Lone Star

Postal News
Proud Member of the Postal Press Association

Official Publication of the Texas Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO

Volume 42 April/May/June 2016 Publication #2

Fighting

For

c e
t i
s
Ju
Inside This Edition
Texas Postal Workers Union Officers.....2
Do Unions Still Matter...........................3
TPWU Education Conference .....3-4;5,7
Survivor Claims for Death Benefits How to
Avoid Undue Delays ..............................5
District 3 Excessing................................6
COPA Are You About It..........................6
My Union...............................................6
Post Tramatic Stress Disorder Military...7
Calendar of Events.................................8
Articles Due Date...................................8
Editorial Policy.......................................8
 Page 2 TPWU Lonestar Postal News April/May/June 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
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
 April/May/June 2016
Do Unions Still Matter
Carlton Williams
TPWU President
Do Unions Still Matter? Five
Answers Ive Offered to Anyone
Asking the Question
1. Labor Unions Began as a Way
For Working People to Get Fair
Wages, Working Conditions,
Benefits, and More
One of the original demands of labor unions
was for the eight-hour workday. This was at
a time when many people were working ten
to sixteen hour days, every day of the week.
It was eventually won, shop by union shop.
And during the golden years (post-World
War II through about the mid-1960s), it was
the norm. Only one parent needed to work to
support a family, and the working parent was
home for dinner and the weekends. Thats
fallen apart as unions have lost power. Now,
some folks work three or more part-time
jobs just to keep a roof over their head, and
mandatory overtime, frequently with no days
off for weeks at time is common. Its time
to turn that back around.
TPWU Education Conference
TPWU Lonestar Postal News
2. Union Jobs Pay an Average
of at least $6,000 More Per Year
Than Non-Union
Thats almost $500 per month, or about two
car payments.
3. Union Jobs Almost Always
Have Better Benefits
The life insurance, health insurance, retire-
ment savings, overtime, Cola, sick, vacation,
and time off, etc, than non-union jobs.
4. The Kinds of Work We Do
Have Changed Dramatically in
the Time Since Unions Began
This is one argument against labor unions that
factories and such are disappearing from our
landscape, so those old unions should follow
suit. However, many unions are expanding
their membership to hospital workers, service
industry folks, fashion models, restaurant
workers, writers, adjunct professors, nurs-
ing assistants, and other professions. Some
of these workplaces are clearly vulnerable
to abuses, and theyre ripe to be unionized.
In all cases, working people deserve a fair
share.
5. A Rising Tide Floats
All Boats Higher
What do I mean? In most sectors, Union
Representation raises the wages and working
condition standards for everybody. Without
the union jobs setting the bar higher, eco-
nomic compensation industry wide goes
down, not up.
Page 3
Thats likely why in some of the largely
non-union South, auto companies that are
not unionized still pay and treat people pretty
well. That would not be the case if some
of the other automakers in that part of the
country were not unionized, with superior
contracts.
National reports and surveys has determined
that Labor unions have been on the decline for
decades after reaching their high water mark
in 1955, when they represented nearly 35%
of the workforce. Some say that because
they bargain for fewer and fewer people,
they should just go away. Or that they had
a purpose at one time, but not anymore.
But others say the decline of unions is one of
the primary reasons that income inequality
in the U.S. is so extreme. Economist Robert
Reich shows in his movie Inequality for All
how the ascent of labor unions decreased the
income gap and grew the middle class.
Finally, unions offer people a little bit of
power on the job frequently something that,
in a still-anemic economy, were losing more
and more of.
It doesnt have to be just about wages and
benefits many jobs come with those. But its
also about not being afraid to say something
when Management is behaving in ways that
are negatively affecting lots of people, or
when a Supervisor has it in for an employee
and is targeting them unfairly or when work
rules are changed arbitrarily and it makes
everybodys job a nightmare. Yes, Unions
still matter. So lets stay active and we must
remain visible to the American people. We
must continue to represent and be proud to
be Union.
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Education Conference
Continued on Page 4
Page 4 TPWU Lonestar Postal News April/May/June 2016

TPWU Education Conference

Continued from Page 3

June 2-4, 2016 San Antonio, TX

 April/May/June 2016
Survivor Claims For Death Benefits
How to Avoid Undue Delays
Tonya M. Brooks
Director Of News Infomation/
Website/Editor
Survivor Claims for
Death Benefits
How to Avoid Undue Delays
Survivor Annuities Are Not Paid
Automatically. You Must Apply
To the U.S. Office of Personnel
Management to Receive Benefits.
Processing delays can be minimized if the
eligible survivor follows the instructions
below.
1. Return any uncashed checks to the ad-
dress shown on the Treasury Departments
envelope in which the check was delivered.
If any payments have been sent directly to the
bank or other financial institution, promptly
notify that institution of the annuitants date
of death. Ask that any payments received
after the date of death be returned to the
Treasury Department.
Returning uncashed checks to the Trea-
sury Department is necessary because
government checks made payable to
deceased person cannot be legally
TPWU Lonestar Postal News
cashed by anyone, even the executor or
administrator of the estate. The U.S. Of-
fice of Personnel Management (OPM)
cannot authorize a survivor benefit until
the Treasury Department informs them
that there are no outstanding checks
payable to the deceased annuitant.
However, any accrued annuity, unpaid
to the annuitant during their lifetime,
will be included in the benefits to the
eligible survivor.
2. Notify the U.S. Office of Personal Man-
agement (P.O. Box 45 Boyers, PA 16017-
0045), or by phone to 724.794.2005 or
1.888.767.6738 of the death of the annuitant
so that they can send an application for sur-
vivor benefits or obtain the forms from the
website http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf. If
you have any questions on completing the
forms, http://www.opm.gov/retire/ may be
of some assistance.
Notifying OPM immediately after the death
of an annuitant enables that agency to begin
work assisting the person who is entitled to
the survivor benefits. The letter of death
notification should include:
Full name of the deceased annuitant
Annuitants exact date of birth
Exact date of death
CSA (Claim number)
Annuitants relationship to the survi-
vor
Signature of the person who is appar-
ently entitled to the benefits
Page 5
3. Obtain certified copies of the annuitants
death certificate to enclose with the applica-
tions OPM will send. OPM will send two
forms: FE 6 (Application for Life Insurance
from the Federal Employees Group Life
Insurance) and SF 2800 (Claim for Death
Benefits, survivor annuity).
FE 6: There is no need for eligible
survivors to write the New York Office
for the Federal Employees Group Life
Insurance. In fact, that office cannot
settle a claim until a certification of the
deceased annuitants insurance status is
received from OPM.
SF 2800: This form must be completed
by the eligible survivor so that payment
of all possible annuity benefits may be
authorized by OPM.
Note: To expedite the process within OPM,
it is highly recommended that all forms be
typewritten or, should a typewriter not be
readily available, very neatly printed.
4. If the deceased annuitant was retired
from the military, notify the Commanding
Officer of the nearest military installation.
If the deceased was a Veteran, notify the
Veterans Administration. The eligible sur-
vivor should also:
Change deceased annuitants name on all
important papers to survivors name.
Notify insurance companies.
Notify the Social Security Administra-
tion.
Notify the IRS
 Page 6
District 3 Excessing
Excessing
As we anxiously await the arbitrators deci-
sion on our contract, we press on with all the
issues in our district offices, mine being the
768, 769 & 795 and 796 zip codes.
The most significant action taken in my
district recently was the excessing of our
full time custodians in the Anson TX 79501
office, and the Stamford TX 79553 office.
Despite Management failing to show the
need to excess these positions, they did it
anyway, and the employees are now working
in Abilene TX 79601. Grievances were filed,
and will be sent on up. These employees lives
have been disrupted.
COPA Are You About It
Bernadette Baker
Legislative Aide
COPA
Are You About it
Committee on Political Action (COPA)
Many of our members today still do not
know what COPA is? It is the Committee
on Political Action. This political machine
was created by our National APWU Union to
channel funds to our Political Friends.
What kind of Union would my Union be
If all the members were like me? You can
thoughtfully ask yourself that question.If not,
perhaps its a swell suggestion. You can sit by,
find fault with the officers, censure and gripe,
or you can be one who is always on call both
ready and willing to carry the ball.
TPWU Lonestar Postal News
We had three PSEs converted to regular on
June 25, 2016 in Abilene TX, at the plant.
We have grievances in the works that would
result in the conversion of fifteen more. We
have an arbitration scheduled on July 7, 2016
concerning residual vacancies that were
never put on e-Reassign. We must do our best
to get our PSEs converted to regular. They
are our future, as the contract is currently
written and I would hope the new contract
will provide even more benefits and security
for the PSEs. Encourage the PSEs that
you come in contact with to join the union,
if they are not already members.
If the Koch Brothers can contribute billions
of dollars to get their agenda pass, how much
are you willing to spend. It does not have
to be a lot. With a simple payroll deduction
you can give a little as a gallon of gas a pay
day. Isnt your job worth two dollars a pay
period. The fight for the Postal Service is a
political one. Lets get in the game. You
cant win if you dont play.
For more details on how to contribute go to
APWU.org. in the search box put COPA.
then look on left side of page and click on
forms. Use the form that coincides with
your status.
Together we can give.
My Union
To your fellow members you soon will be
known as a true loyal worker, or else as a
drone.You can pass on new members, or you
can refuse to take any part beyond paying
your dues.You can stand on the sidelines,
or jump in and play attend every meeting,
or just stay away. You can visit their homes
April/May/June 2016
Attendance
If I could encourage employees to do one
thing, it would be to maintain good atten-
dance and come to work on time. The five
(5) minute leeway is for congestion at the
clock only. Congestion at the clock does
not exist at any office that I represent, so if
you are scheduled to clock in at 0800, do it.
Attendance is the number one reason that
employees get discipline; Letters of Warn-
ing, 7 day Suspensions, 14 day Suspensions,
and Removals. Do not lose your job over
attendance issues. If you can get FMLA, get
it. If you cant get FMLA, get yourself to
work on time, every day, to the best of your
ability. If you value your job, protect it.
Submitted by: Judy Glossup
COPA Raffle
Thanks to all that participated COPA Raffle
at TPWU Educational Conference in San
Antonio. It was fun as always and a huge
success. We raised $3500 for COPA.
when members are ill, or leave all the call-
ing to Joe or to Jill. Whatever your talents,
some jobs you can do, so say to yourself as
the past review. What kind of Union would
my Union be If all the members were all
like me?
Author Unknown
 April/May/June 2016
Post Tramatic Stress
Disorder Military Veterans
Hector Figueroa
Fort Worth Area Local Trustee
Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder Military Veterans
I proudly served in the United States Army
for six years. I personally witnessed my
comrades lose their lives tragically while
serving their country. Upon being honorably
discharged from the military I found it dif-
ficult to adjust to my life out of the military.
Many veterans suffer with Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD). The symptoms
sometimes go undetected and it varies from
Veteran to Veteran.
TPWU Education Conference
Continued from Page 5
June 2-4, 2016 San Antonio, TX
TPWU Lonestar Postal News
Help Is Available
It is tragic to envision the brave men who
served and fought for our country are ending
their own lives. Countless Veterans who ter-
minated their own lives did not know how to
seek help and others were awaiting assistance
from the Veterans Administration (VA) that
can take over a year to receive any kind of
help. The system appears to be flawed and
Veterans are not receiving medical treatment
in a timely manner.
Regrettably many Veterans turn to alcohol
and drug dependency to help with their
mental and physical disabilities in an attempt
to conceal the pain and tragic memories.
One can only imagine the daily struggles
a disabled Veteran with no support system
experiences by the shell shock of becoming
homeless and the feeling of abandonment
by the system. Veterans experiencing PTSD
need to know that they are not alone and that
help is available.
Fig
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Fo
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ice
Page 7
Congress passed a law in the summer of 2014
making it easier for Veterans who experi-
enced long delays in receiving medical care
to be permitted to seek outside medical care
from VA nationwide network and clinics.
Seek Care
Any Veteran who believes he/she might be
experiencing PTSD should seek immediate
medical care through the VA mental health
clinic website at www.gov.gov. Veterans
Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255. A Veteran
can also request to see a Union Steward for
further assistance if he/she does not have
access to a computer to research and print
information.
Source: (http://www.foxnews.com/
us/2014/10/06/veterans-affairs-fires-4-
senior-executives-in-crackdown-following-
wait-time.html)
 April/May/June 2016 TPWU Lonestar Postal News Page 8

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Director of News Information/Website/Editor Paid
P.O. Box 183784-3691 Fort Worth, TX
Permit No. 2009
Arlington, TX 76096

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