WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE IN MARCH, 2010? HOW ABOUT JOINING US AT AN APWU BLIZZARD SEMINAR AND NATIONAL PRESIDENT'S CONFERENCE IN FLORIDA?

Union Blizzard in Orlando, Florida in March 2010
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All APWU brothers & sisters are cordially invited to attend six (6) full days of Union education, activism & fellowship sponsored by the APWU of Florida, in conjunction with the National Presidents Conference and the National Secretary-Treasurer Training Seminar.

Join us - March 24-29, 2010!

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Take advantage of our warm Florida hospitality and great rates in a beautiful union hotel in the Walt Disney World Resort. Bring the whole family. Parking, internet access, fitness center and transportation to theme parks included.
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Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa Resort, 1900 Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista, FL. hotel website: www.BuenaVistaPalace.com <<
Reservations: toll free: (866) 397-6516. APWU rate: $99.00 plus taxes and $10 resort fee.

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Orlando, Florida March 24-29, 2010 APWU of Florida Educational Spring Seminar and National APWU President's Conference Schedule
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2010: Florida Presidents Conference 9 am - 5 pm. Round Robin discussion of current topics of urgent concern for Local Presidents, Visiting Presidents, and National APWU Officers.

Welcome: Hospitality Room - Wednesday through Sunday 7 pm ‘til ?

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Thursday, March 25th, 2010: APWU of Florida Educational Seminar/ National APWU Retirees Department.

General Assembly: 9 am - 12 noon, Updates and news from National Executive Board Members and National Officers.

Craft Breakouts: 2 pm - 5 pm - Craft Directors and NBAs discuss craft specific topics & goals.

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Thurs., March 25, 2010 - Retirees luncheon: - 12 noon - 1 pm, National APWU Retirees Department workshop 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm.

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Friday, March 26th, 2010: APWU of Florida Seminar / National APWU Sec-Treasurer Training.

General Assembly: 8:30 am Class Breakouts 9 am - 5 pm, full and half day classes.

National Secretary-Treasurer Training: 9 am - 5 pm.

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Saturday, March 27th, 2010: APWU of Florida & National Presidents Conference Seminar/National Sec-Treasurer Training General Assembly, 8:30 a.m. with Keynote Speaker, President Bill Burrus.

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Following President Burrus, APWU of Florida and NPC joint classes - Full and half day classes and National Sec-Treasurer training resumes.

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Sunday, March 28th, 2010: National Presidents Conference (NPC), 9 am - 5 pm. Discussion of Agenda Items & Conference Business.

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Monday, March 29th, 2010: National Presidents Conference NPC, 9 am - 5 pm. Discussion of Agenda Items & Conference Business.

LIZ POWELL APPOINTED AS NATL. APWU SECRETARY-TREASURER; TERRY STAPLETON APPT. CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER AT NATL. AFL-CIO HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Terry Stapleton Goes to AFL-CIO; Powell Approved As Union's New Secretary-Treasurer.

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Liz Powell, the APWU’s Northeast Region Coordinator, has been tapped to serve as the union’s national Secretary-Treasurer, making her the first woman executive officer in the union’s history. She will replace Terry Stapleton, who has been appointed Chief Budget Officer at the AFL-CIO. John Dirzius, president of the Greater Connecticut Area Local, will succeed Powell as Northeast Region Coordinator.

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Powell and Dirzius were selected by APWU President William Burrus, and approved by a vote of the executive board, in accordance with the APWU Constitution. The vote was conducted via telephone.

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Powell began her postal career in 1970 in Hempstead NY. She became active in the union soon after, and in 1979 was elected president of the Hempstead Local (now the Western Nassau NY Area Local). She was elected National Business Agent for the Clerk Division in 1983, and became the first woman on the union’s National Executive Board in 1989, when she was elected Northeast Regional Coordinator. In addition to her duties as regional coordinator, in recent years she has been instrumental in developing the Joint Contract Interpretation Manual with postal management.

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Powell’s appointment to secretary-treasurer creates a vacancy in the position of northeast regional coordinator, which Dirzius will fill. The president of the Greater Connecticut Area Local started his postal career in 1970 in Seymour CT, and rose through the ranks to president of the state’s largest local in 1980. He has served as chairman of the National Presidents Conference, a committee of local and state presidents, since 2007.

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“I am pleased to appoint these highly qualified individuals to important new responsibilities,” Burrus said, “and I take special pride in appointing the first woman to serve as an executive officer of the national union. I am confident that Liz Powell and John Dirzius will serve our union well.”

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Burrus also praised Stapleton’s contributions to the APWU. “Terry has reorganized the activities of the Secretary-Treasurer’s office, making it more effective as revenue declined and APWU obligations increased,” he said. “He has done an excellent job.

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“Terry will bring great enthusiasm to his new position, and I am certain he will make a great contribution to the AFL-CIO.”

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Stapleton will leave office on Oct. 27. He, Powell and Dirzius will spend the intervening week working on the transition.

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CREDIT: APWU Web News Article #128-09, Oct. 19, 2009.

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Jack Gose, Editor

LATEST APWU MEMBER COLA INFORMATION FOR 2010! ZERO FOR MOST RETIREES!

For CSRS retirees:

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(11/18/09) - The CSRS retiree COLA is based on the increase in the third quarter (July, August, September) average of the CPI-W over the same quarterly average from the previous year. The third quarter average for 2009 fell 2.1% from the 2008 third quarter average.

All COLAs are upward adjustments, but based on the fall in the quarterly average there will be no automatic increase in CSRS benefits for 2010.

In addition, for 2011, the third quarter average for 2010 will be compared back to the third quarter average of 2008 (since no adjustment is made based on the third quarter of 2009).

Since the 2008 third quarter average is 2.1% higher than the current quarterly average, the index must rise higher than 2.1% to reap any increase in 2011.

Note: The 2009 CSRS Retiree COLA was 5.8% effective with the January 2009 payment.
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For FERS retirees:
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(11/18/09) - The FERS retiree COLA is based on the increase in the third quarter average of the CPI-W over the same quarterly average from the previous year. However, if the CPI-W quarterly average increases three percent or more, the COLA is the increase less one percent.

If the quarterly average increase is between two percent and three percent, the COLA is two percent. If the quarterly average increase is two percent or less, the COLA is equal to the quarterly average increase. The third quarter average for 2009 fell 2.1% from the 2008 third quarter average.

All COLAs are upward adjustments, but based on the fall in the quarterly average there will be no automatic increase in FERS benefits for 2010.

In addition, for 2011, the third quarter average for 2010 will be compared back to the third quarter average of 2008 (since no adjustment is made based on the third quarter of 2009).

Since the 2008 third quarter average is 2.1% higher than the current quarterly average, the index must rise higher than 2.1% to reap any increase in 2011.

Note: The 2009 FERS Retiree COLA was 4.8% effective with the January 2009 payment.
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For Social Security recipients:
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(11/18/09) - The Social Security COLA is based on the increase in the third quarter average of the CPI-W over the same quarterly average from the previous year. The third quarter average for 2009 fell 2.1% from the 2008 third quarter average.

All COLAs are upward adjustments, but based on the fall in the quarterly average there will be no automatic increase in SSI benefits for 2010.

In addition, for 2011, the third quarter average for 2010 will be compared back to the third quarter average of 2008 (since no adjustment is made based on the third quarter of 2009).

Since the 2008 third quarter average is 2.1% higher than the current quarterly average, the index must rise higher than 2.1% to reap any increase in 2011.

Note: The 2009 Social Security Retiree COLA was 5.8% effective with the January 2009 payment.
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For FECA employees:
(11/18/09) - The percentage increase in the December CPI-W index from year to year determines the FECA COLA increase. After the tenth month of the 2010 COLA measuring period, the CPI-W index has risen 3.3%. Note: the 2009 FECA COLA was $1 reflected in payments beginning in April 2009.

The December 2008 index was 0.5% below December 2007, but the law does not permit negative adjustments and requires a COLA of at least $1.00.

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FOR MORE INFO: GO TO www.apwu.org the source of above article!

President Bill Burrus Surprise Announcement on Sept. 30, 2009 at APWU All Crafts Conference held in Las Vegas, NV he will Retire as President Nov 2010

APWU President Bill Burrus Announces in Las Vegas, Nv. he Will Retire at the End of His Term in November, 2010
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In an emotional closing to his speech at the union’s All-Craft Conference Sept. 30, APWU President William Burrus announced that he would not seek re-election in November 2010, ending a 53-year career in which he fought for better wages, benefits and dignity and respect on the job for hundreds of thousands of postal workers.
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“I am in good health and I love what I do,” he said. “But I want to move on to another part of my life.

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“I want to spend more time with my wonderful wife, Ethelda,” he said, introducing her to the assembly. “She has been by my side throughout my 37 years as an executive officer of this union.”

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“I have looked forward to every day that I have served our members, and I look forward to the next 13 months. This is not the end, but effective November 2010 it will be time for me to turn the page and move on to the rest of my life.

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“In the interim, I intend to continue my commitment to the membership, every hour, every day,” he added, drawing two standing ovations from a room packed with more than 2,000 conference participants.
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The end of Burrus’ term will coincide with the conclusion of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement; the current contract expires Nov. 20.

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CREDIT: APWU website, www.apwu.org news article.

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Jack Gose, Editor