State Meeting: Taunton, MA
Summer 2014
May 4, 2014
Backroads Journal
MARLCA
Volume 5 Issue 2
National Co mmitteeman Susan Knapp shows a picture of an A mazon mailing center. She explains that this is just one days worth of parcels to be delivered. Th is was during her d iscussion
of Sunday parcel delivery.
Susan Knapp receives a thank you gift fro m
the Vice President Ron Reed.
Inside this issue:
Calendar of events
2
President’s Article:
3
Secretary-Treasurer’s Two Cents
3
Statement of Activit ies, Previous Year Statement of Activit ies
Statement of Finance
Art Courcy, District Representative Article
ADR Schillemat Su mmer A rticle
Vice President and PAC Report, A wards
Who Ya Gonna Call? Steward Listing and Contact Informat ion
4-5
6
7-8
8
9-10
11
Future Dates to Remember

6/11 Board M eeting 6 P.M .

6/14 Flag Day

6/15 Father’s Day

6/21 Summer Begins

7/4 Independence Day

8/11 Editor’s Seminar @ National
Convention, Grapevine, TX

June
2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
Pay Day
7
8
9
10
11 Board
Meeting
6 PM
12
13
14
Flag Day
PP-14
8/12-8/15 National Convention–
Grapevine, Texas
15
Father’s
Day
16
17
18
19
20
Pay Day
21
Summer
Begins

8/19 Backroads Journal Fall Edition Deadline
22
23
24
25
26
27

9/1 Labor Day
28
PP-15
29
30
31
July
MAR LC A
Backroads Journal
Dawn Makrinikolas, Ed itor
59 Lincoln Ave. #15
Plainville, MA 02762
Phone: 508-838-3800
Email: marlca -brj@hotmail.co m
MARLCA On the web :
www.marlca.org
Address Change:
You can log on to
http://liteblue.usps.gov
The Backroads Journal is a publication of
the M ARLCA. Opinions and views
expressed in this newsletter are those of the
writer and do not necessarily reflect or
represent those of the Editor or the State
Officers of the MARLCA.
Page 2
Sun
2014
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4 Independence /P ay Day
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 P P -16
13
14
15
16
17
18 P ay Day
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26 P P -17
27
28
29
30
31
August
Sun
Mon
2014
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1 P ay Day
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 P P -18
10
11 Editor’ s
Se minar
12
National
Convention
13
National
Convention
14
National
Convention
15 National
Convention
P ay Day
16
17
18
19 BRJ Fall
Deadline
20
21
22
23 P P -19
24/31
25
26
27
28
29 P ay Day
30
B A C KR O A D S J OU RN A L
President’s Update
President: Bill Piwowarski
The spring state meeting was held in Taunton, MA on May
4th , 2014. It was one of those sunny lovely days you just hate
to be inside but it is what it is, and for many it wasn’t.
We have had a change in officers throughout and so even
though the state board looks the same it is different. First we
say goodbye to outgoing President Ramona Daniel. We thank
her for her many years as state president but she’s not going to
far as she has become the new committeeman fro m d istrict 5,
you can run but you can’t hide. Thank you again for all your
service.
Next we b id adieu to Vice President/ Pac Chair Ron Reed.
Ron you have served faithfully these last four years and so
many more in so many other positions. We all wish you well
in your future endeavors no matter what they may be and
where they take you.
It will be d ifferent at the board meetings without the wit
and insight that has been offered by Assistant Secretary/
Treasurer Gerry Bligh. He has worked for this union probably
longer than anyone else and with little co mplaint, and probably less pay for all he has done all the union members. Thanks
Gerry you are one of a kind.
Th is wouldn’t be right if I didn’t thank two district President’s for their time and effort at the helm, those being Gil
Perez of d istrict 3 and Dianne Ro mme of d istrict 5. They both
did excellent work running their respective districts. Thank
you for all the work you did and stepping up for running the
elections committee.
We welco me Jim Hardy as the new District 3 President,
and Kathy Ward as the new District 5 President, we wish
them both well at their new positions.
Dawn Makrinikolas has been assigned to take on the position of Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer. Good luck Dawn.
NRLCA Executive Co mmitteeman Susan Knapp attended
our meeting and brought information on many topics. Here is
a quick overview of some of the hot buttons.
A mazon and Sunday package delivery, it’s going to happen. RCA’s will be delivering for the rural craft on a volunteer basis.
New scanners with mo re capabilities, and the possibility of
a rural only type of scanner in the future.
Post Plan which involves an APO office and RM PO offices, sort of one postmaster overseeing several offices. The
engineered study and that it is going to take longer to acco mplish due to the complexity involved to get it right.
There were many more things that were covered and not
enough room to exp lain them all.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sec-Treasurer’s Two Cents
State Sec-Treasurer: Steve McCarthy
You may be wondering why there are two Statement of Activities reports in this issue of the BRJ.
items. As far as expenses go, this fiscal year’s costs are
$37,374.09 less than for the same period last year.
On January 1, we started a new company file. The reason
we did this was to create a company file without any steward
related chart of account line items. When you begin a new co mpany file you start from scratch so there is no previous year’s
data to draw fro m. In order to give you an idea of our expenses
fro m the prior fiscal year I pulled the data fro m the old company file. That is why there are separate reports.
Please note that for the first 4 ½ months of the 2012 -2013
fiscal year we were still paying all steward related expenses.
That accounts for the major d ifference as compared to this
year. Most other expenses for this fiscal year are pretty much
in line with last year.
Please let me know if you have any questions about our
state’s finances.
Please note that the new company file has no steward line
V O LU ME 5 I S S U E 2
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B A C KR O A D S J OU RN A L
V O LU ME 5 I S S U E 2
Page 5
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B A C KR O A D S J OU RN A L
Art Courcy
District Representative
CT Valley/Greater Boston Districts
IMPORTANT: Automated Bi dding
We have been utilizing the automated bidding system for
bidding on posted rural routes for over 4 years now. Up until
this point, we have seen very limited issues with the automated
bidding system. For the most part, the transition to the automated bidding process has gone very well in the districts of
Connecticut Valley and Greater Boston. However, recently,
we experienced an issue due to a lack of knowledge of the
bidding process which had a detrimental impact. Therefo re, I
feel that it is imperative to once again discuss the procedure of
automated bidding.

Withdrawing or changing preferences must be done before
the closing date of the posting.
RCA’s are required to submit a bid in order to be considered for
any vacancy. The senior RCA bidding will be awarded the residual vacancy as long as their bid included the residual route
(or they selected the option for any available route).
Ho wever, when mo re than one regular route is posted on the
vacancy notice, the RCA may submit their route preferences
through automated bidding, in order to be provided a choice of
the residual routes. If there are multip le vacancies, and the junior RCA lists preferred routes and the senior RCA does not,
The proper procedure utilized when bidding is clearly es- then the junior RCA will be awarded their preferred route (if it
tablished on all rural route postings; “Eligible rural carriers becomes availab le) before the senior RCA that did not list prefwill submit bi ds using empl oyee self-service at erences. The senior RCA will go regular as long as their bid
www.litebl ue.us ps.gov, HR Ki osks, web bi ddi ng computers included the residual route (or they selected the option for any
or phone bi dding at 1-877-477-3273 Opavailable route). After the route posting clostion 2, TDD/TTY 1-800-265-7208.” In
ing date, the carrier will not be able to
“Eligible rural carriers
most cases, the rural carrier will submit b ids
change preferences or decline a route on
will submit bids using
fro m their home co mputer by utilizing the
which they are the successful bidder. Most
liteblue.usps.gov website. In some offices,
importantly, RCAs are required to submit a
employee self-service at
local management has allowed carriers to www.liteblue.usps.gov, HR bid for a posted vacancy if they desire to be
utilize the co mputer in the local office.
considered for any residual vacancy based
Kiosks, web bidding
Once access is granted to eligib le carriers,
upon the longest period of continuous service
computers or phone
the system will guide you through a step by
in the office. An RCA will not be awarded a
step bidding process. Let’s be clear o f the
bidding
residual vacancy if they do not bid or it is not
language contained on the route posting;
listed as a preference. You should have re“ Eligible rural carriers will submit bi ds…” elig ible carriers ceived notification fro m the Postal Service with instructions to
include Regular Carriers, PTF’s and RCA’s. Most importantly, create a mo re secure password to access USPS self-service web
Do Not let anyone convince you that you are not eligible to applications such as PostalEASE, eCareer, ePayro ll, and eOPF.
bid or that you cannot bid. You always have a right to bid There is a new Self-Serv ice Profile (SSP) application in which
when there is a route posting in your office. No one can stop emp loyees will create and manage their self -service password,
you fro m b idding, even in FSS offices that may withhold a email address, security challenge questions, and 4-digit Perresidual vacancy after the posting closes; an RCA is still elig i- sonal Identification Nu mber (PIN) for telephone transactions. If
ble to bid. However, they may not be awarded a route due to you have not already created this password, you should do so as
the FSS Mou regard ing withholding residual vacancies. Please soon as possible in order to avoid any issues that may arise
note that we have very few of these instances presently occur- when the time co mes that you need to access the system.
ring, just about all build back has been completed on the FSS
I previously stated that we recently experienced an issue due
impacted routes.
to a lack of knowledge of the bidding process. Why??? As you
Some ru les to remember when submitting bids;
read this article, you may be saying that you have heard this
over and over regarding automated bidding. You have previCarriers must bid on all routes for which they have an interest:
ously read articles in th is newsletter. Instructions have been

In the order of preference.
printed in our national magazine. I cannot count the number of
times that I have discussed this process at various Union meet Using the official position identification number(s).
ings. The information is out there and has been provided, yet
we still have had some issues. The answer to why, I believe is
 Utilizing the bidding method specified on the posting.
“knowledge is a powerful tool”. It takes knowledge to know
 The vacant position/route should only be listed if the carrier will accept that route.
V O LU ME 5 I S S U E 2
Page 7
your rights. What rights you have and when those rights may
be violated. Ho w do you obtain all of th is knowledge? By reading the publications that are sent to every member of our Union. More importantly, by attending your district, county and
state Union meet ings. It is one thing to read an article to gain
the important knowledge of the changes that we face, but you
can obtain a greater clarification to any questions that you may
have at the various meetings. We have seen a decline recently
in the attendance at our Union meet ings, again I ask why???
This is not the time to bury our heads in the sand and to hope
all is well in the end. It is time to know everything that you can
about your job, your rights and entitlements. A Union is only
as strong as its members and its member’s participation. I hope
to see you soon at your next Union meeting.
ing Panel has identified a sample of over 5,000 rural routes
selected to be representative of all rural routes throughout the
country, and the new scanners or Mobile Delivery Dev ice
(MDDs) and related equipment will be introduced on these
sample routes over the next few months. Please check the national website often for updates as developments occur. Carriers need to be aware that they could be involved with data collection related to the Engineering Study in the upcoming
months, which will include the deployment of the new scanners
(also shown on the national website). This is an important process and should be taken very seriously, should your office be
involved with the study in the future.
In Solidarity,
You may have read on our national website an update regarding where we are with the current engineering study and Art Courcy
redesign of the evaluated compensation system. The Engineer-
Assistant District Representative
Margaret Schillemat
Summer Article
By the time this article reaches all of you, we will be
coming into the summer season. With that, we will be finding not only the nice warm temperatures and sunshine filled
days, but also the ants and hornets/wasps in the mailbo xes.
So please do be careful when you are out delivering to
watch not only for the children who will be out playing, but
also for the mailbo x insects.
Along with the summer season comes the is sue of being
denied leave due to a lack of substitutes in the office. It is all
of our contractual right to have a substitute for the route we
deliver. That being said, it is incu mbent upon us to file a
grievance if one is not hired/placed on our routes in a timely
fashion. A lot of us are afraid if we file a griev ance that b ad
things will happ en eith er to us o r to the office as a who le.
Don 't be run by fear, be run by you r contract and ho w it is
supposed to be enfo rced . If we do not stand up and fight fo r
our rights, manag ement will hav e no prob lem taking them
away fro m us. If the route you d eliv er does not cu rrent ly
have a substitute as per Art icle 30, Sect ion 2.A.2. o f the National Ag reement, you should file a 120 day letter requ esting a
sub using the attached do cu ment. At the end of the 120 d ay
period , if there are at least two (2) K rout es in the office, the
senior sub in the office would beco me a PTF Rural, thus
(hopefully) forcing the Post Office to hire mo re RCA's. This
is a call to arms for all of us to file our letters with management and get them to hire more RCA's and convert some of
the ones we have to regulars, as a PTF rural. Our RCA's
work hard and deserve to have the opportunity at a career
position. I t is up to all of us to adh ere to all th at ou r cont ract
offers to us as regu lars and RCA 's and ensure that management does the same.
Page 8
Hopefully all of you did remember to sign up on the
RDWL (Relief Day Work List) in May, per Art icle 8.5 of
the National Agreement wh ich states "The second opportunity to sign the relief day work list will be three weeks prior
to the beginning of the first full pay period in May." This
should have been posted in all offices for any rural carrier
to sign from Ap ril 12 - May 2nd. This list is used to establish
regular rural carriers who are indicating their desire to work
any relief day needed until the end of the guarantee period.
If it is necessary to wo rk a carrier on a relief day, management will select the sen io r rural carrier on the list with the
applicab le relief day. Each occasion thereafter, manag ement
will rotate the assign ment to work the relief day among the
rural carriers on the list with the needed relief day. Remember, you M UST sign up each t ime the list is posted to remain
on the RDW L. You r next opportunity to sign will be in October of this year at the beginning of the new guarantee
period.
Hav e a safe and happy su mmer!
In So lid arity ,
Margaret Schillemat
NRLCA NNE, Greater Boston, Connecticut Valley
Assistant District Representative
P.O. Bo x 722
Keene, NH 03431-0722
603-762-1359
603-847-9196
B A C KR O A D S J OU RN A L
Vice President and PAC Report
Vicky Laczynski: Vice President/ PAC Chair
Hello all, as your newly elected Vice President of the dedicated high quality service we have all provided.
MaRLCA I am so excited to start diving into my duties as
PAC Chair.
I want to thank all our past officers for blazing a trail
for me and all the other newly elected
I am preparing to head to Washingofficers of this union and I will be pickton DC to attend the Legislative seminar
ing their brain in the future for
Legislative seminar
May18-21. I am looking forward to
their opinion on future issues that may
May18-21.
sharing our concerns about the future of
arise while I'm in office .
the postal service with many a politician
and making them see things from our
Wish me luck!
point of view. I hope to make them understand how hard we really work for our paycheck and Victoria Laczynski
to gain the respect we deserve for the many years of
Congressman Stephen Lynch is pictured with National Committeeman Steven Traylor, MA Vice President/Pac
Chair Vicky Laczynski and MA President Bill Piwowarski on May 22, 2014.
V O LU ME 5 I S S U E 2
Page 9
Union Service Appreciation Awards
Dianne Romme for her service as District 5 President.
Presented by Secretary/Treasurer Steve McCarthy
Gerry Bligh for his many years as SecTreasurer, assistant Sec-Treasurer, Web master, Editor and other duties.
Presented
McCarthy
by
Secretary/Treasurer
Steve
Ron Reed for Dist. 1 President, Editor, State Vice
President and PAC Chair.
Presented by Secretary/Treasurer Steve McCarthy
Member of the Year
Dawn Makrinikolas was presented with the Member of
the Year Award by Vice President Ron Reed at the
Spring State meeting in Taunton.
V O LU ME 5 I S S U E 2
Page 10
Who Ya Gonna Call?
Area Stewards:
Ed Knight
413-323-7392
Assistant District Representatives:
Peter Allatin
ed-mary@msn.com 860-267-0033
Laurie Raimer
401-397-9325
Bill Piwowarski
413-436-5097
Dan Cote
wjp01585@yahoo.com
Don Ryle
508-997-1696
978-319-5427
(Full Time ADR)
Bill Smith
860-664-1020
District Rep CT Valley/Greater
Boston:
(Full Time DR)
Art Courcy
508-761-6870
V O LU ME 5 I S S U E 2
Page 11
Backroads Journal
Presorted
Dawn Makrinikolas, Editor
First Class Mail
59 Lincoln Ave. #15
First Class Mail
U.S. Postage Paid
Plainville, MA 02762-2683
Holliston, MA
Phone:
Permit No. 72
508-838-3800
Email:
marlca-brj@hotmail.com
Appointed Members:
State Executive Officers:
Assistant Sec-Treasurer: Dawn Makrinikolas
President: Bill Piwowarski
(413) 436-5097
Dawn.Makrinikolas@nrlca.org
wjp01585@yahoo.com
Vice President: Vicky Laczynski
victorialaczynski@yahoo.com
Sec-Treasurer:
Steve McCarthy
(413) 475-3607 PAC Chair: Vicky Laczynski
victorialaczynski@yahoo.com
(617) 247-1800
Steven.McCarthy@NRLCA.org
District Presidents and Committeemen:
#1: Sue Ann Lafond, Ed Knight
#2: Lo rraine Pacheco, Dawn Makrinikolas
#3: Jim Hardy, Deb Gendron
#4: A my Buccelli, Roger LePage
#5: Kathy Ward, Ramona Daniel
Ed itor: Dawn Makrin iko las
marlca-brj@hotmail.com