NALC Greater East Bay Branch # 1111
General Meeting 02/25/25
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm by EVP Narciso Paderanga Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Sergeant-at-Arms Lumus Russell Moment of Silence: May we please have a moment of silence for our departed brothers and sisters as well as family members who have passed since our last meeting. Thank You! Announcements: (Special guests, announcements and 50-50 Items).
1. 50/50 Drawing – We still have the 50/50 cash drawing for MDA.
2. Executive Council Committee – They will give their report/recommendations tonight.
3. HVAC Committee – They will update the Branch on any progress or recommendations moving forward.
4. Special Guest – We have a very special guest tonight. Herman Johnson, a seventy-year-old union member of the NALC, who will be recognized later tonight.
Minutes from the previous Branch Meeting on 01/28/25, was read by A.S.T John Ferreria.
A Motion to Accept the Branch meeting minutes as read by AST John Ferreria is in order. Motion by Ka Moon Yi / 2 n Jacob Morgan/Motion passed.
Communications: Secretary Treasurer Mary Phelps read the requests for excused absences. Jeff Valentine, Rickie Cox, Ron Jones, Edward Fletcher, Marisela Fletcher, Liz Corriea and Chris Calica.
A Motion to Accept the requests for excused absences read by Secretary Treasurer Mary Phelps would be in order. Motion by Maria Taveras / 2nd Lumus Russell/Motion passed.
Financial Report: AST John Ferreira read the January 2025 Financial Report. New Members: We have 23 new members since our last branch meeting.
A Motion to “Welcome the New Members” would be in order. Motion by John Ferreira/ 2nd Irene Hernandez/Motion passed.
Are there any New Members present tonight? Julio Mejia from the Benicia Office came forward. 1st V.P. Mary Abante read the “Initiation of Candidates” from the NALC Constitution and welcomed Julio to membership.
Roll Call: All present and accounted for except for those excused.
Executive Council Minutes from February 18, 2025, read by AST John Ferreira.
Motion would be order to approve the February 18, 2025, Executive Council minutes as read A.S.T John Ferreira. Motion by Jacob Morgan/2nd Petra Ortega/Motion passed.
Special Guest: Brother Herman Johnson unfortunately failed to attend tonight’s branch meeting, and we will be calling to see if he is ok. Mr. Johnson, has been a member of the NALC for over 70 years. Reports of Officers:
o 4th VP – April Patrick: Recognized all the stewards, especially the one’s she works with within her area. You are the eyes and ears of the Branch and without you our jobs would be a lot more of a challenge and harder to do.
o 3rd VP – Eddie Murphy: A supervisor in Richmond got a carrier to write a statement stating that she didn’t want to be compensated for an on-the-job injury. That is against the law and can lead to one year in prison and a $500.00 fine or both. In El Cerrito while I was going over ETC rings I found out the Postmaster was putting carriers on LWOP when they were going over 60 hours in a week. We will settle this one at Formal Step A so it can be a citable cease and desist. Stewards be nosey if you see management doing something they are not supposed to do. Take notes and let your FTO know.
o 2nd VP – Terrence Super: Management again messing with clock rings. COP issues resulting in delayed payments of continuation of pay so keep an eye on your clock rings.
o 1st VP – Mary Abante: We are going to have Formal Step A training soon here at the branch. In Concord a homeless person pulled a knife on a carrier, who called the hot line no answer! Carrier called the police. Management should answer the phone and in Concord carriers get $100.00 when the phone is not answered, and a grievance is filed. It used to be $10.00 now $100.00. Mary recognized Benicia carriers that attended tonight’s meeting along with Ka Moon Yi the Benicia shop steward. If you need any kind of computer work, you can contact Luis, he is a carrier in Benicia who knows what he is doing and works from time to time here at the branch.
EVP – Narciso Paderanga: As you all may or may not know, the National parties have reached an impasse on the terms of the National Agreement therefore, we will be going to interest arbitration. President Trump is trying to take over the Postal Service. 1 of 2
This is a direct attack on the post office NALC President Brian L. Renfroe released the following statement regarding reports from The Washington Post that President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order firing the members of the Postal Board of Governors and placing the agency under the control of the Commerce Department: The reported executive order jeopardizes the jobs of 640,000 postal employees, more than 73,000 of whom are veterans, and would affect the 7.9 million people employed in the mailing industry. While the potential consequences are deeply alarming, these proposals are also unconstitutional and illegal. The Postal Service is older than our country and is enshrined in the Constitution. It is a service for the public funded by postage, stamps and sales, not taxpayer dollars The Constitution, carefully crafted by our nation’s founders, gives Congress, not the president, a key role in setting postal policy. In fact, the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 removed the Post Office Department from the president’s Cabinet and created USPS as the independent agency that exists today. Let’s do our part, by calling (202) 224-3121 and tell Speaker Johnson to put a stop to this. To date there has been no confirmation that I am aware that any action has been taken. Stewards if you are being interviewed by management you do not have to sign interview notes.
o President - Ed Fletcher: Excused.
Other Branch Reports:
o Insurance Officer’s Report: Jacob Morgan. No Report
o Editor’s Report: Editor Joshua Pearl. We will be at the branch March 5th & 6th to work on the March/April newsletter.
o California State Vice President – Ron Jones Excused
o Alameda County CLC & Legislative rep – Ron Jones Excused
o Contra Costa CLC & Legislative rep – “Vacant.”
o Napa-Solano CLC & Legislative rep – Sam Green. We have new CLC meeting dates and committee signups. Napa County townhall with congressman Mike Thompson and state senator Cabaldon February 19 th @ 5:30pm.
o MDA Coordinator – Marisela Fletcher- Excused
o FOOD Drive Coordinators – I. Hernandez & Che’ Perez. Unfortunately, we have been told there will be no Food drive this year.
o EAP Committee rep – Liz Corriea. Excused.
o LCPF Committee reps – Mary P., Ron J. & Narciso P. Mary- you see that your president is trying to dismantle the Post Office. This is why we all need to give to LCPF so we can support the people in congress that support us. Old Business none
New Business:
The Executive Council Committee Report: Mary Abante, Ron Jones and Ricky Cox, please come forward to give your report and recommendation to fill the two (2) vacant executive council positions. The recommendation identified Irene Hernandez and Ka Moon Yi. I would like to thank the Committee for their service to the Branch. You are hereby dismissed. I do hereby appoint the following individuals to the remaining terms of the 2023-25 Executive Council positions: Irene Hernandez & Ka Moon Yi. The HVAC Committee (John, Narciso & Jeff): Still getting estimates on the work to be done, but I believe we have it narrowed down to two different companies. Bear Mechanical and ASI heating and air conditioning. Hopefully next month at the general branch meeting we will be able to make a recommendation to the Branch on who we believe we should go with.
A Motion to pay the bills for March of 2025 would be in order. Motion by Mary Phelps/ 2nd Jacob Morgan/Motion passed The Good of the Association: Invite members to speak for the common good of the Branch. Francisco Cabrera of the Concord Post Office shared tomorrow is a day of action. We all should be calling your congressional representatives to just say NO to dismantling the Postal Service. You call and find your congressman @ NALC.org. Narciso thanked Steve Teding for being at the Branch as a replacement officer for the last two weeks, filling for Ed. Jake shared any class that comes up at the Branch you should sign up for it and be careful who you talk politics too. 50-50 drawing: $45.00 won by Julio Mejia of Benicia ticket # 7123.
A Motion to Adjourn would be in order. Motion made by Petra Ortega/ 2nd Leticia Sanchez/Motion passed.
Meeting Adjourned @ 8:30 PM. Respectfully submitted.
Mary E. Phelps Secretary Treasurer