March 25, 2008

PLEASE POST ON ALL UNION BOARDS

 To:  ALL LOCAL 301 MEMBERS

 On March 20, 2008, I received notification from USPS Northeast Area Vice President Tim Haney regarding the Postal Service’s decision to close the Westborough, MA HASP Building by the end of June, 2008.  The Service intends to merge all operations currently conducted at the HASP with the Chicopee (Springfield Installation) Mail Containerization Center (MCC). 

On March 21, 2008, Vice President Broxton, Treasurer Ryan and I arrived at the HASP and walked the workroom floor from 0400 to 0800 in order to meet with our Members and attempt to answer questions they might have.  We DID NOT participate in the Postal Service’s stand-up talks, as WERE NOT part of the process that resulted in the decision to close the HASP.   

For the record, the Postal Service DID NOT adhere to the new MOU on Workforce Repositioning which identifies the Postal Service’s commitment to, “Work together to the extent it becomes necessary to close or consolidate plants”, to, “explore available options that can address workforce related issues” and to “meet with the Union at a National level to discuss plans to close or consolidate postal plants or other facilities and to discuss and consider changes to such plans based on input from the Union”.  None of that happened in this case.  

On March 21, 2008 at 0100 and 0900, the Postal Service conducted stand-up talks with all employees of the HASP, informing them that they were being “excessed” to the Springfield Installation, that they would be “detailed” to positions in the Springfield Installation, that not all of the Mail Handlers at the HASP would be assigned to the MCC- some might be offered detail assignments at locations such as the Logistical and Distribution Center (L&DC), and that such details would be for 120 days during which time the Mail Handlers affected would have no bidding rights, while their jobs might be posted for installation-wide bidding. 

I want to assure our Membership that we will do everything possible to enforce the provisions of our Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Postal Service to protect our Membership and ensure each Member affected will be afforded all rights available under our National Agreement.  I have requested to meet with the Postal Service this week to discuss alternative positions currently available within our Local and to provide our Members with every protection afforded by our Agreement.  Such meeting will take place and will be attended by Branch President Sandy Marzilli, our Regional representatives and our Local Officers. 

I have been and remain in close contact with our National Office for support on this issue and will continue to update our Membership on any new developments regarding this matter. 

Fraternally, In Solidarity,  

Timothy M Dwyer, President

Local 301 NPMHU, LIUNA, AFL-CIO