Lone Star
Postal News
Official Publication of the Texas Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
Volume 43
This is the Credentials and Registration
Form for the 35th. TPWU, AFL-CIO Biennial
Convention, June 8 10, 2017.
To ensure proper handling of credentials and
expedite the registration at the Hilton Hotel,
2401 E Lamar Blvd. Arlington, TX 76006,
please adhere to the following guidelines.
1. List delegates names alphabetically for
your Local or Member-at-Large (MAL).
Be sure the President and Local Secretary/
Treasurer signs the form. (Whichever applies
to your local constitution)
2. Send Form with Registration Fee to:
Jennifer D Fulbright, Convention
Co-Chair
c/o The Dallas Area Local, 732
2010 Postal Way
Dallas, TX. 75212
Proud Member of the Postal Press Association
October/November/December 2016 Publication #4
3. Registration fee will be $85.00 per del- 8. Please send a copy of the Credentials
egate, if registration is received by close and Registration Forms to:
of business on May 1, 2017. Any delegate
registering after May 1, 2017 will be charged Wanda Coleman
$95.00 per delegate. Make all checks payable TPWU Secretary/Treasurer
to the Dallas Area Local. P O Box 8956
Tyler, TX 75711
4. Keep a copy of the Registration Forms
and checks submitted. Be sure and bring the
copies with you should there be any questions
concerning registration.
5. Make additional copies of your blank
credential form, should your local send more
than 10 delegates.
6. Indicate if the delegate is deaf/hard of
hearing. Inside This Edition
7. Be sure to list any alternate delegates. Texas Postal Workers Union Officers.....2
Per Capita Dues Increase........................3
Discipline...............................................4
Big Victory For Workers....................3-4
No Fear Factor........................................5
Helping Those in Need...........................5
2017 Biennial Convention Credentials &
Registration Form...................................6
Application for Ad for 2017 Convention
Booklet...................................................7
Calendar of Events.................................8
Articles Due Date...................................8
Editorial Policy.......................................8
 Page 2 TPWU Lonestar Postal News October/November/December 2016

Texas Postal Workers

Union Officers
Executive Committee Members Motor Vehicle Craft Director District #5 VP SCF 760-764
President Lee Nelson DeAnna Newsome
Carlton Williams 102 W. Tidwell Rd 12 Greenwood Dr
2010 Postal Way Houston, TX 77022 Witchita Falls, TX 76301
Dallas, TX 75212 (o) 713.691.4818 (c) 940.224.1291
(o) 214.678.0523 713.263.4073 uniondeanna@yahoo.com
214.213.7457 lnelson@pwuhouston.com
(f) 214.631.3184 District #6 VP SCF 758, 765-767, 778
Carltondallas5@aol.com Executive Board Members Mike Holloway
Legislative Aide 3817 Oak Valley Dr
Executive Vice President Bernadette Baker Killeen, TX 76542
Ruben Campos 102 W. Tidwell (o) 254.466.4336
1505 Skyline Dr Houston, TX 77022 254.690.5696
Portland, TX 78374-2226 281.748.1789 Mdmj41!@aol.com
361.249.3115 Bbdett44@aol.com
6brownducks@msn.com District #7 VP SCF 779, 786-787, 789
Jessie Benavides
Secretary/Treasurer District #1 VP SCF 790-794 P.O. Box 140225
Wanda Coleman Eric Flores Austin, TX 78714
P.O. Box 8956 P.O. Box 483 (o) 512.342.1480
Tyler, TX 75711-8956 Lubbock, TX 79408 (f) 512.342.1477
(o) 903.592.5190 (o) 806.762.7869 jesseleg@aol.com
apwuwandac@aol.com 806.544.2933
(f) 806.762.7882 District #8 VP SCF 783-785
Tpwuvpd1@yahoo.com Cindy Martinez
Director of News Information/Website/
2912 Mynah Ave
Editor
District #2 VP SCF 797-799 McAllen, TX 78504
Tonya M. Brooks
David Estrada (f) 956.618.1281
P.O. Box 183784-3784
Arlington, TX 76096 P.O. Box 740
Fabens, TX 79838-0740 District #9 VP SCF 750-757
817.688.3691
(o) 915.764.3712 Billy Jones
lonestareditor@yahoo.com
915.539.6390 2010 Postal Way
(f) 915.764-5901 Dallas, TX 75212
Clerk Craft Director (o) 214.631.3174
Tammy Armstrong Davidvp2@elp.rr.com
214.803.7659
2010 Postal Way (f) 214.631.3184
Dallas, TX 75212 District #3 VP SCF 795-796, 768-769
billyjones@dallasapwu.org
(o) 214.631.3162 Judy Glossup
(f) 214.802.2682 2026 Grand Ave
Show45time@yahoo.com Abilene, TX 79605
District #10 VP SCF 759,770-777
(o) 325.518.3643
Earl Vaughns
Maintenance Craft Director 325.672.1020
102 W. Tidwell Rd
Robert Wentzel (f) 325.698.2168
Houston, TX 77022
P.O. Box 483 jglossup@aol.com
832.771.0913
Lubbock, TX 79408 evaughns@apwuhouston.com
(o) 806.762.7869 District #4 VP SCF 780-782, 788
tpwumaintcraft@yahoo.com Norma Impallari
P.O. Box 774
Converse, TX 78109
(w) 210.658.5129
Nimpallari0195@att.net
 October/November/December 2016
Per Capita Dues Increase
Carlton Williams
TPWU President
Happy Holidays
I extend my heartfelt greetings to every-
one and your family to celebrate, enjoy,
andhave agreat holiday seasonand a prosper- MOU signed regarding the filling of residual
ous new year. May each of you be blessed
with Love, Peace, and Prosperity.
Per Capita Dues Increase
Just a reminder to all Local Presidents,
Treasurers, andSecretary-Treasurers.As of
Pay Period 25, 2016, there was an increase
of .02 cents for Per Capita Dues, as a result
of our contractual raise. Please make the
necessary pay adjustments and add an ad-
ditional .02 cents per member starting on
Big Victory For Workers
Big Victory for Workers,
Together We Stopped the TPP
The 114th U.S. Congressional session is over
and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is
officially dead. This victory comes despite it
being a signature effort of the White House
and Republican-controlled Congress, sup-
ported by business lobbyists and the Chamber
of Commerce.
The TPP was killed because workers stood
up and fought back, said President Mark
Dimondstein. It was very impressive that
every labor union came together to fight
this rotten trade deal designed to benefit the
multinational corporations and big banks at
the expense of workers everywhere.
The free trade agreement was with 12
countries along the Pacific Rim, including
Canada, Japan and Vietnam, and was in-
tended to reduce restrictions on trade. The
deal was aimed at helping multinational
corporations outsource even more jobs to
TPWU Lonestar Postal News
yourDCO for Pay Period 25, 2016.Also
if you failed to make the .02 cents payment
starting on Pay Period 25, 2016, please
calculate and make thedifference and make
payments retroactive,back to Pay Period 25,
2016 until your payments are current with
the .02 cent increase.
PSEs
The PSEs are the next generation in the
Postal Service and they are the future.Its
unfortunate they cannot be hired in as career
employees. A lot of PSEs are upset because
they are not career employees.There was an
vacancies which is beneficial to PSEs.The
MOU states the PSEs must be made career
PTF or Regular before an existing career
employee can transfer into anoffice with a
residual vacancy.We have to protect their
rights and represent them to the best of our
ability.We should encourage them to become
active and participate in the union.
low-wage countries. It would have acceler-
ated the global race to the bottom in wages
and benefits for working people.
Specifically for APWU members, the TPP
would have opened the doors for the U.S.
Postal Service to be permanently outsourced
and privatized. If passed, it would have elimi-
nated postal jobs and lowered wages.
There were several articles in the deal that
targeted postal services. They were included
at the request of the USPSs private com-
petitors, including UPS and FedEx. One
specifically direct[ed] targets on how postal
systems are permitted to operate. Another
provision was included to address the
unique challenges private suppliers face[d]
when competing with national postal entities
in express delivery.
Millions Stood Up
and Fought Back
The Anti-TPP movement was composed
Page 3
2017 State Convention
Were six (6) months away from the 2017
State Convention, which will be hosted by the
Dallas Area Local.The Convention Dates are
June 8, 2017 through June 10, 2017 (Thurs-
day through Saturday).The Craft Break Outs
will be on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, the day
prior to the State Convention.
Hotel Information
The Hilton Arlington will be the host hotel.
To book and reserve your room(s), call
(800)445-8667.
When making room reservations, the Code
is TPWU. So inform them youre booking
underTPWU.The deadline to make hotel
reservationsis May 15, 2017.
Registration
The registration fee is $85.00. The Regis-
tration Forms will be mailed to all Local
Presidents on or about January 10, 2017.
The Registration Form is also be posted on
the TPWU web site.
of not just union members, but also human
rights, health care, and environmental activ-
ists. All campaigned together to put public
pressure on Congress to stop it.
With the support of workers and activists
across the country, Senator Bernie Sanders
made the issue a key part of his presidential
campaign. Soon all Democratic and some
Republican candidates were declaring them-
selves against the trade deal.
After the primary season was over, public
pressure did not let up. On August 23, 2016,
the APWU lead an Anti-TPP rally in Orlando,
FL. The APWU also participated with almost
90 organizations in a National Call-in Day
to stop a vote on the TPP.
The candidates from both major political
parties, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump,
said they were against it. It was clear the
majority of voters did not want it to pass.
Big Victory for Workers
Continued on Page 4
 Page 4 TPWU Lonestar Postal News October/November/December 2016

Ruben Campos
TPWU Executive Vice President
Discipline
Many of you have probably noticed an in-
crease in discipline in your offices. Much of
it over minor incidents. USPS Management
is aware that if they keep the Stewards busy
with discipline the Stewards will have less
time to pursue more lucrative grievances
such as Overtime, PSEs over 8 hours in a
day, DBC Staffing, or 1.6.b. issues. If we
as Union members do not stand up to this
challenge it will only embolden Manage-
ment. As unfortunate as it is, the only way
to stop this behavior is to make them pay.
It is important as Stewards that we do not
become discouraged with the increased work
Discipline
load. Our strategy to maximize the value of
representation is to prioritize the grievances
we handle. We should not have to sacrifice
a high dollar payout pursuing a 15-minute
overtime grievance. We must use our Stew-
ard time wisely. If Stewards are not getting
enough time document your requests for more
time. If possible, ask other Stewards for help.
In the last three months, I have addressed 1
Notice of Removal, 2-14 Day Suspensions, 3
-7 Day Suspensions and 2 Letters of Warning.
More discipline was issued in the last three
months than in the previous year.
Conversions
The APWU has made it so much easier to
convert PSE Clerks to Full-Time Career. It is
unfortunate that upon their conversion Man-
agement tries to treat them as PTF Clerks. In
April we had more PSE conversions to Full-
Time Regular in the Corpus Christi Main Post
Office than were converted in larger cities like
Dallas and Houston. Those 22 new regulars
had to wait less time for conversion than most
of the more senior regulars in the plant.
Congratulations to all the new regulars. Now
that you are regulars it is more important than
ever to know what your rights are as a regular.
I encourage you to visit the APWU website
at apwu.org. At the APWU website you can
find a copy of your Collective Bargaining
Agreement (contract). In the Industrial
Relations Department you can find a copy
of the manual that explains the provisions
of the Contract. The JCIM or Joint Contract
Interpretation Manual explains each article
in a question and answer format. The JCIMs
prototype the SRJCAM or Southern Region
Joint Contract Administration Manual
which can be found in the Southern Region
Coordinators site is much easier to follow
and understand.
Non Traditional Full Time
(NTFT)
The biggest violation I have discovered is
the improper scheduling of NTFT lunch
periods. In level 20 and above NTFT lunch
periods should be no more than 1 hour.
The NTFT MOU page 181 of the Collec-
tive Bargaining Agreement states: Non-
traditional full-time assignments will have
no more than a 1-hour lunch. Exception: in
Post Ofces (Level 20 and below) where
necessary to accommodate the conversion
of PTFs to full-time status, split shifts will
be permissible. Managers in several Level
21 Offices were scheduling NTFT Clerks
with 1.5 and 2 hour lunches.

Continued from Page 3

Big Victory For Workers

This led to the TPPs swift death after the
2016 election.

New Trade Agreements

on the Horizon
The struggle is not over, warned Dimond-
stein. There are proposed trade agreements
right now being discussed and negotiated,
like TiSA [Trade in Services Agreement] and
TTIP [Transatlantic Trade and Invest-ment
Partnership], which could end up being as
bad for workers as the TPP.

We will continue to watch these deals as

they develop, Dimondstein continued.
If they threaten the rights of workers or
the public Postal Service, we will be in the
streets opposing them, just like we did with
the TPP.
 October/November/December 2016
Tonya M. Brooks
Director Of News Infomation/
Website/Editor
No Fear Act
The No Fear Act was designed to help ensure
federal agencies and their employees comply
with anti-discrimination laws and protect
those who report discrimination. The No
Fear Act does not introduce new rights, but
rather serves to strengthen existing rights un-
der existing laws. Anti-discrimination laws,
whistleblower protection, and equal employ-
ment opportunities are the main focus.
List of Practices
Discriminating Against
Protected Classes
It is against the law to discriminate against
an employee or applicant based on sex, in-
cluding pregnancy and sexual orientation;
race; color, religion; national origin; age;
disability; marital status; individual genetic
information; or political affiliation.
Improperly Influencing
Employment Recommendations
Managers or Supervisors may not make em-
ployment recommendations based on factors
other than personal knowledge or records
Helping Those in Need
Fort Worth Area Local 098 Auxiliary along with other Auxiliaries
and volunteers preparing to put together items for the homeless
TPWU Lonestar Postal News
No Fear Act
of the applicants job-related abilities. For
example, a Manager may not lawfully recom-
mend an employee for a promotion simply
because the employee is a personal friend.
Coercing Political Activity
Political activity or affiliation may not
be forced on any employee at the Postal
Service. It is also unlawful to discriminate
against employees or applicants because
they hold a particular political viewpoint.
An example of this would be a Supervisor
denying a promotion to a qualified employee
because he is or is not a member of a certain
political party.
Engaging in Retaliation for
Whistleblowing
If you are an employee with personnel
authority at the Postal Service, you may not
retaliate against employees or applicants who
have disclosed information that provides
evidence of violation of laws, rules, or regu-
lations. It is also within an employees or
applicants rights to file a complaint regard-
ing rights to file a complaint regarding gross
mismanagement, gross waste of funds, and
the abuse of authority, and situations that may
pose a danger to public health or safety.
Retaliating Against Employees
Who Exercise Their Rights
Managers and Supervisors may not punish
employees or applicants who have exercised
appeals, complaints, or grievance rights.
Employees or applicants who have given
Page 5
evidence on behalf of, or assisted, others in
exercising their rights are also protected from
reprisal. For example, it would be unlaw-
ful for a Manager to terminate an employee
because the employee because the employee
filed a harassment complaint against a friend
and colleague of the Manager.
Violating the Merit
System Principles Remedies
Any employee who feels he/she has been a
victim of discrimination or retaliation can
contact the Postal Service Equal Employ-
ment Opportunity (EEO) Office using the
central toll-free telephone within forty-five
calendar days of the alleged discriminatory
action, or in the case of a personal action,
within forty-five days of the effective day of
the action. An employee also can contact the
EEO Office more than forty-five days after
an alleged discriminatory action if (a) she did
not know about the action when it occurred,
and (b) he/she files within forty-five days of
the time he/she knew or reasonably should
have known it occurred.
The central telephone number is:
888-EEO-USPS (888-336-8777).
Individuals with hearing impairment may
use TTY: 888-325-2914.
Source: Service Talk for All Employees
2014.
Page 6 TPWU Lonestar Postal News October/November/December 2016
October/November/December 2016 TPWU Lonestar Postal News Page 7
 October/November/December 2016 TPWU Lonestar Postal News Page 8

TPWU Lonestar Postal News Presort Standard

Tonya M. Brooks, U.S. Postage
Director of News Information/Website/Editor Paid
P.O. Box 183784-3784 Fort Worth, TX
Permit No. 2009
Arlington, TX 76096

Address Service Requested

Printing by: JMH Printing Co

Place Label Here

Calendar of Events

Editorial Policy March 9-11, 2017

Any and all opinions in the Lone Star Postal 2017 Officer's Fiduciary
News are the opinions of the writers and Responsibility & Quickbook
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Training
Editor or the Union. All contents must be Deadline: February 8, 2017
received no later than the deadline published Articles Due Dates Hotel: $148 per night
in each issue of the Lone Star Postal News January 20, 2017 Reservation: 1.800.937.8467
(LSPN). Submissions should not exceed March 1, 2017 Atlanta, GA
500 words and must be accompanied by June 16, 2017
the writers signature, address and phone September 1, 2017
number. Unassigned articles or letters to June 8-10, 2017
the Editor will not be printed, but a writers 2017 TPWU 35th
name will be withheld upon request. All Biennial State Convention
submissions must be typed. Artwork must Arlington, TX
be done in ink only, no ballpoint or pencil
please. No Articles typed in all capital August 3-5, 2017
letters. All submissions are subject to 2017 PPA Awards Program
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