NALC Greater East Bay Branch 1111
General Meeting September 24, 2024,
General Meeting: called to order at 7:00 PM by President Edward Fletcher
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Trustee Jeff Valentine 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 branch meeting.
Announcements:
1. 50/50 Drawing- No more A's tickets. But we do have the 50/50 cash drawing.
2. At the August 27, 2024, Branch meeting the charges filed by Anton Thompson against Shana Lum was read, as well as Article 10 of the National Constitution regarding charges filed.
3. Under New Business and prior to the Committee's Report, I will read "The Rules for Discussion of Charges" adopted by the Branch on April 28, 2015.
4. As per Article 10 of the National Constitution, the Committee on the August 16, 2024 charges filed will be called upon thereafter under new business to give its report of the facts elicited.
Minutes of the previous Branch Meeting 08/27/24 read by Assistant Secretary Treasurer (A.S.T) John Ferreira with a motion to accept the minutes made by Terrence Super/2nd by Mary Phelps/Motion passed.
Communications: New hires since our last branch meeting (35)
Financial Report: of August 2024 read by A.S.T. John Ferreira. New Members present. - None
A motion to “Welcome the New Members” made by Jeff Valentine/ 2nd Ricky Cox/Motion passed. Roll Call: All present and accounted for with the exception of those excused as noted within. Sam Green, Joshua Pearl, Leticia Sanchez, Francisco Cabrera, Chris Calica, Eileen Brown, Jose Corral, Ray Garcia, Tatiana Roberson and Lumus Rusell. A Motion to accept the requests for excused absences made by Kamoon Yi 2 nd by Jacob Morgan/Motion passed. Executive Council Minutes from September 17, 2024, read by Trustee Ron Jones. A motion made by Ron Jones to approve the September 17, 2024, minutes 2 nd by Ricky Cox/Motion passed.
Special Guest(s) None
Reports of Officers:
o 4th VP – April Patrick Thanked all of her stewards Berkeley, Antioch, Danville & Morga. Management moved my Danville stewards from their union office. We filed a grievance and now their back. In Berkeley, a cease and desist for failing to meet at the Formal Step A.
o 3rd VP – Eddie Murphy – I was able to get a manager removed from my Richmond office for 6 months now in Oakland –sorry to all those who work in Oakland.
o 2nd VP – Terrence Super – No Report
1st VP – Mary Abante – No Report
o EVP - Narciso Paderanga – No Report
o President - Ed Fletcher - In accordance with Article 10 of the National Constitution and the April 28, 2015 "Rules for the Discussion of Charges" adopted by the branch, I do hereby appoint John Ferriera as the time keeper for the discussion portion of the charges filed and now discussed. On Sunday November 17, 2024, the NBA will be conducting a "Retirement Seminar" at our Branch Office from 10:00 AM to 2 :00 PM. Please call the Branch to get on the list.
o Our contract expired 16 months ago on May 20, 2023. As of this date, there is still no updates on a new contract even after President Renfroe's podcast on Labor Day where he claimed that National was close to a tentative agreement.
o Brother Ruben Ramirez is soon to leave us and has been fighting for letter carriers rights for over 20 years since becoming a Shop Steward for the Oakland, Emeryville station. He has won millions of dollars in grievance payouts for our members. Management “hates” him. We love him. And, due to Oakland's egregious non-compliance and his relentless filing of weekly Article 8 grievances, he set the bar in Oakland for all Article 8 violations at 200% for the OTDL and non-OTDL via Arbitrator Steinburg Award. Ruben, we cannot thank you enough for all you have done! We all are going to miss you and wish you many happiness and health in your retirement years to come.
Other Reports:
o Insurance Officer’s Report - Jacob Morgan This year’s open season is November 11 – December 9, 2024. Please sign up for the plan you have and want to keep as well as any other plan you are considering.
o Editor’s Report: John Jekabson– The letter carrier calendar will be in this month’s issue and the next issue will come out in November of 2024.
o California State Vice President Ron Jones – No Report
o Alameda County CLC & Legislative rep – Ron Jones – No Report
o Contra Costa CLC & Legislative rep – Vacant
o Napa-Solano CLC & Legislative Rep – Sam Green – Excused
o MDA Coordinator: Marisela Fletcher – No Report
o Food Drive Coordinators: Che’ Perez & Irene Hernandez – No Report
o EAP Committee rep Liz Corriea –LCPF Committee reps – Mary Phelps, Narcisco Paderanga & Ron Jones- No Report
o Old Business: None
New Business: President Edward Fletcher read the "Discussion Rules for Charges" adopted by the Branch on April 28, 2015. As per Article 10, Section 3 of the National Constitution, the "Charged Party" will be given an opportunity to speak immediately before the vote is taken (Anton Thompson was not present). At that point, I will call on sister Shana Lum to speak to the membership. Five minutes granted to the charged party with A.S.T John Ferreira to be the time keeper. President Edward Flether called forward the chairperson (Ron Jones) to read the Committee's Report on the August 16, 2024, charges filed and share the committee's fact findings report. Upon completion the committee was disband with Ed thanking the Charge Committee for their service - you are formally dismissed. The Branch shall then decide by simple majority vote, the issue of whether or not the facts, as found by the committee, sustain the charge(s). If the branch decides that the facts sustain the charge, then the branch shall entertain a motion to fix the penalty, if any are required. When the Question has been called for and the debate has ended Ed called on Shana Lum to speak. Shana expressed her loyalty to the membership and said, “I let my work speak for itself.” A motion to" Accept’ or 'Reject'' the August 16, 2024, Charges filed by brother Anton Thompson was in order with Mike Teter making a motion, “to reject the charges brought against Shana Lum/2nd By Oswald Jacob/Motion passed.
A Motion to pay the bills for October 2024 by Mary Phelps / 2nd Maria Tavaris/Motion passed.
Good of the Association: Paul Petersen spoke on attending the Labor Day Breakfast with Joe McHale & Sam Green said it was enjoyable and informative. Oswald Jacob stated he worked for 55 years for the U.S.P.S now retired asked everyone to believe in yourself, respect each other, sometimes just listen. Sometimes people just want someone to talk too and at the same time be heard. If you have not been to a Convention, go you can learn a lot. John Ferreira shared skin cancer can affect anyone without discrimination. Being out in the elements throughout our careers as letter carriers puts us at a higher risk. Please wear sunblock because when they start cutting on your face, as they did me, the reality of skin cancer takes on a whole new meaning. Shana Lum shared she will be attending food bank coordinators recognition breakfast on September 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 am. She thanked the all the carriers from San Ramon & Dublin who showed up here tonight. It is important to get along with management, but I don’t give up the contract.
1. The 50/50 drawing / $75.00 won by Gary Gomez Ticket# 2132
Motion to Adjourn by KaMoon Yi/ 2nd /Jacob Morgan/Motion passed. Meeting adjourned 8:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted.
Mary E. Phelps Secretary Treasurer