Katherine Ellis Memorial Scholarship Winners

Greater East Bay Branch 1111 News Volume 41 Number 478

June 2022

Katherine Ellis Memorial Scholarship Winners

2022 winners line up with their awards at last month’s Branch meeting. Pictured from left are: Dallia Vuong Lee (daughter of Piedmont member Steven Le); Tiffany Wu (daughter of Piedmont member Ming Zhu Zhao); Amaia Espinal (daughter of Danville carrier Oscar Espinal); and Joseph Manio (son of Richmond Hilltop carrier Jerry Manio)

Branch 1111 News

June 2022

NALC HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN SERVICE LINES General Claims Inquiries Hospital Precertification (Required) Prerecorded Benefits Information Prescription Customer Service Line

1-888- 636-NALC 1-800-622-6252 1-888-636-NALC 1-800-933-NALC

BRANCH 1111 OFFICERS Edward P. Fletcher, President Jose Ochoa, Executive Vice President Narciso Paderanga, First Vice President Francisco Cabrera, Second Vice President Mary Abante, Third Vice President Terrence Super, Fourth Vice President John Ferreira, Secretary-Treasurer Mary Phelps, Asst. Sec-Treasurer Currently Vacant, Sgt-at-Arms Jacob Morgan, Insurance Officer Rickie Cox, Trustee Ron Jones, Trustee Currently Vacant, Trustee

Greater East Bay Branch 1111 News Branch 1111 News is the official monthly publication of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Greater East Bay Branch 1111. Circulation 3,000 Offices Served:

Alameda, Alamo, Antioch, Benicia, Berkeley, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Crockett, Danville, El Cerrito, Fairfield, Fremont, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakland, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasanton, Richmond, Rodeo-Hercules, San Lorenzo, San Ramon, Suisun City, Union City, Vallejo, Walnut Creek

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The deadline for copy for Branch 1111 News is the 5th of each month. News stories, articles, letters, drawings, or cartoons, as well as photographs -- either recent or historical -- should be submitted to the Branch office.

Short notices of personal or shop floor interest are especially welcome. The Editor and Assistant Editor retain the right to edit, delete, or reject articles and artwork for the good of the Branch.

BRANCH PAPER DEADLINE

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS

Elizabeth Corriea, Marisela Fletcher, Ray Garcia, Irene Liljedahl, Shana Lum, Joshua Pearl, Frances Rodriguez-Swint

BRANCH 1111 OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday: 8 am to 5 pm 402 – 37th Street Richmond, Ca. 94805- 2134 510-237-5111, Fax 510-237-5181

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/nalcbranch1111 WEBSITE: www.Branch1111.org Meetings are held every fourth Tuesday of the month except in December

BRANCH 1111 NEWS STAFF Editor - Joshua Pearl: joshpbranch1111@gmail.com Assistant Editor – John Jekabson: jjbranch1111@gmail.com Contributors -- Ed Fletcher, Jose Ochoa, John Ferreira, Narciso Paderanga, Mary Abante, Liz Corriea, Ron Jones, Jerry DePoe, Francisco Cabrera, Mary Phelps, Terrence Super, Jacob Morgan.

Views expressed in Branch 1111 News do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor, Assistant Editor, Branch Officers, or members of National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 1111

June 2022

Branch 1111 News

HYBRID MEETING STILL ON

The Tuesday, June 28th Branch meeting will be hybrid: in-person or virtual. If the safety concerns regarding COVID19 changes, we will update the membership accordingly.

MDA RAFFLE

The raffle tickets for the 2022 MDA drive will soon be available for purchase at your station. The tickets will cost $10 each. Prizes include an 18-person suite for an A’s versus Yankees game, a 65 inch LG TV and 3 one hundred dollar cash awards. The drawing will be held at the July Branch Meeting.

HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU

The following letter carriers retired recently: Rodolfo Del Rosario of Fremont; Lynn Chen of Livermore; Mark Escalante; of Alamo and Michael Carmagnola of Richmond.

We wish many years of leisure to all.

Concord Carrier Elizabeth Nunley joins the Last Punch Bunch.

We wish you the best!

NALC, Postal Service Agree to an Alternate Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process

NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to establish an alternate route evaluation and adjustment process for the remainder of 2022 and all of 2023. The MOU Re: Technology Integrated Alternate Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process 2022 – 2023 (TIAREAP) establishes a process that utilizes information made available using Digital Street Review (DSR) technology as the primary means to evaluate and adjust city delivery routes. As in previous alternate route evaluation and adjustment processes, TIAREAP will involve multiple teams established throughout the country, comprised of one NALC representative and one USPS representative, who will jointly evaluate and adjust routes in select zones.

Agreement to implement the Technology Integrated Alternate Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process comes after more than 14 months of joint exploration and testing of the utilization of DSR technology to evaluate and adjust routes.

50/50 MDA RAFFLE WINNERS

Here are the lucky winners drawn last month: John Ferreira- 2 A’s game tickets; Jose Ochoa- 2 A’s game tickets; Marisela Fletcher- 2 A’s game tickets; Liz Corriea- 2 A’s game tickets; and Mary Phelps the 50/50 pot of $40.00. If not attending, raffle tickets must be purchased by check or cash prior to the meeting. Come try your luck at the next meeting.

Dublin retiree Michael Lin sliding his timecard for the last time. Best of luck to you going forward!

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Branch 1111 News

NALC and USPS New Policy on CCAs

By Jose Ochoa, Executive Vice President

The NALC and USPS have agreed to MOUs to convert CCAs to career status and directly hire career Letter Carriers in select locations.

NALC and the Postal Service have reached agreements on two new memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to adjust staffing, maintain compliance with the contractual caps on city carrier assistant (CCA) employment in several districts, and move to an all-career model in a number of installations across the country.

The first agreement, MOU Re: City Delivery Staffing Adjustment – Conversions to Part-time Flexible and Fulltime Regular Status (M-01985) is designed to maintain compliance with the contractual CCA caps and adjust staffing through conversions to career status. The agreement includes conversion of part-time flexible (PTF) letter carriers to full-time regular (FTR) status and conversion of CCAs to FTR career status in select 200 work year installations, as well as conversion of CCAs to PTF career status. The attachment to the MOU identifies the number and classification for conversion in each installation included in the agreement.

All conversions must take place no later than 90 days from the date of the agreement (May 24, 2022).

The second agreement, MOU Re: City Delivery Staffing Adjustment – Hiring Part-time Flexible City Letter Carriers (M-01986) requires conversion of all CCAs to PTF career status and moves the 22 installations included in the agreement to an all-career workforce. All CCAs currently on the rolls in the listed offices will be converted to part-time flexible career status no later than 60 days from the date of the agreement (May 24, 2022). After these conversions have taken place, the Postal Service will hire new city letter carriers as PTFs until the number of PTFs listed for each installation has been reached and maintained.

While these initial agreements are designed to improve staffing in the covered installations, they will not improve all staffing issues.

NALC representatives will continue working with USPS representatives to address the widespread staffing issues across the country that continue to negatively impact letter carriers and our ability to serve our customers.

Source: NALC WEBSITE

Also, here is what we can do to help with staffing, -talk to friends, relatives, people in the church/ temple, etc.

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June 2022

let them know that the Postal Service is hiring.

Remember, no matter what the economy is like; the Postal Service with all of its faults is a reliable and secure job.

DOUBLE DUTIES

By Berkeley Chief Steward Liz Corriea

There seems to be some problems with being overworked, maybe that’s going around all over the place in different jobs. However, I see the extreme changes that are taking place which involves our carriers constantly making lots of effort to get that mail to our customers.

Unfortunately, I am almost sure we’re not alone with having enough employees. There are other business and companies experiencing the same problems. I was in a certain department store, -- which I will not mention by name, -- but I couldn’t find a single clerk to check me out with the items that I was purchasing. There were other customers in the same situation. I was told that they didn’t have enough employees covering that section of the store.

Some offices have carriers delivering two routes, what I call double duty, how unfortunate! Can you honestly say “I Love My Job” after delivering for such long hours? You are being worked beyond the requirement of the JCAM (Joint Contract Administration Manual).

In Article 8 under Article 8.5.G. Maximum Hours— 12 Hour Limit, and Maximum Hours—60 Hour Limit.

There is provision in which some Post Offices are breaking in order to get the mail delivered. The JCAM specifically states: that the 12-hour and 60- hour limits are absolutes--a full-time employee may neither volunteer nor be required to work beyond those limits. This rule applies to all full-time employees on the ODL or Work Assignment List except during the Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period (December).

WOW! are these rules being broken on a daily basis?

What can be done, especially when there are not enough carriers to do the job. Why is it that management can allow and mandate the carriers beyond the 12/60-hour provisions?

BERKELEY BLUES NEW! Exhausted and tired is how a lot of the carriers in Berkeley are feeling these days. Double duties are hitting our city big time, with not much relief.

We are very grateful for our recent PTFs, who probably have no clue what they are getting into. It’s only a matter of time to find out who will actually stay with the Postal Service, and who will take to the highway. For our

June 2022 sake I hope they stick it out, perhaps it will get better, but it will take having more employees in order to remedy this problem of being overworked.

We were given a standup twice for the record that Berkeley made number 1 in our California 2 District as having the most accidents. Imagine that, unbelievable that we were leading at something so terrible. Could it be that the lack of sleep and being exhausted is causing some of these accidents?

What solutions are there for what doesn’t make sense, having a Contract that tells us it’s a violation to work beyond the 12/60-hour limits, and yet it’s being done consistently on a daily basis.

How much more can we take?

At the State Convention it was mentioned that we can write letters to our National President Fred Rolondo, letting him know how we feel about being overworked by breaking the 12/60-hour limits. Think about this my union brothers and sisters, we have a Contract that has been agreed upon not to break the 12/60-hour limits, why is it in our Contract, if it is constantly being broken, why bother having it in our Contract? We need to let Fred Rolondo know, so that he may put the pressure on the Postal Service to hire more people.

For those carriers who are doing double duties, please let management know if you are tired. You should never put yourself in a dangerous health situation. If you’ve reached the 12 hours and you are too tired, especially if you’re working in Berkeley, we already have enough accidents. We do not need you to be in an accident. So do the right thing and be safe. That will be an individual call for everyone.

These are crazy times, and I want to thank you all for working so hard with such long hours.

“Knowledge is Power.”

A Few Ideas Where None Yet Exist

The

By Francisco Cabrera, Second Vice President

Friends, brothers and sisters I won’t write too much since you are so busy being mandated. What I will say is nobody is coming to help you.

Earlier this month we had a District Labor Management Meeting and District Management said they need to take more carriers away from the offices to make them supervisors because they are “the future of the organization.”

I guess that makes you, me and anybody else that carries mail- the past, or the present or the passing…not “part of the organization”…? I’m not sure.

Management also said at this point they are out of ideas; the idea of hiring more PTFs in offices that are currently short is a Headquarters decision and there is nothing they can do.

Branch 1111 News So what I mean by that is nobody from “the organization for the future” the District Management believes in, is coming to help you.

A local Postmaster then said the solution is for the Union not to let employees know they get 45 days of Continuation of Pay after an on the job injury. That is 8 hours pay per day/ 40 hours pay per week without having to use sick or annual leave. Which if you don’t have any anyway, this pay will protect you from the loss of income in case of an on-the-job injury.

Can you believe this guy? Can you believe this District?

Makes me miss the Bay Valley District. Never thought I’d say that.

Our Branch 1111 NALC Executive Vice President did have a brilliant idea. Why don’t you put all of the 204B supervisors back in the craft, since they are already delivering mail anyway!

According to ELM 812.31 District Managers

District managers are responsible for implementing the occupational safety and health programs within their jurisdiction. Additionally, they must develop a district accident reduction plan (ARP) using the Safety Toolkit to achieve the corporate objectives of reducing injury, illness, and motor vehicle accidents.

Refer to the Safety Resources Web site and the Safety Toolkit for additional information on developing, implementing, and monitoring ARPs. The list of duties for Postmasters and Supervisor is more extensive than the one for the District Manager.

Check out the one for the Postmaster General and the CEO. 812.11 Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer The Postmaster General and chief executive officer is responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective, comprehensive national occupational safety and health program that fully complies with the OSH Act. So the PMG doesn’t even get a whole sentence of duties on his own, per this section.

Letter Carrier duties on the other hand take up a whole book, the M-41 Handbook.

We should get most of the pay, because we do most of the work!

The NALC Branch 1111 wants to help you now. Not in the future, not help some organization that is yet to come into existence.

We also have elections for National NALC Officers coming up this year. Let your voice be heard.

I want to THANK YOU personally for contacting me, bringing me your discipline and filing grievances and EEO’s and doing it in a timely manner.

We will prevail, we will overcome, we will not be dumber than a box of hair.

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Branch 1111 News

Hold them to It

By Mary Abante, Third Vice President.

Executive Vice President Jose Ochoa taught last month’s (May) steward class on the “JOINT STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE AND BEHAVIOR IN THE WORKPLACE.” The JOINT STATEMENT was signed February 14, 1992, after a cluster of fatal shootings in postal facilities in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Management often misconstrues the JOINT STATEMENT. This is disturbing because it shows the Postal Service believes unless the level of violence reaches the place where armed police officers are necessary, the dispute is trivial, and no violence has occurred. This is a complete misinterpretation of what constitutes violence in the workplace.

The JOINT AGREEMENT is intended to reach and to correct emotional violence as well as actual physical attacks.

The relationship between supervisor and carrier is basically unequal. This is because the employee cannot react as though the assault came from an equal. The threat is implied in the nature of the relationship. A supervisor can do things to a carrier from writing a negative evaluation to termination. Therefore, the supervisor will be held to a higher standard in supervisor-carrier confrontations.

When a carrier is confronted by behavior that a reasonable person would find offensive such as yelling, demeaning and humiliating comments, name-calling, profanity, sarcasm, belittling, or other inappropriate language, this person is a victim of workplace intimidation and bullying. The supervisor has abused his power. Types of behaviors like this constitute threats to a carrier even if no direct threatening language is used. Where resentment and aggression routinely displace cooperation and communication, becoming management’s everyday style, this is known as a hostile work environment.

The JOINT STATEMENT is to be used to remedy the resentments of workers who saw a one-way process, meaning management had the sole determination of one’s behavior. If management can use the JOINT AGREEMENT to discipline carriers, then carriers have the same right through the grievance procedure to bring bullying or abusive supervisors to corrective action.  Article 15 in part… “A grievance is defined as a dispute, difference, disagreement or complaint between the parties related to wages, hours, and conditions of employment.”

The grievance procedure may be used to enforce the party’s bargaining agreement and arbitrators have the flexibility when formulating remedies, including removing a supervisor from his or her administrative duties.

A supervisor can receive discipline even for a single incident and if it is management’s everyday style and creates 6

June 2022 a hostile work environment, harsher remedies can be applied to correct the situation.

A carrier’s justifiable inability to deliver all the mail, or “making the numbers” is not an excuse for the abuse of anyone. Berating a carrier who is on medical restrictions and badgering them because they will not violate those medical instructions is harassment and discriminatory in nature. These are just a few examples and should you witness other offenses notify your steward or full-time officer.

Bullies cannot exist unless management permits or encourages bullying behavior. It fails to promote and maintain an atmosphere of dignity and mutual respect which is a condition of your employment.

When management is silent and continues to allow their supervisors to misuse their authority, they are condoning the inappropriate behavior, which will spread and if it hasn’t already it will be affecting you.

“No one should have to work in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. To those employees who question our commitment, judge us not on our words but on our actions. It is our intention to make our work locations a place where inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.”

This is quoted from the USPS policy regarding Zero Tolerance, reaffirming their position on violence and inappropriate behavior in the workplace.

Work in an environment of dignity mandated by the JOINT AGREEMENT. Hold them to it. Contact your Shop Steward or FTO if this behavior occurs in your office.

First Vice President Narciso Paderanga cooking for Lafayette carriers during the Food Drive

June 2022

The Summer back, watch out for Heat Exhaustion By: Terrence Lee Super, Fourth Vice President

The heat is back with vengeance, and we need to be careful of heat illness. This can creak up on you extremely quickly, especially if you aren’t drinking enough water.

Don’t wait until your out on your route to start drinking water. Start as soon as you wake up that morning.

Unfortunately, this new District is not purchasing water for the carriers. Contractually they don’t have to do that but its just one of those things that we have to deal with. So please just purchase one of those huge thermoses and fill it with ice so that you can have cool water with you while you are out there on your route, just some reminders.

When heat happens, even the most seasoned carrier must be wary of extreme heat. Being in top physical shape isn’t enough — it’s knowing how to prevent heat stress that keeps a letter carrier safe on a hot day. That starts with hydration. Water is essential to the body’s natural cooling process, so drinking copious amounts of H2 O, starting before you leave the office, is the first step in heat safety.

Continue to drink while on your route and even afterward to replace vital body fluids. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. On warm days, wear lightcolored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing. The light colors reflect more sun and the loose fit and breathable fabric let heat escape the skin faster. Find shade wherever you can.

Carriers who work in hot, sunny climates often make a mental shade map of their routes to avoid prolonged exposure to the hot sun, especially in the middle of the day.

Know the signs of heat stress.

Even if you take all the precautions, your body may succumb to severe heat stress. You should be prepared to recognize the signs of the two kinds of severe heat stress: • Heat exhaustion symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, thirst and heavy sweating. It can turn into heat stroke quickly if immediate action is not taken.

• Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms include

Branch 1111 News confusion, fainting, seizures, very high body temperature, and hot, dry skin or profuse sweating. The visible signs of heat stroke are red, hot, dry skin, or excessive sweating, seizures and fainting.

Don’t hesitate to take action if you see the signs of heat stress in yourself or a colleague. Find shade or a cool place indoors, drink water, and notify your supervisor or call 911 if necessary. A useful tool for workers dealing with heat is available right on your smartphone. Simply download and install the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)’s Heat Safety Tool Smartphone App. Once the app is installed, it can detect your location and provide you with the current temperature, humidity and heat index (combination of temperature and humidity). It also will provide the expected heat for the balance of your workday.

Remember as well, that you can take as many breaks as necessary in order to prevent Heat Illness or Heat Exhaustion. Your safety is way more important than the mail being delivered.

Again, please contact your supervisor if you have any of the above symptoms and get to a shaded area as soon as possible. Have a cool one!

Deanna Jack wins the Fairfield drawing for the Food Drive hat!

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Branch 1111 News

June 2022

2022 NALC Food Drive

El Cerrito carriers, retirees and volunteers pause for a photo during the 2022 NALC Food Drive.(From L to R) Carrier Abdul Ghafoor, retirees Neil Zarchin and Eric Schwarz, Carriers Greg Bourne, Tenzin Lobsay, Retiree David Luong, and son, volunteer Anthony Luong

Berkeley DDU Shop Steward Daisyann Larkins grilling and chilling for the crew during the Food Drive 8

Fairfield first timer, Dominic Schlick, picking up donations during his route

Benicia Carriers Ka MoonYi, Jeff Esplana Katina McDowell and Amanda Jones with a little carrier camaraderie during the Food Drive

June 2022

Branch 1111 News

Fairfield CarrierJaime Sabater flashing the all’s good sign

Hampers full of donations after the Food Drive at Oakland’s West Grand Carrier Annex

The 2022 NALC Food Drive collected 70,045 pounds of food in Alameda County and 76,000 pounds of food in Contra Costa/Solano Counties. The 146,045 pounds of food donated to the respective Food Banks will provide over 120,000 meals to those who badly need them in both locations. It was a great effort despite all the obstacles and late start that the Pandemic created.

All of our Branch 1111 members who participated deserve credit for making it happen

Berkeley DDU carriers celebrating at the end of a rewarding day

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Branch 1111 News

June 2022

Branch Scholarship Winners

Joseph Manio receives his award from FTO Francisco Cabrera as proud father Jerry Manio looks on. The young scholar is set to go to UCLA

Amaia Espinal is congratulated by her father Danville carrier Oscar Espinal and FTO Jose Ochao. She will attend Boise State

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Dallia Vuong Le is the daughter of Piedmont carrier Steven Le. She will attend Laney College

Tiffay Wu with her mother, Piedmont carrier Ming Zhu Zhao. Tiffany is set to attend UC, Berkeley

June 2022

Branch 1111 News

Fairfield Carriers raise a $1,000 for the Contra Costa/Solano Food Bank. Great job everyone!

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June 2022

June 2022

NALC Branch 1111 Balance Sheet As of May 31, 2022 ASSETS Current Assets Bank Accounts 100 - Petty Cash 213.96 126 PPCU-50 166,353.20 Mechanics Bank Accounts 227,437.45 PPCU-Acct 70 25,638.83 United Bank Accounts 263,848.71 Total Bank Accounts $683,492.15 Other Current Assets Total Current Other Assets 0.00 Total Current Assets $683,492.15 Fixed Assets 189 - Accumulated Depreciation -156,914.57 190 - Accum Deprec - Furn./Eq. -68,743.00 191 - Accum Deprec - Computer Eq. -11,561.00 192 - Accum Deprec - Copier -6,896.60 193 - Accum Deprec - Building/Improv-153,573.66 197 - Accum Deprec - Storage Shed -430.00 198 - Accum Deprec – Prior -61,391.17 Total Fixed Assets $ 389,294.56 TOTAL ASSETS $1,072,786.71

Branch 1111 News LIABILITIES & EQUITY Total Liabilities Net Revenue 3900 Unrestricted Net Assets Equity

$19,737.94 -59,835.35 1,112,884.12 $1,053,048.77

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

$1,072,786.15

Vallejo carriers Andreas Anastacios and Heriberto Sandoval finishing a fun hardworking day

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS GREATER EAST BAY BRANCH 1111 402 –37TH STREET RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA 94805- 2134 (510) 237-5111

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CONCORD CA Permit 1

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Samuel Fields Marjorie Thompson Dominique Killens Xin Wu Manuel Iniguez Jr. Marcellus Jones Jason Sullivan Kenneth Williams Jeanette Dixon Leah Pils Ryan Doronila Dmitri Lucas John Garcia Perez Miguel Deleon Armar Isla Ji Choi Bhoomt Raval Vanessa Giggey Waseem Chaudhry Manuel Morales Holly Price Brandon Jessup Chentong Lotakoon James Cobiseno Kongolo Tshibasu Bryan Lira Martin Saetern Prameela Andr David Dimarucut Justin Guerra

Alameda Alameda Alameda Alameda Antioch Berkeley Berkeley Berkeley Berkeley Clayton Concord Concord Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fremont Fremont Livermore Livermore Martinez Martinez Oakland Pinole Pittsburg Pittsburg Richmond Rodeo-Hercules Union City Union City Walnut Creek

Gary Hernandez, Fairfield Letter Carrier, and Food Drive First Timer

On June 28th, the Branch will hold a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting.

Call the Branch Office at 510-237-5111 if you’re interested in taking part.

Meetings will now be counted as official