Join us as we rally on May 18th from 3 pm – 4 pm in front of the Staples located on 10251 NE Cascades Parkway (next to Ikea). Staples and the USPS have cut a deal that jeopardizes the sanctity of the mail and thousands of family wage jobs. The deal threatens to close or reduce service at post offices throughout the country.

We just concluded a meeting with the HR department awarding Motor Vehicle Postal Support Employees their choices of residuals. They will be converted to career effective May 3rd. These are the first of what we hope to be several conversions of Postal Support Employees to career status.

The Portland delegation just returned from a successful trip to the quadrennial multi-state convention which was held in Boise, Idaho this year. The Portland Oregon Area Local submitted several resolutions to be considered and the majority were well received and were endorsed by the Oregon State Convention and Multi-State Convention delegates. Those resolutions will now go forward to the National Convention for consideration this July.

We also participated in the Stop Staples national day of action. We marched through downtown Boise and gathered on the State Capital steps. We were joined by delegates from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Washington to raise awareness and gather support to stop this subcontracting of postal services to the detriment of the American Public.

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The national parties reached agreement on several outstanding issues and provided clarification regarding the MOU for filling residual duty assignments. Perhaps the best news is the agreement that PSE’s who have completed two successive appointments won’t be required to complete a new probationary period upon conversion to career.

Questions and Answers

Officers of the local met with district management to begin the process to fill residual duty assignment in accordance with the recently signed memorandum of understanding. We have been provided a list of residuals in the district and are currently reviewing it for accuracy. We have also been provided seniority rosters for Portland and Mt. Hood postal support employees. We have posted the information in the PSE/PTF page here on the website. Please ensure that your seniority dates are correct.

There is still some uncertainty regarding when the one-time posting will occur for the part-time flexibles to exercise their right to transfer to a full-time position. We have sent inquires to the national organization and are waiting for a response. Part-time flexibles will receive notice by mail from the postal service regarding the opportunity and don’t hesitate to ask any questions regarding this event. You do not want to miss this opportunity if you have a desire to become full-time and there is an assignment that fits your needs.

After the one time posting for part-time flexibles and any transfers from clerks who are impacted by reassignment, remaining residuals will go to the postal support employees. July is the earliest we expect to see this happen. We will keep everyone up to date as the process moves forward.

Sunday March 16 Membership Meeting
& Special Election Notice

Special Election to fill Maintenance Craft Director Vacancy to be held at 7 p.m.

Delegate elections will also be held for:

OPWU State Convention in Boise, Idaho April 24-26
APWU National Convention in Chicago, Illinois July 21-25

Executive council meeting 5 pm

General Membership meeting 6:30 pm

Portland Oregon Area Local
American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
2360 SE Morrison ST
Portland, OR 97214

The February 9th executive council and general membership meeting are cancelled due to the hazardous conditions.

The entire area has accumulated a covering of ice over the foot of snow that has fallen. The City of Portland has issued an urgent request to all citizens to remain off the roads under these conditions.

On December 16th, 2014 community activist, union members, and political allies gathered in front of the Eugene Processing Plant to protest the planned 2014 closure of the facility. The closure of the Eugene plant would result in further delays of first class mail throughout the state and further degrade our service. A contingent of Portland members and officers joined in the protest to show Solidarity with our Union brothers and sisters in Eugene. We were also joined by a group known as the “Raging Grannies”. They are a group of community activist from Eugene and the surrounding area. One of the Grannies along with 6 other activist were arrested by the Postal Inspection Service for standing up and demanding that the Eugene Plant remain open.

Standing up for what’s right

Eugene Processing Plant slated for closure 2014

Eugene Executive Vice President Braden Pelky

Darrell Strobel and Steve Metz

Brian Dunn and Darrell Strobel

Western Region Coordinator Omar Gonzalez fires up the crowd

Daniel Cortez and Cheryl Walton inform the public

Notice the poster. Just another signal of the degradation of service occurring throughout the nation.

US Postal Inspectors arrest 7 peaceful protestors

Omar Gonzalez

Brian Dunn, Clerk Craft NBA gives instruction on uncommon grievance situations

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, stewards from throughout the Local gathered to hear National Business Agent Brian Dunn. The class covered everything from recent problems Brian has been noticing in grievances to the more difficult and uncommon situations that arise.

It was a well attended seminar and the instruction was top-notch. We continue to strive to sharpen our skills in all aspects of representation. Class arrangements by Luana Manalo, Director of Education.