Attend a Pre-Convention Workshop

Two New Pre-Convention Workshops Added:

1. New APWU SEARCH Interface Training - Arbitration Advocates should attend this training. The new webbased database is designed to be used by arbitration advocates to simplify searches for arbitration awards and decisions. The company that maintains APWU SEARCH database has developed this new design to enable the system to function more efficiently. The training will include how the new interface works, how to conduct searches using the multiple-tab feature, and methods to narrow searches.  (10 am-1 pm)​​

2. “The APWU Health Plan" as an Organizing Tool - Teaches techniques and strategies for signing up non-members utilizing the APWU Health Plan and other benefit programs that are reserved for members. Explores ways to get members, who have quit, to rejoin the union. (10 am-1 pm)

The Research & Education Department will sponsor the APWU’s 16th Educational Conference, a National Convention event that provides union members with a wealth of information to take home to their local and state organizations.

Thirty workshops will be offered on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, the day prior to the craft meetings, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Hall B.

All APWU members are welcome and encouraged to sign-up online by the early registration deadline of Friday, Aug. 3. This deadline is firm for participants with special needs: If you need a sign interpreter, for example, you must register by Aug. 3. Other participants may try to sign up for workshops after they arrive in Pittsburgh; however, late registrants will have a limited choice of workshops and will not receive certificates. 

For more information and to register click here: 

1. Arbitration Forum Workshop: Provides an exceptional opportunity to observe a panel discussion where an arbitrator, USPS Labor Relations Manager, and an APWU NBA give their unique perspectives on preparing, presenting, arguing, and deciding cases. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm) 

2. Article 37.3.A.1 and MDAT Training: Outlines how to use these tools to create and preserve jobs in the Clerk Craft, reduce the PSE complement, create desirable duty assignments, maximize PTFs in small offices, reduce disputes on reversions and abolishments, and reduce excessing when the USPS is utilizing PSEs. (10 am-1 pm)

3. Basic Shop Steward’s Training: Guidelines for new shop stewards, with a focus on proper documentation of grievances, and the duties, rights, and guidelines for shop stewards. (10 am-5:30 pm)

4. Fighting Plant Consolidations Workshop: Discusses how to build the alliances we need to keep offices open and located in the communities they serve. Examines an essential element in the fight to protect jobs and improve service.  (10:00 am-1:00 pm) 

5. Communicating at the Local Level Workshop:  Examines the importance of information sharing using various mediums with special emphasis on the process of producing a member-oriented, high quality union publication. (10 am-1 pm) 

6. Custodial Staffing Basics Training: Provides instructions on putting together and verifying a MS-47 custodial staffing package and covers staffing development for both the T/L-3 and T/L-5 version. Best suited for officers and stewards lacking previous Maintenance staffing training or want to brush-up on their knowledge of custodial staffing. Correct custodial staffing is the first step in enforcement of Line H issues. (10 am-1 pm)

7. Digital Media Basic Workshop: Provides digital media training for beginners and gives an overview of digital media and how it affects the daily lives of workers. Outlines basic strategies to reach out to members, allies, and potential members through websites and social media.  (10 am-1 pm)

8. Digital Media Intermediate Workshop: Digs deeper into digital media strategies with hands-on practice. It is geared toward participants who regularly use digital media – such as having a personal Facebook profile or page, a blog, or some other internet presence – and are looking to up their digital media game. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

9. Disabled Veterans’ Benefits Workshop: Assists representatives in helping disabled veterans obtain benefits. (10 am-1 pm)

10. Disability Retirement Workshop: Explains how disability retirement pay is calculated and how to avoid delays and disapprovals. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm) 

11. Effective Retiree Chapters Workshop: Discusses how to start a new chapter or reboot your current chapter. Information will be provided on maximizing membership and attendance, increasing volunteer participation, taking on leadership roles in the chapter and community, and supporting APWU’s legislative endeavors. (10 am-1 pm)

12. Electronic Grievance System Training: Provides instruction on how to use the web-based Electronic Grievance System (EGS), to complete grievance forms, email grievance information, attach supporting documentation, and save grievances electronically. Participants must bring a fully charged laptop with ability to connect to the internet to the training. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

13. Empowering Young Workers Workshop: Brainstorming over how to encourage young union members to become more actively involved in the union, increase activism and aid in building a more diverse labor movement. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm) 

14. Excessing Workshop: Examines Article 12 and answers questions on what causes excessing; the timetable when excessing occurs, and the process – from notification to the Regional Coordinator, meetings, production of information, comparative workhour reports, retreat rights, “senior in lieu of,” super-seniority, preference eligible veterans’ rights, and saved grade. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

15. FMLA Workshop:  A “how-to” session on Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) forms, eligibility, leave requirements, and guidelines. (10 am-1 pm)

16. Handling Workplace Injuries Training: Designed for beginners or to refresh your knowledge of the types of OWCP claims, forms, achieving claim approval, appeals, COP, wage loss compensation, medical treatment, return-to-work, job offers, reasonable accommodations, suitability determinations, and employer violations. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

17. How to Win a Grievance Workshop: Addresses building workers’ power on the job without getting bogged down in paperwork. Answers the question, “How do we become a fighting union and not just a grievance machine?” (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

18. Innovative Organizing Training: Teaches techniques and strategies for signing up non-members utilizing the APWU Health Plan and other benefit programs that are reserved for members. Explores ways to get members, who have quit, to rejoin the union. (10 am-1 pm)

19. Labor History Comes Alive Workshop!: A dynamic look at what we can learn from the major struggles of the past and how we can apply the lessons to the challenge we face today. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

20. Labor Law Fundamentals Workshop: A look at the National Labor Relations Act, with a focus on the rights of APWU members, the Duty of Fair Representation, and how to identify unfair labor practices. (10 am-1 pm)

21. Large Office Issues Training: Covers current issues in large (Function 1): mail processing facilities. Topics include creating jobs, preserving existing jobs, filling residual vacancies, machine safety and staffing, and RI-399. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

22. Legal Issues and Union Communications Workshop: A review of editorial policies, union regulations, libel, copyright and federal election laws that apply to hardcopy and electronic forms of communication. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm) 

23. MVS Issues Workshop: An update on Motor Vehicle Service Division (MVS) issues and information on the Articles 39, 32, and other articles of the CBA that apply to the Motor Vehicle Craft. (10 am- 5:30 pm)

24. New T/L-5 & T/L-3 Staffing Calculations Training: Designed for Maintenance employees. Teaches how to use the Maintenance Craft Excel workbook to input data and calculate an MS-47 custodial staffing package. This tool aids in determining the correct custodial staffing. Participants must bring a fully charged laptop to the training. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

25. Protecting Work in Smaller Offices Training: An overview of issues of Clerk Craft employees, such as: Crossing crafts, maximization, supervisors performing bargaining-unit work, postal support employees, “lobby sweeps/lobby director” and “Article 37.3.a.1, creating duty assignments in small offices.  (10:00 am -1:00 pm)

26. PSEs Issues Workshop: Focuses on enforcing contractual rights of Clerk Craft PSEs. Topics include protecting PSEs’ rights, holding management accountable for exceeding the use of non-career employees, increasing the career workforce, and seniority issues. (10 am-1 pm)  

27. Retirement Planning Workshop: Provides information for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) employees and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees on annuity calculations, best date to retire, benefit choices, important records to keep, and tips on successfully completing the application. (10 am-1 pm)  

28. Stand Up for Safe Jobs Training:  Designed to build active and strong safety campaigns at the “grassroots” level.  Participants will learn how to complete PS Form 1767 (Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice), the role of local safety committees, how to seek assistance from OHSA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and how to help employees understand the importance of reporting safety violations on the job. (2:30 pm-5:30 pm)

Register Today!

If you have problems registering online, please contact Joyce B. Robinson at jrobinson@apwu.org or by telephone at (202) 842-4225.