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This certificate was presented to our union Director and stewards at the Memorial Day ceremony by Sergeant William Frasier, a Labor Custodian at the NJI&BMC.
United States Army National Guard
presents
Certificate of Appreciation
to
APWU
for your years of dedicated support to the Military Personnel
of the United States Postal Service
We thank you for taking care of us as we take care of our country.
We proudly salute you on this 23rd of May, 2007.
250th Military Police Battalion
For four years America has been fighting and dying in Iraq. Thousands of service personnel have been killed and tens of thousands wounded in a war that has no end. Experts have been assembled, governments have been formed, and a brutal dictator has been executed. Still the blood flows in the streets without an end in sight.
On the home front we see countless signs encouraging us to “Support the Troops.” The yellow ribbons are all over, and I fully agree. We should support all who serve in our Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The best way to support them, in my opinion, is to BRING THEM HOME NOW!
Support the troops by taking them out of an environment where they are constantly surrounded by an unseen enemy that has the backing of the local population.
Support the troops by not deploying them until they have been properly trained and equipped.
Support the troops by giving them a clear mission that they can accomplish.
Support the troops by insuring that those who are National Guardsmen and Reservists will have their loved ones properly cared for while they are gone.
Support the troops by insisting that once the military objectives are obtained we will withdraw them to safe areas and let diplomacy take over.
Support the troops by using them as a last resort, not a first option.
Support the troops by seeing that when they come home mangled in body and spirit that they have places to go that will tend their needs right away.
Support the troops by never again having to have parents of soldiers pay for their body armor or helmet upgrades.
Support the troops by giving them the opportunity to go to college once their service is done, and have the bill paid by a grateful nation.
Support the troops by providing them with counseling so many of them are crying out for, and not being heard.
Support the troops by giving them preference in employment once they return.
Yes, by all means, support those who insure our way of life.
BRING THEM HOME, NOW!
Jeffrey M. Smart
Veterans Affairs Steward
St Louis Gateway District Local
TO: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
273
VETERANS PREFERENCE HIRING POLICY
St. Louis Gateway District Area Local
WHEREAS, The warm Iraq is harming our men and women
soldiers and creating disabled veterans at an alarming rate, and
WHEREAS, The USPS has an obligation to pursue hiring these
disabled veterans under the Veterans Preference Act of 1944 and the
hiring requirements in the EL 312 section 232.52 with listed jobs that are
reserved for these veterans, and
WHEREAS, That this same handbook section mandates that the
USPS send notice to the public about vacancies in these positions, and
WHEREAS, The EL-312 Section 235.2 and the EL-307 on
Reasonable Accommodation outlines in detail the responsibility of the
LISPS to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to request a list of
qualified applicants, and therefore be it,
Resolved, That the American Postal Workers Union at the Nation
level thoroughly seeks assistance form all resources within the American
Postal Workers Union and from our Congressional affiliates to force the
United States Postal Service to adhere to the obligation to care for our
veterans and hire as mandated in the Veterans Preference Act of 1944.
Resolution 275
approved at APWU National Convention, August 18, 2006
HIRING DISABLED VETERANS
WHEREAS, No language exists in the National Agreement regarding the
enforcement of a Congressionally mandated hiring of 10% Disabled American
Veterans
into protected positions in the United States Postal Service, and
WHEREAS, Management is not actively seeking to hire our Disabled American
Veterans into the Congressionally mandated protected positions, therefore be it
Resolved, That the American Postal Workers Union negotiate the
incorporation of language into the Collective Bargaining Agreement addressing
enforcement of the Congressionally mandated hiring of Disabled American
Veterans into protected positions, including but not limited to management
actively
canvassing Disabled American Veterans for the purpose of filling the
Congressionally mandated protected positions with 10% Disabled American
Veterans.
Ad Hoc Postal Vets Committee
@ NJI&BMC
80 County Road
Jersey City, NJ 07097-9998
Phone: c/o APWU 201-795-9126 FAX: 201-795-9127
Alice Newman
USPS Area Manager Human Resources
142-02 20th Avenue
Flushing, NY 11432 August 24, 2006
Dear Ms. Newman:
There is deep concern among Postal veterans and Postal workers in general about the drop in Vet preferential hiring. When we inquire from management, we are told about “job freezes” and “lack of interest.”
Since increasing numbers of returnees from the war in Iraq are coming home to find that they are unemployed, we find this unacceptable. We do not believe that the Postal Service is actively reaching out to our nation’s veterans, particularly disabled vets, through the military bases, VA, Vet Centers, and organizations that deal with veterans’ employment.
Recently, we learned of the “Salute Our Heroes” Job Fair for veterans, which are co-sponsored by the American Legion and the New York Times. We were disturbed that the USPS is not among the sponsors who have been involved with this job fair. 3 of the 4 Job Fairs in other parts of the country are over. The remaining one is scheduled in New York City for November 6, 2006.
When one of our Vets’ Committee Steering Committee members called your office about this, she was told that the Postal Service had participated in the past and decided not to do so again because it was not cost effective. We do not know if this is true; however, we would like to remind you that this June OPM broadened the hiring preference to anyone who served after September 11, 2001. Also, the number of returned DAVs is unfortunately on the rise.
If USPS job opportunities are properly advertised and administered, we believe that there are many vet pref eligibles that can become a useful part of our workforce. Please let us know about the November 6th “Salute Our Heroes” Job Fair, and what methods are being used to inform eligible vets and disabled vets about jobs. Has your office contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs to request a list of qualified applicants as is outlined in the EL-312 Section 235.2 and the EL 307 on reasonable accommodation?
We are more than willing to do our part in helping to interest returning veterans in the Postal Service. Please let us know what is happening so that we can work together to increase veterans’ hiring.
Sincerely,
The Steering Committee for
Ad Hoc Veterans Committee @ NJI&BMC
_______________________Robert Anderson
_______________________Robert Astore
_______________________Anthony Girone
_______________________Florence Summergrad
cc: APWU; Local 300; A. Carrucci
