NALC NL 0215 - NALC Branch 283

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS, AFL-CIO - BRANCH 283
VOL. XLV, No. 10
February 2015
IT’S NOT ALWAYS GOOD TO BE NUMBER ONE
As carriers we have all heard the same dumb remark “my dog doesn’t bite”! Everybody seems to think their dog doesn’t bite but the
truth is; if the dog has teeth it bites.
In certain neighborhoods customer just don’t care if their dog is out and
you’ll find some dogs running lose all the time. Then you have the
inevitable when “kids are out of school the dogs are out” they just go
together. When a home owner’s family baby, “the sweetest dog anybody
could ever own,” attacks a letter carrier the dog’s owner many times will
blame the carrier for that attack. It’s been known that after a dog attack, the
home owner will check the dog before they check the carrier!
The Postal Service ranked cities by the number of their dog bites and you
guessed it HOUSON was number one for 2014 and Houston ranked
number one in 2013 with 63 dog attacks. The Postal Service has reported
at least two carriers have died from being attacked by dogs. It’s not always
good to be number one. This is one award we don’t want!
There are procedures carriers should take in order to assure they protect
themselves and their fellow carriers.
1. Always case up dog(s) warning cards at least 2 houses before the dangerous dog. Even if you are the regular on the route. You
never know you might not carry that portion of your route for whatever reason.
2. Always carry your pouch. It will put a barrier between you and the dog(s).
3. Make sure you carry dog repellant spray.
4. DON’T turn your back on a dog(s). Dog(s) are known to bite when you are not looking.
5. NEVER underestimate the size of the dog(s) they all can bite. You never know if the dog(s) has been properly vaccinated.
6. NEVER run from a dog(s). Their natural instinct is to chase their prey.
7. DON’T startle a sleeping dog(s). Make a gentle noise so it is aware you are there.
8. If a dog threatens you, don’t scream and avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless and slowly back away until the dog is out
of sight.
9. DON’T feed any dog(s) on the routes you carry.
10. DON’T approach a strange dog, especially one that’s tethered or confined.
11. DON’T antagonize any dog(s) for any reason.
12. Be aware when you go to a house and the customer attempts to open the door. Put your foot up against the door until the customer
contains their dog(s).
13. Be aware of you surrounding. Dog(s) are able to climb fences, bust though glass windows and/or bust through doors.
14. When a patron moves away forward the dog warning card to the station at the new address to warn carrier.
15. Inform your supervisor of any repeated dog(s) issues.
16. Inform management you wish to cut back the mail from the house where the problem dog(s) resides and the houses before and
or after.
17. If the customer refuses to maintain their dog(s) ask for permission from your supervisor to cut back the entire street.
18. If your dog(s) problem still persists inform your supervisor immediately for further instructions.
UNION HALL........................................713-641-2366
2414 Broadway, Houston, Texas 77012
Editor .......................................................713-641-2366
Email: editor283@nalc283.org
NEWSPAPER SCREENING COMMITTEE
Tina McGee - Editor, Perla Garza,
Willie Ferguson, Ricky Dueboay
FULL-TIME OFFICERS
WILLIE FERGUSON President.....................713-591-0671
RICKY DUEBOAY Vice President/Treasurer ..713-591-2240
PERLA GARZA Rec. Financial Secretary .......713-591-0675
PAT CLAIBORNE Asst. Sec/Treasurer .........281-797-9894
BRANCH 283 OFFICERS
L.C. Johnson.......................................................Trustee
Senovio Lopez ....................................................Trustee
Karen Green .......................................................Trustee
Stephen E. Melchor ............................................Trustee
Henry Sanchez....................................................Trustee
Hector Salinas HBR................................713-591-0674
Jagdev Singh MBA.................................713-291-2532
Ronald Brantley ............................... Sergeant-At-Arms
Benny Lewis ................................................... Chaplain
AUXILIARY 98 OFFICERS
Wendell Jackson - President, Vice Pres. / Fin. Sec.
Gina Mathews - Secretary/Treasurer
Grievance Line Mon-Thurs
(8:00 am to 1:00 pm)............................. 713-641-4700
_____________
The Houston Letter Carrier is published monthly by Branch 283,
National Association of Letter Carriers, affliated with AFL-CIO and
International Labor Press Association.
Articles must be submitted by the 10th of each month, double
spaced typed or printed, 400 words or less. ALL ARTICLES ARE
SUBJECT TO EDITING.
OPINIONS AND VIEWS PUBLISHED IN THIS
PUBLICATION ARE NOT NECESSARILY SHARED BY
BRANCH 283 or represent the offical views of USPS.
Follow Branch 283 on FACEBOOK @ Houston Letter Carrier.
2 HOUSTON LETTER CARRIER - February 2015
HEALTH BENEFITS
REPORT
For the Retirees!
Retiree’s enrolled in the NALC Health plan and or enrolled in
Medicare part A and Part B are covered at almost 100% for
most of their medical costs including Hospital, Lab work, and
x-rays. The enrollee is also covered for most of the
prescription drug costs as well.
If you have family coverage on your health plan remember if
a spouse passes away you can change from family coverage to
(self only) and (self only) coverage costs you less.
If you have considered at one point and time dropping out of
your health plan beware; you may want to reconsider. I would
recommend retirees who are enrolled in any of the FEHB
plans including the NALC health plan to never drop out of
your plan. If you choose to drop out of the Office of Personnel
Management you will not be allowed to re-enroll and one of
the biggest benefits of OPM is it pays for most of your cost.
There have been a few retirees who have had additional Health
Care coverage that was not need. If you have additional
coverage please review your plan and make sure you are
getting what you paid for.
Now for active carriers; if you have a spouse who has passed
away, or gotten a divorce with no children and or have
children over 26 years of age you can change your coverage
to (self only) as well. Active Carriers who get married or have
a child must report the change of their status 31 days before
and up to 60 days after the change to (family). If you fail to
change your status to (family) within this window you will
have to wait until open season.
Hector Salinas
Branch 283, Health Benefit Rep. 713-591-0674
I WAS ATTACKED BY A DOG OR INJURED BY A
NON-POSTAL SERVICE EMPLOYEE; WHAT DO I DO?
By Attorney Bruce Johnson
In 2014 Houston regained its designation of the worst location
for dog attacks on letter carriers. In 2013, the last year for which
full reports are available, 63 Houston letter carriers were attacked
by dogs. Unfortunately, people are careless with their dogs. People
are also careless drivers. Despite our best efforts and precautions,
at times we may be injured by others’ carelessness. In this article,
I provide information on what your legal rights may be in the event
you are injured due to the negligence of a person not connected to
the Postal Service.
When a letter carrier is injured due to the negligence of
someone not connected with the Postal Service, the letter carrier
may be entitled to recover money damages. These money damages
are designed to compensate the letter carrier for losses caused by
the negligence. This may include lost regular wages, lost overtime,
lost annual leave, and lost sick leave.
The letter carrier may also be entitled to recover for the
reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred in treating any
injuries. An injured letter carrier may also be able to recover for the
physical pain, physical disfigurement, and mental anguish resulting
from the negligence. Additionally, money damages may be
awarded for any injury that is permanent or will otherwise be
suffered in the future. These include money damages for
permanent scars, disability, future pain and suffering, future mental
anguish, future reasonable and necessary medical expenses, and
the loss of future regular wages, overtime, annual leave, or sick
leave lost due to the negligence.
However, it is critical to know that the right to recover money
damages can be lost if the injured letter carrier fails to pursue the
claim timely. For example, under Texas law, most personal injury
claims must be filed with a court within two years of the date of the
injury. Additionally, some claims require notice of the claim to the
responsible party within thirty days of the injury. If the injured
letter carrier waits too long, it may be too late and the letter carrier
will be prohibited from seeking or obtaining money damages or
relief for the injury.
Every letter carrier has the absolute right to have his or her
own attorney represent them when injured on the job as a result of
the negligence of a person not connected with the Postal Service.
The Postal Service may request permission to pursue the claim on
behalf of the letter carrier, but the letter carrier is under no
obligation to give this permission. I have never known of a case
where the Postal Service has objected to a letter carrier pursuing a
claim utilizing his or her own attorney.
In the unfortunate event a letter carrier is injured on the job
due to the negligence of a person not connected with the Postal
Service, the letter carrier should immediately contact the United
States Postal Service management and the letter carrier’s Union.
If medical attention is required, the letter carrier should
immediately request authorization to obtain that medical attention
from management. In most cases, there will be no difficulty in
obtaining immediate medical attention. Once the letter carrier is
under doctor’s care, it is important that the letter carrier inform the
doctor of what happened as fully and completely as possible. This
includes how the injury occurred and the symptoms, pain, or
discomfort experienced as a result of the injury. If, after medical
attention, you continue to experience symptoms, pain, or
discomfort, do not hesitate to inform your treating doctor. If you
cannot perform your job duties as a result of the injury, make sure
you inform your treating doctor, United States Postal Service
management, and your Union.
In all cases, it is important to take pictures of the injuries and
the damage to any vehicle or other items resulting from the
incident. It is also helpful to continue to take picture of any injuries
through the healing process. This helps evidence the impact of the
injuries and the recovery process. If your camera is able to include
a date and time on the pictures, all the better. Save any bloodied or
damaged items including uniforms and pouches.
Other useful items to collect are check stubs for the months
prior to the injury and those after the injury. These assist in
determining whether and how much loss occurred in wages, overtime, annual leave, and sick leave.
In an automobile collision it is important to obtain the other
driver’s license information, address, insurance information, license
plate number and other information useful in locating the other
driver in the future. If an accident report is done it is important to
note the investigating agency and the collision report number.
In a dog-bite/attack case, it is helpful to determine if the dog
has been a problem in the past. This can be determined by
reviewing the delivery or suspension notices regarding the specific
address where the dog lives. Also ask other carriers who have
delivered on the route if they have encountered any difficulty with
the dog that attacked the letter carrier.
While it is certainly hoped that our letter carriers never have to
contend with an on the job injury resulting from the negligence of
a person not connected with the Postal Service, it does occur.
Therefore, it is important to know your rights and what to do.
Knowing these rights and what to do will help you and your family
deal with what can be a traumatic and stressful situation.
It has been and is my honor and pleasure to represent Branch
283 and individual letter carriers who may be injured. Please feel
free to contact us at any time with questions concerning your
employment with the United States Postal Service or other legal
matters.
Eric Nelson, The Law Offices of Eric Nelson, 3303 Main Street,
Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77002, phone (713)526-1998
HOUSTON LETTER CARRIER - February 2015 3
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS
BRANCH # 283
2414 BROADWAY BLVE
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77012
SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA
Applicant must be a son, daughter, step-child, or foster child with legal guardianship, of active, retired or
deceased letter carrier.
1. Applicant’s parent, if living, must be an eligible voting member of NALC Branch
# 283 at least one (1) year prior to making application.
2. Applicant must be a high school senior when making application and must submit the
form provided to the NALC Branch 283 office no later than Friday April 10th, 2015.
Said form to be signed by the parent or step-parent and an officer of NALC Branch
# 283.
3. All applicants must take the SCHOLASTIC APITIUDE TEST (SAT) and/or ACT and
pay required fees for same. It is recommended that the SAT and/or ACT Test be taken
at earliest possible date given.
4. All Biographical Questionnaires, Secondary School Reports, NALC Scholarship
Application forms and SAT/ACT scores must be received at the Branch Office at 2414
Broadway, Houston Texas 77012 before mid-night Friday may 15, 2015,
5. All required forms may be obtained from the NALC Branch 283 office,
2414 Broadway, Houston Texas 77012 ATTN: RICKY DUEBOAY.
Phone # (713) 641-2366
PARTICULARS
1. Recipient of the ($2,000.00) award must attend an accredited college of his or her own
choice. A letter of acceptance or proof of registration must be presented from this
institution by Monday August 3, 2015.
2. Winners may accept other college scholarship assistance.
3. If applicant suffers certified serious illness, scholarship will be held in abeyance for
not more than one (1) year.
4. Any change of schools must be done only with the permission of the scholarship
donor Branch #283.
5. If an award winner does not attend college, the award will go to the alternate.
NOTE: Winners are to be judged on the basis of their secondary scholastic records, personal qualifications, and
the results of the SAT/ACT Test. Scholarship awards will be for one (1) year. Award money will be deposited with
the college or university attended by the student. It will be credited to his/her account to be drawn upon under rules
and regulations which the college or university has established for handling Scholarship Funds. Award money is
to be used for required college fees including room and board and transportation.
4 HOUSTON LETTER CARRIER - February 2015
HOUSTON LETTER CARRIER - February 2015 5
CUSTOMER CONNECT
The Customer Connect Program is ABOUT TO HIT $2 BILLION DOLLARS
since the inception of the Program in 2004.
❖ Will your unit be the one to take us to the finish line?
❖ Get in the race and submit a Quality lead.
We are encouraging all City Carrier to give us one Quality lead to take us the top.
Here is a list of the type of businesses that may have the potential to take us over the top:
❖B
 ooks, manuals, photo supplies
❖C
 ellular phones and accessories
❖C
 lothing /jewelry
❖C
 omputer memory/computer printer ink cartridges
❖D
 iabetic/medical/dental supplies
❖ e -Bay sellers
❖F
 ishing supplies and other retail sporting goods
❖M
 usic/video CDs/DVDs
❖S
 mall replacement parts
❖S
 mall Office Home Office (SOHO)
❖V
 itamins/supplements/health products
❖P
 arts Shop
❖B
 usiness interested in marketing through “Every Door Direct Mail”
The next time you visit a business on your route that ask them if they would be interested in
someone contacting them on ways they can save them money or help their business grow.
Thanks for making this program such a huge success.
REMEMBER: All leads must go through our Customer Connect program to reach the $2
BILLION DOLLAR mark. Insist your supervisor, manager, postmaster or station Customer Connect
Coordinator submits your lead through Customer Connect. Contact me for any assistance or even to
submit the lead in your behalf. Please join some of you friends whom have submitted a successful lead
thus far.
Oscar Z. Herrera, Houston District Customer Connect Coordinator
4600 Aldine Bender Rd • Office: 713-226-3052 • Cell: 832-788-2333
Denver Harbor,
Wilton D. Greggs
$4,914 in revenue
Rosenberg,
Gene Thomas
$717.00
Grandville Elder,
Modesto Maldonado
$797.00 revenue
Oakforest,
Ewell Walker III, $3,380
6 HOUSTON LETTER CARRIER - February 2015
Willow Place,
Constance S. Garner
$2,167
and
Lisa M. Garza
$1,957
from the desk of the
Financial Secretary
JANUARY 2015 - STEWARD MEETING
ALBERT THOMAS - T. McGee, E. Rubio, J. Sanchez
ALMEDA - B. White, C. Barron, R. Medlock, C. Boyance
ALVIN - J.P. Massa
ANSON JONES - E. Ford
ASHFORD WEST - S. Johnson, G. Fields, C. Woods, P. Busalacchi
ASTRODOME - D. Jones, S. Carter
BAYTOWN MAIN - L. Rivera, E. Sampson, D. Sierra
BEECHNUT - V. Malveaux, J. Minton, D. Young, M. Webb
BELLAIRE - R. Gonzales, A. Cruz
CLEVELAND - T. Owen
CONROE - A. Taylor
CORNERSTONE - W. Anderson, N. Parks
CROCKETT - T. Owen
COLUMBUS - L. Sandifer
D.S. SCHATZ - R. Obas, T.D. Reed
DAYTON - L. Garrett
DEMOSS - P. de Vera, S. Perry, E. Reynoso, J. Williams
DENVER HARBOR - A. Mitchell, G. Morgart
DICKINSON - S. Lopez
EAGLE LAKE - L. Sandifer
EASTWOOD - W. Thomas, D. Piolet
EL CAMPO - S. Orsak
FAIRBANKS - S. Vasquez, J. Billups, Y. Tate,
FIRST COLONY - V. Kirsch, J. Solis
FLEETWOOD - C. Turner
FOSTER PLACE - E. Perkins
FRIENDSWOOD - D. Torres, J. Evans
GALENA PARK - D. Hunt, N. Sutton
GIDDINGS - L. Sandifer
GRANVILLE ELDER - J. Gutierrez, C. Siner, L. Kiel
GREENBRIAR - L. Wallace
GREENS NORTH - A. Smith, A. Tea, D. Harris, S. Johnson
HIGHLANDS HEMPSTEAD - L. Sandifer
HUMBLE - A. Rubbo, C. Heisner
HUNTSVILLE - T. Owen
JAMES GRIFFITH - L. Mitchell, T. Abbott, C. Blocker, S. Nguyen,
JASPER - T. Owen
JOHN DUNLOP - O. Ford
JULIUS MELCHER - C. Thomas
KATY (ANNEX) - L. Sandifer
KATY PARK ROW - C. Gonzalez, I. Salinas
KIRBYVILLE - T. Owen
KLEIN - K. Moten
LAMARQUE - J. Lopez, J. Hooks
LEAGUE CITY - C. McCray, W. Brown,
LIBERTY - L. Barnett
LIVINGSTON - T. Owen
LONG POINT - T. Jamerson S. Zink,
MADISONVILLE - T. Owen
Brookfield® U n i f o r m s
World Class Service
Union Preferred Supplier *Union Made *Made in USA
Uniforms Union distributed by UNITE Members unlike our competitors
Largest Selection of Styles and Sizes Available
Free Hem - Free Waist Alterations - Free Shipping
Carriers & MVs receive $45 bonus on full allotment orders
Carl Bacon
713-464-7897
Renee Vann
281-615-6622
Customer Service: 800-527-0606
MARTIN LUTHER KING - L. Jones, J. Perry
PERLA GARZA
MEDICAL CENTER - L.C. Johnson, T. Fields
MEMORIAL PARK - J. Ferguson, L. Park, M. Patel, H. Harrison
NORTH SHEPHERD - K. Jones, T. Martin, P. McKelvey, G. Hall
OAK FOREST - K. Brady, R. Hall, A. Salinas, J. Jones
PALACIOS PANTHER CREEK - J. Gomez, H. Davila,
PARK PLACE - S. Baker, R. Crook, A.G. Ramirez, J. Peters
RICH HILL - J. Butler, , R. Reed
RICHMOND - J. McCall
RIVER OAKS - E. Perkins
ROSENBERG - C. Mercado, B. Redding
ROY ROYALL - D. Waites, B. Louis, S. Moore, A. Slaughter
SAGE - J. Singh
SAM HOUSTON - D.R. LindseyJ. Guerrero
SAM HOUSTON (PTRS) - E. McKelvey
SANTA FE - C. Cobbs
SCHULENBERG/WEIMAR - L. Sandifer
SEABROOK - S. Lopez
SEALY - L. Sandifer
SILSBEE - T. Owen
SMITHVILLE - L. Sandifer
SOUTH HOUSTON - S. Lopez, J. Fillyaw
SOUTHMORE - D. Collins, R. Black
SPRING - M. Garcia, M. Gomez, J. Gomez, B. Aldridge
STAFFORD - C. Lemons, G. Davis
SUGARLAND - C. Jackson, R. Gilbert, G. Mares, N. Vicente
T.W. HOUSE - R. Gilliam, J. Mota
TEXAS CITY - C. Cappa
TOMBALL - A. Taylor
UNIVERSITY PLACE - K. Phillips
WEBSTER - L. Matthews
WESTBRAE - K. White, C. Lawrence
WESTBURY PLACE - B. Brown
WESTFIELD - L. Long, K. Hinton
WHARTON - B. Redding
WILLIAM RICE - L. Griffin, O. Eaglin
WILLOW PLACE - P. Williams, J. Garza, L. Garza
WINDMILL - R. Villanueva, N. Salazar, W. de la Garza, V. Ramirez
WOODLANDS - M. Bato, L. Jefferson, D. Dixon
WOODVILLE - T. Owen
OFFICERS - W. Ferguson, P. Garza, R. Dueboay, P. Claiborne
EXECUTIVE BOARD - H. Sanchez, S. Melchor, K. Green, H. Salinas, R. Brantley,
T. McGee
GUEST MEMBERS - V. Washington, L. Grather, G. Hightower, H.G. Flood, Jr.,
C. Kern, O. Gray
ARSLAN
UNIFORMS
UNION MADE
ARSLAN UNIFORMS IS A “UNIONPREFERENCE” UNIFORM DEALER
THAT IS ENDORSED BY UNITE!
(Union of Needle Trades, Industrial and Textile Employees, AFL-CIO, CLC)
If it’s Union-Made – we sell it!
Allen Machart
Elvin Harris
89 Crystal Lake Ln
25371 Kickapoo Rd
The Woodlands, TX 77380 Hockley, TX 77447
281-367-8310
281-682-9964
281-814-9018
Marva L. Skinner Hector Salinas
2506 7th St.
Galena Park, TX 77547
(713) 674-6420
(713) 806-1273
4278 Bethel Blvd
Houston, TX 77092
713-748-9212
713-688-0456 fax
Give us a try! See what it’s like to buy from a company
that supports the NALC, sells only the best uniforms,
gives good service, and cares about their customers.
HOUSTON LETTER CARRIER - February 2015 7
COLCPE
As we begin the New Year it is important to continue to keep Congress on our side.
NALC continues to make every effort to elect and support congress members who keep the letter carrier jobs as a priority.
The NALC is a bipartisan organization that looks at both side of the hall way to select the candidates who are pro-labor supporters.
In order for our Political Action Committee (PAC) to maintain its fight to keeping the right political people in congress or electing
newly candidates to congress who will support the letter carriers interest .
In order to be successful resources have to be raised. This will enable the Pac to keep our struggles heard on the hill and our future
moving forward.
To do so, union brothers and sisters need to contribute to COLCPE (Committee on Letter Carriers Political Education). By your
contribution of $5.00 a pay period to COLCPE it is a small price investment for a long term gain. Your contribution protects our future
and will ensure job security and benefits for our-selves and families.
Members can give through PostalEase (Online) PostalEase (Phone), Electronic Funds Transfers, or Annuity.
In Solidarity
Senovio “Sno” Lopez, Jr., COLCPE Coordinator
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.
– Abraham Lincoln
DATED MATERIAL
2414 BROADWAY
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77012
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS
SPACE CITY U.S.A. BRANCH 283
HOUSTON LETTER CARRIER
PERMIT NO 9228
HOUSTON TX
PAID
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE