VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS
ABOUT ME :^)
My name is Debbie Atwell. I live and work in Abingdon, VA. I have been employed by the USPS since 1988 when I was hired as an RCA. I became a regular carrier in 1996. It was around this time that I became a union "activist". Yes, I AM A REBEL AND I DO HAVE A CAUSE! (More on this later.) My husband, Blane Atwell, is also a regular carrier in Abingdon. I have two sons, Matt and Adam. Matt has finished his studies at Emory and Henry University. He completed a double major in psychology and Spanish. After his graduation in May 2006, he plans on enlisting in the US Army. Adam is presently employed and still working on having fun.
I have always held the view that our union should be more PRO-ACTIVE. I think this would eliminate a lot of the expense we have in the steward program. I am the local steward in my office. Abingdon has 14 regular routes and 1 auxiliary route. Being a local steward, I can fully understand why so many stewards suffer from "burnout". It is extremely frustrating to answer the same questions over and over. It is also frustrating to listen to the other carriers whine and complain. But when it comes right down to it, they will not take action! There are days when I feel like I have been beating my head against a brick wall!
At our state convention in June, 2001, I was elected to the three year Executive Committeeman position. I continue to work toward making our union more pro-active. I am also the secretary-treasurer for Local 40.
In 1999, Blane and I attended our first National Convention in Nashville, TN. Neither of us were elected as delegates, so we attended at our own expense. It was truly a learning experience.
In 2000, we attended the National Convention in Madison, WI. Just before we left, I was notified that my name had come up on the alternate list. I was going to be a DELEGATE! After we arrived in Madison, Blane was upgraded to delegate status also. It was at this convention that I, as a first-time delegate, presented a binding resolution under new business.
The resolution read as follows: "WHEREAS, During mail count, management continually denies Column R time using the argument, 'that is built-in'; and WHEREAS, There is no list or enumeration of what specific duties, if any, are indeed built into the base evaluation; BE IT RESOLVED, A specific, all-inclusive list of built-in duties, if any, be prepared. This list should be published in the NRLCA magazine each year in the appropriate issue preceding mail count."
This resolution was read, seconded, and passed without any discussion. I was amazed! I was new to this, but I had already figured out that not many resolutions were passed under new business. I had been prepared by the experienced delegates from my state to go down in flames. But that didn't happen.
The lesson here: ANYONE can do what I did! For all the members who whine and complain, GET OFF YOUR DUFF AND GET ACTIVE! Attend your local and state meetings. Get on the ballot for national delegate! Go and make a difference!
What happened to that BINDING resolution? Well after almost seven months, there appeared an interesting Q & A on the back of the 03/31/01 National Magazine. The question read as follows:
"The following answer is in response to the "binding" resolution passed at the 2000 NRLCA National Convention asking "that a specific 'all-inclusive' list of 'built-in duties,' if any, be prepared."" "Since the NRLCA was unable to formulate a "specific all-inclusive list," the USPS was asked to list all items, which comprise "Other Office Work Not Covered and Personal Time" standard."
And here is the corresponding answer:
"There is no exhaustive list of items in the standard allowance of "Other Office Work Not Covered and Personal Time," nor can such a list be created. This standard allowance is intended to "capture" an aggregate of miscellaneous work elements or functions that are de minimus, take little time, occur on an occasional basis or are not otherwise included in the other standard allowances. As a general matter, these types of work elements or functions are part of the normal route workload, but may not occur on a daily or even weekly basis. Moreover, the work elements included in the standard may periodically change as carrier work methods change."
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS MEANS? I'm not sure I could, with any certainty. But, what has happened since then? We have carriers across the country asking for column R time to cover the work functions which occur on a daily or weekly basis. In the ongoing arbitration, we have National Officers addressing things such as unloading time and other functions done on a daily or weekly basis, for which we are not presently receiving compensation. This is a step in the right direction!
Afterthought on June 24, 2002: So much for arbitration.....