President

EMILY LANE, PRESIDENT
320 Fairview Lane
Taylors, SC 29687
Home 864-877-2846
Work: 864-877-6423/24

Easy Way to contact Senator Demint http://demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

Easy Way to contact Senator Graham http://www.unionvoice.org/nalc/leg-lookup/sendmessage.html?target_id=4453

South Carolina Senate

Candidates	Raised	Spent
James W DeMint (R)	$5,783,608	$2,551,758
Chad McGowan (D)	$197,289	$105,473
Michael D. Ruckes (D)	$2,295	$0
Gary Montgomery Stephens (D)	$0	$0

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President’s Article February 3, 2010

It’s hard to believe that January is gone already. Time sure does fly as we get older. As union members we have some

times ahead that we don’t want to miss. The time for the convention will be here before we know it. All packets will be

arriving shortly or have already been received by the branch secretaries. All branches should have already selected their

delegates to the State and National Conventions. Please get the state packages back in ASAP. The state will be paying

for the banquet for all registered delegates that attend. Guest tickets will be available for those wanting to bring a guest.

Please let Myrtle Beach know in advance as a limited number of tickets will be available at registration. Banquet tickets will

be printed for each registered delegate and may be picked up by the delegate at the registration table. All guest tickets

ordered in advance will also be printed and can be picked up by the delegate that ordered them. Banquet tickets will be required

for entry.

I have been busy with getting the convention program lined up. I have already requested a National Officer and our Regional

Field Coordinator for the convention. I am always looking for something different, so if you have any suggestions please let me

know.

I will be going to Phoenix to a Committee of President’s Meeting in April before our convention. Representing the state in

this is something that I have mixed feelings about. However, I have been told that the meetings are well worth having a

representative there. There is a lot of information that is picked up at these meetings that SC has been missing out on. The co-chairs

for the COP have asked that I get SC involved. The executive board voted not to send me to the last one since they felt that we had

spent too much reimbursing the branches for their convention registration fee. The state is in good financial shape. I have to give

GREAT CREDIT to the officers of this state for the work that they do. Most everyone has the best interest of the state at heart.

I will also be going to Washington to lobby in March. That is probably the most important function of my job as president. According

to National, the job of the state association is to promote the political agenda for the state. South Carolina has a long way to go to get

recognition in the national level. SC is a red state and most of our legislators don’t support things that pertain to our jobs. If the vote

came up to eliminate 6 day delivery, it would probably pass if the entire nation had a vote. People (carriers included) don’t realize the

number of carriers, both city and rural that would be out of jobs. Retirements and attrition would not be enough. According to the

Morning Report, 45,000 carriers would be added to the unemployment line. Ask yourself what effect that would have on the economy?

Some of our legislators are up for election and we need to elect worker friendly candidates.

In Unity,

Emily

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January 4, 2010

As I look back on the events of the year 2009, I wonder where the time went. We are less than 4 months away from the

South Carolina State Association of Letter Carrier's Convention. I hope each branch has made their selection of their delegates.

Please try to get the registration back as soon as possible. Cards should be going out around the first of February. Myrtle

Beach has put a lot of work into the State Convention. Some branches are sending more to the National Convention because

they believe that training is better there than at the state level. You get from something what you put into it. Any training that

we get, whether it is a repeat is beneficial because we should learn something new every day.

Donna and I have gone over the By-Laws because it has been brought to our attention that one clause was left out. Researching

back to 2007, we have found the error and it will be corrected. For services rendered the Vice-President shall receive the sum of

one--hundred dollars ($100.00) monthly. This was omitted in the typing of the combining of the V.P. and the Editor duties. It used

to be an option for the VP to get someone to be the editor but we voted in 2007 to combine the duties and that the VP would be

the editor/webmaster. The Resolutions and By-Laws committee was also not stated as a committee that is to be appointed for

the convention. Some other issues have come up about the wording of our By-Laws. The National Constitution is considered

the general guide for our state association. The rules in the National Constitution may be applicable for the operation of the

State Association as we are not to have anything in our state constitution that is in conflict with the National Constitution. The

wording has been the way it is for years and we have had no problems, but since issues have come up with it, we must address

them.

Now, I hope each of you had a good New Year. Our work ahead for 2010 is cut out for us. We have several key positions

that we need to fill with working family friendly individuals. We will probably be asked to do a lobbying trip this year. The dates

have not been set as of yet. The Executive Board has voted to send only two representatives per district. Any branches that wish

to send a representative may contact me. More information will be coming later.

I am available any evening if anyone needs me. I don't give my cellphone out because I don't have time to talk while on my route. I

don't want to compromise my duties as a letter carrier or give you less than my full attention while delivering mail. Therefore, I

choose the evenings to give you my undivided attention. I hope you understand. Sometimes at night I will be on the phone for hours

talking with carriers throughout the state of South Carolina. If for some reason I don't have time at the moment when someone calls,

I will always call you right back because each carrier in our state association is important to me.

Wishing each of you a prosperous and healthy New Year!

Emily

November 22, 2009

The month is almost over and I wonder where the time has gone? I'm a little late getting this article written because of an

emergency with my dad. He's well now and at home. It seems like only yesterday that we were at the planning session in Columbia.

I thought it went well and hope that everyone got some answers for their questions.

Every office will be doing minor route adjustments in the coming months. If you missed the planning session that the MIARAP and

DEAT Teams did, you have missed some valuable lessons that could have helped you with the MIARAP process. It's like Ed says,

you have to know your rights and never forget that the more knowledge that you have on something, the better you can deal with it.

Remember that planning is everything and never give up and just let management have their way because it's easier. Management

will only have their way if we allow them to. I have heard some say that "they're going to do what they want to do so I don't want any

part of it". If we all take that attitude, management will do exactly what they want and what do you think our routes will look like then?

Be professional and do your job according to the guidelines in the M-41.

If you can count your mail as you case it, you can chelck to see if all NLM mail is recorded accurately. Ask the supervisor what

your mail volume is occasionally. Just check to see if their volume is what you have. In another district, the union has found that the

new bar coded mail is not being counted into the final NLM volume. Apparently, there is a glitch in the system. You may be casing

and carrying out more than you've been given credit for. If management is using the linear measurement method, remember, their is

115 flats in a foot and 227 letters in a foot. Learn what you must to protect yourself.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Emily Lane, President

SCSALC

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November 11, 2009

Happy Veteran's Day!

Emily Lane, President

SCSALC

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OCTOBER 12, 2009

I have just recently been to Washington, D.C. at the State Chair’s meeting. All of the Chairs were in training and

lobbying for the letter carriers of this great nation. We were successful in getting a one- time relief on the prefunding

of retiree’s health benefits (something no other company has to do). When someone thinks of the post office, they

normally always think of their letter carrier. We are the post office to them. In a sense, this is our company so we

have to do all that we can to make it a success. Our jobs may depend on bringing in revenue, making the most of our

time, doing our job the most efficient way possible, being safe, and making sure that the Postal Service is around a

long time. It may seem that management is trying to run the Post Office into the ground but that doesn’t mean that we

as carriers have to. I love my job as a carrier and I want the opportunity to serve my customers for years to come. As

carriers our job is just beginning. We must let our voices be heard in the state and on Capitol Hill. Jim Demint keeps

calling the relief a bailout, but it isn’t and doesn’t cost the tax payers money. Congress didn’t have a problem with the

bill to enable them to pay their staffs for the next year and this will cost the tax payer since we all pay taxes.

I have had several calls about the planning session. The registration sheet was in the packet that Donna sent to all

branches, either to the secretary or the president. If you don’t get a sheet, at least call me at 864-877-2846 in the evenings

to let me know you’re coming if you can’t get it in by the 16^th. We need a number for lunch and refreshments.

Myrtle Beach has almost completed the arrangements for next year’s convention and Charleston is on the way for 2011.

There will be no elections in 2010 but any by-law changes (3 copies) must be submitted to the state secretary, see By-Laws

for deadline.

I have been told that we have already begun the next MIARAP Process. If mail volume is up in your office like it is in mine,

we might come out a little better off. We’ll see if management will take off routes as easy as they have been adding to routes.

Remember, eight hours work for eight hours pay. You are not required to run to make your eight hours. Be professional and

abide by the rules and regulations that management has set. Take your breaks and lunch period instead of skipping them.

You get actual time so don’t short change yourself.

Hope you’re enjoying your holiday!

In Solidarity,

Emily

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September 28, 2009

Emily's Regional 9 Rap Session Report

I have just returned from the Region 9 Rap Session. In talking with some of the other representatives from South Carolina, this

session has offered some of the best training that we have had in a while. Some of the branch presidents wished that they had

sent more representatives from their branches. All of the sessions that I attended were outstanding.

Since withholding is a huge issue for all of us, I attended the withholding class. Most of the problems that the region is having

are coming from Greater South Carolina. If you have not had to deal with withholding you are lucky. The employee to be excessed

will be a junior employee by grade according to the order that they receive their 60-Day Notice Letter. Seniority plays no part in

the moving from one installation to another. Our National Office is working on this according to NALC President Fred Rolando.

If you have city carriers that are to be excessed to the needs of the office, be sure that their rights are upheld. We as union

officers hold the responsibility to enforce the National Agreement and Memorandums. If you have questions, don't hesitate

to call the National Business Agent's office. No carrier should be cheated of their rights.

Active Listening- developing listening skills: I thought it might be interesting to see what this class had to offer. It had a lot to

do with leadership skills. You must be a good listener in the job as a union steward. Sometimes you even have to listen between

the lines. The most important thing is to listen to what others are telling you and keep your mind focused on what they are saying.

If you don't, you might miss an important fact that could make a huge difference in an outcome. Listen as if you know nothing about

what the person is telling you and don't make assumptions. We had an exercise and everyone had slips with information on them.

Each person in the group told what was on their slips. One person left out two words the first time the slip was read but said them

correctly the next time when we were going over the information a final time. Those two words made the difference between

answering questions correctly or incorrectly. Listen to each member of a group one at a time. Listen to an individual completely.

We all get in a hurry trying to meet deadlines but we all need to slow down and listen to others in our daily lives. All of us will be

richer for it.

My next class was on legislation. The emphasis was on grassroots organizing and political activism. As you should know by

now, HR22 passed the House. It has been folded into an appropriations bill to go to the Senate. If the bill is not passed by

September 30, the Postal Service will have to pay the full prefunding amount for future retired health benefits. The loss of mail

volume has caused a deficit in revenue and the Postal Service can no longer afford to pay at the accelerated rate that was in

the original Bill for prefunding. The Bill as it stands today will only be a one year fix and our work will just be beginning for the

future of the Postal Service. We as carriers all want to be off on Saturday with our families, but think about what it would do to

some of your fellow carriers. There would be no Carrier Technicians, no jobs for one out of sic carriers. Going to a Five-Day work

week would open the Postal Service to the possibilities of privatization. The National Level officers are talking with the PMG to

build revenue and other duties for a letter carrier to maintain the six day delivery. The Employee Free Choice Act is something

else that we don't have to worry about because we already have the right to be members of the union. Other industries should

have the same rights that we have without hassle.

Fred Rolando ended the Rap Session on Sunday. He talked about the Regulatory Commission, the Board of Governors,

and the AFL-CIO (our part at the local level). One big issue was the combining of local offices and other potential

consolidations. Article 12 and the task force that was created to monitor the withholdings nationwide were discussed. Each

office is asked to provide the NBA with any residual vacancies in their office. The JCAM is on the website finally and hopefully

will be sent in print to offices and branch presidents soon. Fred Rolando went over some of the changes to the JCAM. One

important fact is that anyone can now be hired as the Postal Service no longer uses rosters-taken from E-Careers. The NRP

was gone over and we were told today that assessments are now being done. DRP is working pretty well but our National

Office is working on some consistency issues from the different teams around the country. Staffing issues and the window

of operation, along with the Article 8 grievances were all discussed. The City vs. Rural Territory was discussed. Remember

to report ANY new developments to your branch president. All new territory is supposed to go to the city carriers now as it

has gone to rural in the past. There are a few exceptions, but make sure that the new growth meets the criteria before you

just concede it to rural. Fred Rolando told everyone that the Postal Service was the most trusted agency in the Federal

Government and that Letter Carriers are the Postal Service! In the business sector, the Postal Service was ranked third.

Whenever, someone does a survey, the letter carriers of this nation are the ones that the public think of when the words

"Post Office" are mentioned. Remember, this is our company and we don't want to see it fail.

A bit of bad news, the NALC Health Benefit rates will go up. Good news, not as much as the other programs. Some

new benefits have been added. I will be leaving to go to Washington, D.C. for the State Chairs meeting. All State Presidents

will be lobbying for the carriers of this nation on Wednesday. Keep us in your thoughts as we will be up there to benefit each

of the carriers that we represent. Our Union is strong because of each of us. The saying is that "no man is an island", but

in the union, "no man or woman stands alone."

Emily Lane, President

SCSALC

August 09

There is not much going on this past month. I have been doing the initial and final consultations for the District Teams on

the route adjustments. In some of the offices, it is sad since they only have one or two routes. I just finished my office today

and it’s bad but what can we do. If we had to have a full 6-day count, it would probably be worse. Hopefully the mail

volume will increase in the future so routes won’t continue to lose time. There have been many changes over the years,

but I think this is probably the worst that mail volume has ever dropped. I can remember when we would fuss because we

had so much. Now we’re just glad to see anything- even circulars.

I hope all of you are aware that an amendment was added to S 1507 that would adversely affect our collective bargaining.

It would direct an arbitrator to take into account the financial condition of the Postal Service before rendering a decision.

This is used as a vehicle to pass anti-union legislation. We have to be ever mindful of amendments that are attached to Bills

since they can have an adverse affect on carriers across the nation. It is bad to support something one day and the next you’re

asked not to. That is the reason that we need to support COLCPE and the legislative team at the national level. I don’t know

what we would do without these guys and gals looking out for our interest as letter carriers. If you are not an e-activist, sign-up

today. Carriers of this nation need all the help we can get. Some complain about giving to COLCPE, but those COLCPE dollars

are put to good use for our interest. $5 a pay-period or $10 per month bank drafts is nothing and you’ll never miss it. If we save

our jobs and benefits, the money will be well worth it.

Summer is almost over but August seems to be the hottest month. Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated. Don’t let the

heat make you stupid.

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July 6, 2009

Well, I don’t know how your mail has been but in my office it has almost dried up. Saturday mail is nothing and

everyone is doing pivots or taking leave. The next phase of the route adjustments doesn’t look pretty. But it is what it

is and we must carry on. Be sure to watch for new growth (developments) in your offices and make sure that it is put

on city delivery where applicable. If you are not sure, investigate, ask questions (call NBA Judy Willoughby or me), and

let’s make sure that city carriers gets all new deliveries that the October memorandum has specified. Remember that it

may be in rural areas, but virgin growth should go to city delivery.

Have a happy and restful time on the 4^th. Spend time with family and friends because how many Saturdays do you

get off without using leave. It will be nice. Time has flown by and the year is half over. Before you know it, cold

weather will set in again. The older we get, the faster time seems to go by. As you read this, you’ll see that I started it

in June.

Call Senator DeMint about the FERS bill concerning letter carriers by adding unused sick leave to their retirement.

Read the latest Activist or the NALC bulletin for info. The FERS bill was attached to the Tobacco Bill but Senator

DeMint had a problem with it. Let him know your feelings on the bill. Most letter carriers working today are under

FERS, so it does affect YOU. Politics may at one time have not been important to you, but in today’s world you better

get involved. Your livelihood may depend on it. Unused sick leave could make a big difference in what you will draw

every month in your retirement.

Our sympathy goes out to Donna in the loss of her grandmother. It is also Don’s mother-in-law.

Keep up the faith and letter carriers will prevail. Remember, if I can be of help call me and leave a message at my

home 864-877-2846 or at work in the morning 864-877-6423(24). I will get back to you.

Make your plans to go to the Rap Session if you are going. And don’t forget the Nov 7 planning session. We tried

something different for Judy last year that the majority complained about so we will try something different again this

year. We’ll see how this goes.

Sincerely Yours,

Emily Lane, President

SCSALC

June 1, 2009

May has been a very busy month. After the convention, I had to help my daughter move and get her house

set up and unpacked. The garden had to be plowed and planted. My flowerbeds had to have a good weeding.

The pool area had to be opened up. The outdoor furniture had to be pressure washed. All this work plus attending

award ceremonies, dance recitals and having a family gathering for Memorial Day has kept me busy.

I have gotten all of the e-mail addresses from the convention finally entered in my database. If you don’t receive an

e-mail from me about important items that come up, send me your e-mail address at emily.lane@att.net so I can add

yours to my list. Some of the email addresses that I received at the convention are not valid, maybe because I couldn’t

read what was put down. Over the years I have collected quite a few and everyone has said that they like being kept

informed of things that go on.

With the new route adjustment process, pay attention to your office and street times. Know what your average is.

If you have less mail, you will likely spend less time in the office, but more mail requires longer. In some offices we

have been instructed to curtail whatever we feel is necessary to have an eight hour day. The supervisor is coming

around (district instruction) in the morning and telling all carriers what time they should be out of the office. If this is

happening in your office and you don’t agree, you should let the supervisor know. It probably won’t do any good but at

least they will know that you question their input into DOIS. Count each piece as you case it if necessary for a few

days. I have done so several times and my actual piece count doesn’t agree with the DOIS converted count. I think it

has a lot to do with when the volumes actually roll into DOIS. Or maybe what was curtailed the day before wasn’t counted

in the volume the day it was delivered. Remember to protect yourself. Know what your average volume of letters and

flats are. You are entitled to this information. Ask what DOIS volume is if you feel like you need to. Don’t just take the

supervisors word – BIG MISTAKE! A professional letter carrier should know how long it would take to case and deliver

their route within 15 minutes variance. Remember there are always variables making no two days exactly the same- this

is why taking the average of the regular carrier a better solution than a six-day count. The figures that the district team

pulls are your figures and not a substitute on the route. If you have any unusual circumstances, make a note so it can

be mentioned at your consultation. No one knows your route better than you do.

District 3, 5 and 6 carriers still need to contact their congressmen concerning H. R. 22. We need co-sponsors from

these districts. Henry Brown (1), Joe Wilson (2) and Bob Inglis (4) have already signed on as co-sponsors. Remember

to let them know that this bill is not a bailout, but simply asking to rearrange the refunding to equalize the payments over

the full fifty years. It does not eliminate any prior requirement of the amount, just like refinancing your house.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND GIVE THE SERVICE THAT WE STAND FOR

When people talk about the USPS, the U.S. Letter Carrier is the first person that comes to mind.

RAP SESSION REPORT – April 2009- Emily

Buddy Ferguson and I attended the rap session. There were 4 training sessions which we split. Buddy picked his 2 and I took the other 2. That way we could cover all 4.

ECONOMIC AND FINIANCIAL CRISIS

Gloom and Doom – According to Jim Sauber , we are in a HELL OF MESS! There is just no sugar coating. There were a lot of things in the private sector that brought us to this recession. But all of the chickens are coming home to roost NOW. The Obama stimulus package is intended to keep matters from getting worse than they are now.

The Postal Service is experiencing the fall out with the decline in mail volume. We see it each day when we deliver our routes. The Interim Route Adjustment Program was agreed upon to allow us to maintain what we have. The IRAP is a quicker way and more economical way of adjusting routes. Carriers certainly don’t want to loose any of the benefits that have been navigated. Revenues are down but expenses are going up. Our National leaders are working to make this situation as hassle free as possible. The revenue is expected to drop between 12 – 15 billion pieces in 2009. The veteran carrier has seen a lot of changes and things continue to change daily. Management is in worse shape than we are because with all of the reports on the computer, the district can manage our routes, cutting out the supervisor all together. A robot to actually deliver the mail – well you and I probably will never see this in our lifetime.

The administration must rebuild America. We didn’t get where we are overnight and it’s going to take awhile to recover. Letter Carriers must maintain the high quality of service that we have always given our customers. When the public thinks about the Postal Service, they automatically think about that carrier that delivers their mail. Letter Carriers are the symbol of the Postal Service. From the talk, I don’t think that we will go to 5-day delivery. If we don’t deliver on Saturday, someone else will. UPS has already stopped Saturday delivery and is contracting out some of their parcels. Notice and think about this when you see a UPS truck back up to our docks. Think about all of the delivery companies that have gone under.

I took 15 pages of notes and at the end of the session, we were told not to let all of the info out. No handouts, no videos. National doesn’t want to lay all of our cards on the table. It is just like playing cards, you don’t want the opponent to know what’s in your hand. We as carriers just have to trust our National officers. The way things are going now; I know it’s hard.

In 2003, we had 219,113 carriers. In 2009, we have 211,022, but we also have 10,375 TEs in the workforce. The TEs won’t be here forever – they are here for the initiation of the FSS machines. TEs were hired prior to the DPS and then they were fazed out in most offices- that is the projection when FSS becomes functional. The loss of volume is having a large effect on the goals of implementation.

One thing that was brought out was that the % of supervisors to carriers was not decreasing. YET

Now is the time for the unions to determine what happens to the employees rather than management. Remember to enforce the contract. The latest memorandum gives all new growth to city that is not in growth on a rural route so watch your new developments and extension of street delivery.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Food Drive – Blood Drives –Toys for Tots – Heroes Award - Carrier Alert – MDA

These are some of the projects that letter carriers work on. Each one was gone into in detail. If any branch is interested in any one in particular, please give me a call. Some branches even have special projects of their own like doing Santa for a family. Some ideas were shared to raise funds for these projects.

SUNDAY RAP SESSION- Chart the Course

National has asked that the information not be put on the web. After listening to the presentation, I understand why. We just have to TRUST our National Leaders to look out for our best interest. Letter Carriers have come a long way since Postal Reform. Focus on what you’re doing and not on what your fellow carrier is doing. Carriers remember to give 8 hours work for 8 hours pay. As our volume declines, our office time should decline also. As carriers, we don’t see the full picture and know all of the circumstances that affect our jobs. Sombrotto used to say, “We are where we are”. Corporate greed brought this country where it is today. Yes, IRAP did eliminate routes but it is an on-going process so they may be reestablished when mail volume picks back up. Bill Young has asked that we all stand together and stop bashing our leaders. (We will never all agree on everything but ask yourself what decision you would make if you were in their shoes and had all of the information that they had.)

South Carolina State Association of Letter Carriers