Monthly Archives: September 2012

Voice

Posted on 09/28/2012 by Burrus

It is a legitimate question to ask why after my retirement as a former president that I would have anything to say about the contract.  I recognize and understand the perception that I should acknowledge the fact that I am no longer president and accept the decisions … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, Union Talk | 10 Comments

Missed Opportunity

Posted on 09/24/2012 by Burrus

As postal management engages with the NALC in arbitration claiming that without major restructuring of the collective bargaining agreement they must be severely disappointed that Congress returned from their lengthy vacation with no plans to “save” the Postal Service.  With ample opportunity … Continue reading →

Posted in Postal News | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Looking Back

Posted on 09/21/2012 by Burrus

During the writing of my book, I searched my memory to recall those things that I was able to achieve that adds to the rewards APWU represented employees received on my watch.   In that the primary magnet of employment is wages and benefits, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Postal News, Union Talk | 7 Comments

Suspense

Posted on 09/20/2012 by Burrus

APWU represented employees have more than a passing interest in the outcome of the NALC and Mail Handlers’ arbitration cases to determine if they will have bragging rights or a mea culpa in comparing contracts.  The public justification is that the stakes were … Continue reading →

Posted in Postal News | 12 Comments

Misconception

Posted on 09/18/2012 by Burrus

During the years 2000 to 2010, the annual wages of APWU represented employees were increased by $16,000.  Throughout this period, the Postal Service experienced surpluses and deficits.  Postal reform was a constant cry of the Republicans leading to the disastrous … Continue reading →

Posted in Union Talk | 1 Comment

Regrets

Posted on 09/18/2012 by Burrus

News is that Charlie Redd is experiencing health problems; I extend my best wishes for his complete recovery.  Charlie is one among many APWU leaders whom I highly respect and appreciate his strong views on union issues.  It is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | Leave a comment

Whining

Posted on 09/16/2012 by Burrus

Now the whining begins that the 2011 national agreement was a choice between arbitration and the worst negotiated agreement in the history of bargaining.  The revised story is that they held a gun to our heads and the wise choice was … Continue reading →

Posted in Union Talk | 20 Comments

Lessons Learned

Posted on 09/12/2012 by Burrus

As a former union official and a father of four children, I can relate in a personal way to the struggle in Chicago over the responsibility of the education of children. Our society has enacted laws that require the education … Continue reading →

Posted in Headline News | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Full Time Conversion

Posted on 09/10/2012 by Burrus

From the early days of organizing the Postal Service, all clerks have been hired as part time employees and initially identified as Substitutes, later as part-time.  This was necessitated because of the uneven deposit of mail into the processing system dependent totally … Continue reading →

Posted in Union Talk | 23 Comments

Déjà Vu (2)

Posted on 09/07/2012 by Burrus

Former postmaster general Jack Potter is in the news again, but not for closing postal facilities, approving excessive discounts or collecting a huge bonus as he cried poverty for the Postal Service.  In his new position as head honcho of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Headline News | 1 Comment

Tennis Shoes and T-Shirts

Posted on 09/06/2012 by Burrus

Having sworn ‘again’ to refrain from writing about internal union matters, I will turn to other subjects that I trust are of interest to postal employees – their job and changed conditions.  We often take for granted the work rules … Continue reading →

Posted in Union Talk | 8 Comments

Distorted Logic

Posted on 09/04/2012 by Burrus

If you plan to vote for the Republican nominee in the November presidential election you must find it odd that the media darlings of your party have been kicked to the curb and discarded like stale dishwater.  In a razor thin election, some … Continue reading →

Posted in Headline News | Leave a comment

Again!

Posted on 09/03/2012 by Burrus

I promised in two prior posts to refrain from editorializing on union issues.  On each occasion, things arose on which I had an opinion and I reneged on that promise, but hope is eternal so here we go again.  Having served as a postal … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, Union Talk | 6 Comments