Volume XXIX, No. 9                                                                                              May 7, 1999

Contact House Government Reform Committee Members Today!
Full Committee Vote on
HR 22 Set for May 19!

On April 29, 1999, the House Postal Service Subcommittee passed HR 22, the Postal Modernization Act of 1999, by voice vote. This bill, introduced by Subcommittee Chairman John McHugh (R-NY), is now going to be voted on by the full Committee on Government Reform on May 19, 1999.

Democratic subcommittee members and the "Ranking Member" (or Senior Democrat) on the full Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), indicated that APWU's long-standing objections to HR 22 were valid. Our primary objections have been against the following features of the bill: postal privatization; price caps on postal services; a "study" of USPS labor-management relations; a "study" of universal service; and the creation of a "Private Law Corporation" using non-union, contract employees to sell postal and non-postal products.

Rep. Waxman plans to introduce a substitute bill, which APWU will support since it will address our union's concerns with HR 22.

APWU Action Needed Now!

APWU members are urged to contact the House Government Reform Committee members immediately and urge them to vote   NO on HR 22 and YES on the Waxman substitute. The US Capitol switchboard number is  202-224-3121.

House Government Reform Committee

APWU President Biller's Letter to
Members of the House Committee on Government Reform

North Dakota Raises $3,984 for Political Action
Kansas Convention Supports COPA '99
With $12,842

Kansas State Convention delegates reached deep into their pockets to give an enormous contribution of $12,842 to the APWU Committee On Political Action war chest; Topeka led all Kansas locals with $5,656. The North Dakota State delegation raised a generous $3,984 at its state seminar; the Greater Grand Forks Area Local handed in the seminar's top local contribution of $1,541.

APWU COPA appreciates all contributions and fundraising efforts. The following group contributions have been reported since the last  News Service contributions list:

Acknowledgment for Group Contributions

Important: For correct handling and acknowledgment, send all  group contributions to COPA, APWU Accounting Department, 1300 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Individual contributions should be sent to APWU/COPA, PO Box 96542, Washington, DC 20090-6542.

Note: Contributions or gifts to COPA are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Federal law requires political committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in a calendar year.

June 13-14, 1999 in Anchorage, AK
APWU Presidents' Conference

The next Presidents' Conference will be held in the Western Region on Sunday, June 13 and Monday, June 14, 1999 at the Westin Alyeska Prince Hotel Resort in Anchorage, AK. The Midnight Sun Area Local and local President Michelle Graham will host the conference.

The conference will be held from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday and from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Monday. A fee of $50.00 will be collected at registration; make checks payable to "APWU Presidents' Conference." Registration will be held from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Saturday, June 12 at the Westin Alyeska Hotel.

Conference Agenda

Participants are asked to submit agenda items for the conference in advance to Presidents' Conference Chairman Tony D. McKinnon, Sr., 2606 Raeford Road, Suite 11, Fayetteville, NC 28303. More information is available on the Presidents' Conference web site, http://www.nccouncilapwu.org/npc.

Hotel/Travel Information

For room reservations, call the hotel directly at   800-775-6656 or 907-754-1111 and identify yourself with the APWU Presidents' Conference. Room rates are $150/single and $160/double.

Discount air fare is available from Delta Airlines; call   800-241-6760 between 7:30 am and 11:00 pm eastern time, Monday-Friday, and reference file  #126744A. For discounted car rental, contact Avis at 800-331-1600 and reference file #T041399.

Notice: REC Site Conference Canceled

The REC Site Conference previously listed in the News Service bulletin has been canceled.

Registration

The conference begins with registration on Saturday evening. To assist the host local in making arrangements, use the registration form below to register in advance. Complete and return the form to the address given by June 1, 1999, along with a check or money order for the registration fee.

July 25-28, 1999 in Manhattan, KS
Secretary-Treasurer Central Region Seminar

Secretary-Treasurer Robert L. Tunstall has announced that a Central Region Secretary-Treasurer training seminar will be held in Manhattan, KS in conjunction with the Great Plains Tri-State Postal Workers Union and the Kansas Postal Workers Union. The seminar begins at 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 25, and ends at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, July 28, 1999.

The seminar will take place at Kansas State University, Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS. The seminar will offer Basic and Advanced Secretary-Treasurer Accounting, and Computerized Accounting Systems.

Basic Secretary-Treasurer Accounting: Informs new secretary-treasurers, presidents, trustees and executive board officers of their responsibilities to the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service.

Advanced Secretary-Treasurer Accounting: Focuses on detailed information to aid secretary-treasurers when filing reports. Prerequisite: Must have attended at least one Basic Secretary-Treasurer training workshop.

Computerized Accounting Systems: Focuses on automatic check writing, accounts receivable/payable, and cash management using the Quick Books computerized accounting program. Prerequisite: Locals must have an IBM-compatible computer, and participants must have previously attended either a Basic or Advanced Secretary-Treasurer workshop.

Hotel Information

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 17th & Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502. The room rate is $65 plus tax for one to four people. To make reservations, contact the hotel directly at  800-962-0014 and identify yourself as a participant in the American Postal Workers Union seminar. Reservations should be made prior to  July 2, 1999 to guarantee the negotiated rate.

In addition, dormitory rooms will be available on the Kansas State University campus. The room rate is $22.50 per person for a single, and $15.50 per person for a double. Towels and bedding are furnished; bathrooms and showers are located on the wing of each floor. Indicate name of roommate on registration form.

Registration

The registration fee is $55, which includes all sessions and materials, a picnic, and refreshments. To register, mail the registration form, below; call the Non-Credit Programs Registration Office at  800-432-8222 or 785-532-5569 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, with a MasterCard or Visa number; or fax your registration to 785-532-5637. The registration deadline is July 9, 1999. Confirmation will be sent to participants by mail.

For more information, contact Tom Mayse by phone, 785-776-1637, or by e-mail, mayse@flinthills.com, or call Judy Beard at 202-842-4215.

News Service Listing