May 11, 2008
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What's New at OPWU
Did You Know

Posted On: May 06, 2008 (03:51:25)

Did you know?

A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll revealed that 50% of the people contacted identify with the Democratic party while only 37% identify with the Republican party.

Party trend in Ohio is 37% democratic, 25% republican.

The Economy is the #1 issue hands down!

70% of those interviewed feel America is NOT on the right track.

John McCain voted against the Employee Free Choice Act (S8389).

He also voted to privatize federal government jobs. (HR 5631 & S1637)

And, he voted against increased funding for veterans health care, supported outsourcing at Walter Reed Hospital, and outsourcing of VA jobs. (Senate vote 40, Senate vote 234, Senate vote 315).

Union Member Beneftis

Updated On: Mar 24, 2008 (11:35:00)

For Members Only

We are going to take a look at one of the best benefits available to union members.  Union Plus available through the AFL-CIO offers many different kinds of benefits that should enable members to realize substancial savings. 

Money & Credit

A union endorsed credit card with low-rate balance transfers, no annual fee, strike skip payments and a Member Advocacy Program.  Call 1-800-522-4000.

A secured credit card to establish or re-establish your credit.  Call 1-800-851-5108.

Credit Counseling. Call 1-877-833-1745.

Online Tax Service.  Visit www.UnionPlusRefund.com

Your Credit Score.  Visit www.UnionPlus.org/CreditScore

House & Home

Mortgage and Real Estate. Features include strike, layoff and disability assistance.  Call 1-800-848-6466.

Home Heating Oil Discount.  Call 1-800-660-0691.

Moving Discount.  Call 1-800-593-2526.

Health & Well Being

Health Savings.  Reduce your family's out-of-pocket health care expenses with discounts on dental and vision care, prescription drugs, hearing, podiatry, and diabetic supplies.  Call 1-877-570-4845.

Health Club Discounts.  Call 1-888-294-1500.

Family Services

Education.  Provides information about loans, scholarships and how to select a school.  Call 1-877-881-1022.

Pet Services.  Save 25% on veterinarian or 10% on pet health insurance.  Visit www.UnionPlus.org/pets

Travel & Recreation

Car Rental Discounts.  Call Avis 1-800-698-5685 or Budget 1-800-455-2848.

Cruise Discounts.  Call 1-866-867-0593.

Entertainment Discounts.  Save on movie tickets, rentals, theme parks, or sporting events.  Call 1-800-565-3712.

Worldwide Vacation Tours. Call 1-800-590-1104.

All of these benefits can be had just by being a member of the American Postal Workers Union.

For more information just click on the Union Plus icon.

Juanita Klefas

Posted On: Mar 06, 2008 (12:01:12)

We Have Lost A Dear Friend

The OPWU has just learned of the passing of Juanita Klefas, former president of the state auxiliary.  She served the OPWU for many, many years and was a great friend to all of us.  Juanita was always willing to serve any cause that benefited the union and working people in general.  She will be missed greatly by all those who knew her.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 7th at 10:00 AM at the St. James of the Valley Church in Wyoming, Ohio.  Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM.

Walter Klefas, Juanita's husband of 60 years and former secretary/treasurer of the Greater Cincinnati Area Local, has requested that any memorial be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, 644 Linn Street, Suite 1026, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203.

She is in our prayers.  Rest in peace dear Sister.

Retail Sales

Updated On: Jan 26, 2008 (12:15:00)

Normally this information would be listed in our member only section of the web site.  However, due to the extreme importance of the substance in this article, we are offering it on the main home page so that the maximum number of people will benefit.

We, the employees of the Postal Service, are losing thousands of work hours and a like amount of full-time positions simply by not taking the time to properly record transactions into the POS system.

The POS system is the business tool utilized by the Postal Service to control labor cost.  Staffing on the Windows is decided by computer driven data from the POS terminal that most window clerks use everyday to conduct the retail transactions for the USPS.  The POS only sees the information that a clerk enters in as a transaction, and every transaction is alloted a time value.  At the end of the day, POS will compile the transactions and credit the earned time.  Then, the earned time is compared to the actual work hours that employees were assigned to the window.  If the earned time from the transactions exceeds the actual time it indicates that there is a need for more window clerks.  HOWEVER, if the actual time exceeds the earned time it indicates that there are too many window clerks.

Transactions become the driving force in determining staffing for a particular window operation.  If the transactions are not being recorded correctly, even though you might have long waiting lines, the system will indicate you are overstaffed!

Each transaction is given an earned time value.  This is done by figuring out the time it takes to process a transaction.  For example the POS allows 45 seconds for a book of stamps.  Every time you scan a book of stamps you get earned time of 45 seconds.  HERE IS THE CATCH: If a customer asks for five books of stamps and the clerk pushes the quantity button, the POS system only recognizes this as ONE TRANSACTION.  If the clerk scans in each book individually, the POS enters each scan as a separate 45 second transaction.

Window clerks need to stay away from the quantity key when performing stamp sales.  More transactions generate more time.  The more earned time equals more staffing and conversely, if the transactions are not recorded, less earned time is credited and the POS will provide data that will show less window hours are needed.

All retail sales and service associates need to ensure that they operate the POS system correctly. SCAN as many books and sheets of stamps as you can, RECORD all the non-financial transactions, SELL the special services and make sure you are on the operation number when you are working the window. At the end of the night when you finish with your last transaction with a customer, PUNCH OFF operation 355 and on to operation 742.

Quick Reminders:

1.  Clock in on the correct operation and clock over to whatever operations you are currently working on. 

2.  Scan EVERY PRODUCT into the system.  If you sell multiple items, scan them in individually, not as one.  Remember:  You get time credit for each item scanned into POS.

3.  If you are not busy, hit the stand-by and go clock onto some other operation.  Every time you hit onto a window operation it is tracked in blocks of 30 minutes.  By hitting standby and clocking onto another operation you've shown you were not engaged in window activity.

4.  Don't let supervisors do your job. 

 Note:  The OPWU would like to thank Todd Elkerton of St. Paul, MN and Rocky Sprowles of the Kentucky Postal Workers Union for contributing to this article.

 

What Is Happening Here?

Posted On: Jan 10, 2008 (09:11:18)

1.  The current price of gas in Kuwait City is $.78 per gallon!

2.  When George Bush took office the price of gas in the United States was $1.46 a gallon.

3.  Ohio has lost 250,000+ jobs in the time George Bush has been president.

4.  The Mr. Coffee Company used to produce their product in Cleveland, Ohio.  Including benefits their employees made $21.00 an hour.  The company decided to move to Mexico where people were paid $2.46 an hour to produce coffee makers.  Then, Mr. Coffee moved to China where the wage became $.47 an hour!  Has anyone noticed a decrease in the price of their products????

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