Dear Branch,

At the urging of the officers here is an update concerning the doings of your Local Union Branch 213. It has been another good year for our Branch. Goals are continuing to be met: The financial wellbeing of the Branch, Policing of the contract to ensure all members rights are upheld; Training of your stewards/officers continues to increase the skills necessary for future leaders of the Branch to continue what has been put into motion….

As you know, the Branch continues to improve the Union Hall adding a kitchen area to serve food to the members during meetings and social gatherings. Building Manager Albert Alonzo has just finished renovating the storage room and was responsible for the beautiful kitchen installation. A special thanks is owed to Albert for all his superb work and overseeing of the Branch Hall. A perfect man for the job. Next on the list will be updating of the bathrooms such more along the cosmetic line – paint, dividers, mirrors and then possible the President’s Office.

The branch stewards continue to enforce the contract throughout the many offices of the Stockton Installation and in Escalon, Riverbank and Oakdale. The skill level of the stewards has increased greatly in the last year. Many new stewards have shown a talent for representation beyond what was expected. Many attended the training down in Southern California (Pasadena) last April and others took the time to attend the National Rap Session and training last month in Houston Texas. Your stewards and officers sacrifice much of their personal time believing in the cause of unionism and a thanks is owed them for all they do. It is not surprising to hear a new steward say how hard it is to sit in the office and figure out a grievance instead of carrying mail. It is not all it seems to be, not having to go out in the heat or cold and hump a bag all day is the plus - it wears you out in a different way, mentally and emotionally. The stewards are a committed crew and need all the members support and they strive to fulfill their commitment to you, their fellow members.

At the next Union meeting in September, the branch members will determine how many and how much delegates will be compensated to attend the National convention in Los Angeles next July. In the general meeting in October, nomination will be accepted for the November election of National Convention Delegates. Show up and participate as is your right as a member of the Branch. All doings of the Branch are decided by the members by vote. Do not listen to those who would wish you to think otherwise. These individuals give up their right to disagree when hiding in the dark whispering untruths instead of openly before all the members of the Branch. The NALC is a democratic union made up of volunteer union members. Your officers and stewards are also volunteers who are elected and swear to uphold the rights of the members both on the workroom floor and within the local union.

In Unionism,

Greg Fuson President

NALC Branch 213

The Port City Branch

By Greg Fuson President

I would first like to say that the following I procured from someone I admire, the President of Branch 133-John Howell. John’s Branch is located in Sacramento, California although he and his fellow branch officers represent carriers from the Oregon border down to Lodi, California. His comments should be read by all of us and taken to heart as a doctrine to survive the day to day grid we experience in the USPS.

“There is no doubt that the Postal Service is bleeding red ink in the financial area. The Managers, like in most companies in our Country today, are looking at every option available to them to reduce the red ink. We must understand that that is what the higher level ones are supposed to be paid for. You, on the other hand can assist in a number of ways. DO NOT PANIC the sky is not falling. Our approach has to be, as it should, remain calm and do your job as a City Letter Carrier with the pride and professionalism that you get paid for. Do your assignments every day the way you were trained and the way the M-41 requires. Do not allow overzealous Supervisors or Managers push you into doing something unsafe that WHEN, not if, you let your guard down you end up hurting yourselves or someone else simple to save a minute or two. You know how to do it right, you know how long it will take and how to keep yourselves safe. Make that a HABIT and do it every minute and every day – it will take care of you, I guarantee.  There has been no change to the requirement that you, as the Letter Carrier doing the work, will give your best estimate of your workload to your supervisor on a daily basis. If it’s 8 it’s 8, if it’s over 8 request overtime or assistance on a 3996, if it’s less than 8 inform Management how much it is under and they will give you work to do to bring your workload for the day to 8 hours. There is no requirement, or obligation, that you request to take Annual Leave or Leave without pay to complete 8 hours, if you are a full-time letter carrier.As Always be good to yourselves and your families – we are strong and to remain strong we must always support each other. Times, in this Country and the Postal Service, are hard right now, but we will figure it out together. Support each other, you cannot know the burdens your Brothers and Sisters may have, but you do know we are family.”

I cannot express how much these words mean to all of us for they truly are a true guiding light for all of us to use when the daily pressures surface during work hours. Believe in who you are – a professional letter carrier who is of value and who works in a safe professional manner with pride in oneself. We must have self belief and not let our opinions of ourselves be influenced by some in Management who are misguided about who we truly are.

Greg