The holidays are coming. Stop being informal and impersonal. Many family members and friends enjoy receiving Christmas cards and postcards in the mail. It's called human connection. Regardless of how many people use the Internet to pay their bills and send documents, the physical delivery of mail and packages to America's homes and businesses will always exist. Thank God for this.

Remember my friends, neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, (nor postal management) will stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Many of those people were aware of the Postal Service crisis, especially closing post offices. Many expressed their support. Representatives from the other unions who attended were Ms. Dee McCoy, Bronx Director of New York Metro APWU, Brian Nash, VP of NAPS, and Mr. Dee Knight of the Labor Community Forum (South Bronx Community Congress.)

would like to say thank you to Congressman Jose Serrano who called his representatives Ms. Cheryl Simmons-Oliver and Mr. Anthony Jordan to ask us to wait for him because he wanted to meet with us. Congressman Serrano arrived at 5:10 p.m. and addressed us and promised that he will support us regarding H.R. 1351, and that eliminating 6-day delivery is the wrong way and 6-day delivery must remain in effect. Congressman Serrano has always supported the Postal Service letter carriers' issues.

As for letter carriers who didn't support the rallies without a legitimate excuse, SHAME ON YOU!

I would like to salute the following carriers for participating on October 2, 2011, and making Fill The Satchel Day possible: Mike Kelly, Mike Perdomo, Paul Curry, Pat McNally, Tayry Vega and Helen Amill.

Also a reminder, the Muscular Dystrophy Association Bowl-A-Thon is on Sunday, October 23, 2011. Call and reserve your team spot. It costs $425.00 per team and $75.00 per person in collected donations, covering pizza, non-alcoholic beverages, and bowling shoes.

On Friday, July 1st, Hellgate Station had their annual MDA fundraiser softball game. As always, the Hellgate Hurricane, Blue team, was eager to defeat the Hellgate Hitmen, Green team. As the two captains Mike Mills (Hurricanes) and Mike Perdomo (Hitmen) were discussing the game rules, there was a lot of boasting between the two teams. The Hurricanes were trying to snap an eight game losing streak to the Hitmen.

The game started with the Hurricanes scoring three runs in the first inning. The Hitmen battled back. Felix Morel hit a homerun to make the score 7 to 4. Brian Gutierrez then hit a homerun in the bottom of the 6th inning to make the score 7 to 5, in the bottom of the 7th inning with the Hitmen losing 7 to 5. Maria Rosas and Joselyn Little were on base with hits both scored to tie the game and with men on first and third base and two outs, Mike Perdomo won the game for the Hitmen with a base hit, continuing the Hurricanes losing streak. After the games both teams enjoyed the cooking by Helen Amill and Beverly Moore, but the real winners were the kids that this MDA fundraiser was for, sending one child to summer camp.

Be ready to protect and defend carriers you represent. In turn, carriers should be ready to support their shop stewards when they protect your rights before management.

Do your research and see the benefits of becoming a member of the NALC Health Benefit Plan. The NALC covers you when vacationing outside of the United States. Open season is in November.

Don't forget about COLCPE. Sign up for payroll deduction. All it takes is $1.00 per pay period, $26.00 per year.

The Postal Service is requesting to eliminate Saturday street delivery, claiming it would save 3.1 billion a year. The Postal Regulatory Commission concluded after completing their research that the actual savings is 1.7 billion dollars a year. Many retailers are strongly against eliminating Saturday mail delivery because they want residents to receive coupons on Saturday when they are free to go out and shop. Here are the five reasons the NALC opposes 5-day delivery:

1. It's pennywise and pound foolish.
2. It will drive customers away.
3. It would prompt the emergence of new competitors.
4. It would set a bad precedent.
5. It's not necessary.

Stand up and be proud that you are a union member! Support and defend your union. Send this message to the non-members who freeload and receive all the benefits that the union fights for!

There are some Mets tickets for June 19, 2011, Father's Day, still available. Call me at the Branch at 212-239-3901 and reserve your tickets.

Something to Think About

Participating in COLCPE are 385 automatic payroll deduction contributors and 278 occasional contributions for a total of 663. That leaves a total of 5,202 letter carriers, active and retired, who don't seem to care or for whatever reason(s), don't contribute towards COLCPE. Remember, COLCPE stands for Committee of Letter Carrier Political Education. We must get involved in the political process of this country. Follow the news and see what happened in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. The entire American labor movement faces a thorough-going assault by anti-labor forces. We must make sure that management makes decisions that don't include workforce cuts. James Widgel, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service said that more than 96% of the mail is delivered on time.

For customers who want to make price comparisons, show them these comparisons:
1. A normal letter with ground shipping
A.) U.S.P.S. - 44 cents
B.) FED EX - $8.46
C.) UPS - $9.30
2. Normal Letter Next Day Delivery
A.) U.S.P.S. - $18.30
B.) FED EX - $33.17
C.) UPS - $33.17
3. 5 lb. PACKAGE - STANDARD SHIPPING
A.) USPS - $10.95
B.) FED EX - $12.18
C.) UPS - $13.54
4. 5 lb. PACKAGE - NEXT DAY DELIVERY
A.) USPS - $49.70
B.) FED EX - $73.98
C.) UPS - $73.98
It is a huge benefit to our budgets for the Post Offices throughout the United States to be kept open. It is my fervent hope that letter carriers get more involved.

One of the new Postmaster strategies is to make the Postal Service a leaner, faster and smarter organization. To my way of thinking, management wants us to multi-task! You know how management would like the carriers to work? Hit on to your starting time, go do your function for work, prepare the SPR's for delivery, case your mail, deliver your mail, shovel the snow, sweep and mop the work floor and don't forget to clean the bathroom! Don't ask for a 3996 because you are expected to do all of this in eight hours. Management calls this a leaner and more flexible workforce. Dream on! We need to be professional and efficient in doing our jobs, not running and risking our safety and general health by trying to please every managerial whim. Another one of the new Postmaster strategies is competing for the package business. So when management instructs you to leave a 3849 form and not deliver the packages, remind them of the new Postmaster strategy. When management instructs the parcel post drivers not to deliver packages because they have to deliver ends on residential routes, remind them of the new Postmaster strategy. If these events are happening in your stations, you must notify your steward or stewards with a statement in order for them to grieve the matter. So how important is your job? Is it important enough for you to invest $1.00 per pay period to fight for it? Just think, investing $26.00 per year in exchange for getting paid $50,000.00 per year! I would fight anyone for that exchange. How about an E-mail just to have your local politician support any house resolution we need. How difficult is that? The time is here for us to stand up and fight for what we have. We are too many and too strong not to be successful.

The softball season is around the corner. Anyone interested in putting a team in the league or joining a team, call me at the Branch at: (212) 239-3901.

Always keep in mind that a good shop steward listens to his/her carriers, showing concern when management violates the contract and harasses and tries to intimidate the carriers.

Every carrier must get involved in COLCPE, the carrier corps and become an eactivist. We are one year away from our contract expiring. Management is claiming that the United States Postal Service lost $8.5 billion in 2010. Management further explained to Congress that delivering mail for five days and eliminating craft positions will help balance the budget. In a survey by the OIG, the OIG discovered that for every six craft positions there is one management position. Management's reaction was a typical one; nothing. I am sure every carrier knows how the election of November 2nd went. Every carrier must be vigilant, be informed, and get involved in all letter carrier issues because the job we are fighting for could be your own!

Congratulations to the following retirees who were presented with 50 and 60-year pins at the Branch 36 Thirty-Eighth Annual Oldtimers' Brunch. Malcolm Prince, Jerome Herman, and Joseh Marciantt received 60-year pins. Joseph Romeo, Donald Byron, Joseph King, Alfred Connizzo and William Greene received 50-year pins.

General Elections are in November, and in November, 2011, our contract expires. We have many brothers and sisters in our Branch and around the country who are preparing and ready to do battle when our contract expires. Many have become EActivists, joined the COLCPE payroll deduction program and joined the Carrier Corps. Yet, we continue to have too many carriers who are non-members in our Branch and throughout the country. The non- members often criticize the NALC and ask what is it doing for us? I guess wage increases, annual leave, sick leave, health benefits, clothing allowance, a retirement plan, thrift saving, and collective bargaining goes unnoticed by them. All those benefits were acquired through negotiation by NALC.

Thank God, so far no layoffs and a starting salary of $22.00 an hour plus a grievance procedure that stops incompetent management from hurting letter carriers. I guess to the non-member, NALC isn't doing anything that's commendable for letter carriers. Actually, the non-members refuse to acknowledge all the hard-won benefits acquired through NALC's intelligent negotiations. So, I am asking every carrier who is a member to look around your station, and if you have non-members there, remind them how many people are unemployed in this country. They need to get out of their lazy positions and join the fight by attending the meetings, participating in functions and seeing how the NALC and letter carriers help others in need. Remember, the carriers are the union!

I have received many calls from carriers asking when are the next shop steward elections? The shop steward elections will be taking place in September, 2010. Again, I will report what I wrote in my last article. This is a job that must be taken seriously. This is not a position for selfserving purposes, a paycheck or ego. The position of shop steward must be respected. Those who run for shop steward must accept the serious and time-consuming responsibilities that come with it. Remember, anyone can do a poor job as a steward, but it is a very difficult job to do well.

Lately, many carriers have been exhibiting aggressive behavior towards management and other carriers. Granted, in some stations carriers are working under unbearable stress, but that is no excuse for and there will be no tolerance of violence or any threats of violence by anyone at any level. There will be no tolerance of harassment, intimidation, threats, or bullying of any kind.

My condolences are extended to the family of Willie Morales, retired carrier of Lenox Hill and a great unionist. Rest in peace Willie!

1. Resolve grievance ability: You must present grievances in a competent manner. You must be a quality negotiator.
2. Organizer: Must have the letter carriers stick together and support each other.Letter carriers must support their shop steward or stewards at all times. Must build and maintain solidarity.
3. Educator: Must meet with your carriers on a regular basis and keep the carrierswell-informed.
4. Leader: He or she must speak with enthusiasm and enlist the cooperation ofhis/her co-workers. Make listening an art.

As a steward, you are the carriers' spokesman to management. Demonstrate ability, sincerity and integrity.

CONCERNING MEMORIAL DAY, OUR SINCERE
PRAYERS AND GOOD WISHES ARE EXTENDED TO
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE PROUDLY
SERVING OUR COUNTRY WHILE IN THE MILITARY
AND ALL THOSE OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE THE SAME.

Again, I repeat we are in a fight for survival. Donating a dollar per pay period or more, for COLCPE helps us fight on the Hill. We need to fight for our wages and benefits, for our future, and our childrens' future. Contributions to COLCPE keep alive our hope of being victorious.

Call me if you are interested in playing in our softball league by bringing a team or would like to be placed on a team. Our season starts in May, 2010.

Let’s start with COLA. As of this day, we have over $15,000.00 rolled into our salaries. But, some say the union is not doing anything for them. Level 6 pay (level 6.1 and 6.2) was achieved by the union, yet some say the union is doing nothing for them. Paper suspensions, no time or money lost, scholarships, eyeglass vouchers are just some examples. If you reflect on your time in the union, something will come to mind regarding what the union has done for you.

The officers and shop stewards are working for the membership each and everyday. There are situations that arise and are resolved before you are made aware of them; some things are never heard by you.

The union is as strong as its weakest link, and if you allow management to use you and criticize your union, then you are the weakest link. What the union needs is for each and every one of you to get involved. Attend meetings. Share your concerns to support and make this union stronger and successful in all its endeavors. We, your union, understand how busy our lives can become, but it is also important to hear what your officers and other members have to say. Share information with each other once each month at union meetings.

I know some of you have friends who are non-union members. You should talk to them about becoming members. They reap the benefits of this great union’s work. We members all pay dues and so should the non-members.

I hope you will look back on all the years you have worked, and see what you have achieved and say, this is what the union has done for me and my family.

May God bless each and every one of us and our union. Leon”

If this is happening in your station, you must make your shop steward aware of this practice and your steward should notify the Branch. Because having carriers deliver routes under truck assignments is fraud.

A reminder that Open Season is now, and a chance to become a member of the NALC Health Benefit Plan. Don't forget to join the automatic payroll deduction for COLCPE contributions. All it takes is one dollar per pay period. which of course is $26.00 for the year. It does so much good for carriers.