South Carolina State Association of Letter Carriers

COSMO BACCOMO, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
74 Marion Street North
Lugoff, SC 29078
Cell: 803-513-3753
E-mail: cbaccomo@aol.com

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November 11, 2009

Happy Veteran's Day Holiday!

Cosmo Baccomo, Director of Education

Army Veteran

SCSALC

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October 18, 2009

     Hello Union Brothers and Sisters,

    The following language comes straight from the new JCAM.  The memorandum includes langauge that addresses Mother-In-Law

and Father-In-Law. 

    Make sure to indicate on your PS Form 3971 that you are using Bereavement Leave and identify which leave type (Annual, LWOP,

or Sick) you are requesting.  Good documentation of your absence will enable your union representative to defend unwarranted corrective

action by management for unrelated attendance issues down the road.

    I commend our National Officers for their success in negotiating Bereavement Leave.  Remember, without unionism, work conditions

at the USPS would be a third world environment if it was up to some managers and supervisors.

Fraternally Yours,

Cosmo Baccomo, Director of Education

SCSALC 

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September 2, 2009

     Hello Everyone,

    I hope everyone is in good health and spirits for the upcoming year.  As everyone

knows the post office is stating that we are in a financial crisis.  They say the mail

volume has dropped considerably.  This may be true for First Class Mail but Bulk

Mail has increased.  I know that we need the First Class Mail to survive and the

Bulk Mail to keep us going as long as possible.  So, the post office and the union

has come with a way to help save some money and time for route inspections.

It is called the "MIARAP".  Under this new system a member from management

and one from the union sit down and go over your clock rings and your demonstrated

ability.  Adjustments are made based on this evaluation.  Every day I receive phone

calls about what was added to carrier's routes.  You must remember that the

evaluation is based upon what you demonstated during the selected month(s).

During consultations that I participated in, the carriers often say "do what you

want because you always do" or "it doesn't matter to me" or some other less

than positive remark.  Only a few times I've heard a carrier tell the joint teams

intricate details about their routes or ask questions.

    The whole idea of MIARAP is to get the carriers involved in the route check and to

have their input on what data is accurate or not.  If you have a bad attitude and do

not want to participate, then later, should have no reason to gripe.  I receive

hundreds of phone calls every week about descrepancies.  However, when I check

the paperwork, it clearly shows that this carrier never took a swing, break, or lunch

break.  This time loss equates to about 50 minutes per day.  It is usually about

50 minutes that is being added to the caller.  I know it is hard to understand the

reason for two route exams per year, but if we want to stay in business we must

start from somewhere.  We've complained for years about management has

been hiding the mail, incorrectly counting the mail, or not giving us the right amount

of time to our routes.  Times have changed.  We now have a communication channel

to express our concerns pertaining to our routes.  If we do not express our concerns

we are no better now than we were before.  The teams that I have followed have done

excellent work in fighting for us and I know they will do the right thing for letter

carriers.  If we as letter carriers don't do the right thing, then all our efforts become

a losing battle.

    So remember, when the joint teams talk to you during consultations about your

route and the figures at hand, tell them your concerns and be prepared to back it up.

The joint teams will note your concerns and correct data that can be substantiated.

You do have control of your future and only you can protect your job.  Be trustworthy

and explain to the joint teams your concerns.  You might be surprised how well

your results will be.  It's up to you!

Sincerely,

Cosmo Baccom, Director of Education

South Carolina State Association of Letter Carriers 

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May 24, 2009

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

  
   As you all know this is a new year and there is a lot of new changes in

effect this year. One of the changes is the Modified Interim Alternate Route

Adjustment Process (MIARAP). Management is now using different months to

evaluate your routes. The best change they have done is to include the carrier’s

input. This enables the joint teams to compare your input with their data to

verify data accuracy. The only thing is that we have to be truthful and honest

during the consultation, because if we are not then it will come back to bite you.

If you are one of those carriers that skip your breaks including lunch breaks, you

may be one of the first carriers to have territory added to. The union has warned

you about running and skipping lunches and breaks for years. But some carriers never

listened because management looked out for you in return.

  Let’s look as some figures. If you are a runner and skip breaks and lunches, you

are giving the post office back $3,133.00 for lunches and $626.86 for breaks for a total

of $3,759.86 dollars per year. If you can give the post office this kind of money then

you sure can give $5.00 per pay period to the union for COLCPE. COLCPE is the Committee

On Letter Carriers Political Education. COLCPE will help you save your job and build

revenue for the post office.  The most important thing about the route check is the

accuracy of your data. You now have the opportunity to give any detail that will assist

adjusters in identifying any disqualifying figures.  Tell the adjusters about your absences,

waiting time or anything that effect your route on a daily basis. By the way, talking about

waiting time, make sure that it is correct because some managers have been known to put

you on waiting time while you are casing mail just to make their numbers look good. So make

sure you check that out. Also those who stick mail while on waiting time you will find out

that it will hurt you on the street and in the office.  Most of all don't slow down or try

to falsify your numbers now because it’s too late and the route adjuster and the route teams

will know what you are trying to do and they will adjust your time accordingly, so be

truthful and honest with them and it will help you in the long run.
    Also for those who attended the state convention and went to the dinner we had a great

time and raised a great deal of money for the carrier that lost his home because of the wild

fire at the beach. At the auction we raised $678.00 and from the drawing we raised $167.00

dollars and when we passed the hat around we collected another $255.00 for a total of $1,100.00. 

On the last day of the convention I collected another $175.00 and gave it to the delegate from

his branch to give to him. He has called me and thanked you all for the help.  It really helped

him and his family. Again, I would like to thank those who participated at the auction and the

passing of the hat and the raffle because you assisted a fellow union brother.  This is what our

union is for, to watch out for our brothers and sisters.  If hadn't heard by now our State

Secretary Donna Jackson Bennett is going to have a little one. I want to be the first to

congratulate her on this and wish her and the baby good health and a long life.
     Last but not least I want to thank all of you that had voted for me in the last election

and for having the trust in me that I will do a good job. I want everyone to know that I will

do everything in my power to help any carrier, steward, or other member to get the job done and

done right. I'm not the best but I can help with grievances and give classes to new stewards.

I will also contact our Congressman and Senators on all subjects pertaining to our best interest

and the USPS. As Director of Education, I will be available for anyone that would like my

assistances or needs any paperwork or help in the grievance procedure.  No matter where you are

in South Carolina I will be available. Just call me at 803-731-9132 (office) or 803-513-3753

(cell) and I will be there for you.

Thank you,
Cosmo Baccomo, Director of Education

South Carolina State Association of Letter Carriers

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