TCOLA legislation goes to the full Senate for passage

Many of you have heard rumors about our TCOLA. Roger Galliett, Midtown carrier, sent me the language from the bill that applies to TCOLA postal employees. Here is the language:

The Non-Foreign Area

Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2009

March 2, 2009

Section 6(b) states that the provisions of this Act converting territorial COLA (T-COLA) to locality pay will apply to Postal Inspectors and employees of the Postal Service Office of Inspector General, but not to other postal employees such as mail handlers, letter carriers, and postal supervisors. Those postal employees in the non-foreign areas will continue to receive T-COLA. However, the method for calculating the T-COLA rate will change and the cap on the amount of T-COLA an employee may receive will be lifted. Under the Act, current and future postal employees will receive a T-COLA rate that is the greater of the frozen T-COLA rate on December 31, 2009, or the applicable locality pay percentage for the area.

Jim Raymond, President, Branch 4319

Update on our Building Search

At the October meeting, the membership voted unanimously to place a deposit for a brand new office condo being built at 12501 Old Seward highway. This is the first step in the branch finally getting its own building.

I met with the builder last Friday in the office and he projects that the building will be substantially complete by the end of October. There will then be some filings with the city and we will receive our notice that we have 15 days to accept or deny the reservation we have on the unit. The builder believes we would be able to move in sometime around the middle of December. This would be great timing since our rent at the current building will increase by 50% starting January 2010.

We have a buyers' agent representing us through the entire transaction. I also met with our accountant and discussed the purchase of the building and he provided advice on how to proceed.

So for now, we are waiting to receive information on the condo association and then the remainder of the documents for the property. I'll keep you updated as information becomes available. The builder invites you to stop by and check out the building for yourself. Our reserved unit is the second from the left.

Jim Raymond, President, Branch 4319

Notice of upcoming Branch 4319 Election

The following serves as notice of the upcoming branch elections for NALC Branch 4319. The following will be published in the October Postal Record.

ANCHORAGE ALASKA

This is official notice to all members of Branch 4319 that nominations for the following officers and national convention delegates will be held at the regular Branch General Membership Meeting on November 5, 2009: President, Vice President, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Health Benefits Representative, three (3) Trustees, and Sergeant-at-arms. The President, Vice President, Financial Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Health Benefits Representative shall become automatic delegates to the NALC National Convention in 2010 by virtue of their election to their office, as well as Regional Assemblies held during their term of office. Nominees for delegates to the national convention must have attended a minimum of two-thirds of the regular Branch General Membership Meetings since the previous national convention to be eligible for reimbursed expenses, except for the delegates who work in offices outside the Municipality of Anchorage.

All nominations must be accepted verbally or in writing at the nominating meeting or they must be received in writing not later than seven calendar days after the close of nominations. Failure to accept nominations as stated will result in automatic decline of the nomination.

The election shall be done by referendum mail ballot. The ballots must be received in the election committee's post office box by November 30, 2009. There shall be no write-in votes cast for candidates not officially on the ballot. The results of the election shall be reported by the election committee at the December 3, 2009 meeting of the branch. The newly elected officers shall hold office for a period of two years beginning January 1, 2010.

Dorsey Roland
Recording Secretary, Branch 4319

Retiree Luncheon

The 1st Retiree Breakfast held this month went great. You can see the attendees on the meeting notice for October. One change that was voted on by the retirees in attendance was the time. Can you believe that 9:00 AM was too early! See what you have to look forward to in retirement.

So, we have moved the breakfast to a luncheon. The October Retiree Luncheon will be at 11:00 AM at the Denny's Restaurant on Denali. It will be held on Friday, October 16, 2009. Retirees attending need to call the office to reserve a seat as space is limited. I hope to see more of the retiree's come out.

Jim Raymond, President, Branch 4319

Mutual Trades wanted

I've received the following mutual trade requests. If you are interested contact them directly. If you have any further questions, please talk with your steward or contact the Union office.

San Antonio, TX: Seniority date is 07/13/02 and works in the Lockhill Station in San Antonio. There are 50 routes, no of which are walking. My route has mostly curbside, 1 set of condos and one apt complex. The station was one of a few model stations in the SW area. The weather is warm most of the time. I can be reached at 210-877-9178 or email me at easylikeasundaymornin@yahoo.com

Martinez, CA: Contact Sandra Etchison at 925-642-3596.

Minneapolis, Mn: 7/20/85 seniority; Approximately 25 offices to bid in a 20 mile radius within the 554 zipcodes; Member NALC Branch 9; email: pajakgreg@msn.com Cell phone: (952)905-1223,

Greg Pajak

Grand Ledge, MI: Contact Chris Bussey at blinkyusmc@yahoo.com.

Jim Raymond, President, Branch 4319

Fall Route Inspections

If your route was adjusted prior to August 3, 2009, then September is the proving period for the next round of adjustments. If your route was adjusted after August 3, 2009, then the month of October will be your proving period.

Jim Raymond, President

Branch 4319 looking for a building

Our branch has been looking for our own building for many years. We have visited many properties, some we should have probably really worked hard to get, but didn't. I am asking all carriers to be on the lookout for a building to serve as our branch office.

We are looking for a building with approximately 2,000 square feet. It can be a stand alone building or an office condo. If the price is right, we could even look at a building that is bigger and we could hold our branch meeting in it. Please either call the branch office or let one of the officers or stewards know about a possible property. I am currently looking at two properties on the Old Seward Highway south of Dimond blvd. Both are office condo's. One is an older property with 1800 s. ft and the other is 2300 sq ft which is in the process of being built for $295,000. I'll keep you updated on any property we look at.

Jim Raymond, President