Below are two sets of endorsement. One is the Southwest Coastal Area Local November 2018 Endorsements and the other is the California Labor Federation Endorsements.
November 2018 Election Endorsements
Reply
Category Archives: Reports
House resolution introduced on USPS privatization
This came from the letter carriers
July 16, 2018
House resolution introduced on USPS privatization
Today, a group of 10 bipartisan representatives introduced a House Resolution (H. Res. 993) calling on Congress to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Postal Service remain an independent agency of the federal government and not be subject to privatization.
The bipartisan resolution was introduced by Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Stephen Lynch (D-MA). Other original cosponsors will be Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Paul Cook (R-CA), Brian Mast (R-FL), Don Young (R-AK), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Marcia Fudge (D-OH).
The resolution’s introduction comes in response to the recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) government reorganization and restructure plan titled “Delivery Government Solutions in the 21st Century.” While the report takes direct aim at numerous agencies, it calls for privatizing the Postal Service.
“NALC commends our bipartisan friends in Congress for their immediate action to push back against this ill-conceived idea that will adversely impact the constituents they represent and the letter carriers who serve them seven-days-a-week,” said NALC President Rolando.
“Privatization of the Postal Service will inevitably increase costs and limit service for locations not deemed profitable, which is just the tip of the iceberg. Privatization will also threaten the standard of living of letter carriers and all postal employees.” continued Rolando.
“Just as NALC laid out for the White House Postal Task Force, we believe that sensible financial reforms are the way forward – not burning down the barn at the behest of private shippers.” Rolando said. “We encourage all members of Congress to cosponsor this important bipartisan resolution and oppose any effort to privatize this public institution based in the Constitution.”
NALC encourages all letter carriers to contact their members of Congress to become cosponsors on this resolution.
APWU Hatch Act Information
We will be involved very soon if not already with partisan elections. The APWU has a Hatch Act Document to assistant all active postal employees. Retirees are not restricted by the Hatch Act.
It is beneficial to review the attached APWU
Hatch Act Document.
July Retiree Meeting
Meeting will be Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 2:00PM at the local union office located at 1251 N. Tustin Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92807.
The Southwest Coastal Area Local (SWCAL) will be meeting two times this week – SWCAL Executive Board meets at 6 PM on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 and the SWCAL General Membership Meeting is at 4 PM on Saturday July 28, 2018.
The SWCAL Retiree Chapter meets at 2 PM on Saturday, July 28, 2018.
All meetings are at the local union office – 1251 N. Tustin Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92807.
Those with Hearing Related Issues – Information from California State Retiree Convention
Santa Ana Service Center
Santa Ana CTAP Service Center
2677 North Main Street, Suite 130
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday, except holidays.
To better serve you, please arrive by 4:45 PM.
The Main Street Town Center is a tall white building with blue windows. It is located on the corner of North Main Street and Memory Lane and is across from Polly’s Café & Bakery near the Main Place Mall.
Citibank is the main sign on the building.
Enter the lobby, go down the hall, the Service Center is on your left.
About CTAP
http://www.californiaphones.org/Devices-for-Difficulty-Hearing
CTAP is a program of the California Public Utilities Commission Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.
The program is funded by a small surcharge that appears on all telephone bills in California. This surcharge appears on your phone bill as “CA Relay Service and Communications Devices Fund.”
The California Public Utilities Commission administers CTAP, as well as the California Relay Service, under the umbrella of the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.
For more information, please visit www.ddtp.org
About California Phones
Every day, specialized California Phones from the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) enable over half a million Californians to stay connected.
There’s a California Phone for every need. For example, there are amplified phones that make it easier to hear conversations. Big button phones that are easier to dial. Phones with lights that flash for incoming calls. Convenient portable phones – and more. We also offer phones that are specially designed for individuals with more significant disabilities.
California Phones are available to persons who live in California, have telephone service* and your doctor approves your need. In addition to your doctor, any of the following may certify your need and sign the application form for you:
- Licensed Medical Doctor (MD)
- Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
- Licensed Physician Assistant
- Licensed Audiologist
- Licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser
- Licensed Optometrist
- Department of Rehabilitation Counselor
- Superintendent/Audiologist from the California School for the Deaf Fremont/Riverside
Click HERE to find a Certifying Agent near you.
*Equipment connects to your existing telephone service. Your current telephone service charges still apply, however, the Free Specialized Telephone does not increase your service costs.
About California Relay Service (CRS)
In California, relay service is provided through Hamilton Relay. The CRS Provider page gives more information and customer service numbers. California Relay Service (CRS) Click here for more CRS information.
Updated Information
National APWU Convention
The National APWU Convention will be held in Pittsburgh, PA from August 20-24, 2018. Retirees have are asking for support for two resolutions, one for submission of resolutions (has been resolved) and the right to speak and vote during the National APWU Convention as a retiree.
The right to speak and vote is important to many retirees who remain active in the APWU. Please ask your local leaders and convention delegates to support the resolution.
Resolved, to amend the APWU Constitution & By-Laws; Article 6: SEC 6. Retiree delegates will be seated with a voice and a vote at the National Convention pursuant to the formula in Article 6, section one. In addition, renumber current Article 6 section 6 as section 7.
2018 OPM Open Season for FEHBP
Monday November 12, 2018 – Monday December 10, 2018.
Each year, Open Season runs from the Monday of the second full workweek in November through the Monday of the second full workweek in December.
This provides anyone enrolled in an OPM Health Plan (FEHBP) the opportunity to change health plans.
November 2018 Elections
Federal, State, County, and City will take place this November 6, 2018. Please vote because congressional representative can affect retirees in so many ways. We need to elected congressional leaders who are supportive of retirees.
County, state, and city elected officials are very important as well and can affect our daily life as well.
I vote by mail and encourage anyone eligible to vote by mail to do so. I enjoy sitting at the table completing my ballot.
Cost of Living (COLA) Increases for retirees.
If inflation continues in the same direction the expected COLA will exceed 2.5% for Social Security and Civil Service Annuitants.
FERS Annuitants COLA increases are: If the CSRS COLA is more than 3%, the FERS COLA is 1% less, if the CSRS COLA is more than 2% but less than 3%, then the FERS COLA is 2%, and if the CSRS COLA is less than 2%, then the FERS COLA is the same.
Exact COLA will not be known until October of 2018.
Medicare Part B premiums will probably increase if we get a COLA increase
June 5,2018 Primary Endorsements/Recommendations
CDP-2018-Endorsements-Official-18-04-08
CA-LABOR_ENDORSEMENTS-JUNE-2018
The above three links are recommendations from The Orange County Labor Federation, California Democratic Party, and the California State Labor Federation.
California State APWU Convention Resolutions Summary
Subject: California State APWU Convention – May 19 and 20, 2018
The 2018 California State APWU Convention
The California State Convention only had four resolutions submitted. They addressed the following issues:
1. Splitting up the All Craft into individual conferences. Voted down convention rather stay in the current format. Its has worked effectively and why fix an issue if there is not a problem.
2. Allow Retirees Department members vote and voice at convention. Unanimous vote of approval.
3. Allow Retirees Department Chapters and State Organization the right to submit resolutions to the National APWU Convention. Unanimous vote of approval.4. Compensate the Support Service NBA and Director to be paid as all other NBA’s and Division Directors. Unanimous vote of approval
A personal note, we want to Thank all of the California State APWU Convention Delegates for supporting the Retiree Issues.We sincerely hope everyone will support these issues when they come up for discussion at the 2018 National APWU Convention in Pittsburgh, PA.
Convention Summary:
The 2018 California State APWU Convention was held over the week-end of May 19 and 20, 2018.
The California State APWU has four so we only have election convention once every four years and the next one is scheduled for 2020. The other three years the convention is educational in nature. The delegate had the choice of many subject matters
The day prior to the convention, Friday may 18, 2018, training on advance steward training was held, the California State APWU Executive Board met and the California State Retiree Chapter Executive Board met.
The below officers were present or heard to by zoom.
President Mark Dimondstein (by zoom)
Executive Vice President Debby Szeredy (present)
Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Powell (by zoom)
Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman (by zoom)
Director, Maintenance Division Steven G. Raymer (present)
Director, MVS Division Michael O. Foster (present)
Western Region Coordinator Omar M. Gonzalez (present)
APWU Health Plan Director John Marcotte (present)
Assistant Director, MVS Division Javier Piñeres (present)
San Francisco Region Clerk Division NBAs, Sonia E. Canchola (present), Shirley Taylor (present), James Scoggins (present), and Chuck Locke (present)
Western Region Maintenance Division NBAs, Louis M. Kingsley, Jr. (present) and Jimmie Waldon
Western Region Motor Vehicle Service Division NBA, Jerome Pittman (present)
**If I missed anyone I apologize, but this is from my memory.
Retiree Convention, Clerk, Maintenance, and Motor Vehicle Break outs, Contract Action Team Presentation, and addressing the four resolutions submitted were addressed on Saturday May 19, 2018. The convention also heard from the Contract Campaign Committee.
On Sunday the Retiree Convention met,there was retirement training, as well as a legislative update.
This is the second year in a roll we have met in Sacramento and the host local Sacramento Area Local, President Joe Gill, did a great job.
We will meet next year in San Diego. State Convention is always the week end prior to Memorial Holiday week-end.
It is always a pleasure to be at the California State APWU Convention because it is nice to see steward, members, and officers from around the state. Thank you California State APWU President Mike Evans.
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
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
California June Primary Election
Attached for your information is the California State Democratic Party and California Labor Federation Endorsement.
If Josh Newman is your State Senator and he represents the 29 California State District, please vote “No” on the recall.
Please vote.
CA-LABOR_ENDORSEMENTS-JUNE-2018
General Information Regarding the Southwest Coastal Area Local & Retiree Chapter
These are two important dates for Southwest Coastal Area Local members and retirees.
August 1, 1973 – Southwest Coastal Area Local formed.
September 10, 2004 – Southwest Coastal Area Local Retiree Chapter formed.