the sadness that those are the ones that don’t support the retirees well they are active members. I’m going to continue to hold you up in prayer to give you strength and that all of us keep that Faith and Hope is this Union we love that will eventually allow retirees in to participate as requested.


Bobby Donelson
bd62748@aol.com
2045 So. June Place
Anaheim, CA 92802
Phone: 714 750-3656
Cell: 714 206-2931
Postal Reorganization Act -Public Law 91-375 – August 12, 1970
Southwest Coastal Area Local Chartered – August 1, 1973
Southwest Coastal Area Local Retiree Chapter Chartered – September 10, 2004
“We are not the Enemy”
https://swcalretirees.org/