PostalReporter.com
Unfortunately, APWU was correct in collecting donations for only its slain union members.
Hmmm this broad quit the union in June 2004. So she was on materinty leave for about 18 months?
Thank goodness the APWU has the common sense to only support members. I think Scabs are entitled to have a step on grievance filed on their behalf if they want more perhaps they should be willing to contribute like the rest of us.
Bane, what the hell is a "step on grievance"? Is that a grievance filed because you were stepped on?
Did Jennifer belong to the APWU?
OK, as a local union officer I am usually against any activity that would benefit a scab. But this is a very extreme case. I think the APWU could have shown some sympathy by informing the membership of her non-member status and then let the donator decide who the money would go too. That would have been a better solution to a sensitive issue.
Hey Bane--
You need to seek professional help immediately. I realize our society is going to hell in a handbasket, but you have already hit the wall. You should reveal yourself so that you can be put out of your misery painlessly. You lack the compassion to function in not only this society, but any. Go to the nearest church immediately, do not pass go, do not collect $200, and get yourself some counseling. You have completely lost it!!
She was not part of the APWU organization. What is the problem here? Maybe the postmaster's union, supervisor's union, carrier's union and mail handler's union should be criticized for not helping her as well. I guess we could also find some other organizations that she was not a part of and make them obligated to contribute.
It's terrible that this has happened to her and maybe her coworkers or the USPS should get something going for her, but the APWU is responsible for it's members.
I would never expect an organization that I was not affiliated with to help me in any situation.
Hey anonymous..
apparently you are a non-member in suport of postal workers not joining the union. If postal workers want to be a non-member that their business, and in essence, telling the union they don't want any assistance or benefit from the organization. How can union money be spent or given to non-members. Its a shame what happen but money provided to the union by union members should not be shared by out-siders.
Perhaps non members or scabs will take up the cause for Maleka memorial fund. Don't mean to be heartless but the union is taking care of its members .
Yeah right, John/JFK!
The union is suppossed to fight for EVERYONE!! It's an open shop, meaning they are suppossed to represent EVERYONE!
They are taking care of their members alright, by LOSING JOBS!
Wake-up!!!!!
To air max,
You're a complete idiot. The APWU cannot give money to a scab. PERIOD. Get all the cheapskate scabs around the country to donate some of the money they have saved by not paying union dues to this womans estate.
As for me, I'd donate but I,m too busy working OT.
Where can we as "postal workers" donate to her family...I gladly pledge my COPA donation. A human, being, daughter, mother...more important that the union at a time like this...I am a appalled APWU member.
Union funds can only be given to union members. That is what they are for. However, in my office we have taken up donations for employees who had lost a loved, etc by passing the hat around the office. Our local would send flowers to members who lost a family member but couldn't send them to a non-member. Others would take up donations instead. It didn't matter if they were a member or not. They are a fellow human being.
The National Union is bound by the contract, etc and they could not give $$ to a non member even if they wanted to.
They set up the fund on the APWU website. Do non-members really donate to that fund or visit that site? Those of you who are complaining who are non-members should set up your own fund.
I would make a private donation if I knew where to send it. Why doesn't someone set up a fund for her family through their bank or something and post it here.
It is not because the APWU is heartless, but elected officials are bound to uphold the rules.
Don't waste time complaining. Those of you who know the family- get the info and post it here.
I'm sure donations made from that would add up significantly in no time if you really mean what you say.
what about the benefits she was receiving before death....thanks to the APWU...which she was NOT paying for...she made a choice not to belong to an organization...aren't all you republicans out there the ones who scream about personal responsibility....don't flip-flop now
I used to belong to a country club, then I quit, does that mean I am entitled to go play there now just because I used to belong? You dont want to be part of an organization then you arent part of an organization, simple isnt it?
First and foremost; My prayers go out to the Higgins family. I think of the little girl growing up w/o a mother and not being able to share lifes precious moments and it greatly saddens me. I know that the good lord will comfort the family in these troubled times.
2nd; It is a shame that Maleka did not support the union. When I hear that people drop out of the union because they cannot afford it, it makes me upset to know that they don't really understand that if it were not for the union, they couldn't afford ALOT of things which the do now. Shame on them!!
3rd; Benefits that postal employees are able to aquire are VERY affordable. If Maleka opted NOT to pick up the maxium life insurance policy, shame on her. For virtually PENNIES and day, you can hold the max pay out on life insurance. AND.. since the accident happened AT WORK..the policy IS doubled!!!!! Let's hope she was cheap enough not pay for insurance, too!
Union man for life
Annonymous,
Here you are again! Mr. Know-it-All!
hey remember the $400,000 dollars taken out of the Union Kitty by APWU officers! Well maybe the Union could see fit to pay the family something! Christ Sake she was murdered! On the job! And with 5 other employees! Show some "Class"!
APWU sucks as much as you! Eat Me twice!
ok ok...Before the roast starts... I did have some typo's. So don't start.
Union man
It just goes to prove that being a scab hurts more then one. The APWU is correct in their actions.
where is the outrage at the Bush Administration for screwing Vets out of survivor benefits after they get murdered on the job in Iraq?....hypocrits!
APWU = Always Pay When USELESS
The APWU can't give her any money because the big-wigs have already skimmed off all the loose change.
Just those two in New Jersey have been caught so far.
Every career postal worker is given free basic life insurance of their annual salary rounded up to the nearest thousand plus another $2,000. If the person is under age 35 (as Maleka was), the life insurance amount is automatically doubled. This means her family will get about $90,000 at least. Full details, including how to file a claim, are posted on the USPS website at http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/man...lmc5/
elm530.pdf.
This is the minimum life insurance coverage. Each employee gets an annual "Personal Statement of Benefits" which states how much life insurance coverage they have. It is also coded on their bi-weekly earnings statement. The code can be deciphered at http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/h...ook/
sf50tbl.asp.
This was a cheap shot to bash the A.P.W.U. Who negotiated and obtained these benefits for Maleka Higgins and her family?
I noticed the fop who wrote that story didn't mention life insurance or other payments (OWCP?) that her family may get. Also, my Local has provisions for members to maintain their membership without paying dues when they are in an unpaid leave status. Was this option available to Maleka? As a nonmember, the APWU is obligated to represent her in relations with her employer and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE. All I see in this story is some serious GREED by family members. What say Sherie? Pablo?
Would be difficult for the APWU to give anyone any funds,member or nonmember since their financial officers and trustees are stealing $$$'s at every opportunity.ISn't this one the one who was so involved with 'diversity'.I say let the diversity committee put together some cash for her,they can just pile up their food stamps and send them her families way.
Hallelujah.It's about time.Sorry but i'm tired of carrying SCABS on my back.So from now on think of the union as an insurance policy.If you drop it or never had it T_O_O B_A_D.
>>OK, as a local union officer I am usually against any activity that would benefit a scab. But this is a very extreme case.
Hey Scabs,Leechees Freeloaders,send us your Money now. We will need it for our vacation Conventions.
Bravo for comments by Dan Sullivan
21st Century Postal Worker site
"The story ripping APWU for not passing the hat for Maleka Higgins, one of the victims of the post office shooting spree in Goleta, CA is an example of incredibly bad journalism.
The hack who knocked it out for the Santa Barbara News-Press, a Barney Brantingham, is entitled to his opinions. But he shouldn't pass himself off as a journalist if he's going to lie about the facts to support his argument.
Barney praised one of the Goleta's co-workers, a fellow named Bruce La Clair for trying to get the union to include Higgins in a collection it started for the shooting victims.
"If only Maleka's union cared half as much," Brantingham self-righteously huffed.
Wrong, Brantingham. The American Postal Workers Union was NOT Maleka Higgins' union. She dropped out of the union a year and a half ago.
If only Barney Brantingham and the Santa Barbara News-Press cared half as much about accuracy as they do about sensationalism."
When an employee goes on leave and does not pay dues because they are in a non pay status they are still considered members of the union and are put on a non deduct list. When they return or during their time out they can repay any dues if the choose or not in both cases they would still be considered members. when they return after the abscence the PO would simply start deducting the dues from her pay again and she would not be responsible to pay back the dues. That is not what happened here this women went and quit the union she decided to become a scab, it is bad enough that the scabs live of my dues and all other members dues to get all the thins that the union has fought for, but now they want money handed to her as though she should be an honorary member. That is such a joke.
What absolute fools! 1st scumbags, it is NOT union money- it is donations from postal employees. If every other union asks members NOT to donate to the 5 but to the ONE only the 5 would be in poop in comparison. The NALC is more generous than APwU always! This just proves you are lower than the whale $hlt previously thought. Post the address as I have a donation for her only.
Tell her family to go to the SCAB FUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
'Slug union proves greed' should be the headline.
What a tragedy this was and my sympathy goes out to Maleka Higgins family and the family of the other victims, however......I want to thank Bill Burrus for standing by his convictions and NOT including her in the American Postal Workers Union Memorial Fund. Not because she or her family don't "deserve" assistance, but because she CHOSE NOT TO BE A MEMBER therefore FORFEITING any additional benefits from the APWU.
As the poster said about paying dues to any other organization and then CHOOSING TO stop paying dues. Do you still get to reap the benefits of that organization? Would the life insurance policy pay up if she stopped paying her premiums 18 months ago? NO. Why should this be any different?
This is not a slam against her or her family and should not be taken as so. She was and IS just as important as the other victims, SHE WAS JUST NOT A MEMBER OF OUR ORGANIZATION, therefore exempt for additional benefits.
Union dues are minimal and unfortunately there are abuses that occur, (as some others have pointed out), and to those guilty, I hope they are punished to the full extent of the law, but to those of us who work to better the union and to take care of our members, we should not be lumped together with those few criminals.
And to address the comment about "vacation Conventions".....I have been to several of these "vacation Conventions" and it ALWAYS cost more than what is provided to me by my Local. I choose to go anyway and PAY THE DIFFERENCE MYSELF because I like to learn. Classes are provided to allow me to better serve my members and I take that job very seriously.
Again, my sympathies to all the victims of this horrific tragedy.
Just my two cents.....
Did every dollar that was donated to the union for the families of the victims come from a "UNION" member? I think not...as the UNION obviously "Thinks....not"
Hey APWU Members, your all a bunch of Whores!
At least I'm a Mailhandler Whore only interested in Overtime. Eat Me Three Times!
Oregon
The fund CLEARLY stated the victims it was set up for.
"The APWU has established a memorial fund to benefit the families of APWU members who were killed Jan. 30 in
the shootings at the Santa Barbara P&DC in Goleta, CA."
All one has to do is READ.
Donate if you want, don't if you don't. It's just that simple!!!
Look at it this way, what if management said well she wasnt a good employee therefore we are not going to help her out.
The APWU stance is crap, she donated for years what is not being told WHY DID SHE GET OUT, could the reason be because of mistreatment by APWU union member???
The APWU just to be humane should have said our heart goes out to her and here is where you can donate.
I know if management did anything like this boy o boy would congress be involved
It's a dayum shame some anti-union so-called writer uses tragedy of postal victims to bolster his name.
Every union member should e-mail
Barney Brantingham bbrantingham@newspress.com
to let him know how we feel about his sorry piece of writing.
or call him at 805-564-5105
You union slugs are all the same! Limited by your own selfish, lazy greed! All the APWU ever did for me was give me grief! The biggest mistake I ever made was transferring from a non-union Fed job to the postal service. I made more money, had better hours, and a lot classier people to work with! I finally learned that anything important is outside postal walls, and now make more money outside than in. Keep slugging, and writing those grievances and letting everyone else do your work, and you will be out of your fat job. Won't worry me! I can make it! Can you?
If unions are prohibited permitted to give funds to non-members, why did the Mail Handlers union donate $5,000?
Postal Memorial Fund
c/o Community West Bank
5827 Hollister Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
http://npmhu.org/Pubs/News/
News0...ews06020201.asp
GladIdroppedout2 i think you were one of the lazy ones the union did not want to help. so you dropped out. SCAB
Can you IDIOTS see the tree in the forest? Union money is for union members. Scab money needs to support Scabs. Quit whining and donate a little bit, Scabs.
The Mailhandler union donated because we are the class act out of all you so called unions. Either donate or dont......very simple process. Why does the APWU membership allways have to make a big deal out of things? If you dont agree, dont donate.
Humm maybe the APWU membership should be worried about thier jobs instead of this....Cuz the jobs are going to the NPMHU
Thank you Mr. Apps and Mrs. AFSM-100 for all you do for the mailhandler union....More power to the Mailhandlers. Its allmost time APWU, I hear the fat lady singing and she aint whistlin dixie.
Here is my 2 cents worth, even when I was down on my luck and off work because some fellow "co-worker" couldn't pull his share of the load and/or the supervisor didn't have the decency to rotate people in the job; that I didn't forego my membership because of a job injury.
That was a personal choice of the victim to relinquish her membership because of "maternity leave". It is not the fault of the union for their stance of the subject. However, after reading the article, it could have made the choice to honor her posthumously, which would have been the right thing to do. Some non-members, not in relation to the victim, should stay non-members because of their mentality and their own asinine behavior. While everyone gets their due, these clowns deserve NO representation whatsoever should they get into trouble on their own or because of someone else - open shop or not. You want representation, join the damn union and shut the hell up and quit your belly-aching. You sound worse than a 3 year old who has had their lollypop stolen from them.
I wonder what percentage of the funds will be used in "Administering the Fund" and what percent will be used to cover the embezelled funds in New Jersey? The victims will probably only get 10 % of hat collected. Remember that hotdog you got at the yearly union party for your dues? Samuel Gompers is rolling over in his grave. Maybe the union members should be called the scabs, they are the ones getting their pockets picked until they bleed. How much of your 1.6% raise went to dues that do nothing but disappear? While you ask what the union can do for me? Our union leaders ask what more can the union do for me. Just add that word MORE to your wants and you to can run for a union office.
LOOK IF SHE WAS A NON UNION MEMBER THAN THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS. SHE DECIDED THAT SHE DID NOT NEED THE UNION. I AM TIRED OF ALL THE NON UNION EMPLOYEES GETTIN THE SAME RIGHTS AS A MEMBER. I FEEL BAD AT WHAT HAPPENED BUT DONT USE MY DUES FOR ANYTHING THAT IS NOT FOR ALL MEMBERS. MAYBE MANAGEMENT WILL TAKE CARE OF HER. YEA RIGHT...UNION STRONG MEMBER
please,
Give me a break! If it weren't for the sacrifices of the unions so many years ago, you would be making $2.00 an hour(IF THAT!). Also, you wouldn't have OSHA(Occupational Safety & Health Administration) if it weren't for the unions. You or your husband wouldn't have the pleasure of coming out of the heat of the day or the cold of night into a climate controlled building. The list goes on and on and on and on. Do me a favor.
SHUT UP! If you want to gripe about something, go bitch and whine to your American president about a war that is senseless.
I bet the APWU will get the dues out of their last check to help cover the donation expenses. Let's see, only help the union hurricane victims, only help union members that go to Iraq. You make me sick! I'm out of this hippocritical union that says it wants the same treatment for all!Except stewards that shouldn't have to work because they don't get to share the dues. Oh I get it your not postal your union. Ship the APWU overseas and get better representation!
The headline is inflammatory! She was not victimized! As a career employee she could have taken out life insurance up to 5+ times her salary! Had she been a man, there would not of been a story!
Sounds like you want to be "Made" members of this little mafia. just think where we might be in this country with out union leaders like Jimmy Hoffa and Lucky Luciano.
From a PR position only idiots wouldn't take the high road and give a dead women's family aid. From a moral position only POND SCUM could be so low and without feelings to not want to give money. Thoose who have posted to screw her family digust me.
hammer,, you are 100% correct. The whale $hlt called 'ham hocker' has swallowed too many hockers. The union is not giving the families a dime-- it comes from donations from po employees. I wish I could get every dime I gave to this slime org back to give to her family. I do have a bit to send to her family- need the address. No way do I want to be associated with this slug organization. My form goes in the mail next month and they get no more dues then- the only thing this group is good for is protecting those that should be fired. Now I can hope there are zero clerk jobs left in a year-- just hire the non-union people after sending this union to the crapper where it belongs!
Please,
A few more words, Please. Please shut UP!! Please. Please. Please.
If you don't like it, then go to "closed shop" and see what's in store. You want to bad mouth an organization that helps ALL members of THE union. You know, I bet you didn't even bother to read the article, did you? Ever stop to think the reporter who wrote the article is glamorizing the fact that the union chose to exclude this victim? The fact remains, she chose to resign her membership.
I am willing to bet if she had of been a union member at the time of the shooting, as the article states, she would have been on days and not still stuck on nights. However, as fate would have it, such was not the case. But, no one knows for sure, if that would have changed the outcome of events that took place. Not you...certainly not me....not anyone.
She has to be admired for the fact that she was on her way "back" into the plant and on the cellphone to warn everyone, but, was unfortunately gunned down. That is the stuff that hero's are made of, either living or posthumously. If that had been a combat situation, she would have been awarded a Purple Heart for her actions. That is something we should all be proud of! How many of us would have "cut & run"? Sadly, quite a few. No one wants to be a hero anymore. And you know something, the shooter probably could have been detained and the body count wouldn't have been as high.
Not too many people have the high regard of human life as this person did and she showed it in her final moments on earth. For that, she should be made an "honorary Union member", posthumously. So, if the Union is monitoring these blogs - then it would be something to consider.
Please, for God sake's - enough of the BS about scabs and the union. Admire the woman for what she did before she died and I, personally, think that should be rewarded. She done something that the large majority wouldn't dream of doing. She sacrificed her own life to try to save others.
Why is this a union issue? It's because she was not a union member. So, the APWU can't legally give her anything. It is against the rules of the contract.
It would be the other way around if they did. Then you would be complaining about that.
You would remember someone you knew or a similar situation when it wasn't done and find some way to start arguing that point.
The USPS should set up a fund on their website. Then anyone could donate.Post the info so we can send in a donation to her family but remember, there are other avenues of financial assistance as mentioned in previous posts.
What about The Victim's of Crime
Fund ? Any of you who know her family should advise them of this. In fact, let all of the families know. It is posted in every hospital. I took advantage of it when my daughter was the victim of a crime over twenty years ago. It pays for alot of expenses associated with the crime including assisting the victim's families.
She WAS a hero- she could have run the other way. By some of your posts I can tell many of you would have. I have never seen such cold, uncaring comments.
I am a proud union member and an officer. I don't think this should be cut and dry. She was a fellow human being,a wife, a mother. It's not just about money; it's about respect. The union can't legally give her money. Leave it at that.
Get the info and set up a fund. Spend your time doing this kind of thing instead of posting some of the garbage you guys post.
What about our employer,USPS? Do they have a fund set up or are they thinking of ways to get out of paying up when they are sued? Why do I not hear anything about their response? They gave the families a Medal of Freedoom? Did they start afund- show me the money!
please don't let this scum reporter upset good union members.
unfortunately miss higgins CHOSE to leave our union and all of our benefits. we all choose to pay our fair share to have the strength of a union to negotiate for us collectively. miss higgins CHOSE to separate herself from us - we must RESPECT HER CHOICE. it is sad that her mother and co-worker think that our union should embrace her as a member. i am bewildered. why should anyone think that they are entitled to benefits that they have not paid for? i am different - i was raised in a family that did not assume entitlements. i was raised to work for everything that is received. i am so disgusted by people that expect that they deserve special treatment. i am grateful that i have the freedom to join a union!!!!!!!!!! i have absolutely no sympathy for scabs that choose to not join the APWU. save your union dues money for unexpected expenses.
addendum to the above post: save your union dues money for unexpected expenses.
this advise was intended for scabs. scabs make me ill and disgust me. they are dishonorable people and are freeloaders. our union dues would be less if we did not have to SUBSIDISE the freeloading scabs. thank you for listening to my rant.
Mr. ot, speaking of IDIOTS, why don't you look in the mirror!!! You're too busy working o.t. as you call it, to know what's going on in the world!
Yeah, you'd donate alright, but not to any good cause! You're just money-hungry, and only care about yourself!
It shows by all the ridicoulous comments you post on this website!
Whatever side you take in this issue, you have to admit that this is the worst piece of crap article ever written. Don't bother getting any input from the Union Brantley, you moron. "The Union's newsletter,posted in every Post Office in the U.S., will surely bring a fountain of donations." The Unions newsletter-posted to Union Members on the Union bulletin board-I know of no scabs that will give to anything Union related. They only take the free ride. I guess the USPS should give her the maximum insurance even though she didn't apply for it too-you jackass.
email the moron at bbrantingham@newspress.com
Perhaps when she was on that cell phone she might have been calling one of those union members inside to warn them? Possible?
Perhaps at some point in her employment she might have donated leave to a union member recovering from chemotherapy? Possible?
Perhaps she was down on her luck during her pregnancy and needed every dime to make it through and so quit the union? Possible?
The inhumanity exhibited by so-called proud union members against the so-called scabs really drives employees to sign up in APWU by the thousands doesn't it?
This was a time for the APWU to shine; and they blew it big! Its not the fault of the press-APWU served it to them on a silver platter!
How effective is this reliance by some APWU & other unions in name calling and demeaning attacks upon people that are only trying to get through life the best they can? Frankly, I don't see anyone at all wanting to join ranks with intimidators, insulters and mean spirited blowhard bullies!
APWU should be trying real hard to find out exactly what is the problem that keeps people from joining. Perhaps its the fact that the steward or stewards don't come out on the workroom floor to work. Perhaps its the fact that some stewards may be in it for themselves? Perhaps its the fact that some stewards violate employees rights more than management does? This happens every day and we all see it!
This is 2006 and its not enough to say join cause your paycheck depends on the union! That won't cut it. Neither will calling people scabs or other names only because your coffers have been depleted over the years and impending impacts will further deplete your financial resources. I personally think that things are to the to the point that perhaps Union's will resort to the type of activities as were depicted in the 1954 movie "On the Waterfront" where union members were deprived of a living by the union only because they wouldn't toe the line!
Those times are gone and so are intimidation tactics who's goal is to attract members? How absurd is that?
No-perhaps APWU needs to clean house and rid themselves of representatives that spend their workday at the PO with their feet up on the desk and the slice of pizza in their mouth while members and non-members (all of whom are co-workers) toil and put up with the bosses crap!
APWU - you couldda been somebody! You blew it! Not the press; they only reported the COLD/HARD facts. You showed what you are really all about! Because of your actions you must think that employees will be stepping all over themselves to join? I'm sure!
Some will say why should we use union funds for a non-member? The same way union funds are expended for those one week chirades that are called conventions where most of the time is spent exchanging pins and listening to speeches from foreigners & politicians! The same way union funds are expended to deny dues paying members their rights! The same way union funds are expended to organize private sector truckers at the expense of jobs & runs which rightfully belong to your Motor Vehicle Craft Members!
I guess anyone that was contemplating joining the APWU in Santa Barbara have now made their decisions and you APWU proved that their decision not to was in fact the correct one!
Hypocrites! You all make me sick!
What about all the stewards that never work?
The same folks who whine about stewards in the office are the same folks who are upset when the steward cannot answer their question.
HEADLINE: Are you ready for this nugget of wisdom?
GRIEVANCES ARE WON AND LOST BEFORE A VIOLATION OCCURRS!
It takes long hours of study to be a quality steward. If your steward sits in the office and reads magazines and sleeps it is time to address it with your President. If no assistance follow the chain of command up. Get into your stewards grill and tell him to his face that he is not gaining respect through his actions.
The problem is simple. This message board is filled with employees who whine, complain and want their diapers changed by someone other than themselves.
Quit blaming others, read a book once in awhile, and attain a quality life outside of the USPS.
Or be like the posters here: divorced, unhappy, and bitter
You choose!
I was a union paying member for over 30 years, I have an unblemished record. I was even a stewart then elected to Chief Steward by my fellow employees. I was a big union backer. I never asked the union,or needed the union for anything for those thirty years, but when I started working for the postmaster from hell and asked for a little help from my union they seemed too preoccupied with helping the employees who didnt feel like coming to work or slept on the job.who deserved to be fired. Ive been out of the union 5 years and Im glad to see my union dues didnt go to the my local, headed by Weightman and McGovern. I think you read about them.
Read the fine print. I think everyone has pointed out the same facts: she was not a union member, the union can not use its funds on nonmembers, the donations are that-money not from union funds, etc. However, and here's the fine print, to ask for donations on the UNION web site, or in any UNION letterhead, or in any other UNION publication is improper because these forms of communication are paid by UNION members for UNION members.
I was a member of the National Anal Locator Coalition which stunk pretty badly. I injured myself at work and was given a new position so I joined the American Proctologist Workers Union and I worked each day from that point on in crappy jobs. I finally retired to get away from all at that shit.
Sometimes it is very hard to determine which is the Freeloader and which is the Freeloadee.
Hey K@@L, You finally revealed yourself. I am glad to see that now you are retired that you have a life and put all this behind you... Oh! Wait! You haven't.. You are are a miserable suck! Why don't you just end it all and make everybody happier?
Question: What will be the outcome when Jack Potter sits down with The National Anal Locator Coalition and the American Proctologist Workers Union in negotiations?
Answer: Jackshit
AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL
Well at least it sounds good.
That's Good K@@L, Ask the questions that only you answer. Do you talk things over with the voices in your head? It's apparent by your being here on this site that no one else is talking to you. I guess it alright though because it keeps you away from school zones and children.
Hey air max,
Sounds like you are just an old "windbag". Don't you worry about me. As soon as I get some time off, I'll send in some donations. Maybe one for you to help you learn how to spell the word "ridiculous". Moron!
Mr. OT, Why don't you hook up with L@@K. You work so you can wear the pants and he can be the the domestic goddess now that he doesn't work. His name says it all. A nonperforming voyeur that bitches and whines no matter what. You deserve each other. I like your answer,"As soon as I get some time off, I will donate". Kind of like"As soon as I need the union, I will join". You piece of crap!
Hey! Mr. OT, You must have got some time off because you are posting here. Did you donate yet you cheap whining screw?
L@@K, is your real name Ed Cramer? You from Denver?
Boy there sure are alot of life's losers posting here. The greed of some APWU members is shocking. This woman was a dues paying member before taking maternity leave. I guess that means nothing to the low life money grubbers. If she had never belonged to the union it still is wrong for the APWU to exclude her from a fund set up for DONATIONS! The union can keep every greasey dime they have. This money was coming from people who have a moral conscience and wanted to help out. As always the union has shown its true colors, not red, white or blue but YELLOW!
Don't know who is right in all of this but I try to live by the golden rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and have now been motivated to send a donation to Makela's individual fund.
the apwu cannot help her cause they need the money to defend the two apwu officers in local 190 in new jersey who are charged with stealing four hundred thousand dollars of apwu money. If they can get off and there is any money left maybe then!!
Mr O.T., you have to quit smoking that crap at lunch time! Donate to me?
You're so money hungry that, that you wouldn't donate to your own family!
oops! I forgot, the P.O. is your own family! Cheap-skate MORON!!!!
To anonymous post @ 8:19am, I wouldn't expect the national right to life committee, NRA, GOP,or any group I believe in or don't believe in to embrace and support me if there wasn't a connection between me and them before hand. This muckraker has successfully divided seemingly good people and gotten away from the issue at hand by attacking the Union. The tragedy is what it is and Union membership is what it is. I have 33 years in the union/usps and I have seen all the crap addressed above come and go. Nothing has changed. Just the faces. If you are a union member, you know that you don't pay dues in a non-pay status but you remain a member. That said, I expect my membership in the union to mutually assist like minded people. If one wishes to rely on their individual wiles to get by so be it. I wouldn't expect something for nothing and that is what it sounds like the muckraker wants people to believe should happen for whatever reason he has. Is it possible he is oblivious to that as that is what non members already get. I am on the the other coast and there are plenty of tragic events occurring here that are deserving of compassion. The people in these events are no less deserving of compassion. I do not expect my Union to engage in discussion on who we should contribute to outside the thing that is held in common and that is membership in the union, pure and simple! How anyone can think that it is O.K to expect something for nothing or from something you don't believe in is beyond me! The victim can't speak to the issue that has artificially been create by someone who wouldn't normally give a postal worker the time of day. Was she the kind of person that expect something for nothing? The guilt and wrong lies squarely with the shooter.
This reporter is nothing but a Bushist union buster
sounds heartless but hey "she wasn't a member" going to rejoin doesn't make you a "member". Anyhow it is just hearsay she was going to rejoin..most people who quit never rejoin,,,let the scabs take up a collection..not a penny of my dues to her even if I knew her,,I might give some money to the scabs but Burris better not let one dollar of my dues go to her.
It'll be a cold day in hell when apwu gets my money. I look forward to when the apwu will either be bankrupt or decertified.
What you name callers can't stand is that while you call me a scab, I'm still getting that paycheck with 20+ hours OT on it.
You'll NEVER be able to change that so nahnee nahnee nahnee!
To Anonoymous!
iIi You get it?
Right on Anonoymous!
You are so right!
If MR. O.T. had a "brain" he would be dangerous!
All of this name-calling and union-bashing is getting us nowhere. Find out how to donate your money to her family. Period. What's the address, etc for her fund? I believe in helping my fellow human beings- union or not! I just can't donate to HER on the APWU website is all.
It's simple guys. As usual you waste precious time making your usual asinine comments.
IT is the USPS job to start a fund. That's where she worked, risked her life, dying instead of running away from her worksite. She ran to it to warn her fellow employees whether they were union members or not!
In my opinion USPS created the chain of events which led to her death, but that is another can of worms we have already gotten into.
Get some help. This page is not a replacement for the psychological help you need.
Put your money where your mouth is. Non-members are not going to donate to a union fund anyway!
OK! OK! I sent in $5,000 to the fund today.
I,m sorry!
Scab- and if that happens, you think you'll still get that 20 hours OT, or will it go to a casual, or someone else the bosses want?
Boo Hoo Hoo I'm a scab Boo Hoo Hoo I'll be up all noght Boo Hoo Hoo I feel so bad Boo Hoo Hoo I'm gonna run down and sign up in the Apwu cause they made me feel bad Boo Hoo Hoo iIi iIi iIi iIi iIi iIi iIi iIi iIi iIi iIi to all of you
APWU IS AN OPEN SHOP. IF A SETTLEMENT FOR A CASUAL GRIEVANCE WAS PAID NON-MEMBERS HAVE TO GET PAID ALSO, WHICH I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH, BUT IT'S THE LAW. IN THIS CASE OF TRAGEDY THIS WOMAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AND HER FAMILY MIGHT EVEN HAVE THE OPTION OF FILING LABOR BOARD CHARGES AGAINST APWU.
Question: How can a productive postal employee get a retired IOD employee productive again?
Answer: Work all the overtime he can get leaving his wife lonely at home.
Here's an idea. All of you numbskulls out there badmouthing the union, do some research!
Find out the difference between a closed-shop and a open-shop.
You will find that national Right-To-Work advocates support the notion of a open shop because it is nothing more than a union-busting tool. I am dead set against ANY Right-To-Work Law, whether it be on a local level or a state level. And don't let the name fool you, it's not what it stands for. Like, "well, everybody has right to work...."; sorry, that's not what its' true meaning is. In a closed shop enviroment, you have to belong to the union if you want to continue your employment - which is the way it should be - complete solidarity. An open shop, you can join the union, if you want to, but, it is not a condition for your continued employment, which in turn makes the union a weaker organization. Try going to a state that has a "Right To Work" law versus one that doesn't; you'll find the wages are much higher in the states that don't have the Right To Work laws and the occurence of Safety infractions are far less as well. As far as states that have these "Right To Work" laws, employee moral is low, accident occurences are through the roof, higher worker-comp claims, lower pay and overall job production is down as a result.
Sorry Sharkey, You are wrong. They can file all they want but it ain't gonna happen. You can Re-evaluate your sense of entitlement! I can assure you that you try to come my local's meeting or anything that is put on by my local, I personally will through your scab a$$ out, gentley of course.
sharkey - find the lawyer, I'll donate to that too. Along with the dues I'll NOT be paying after next month! Never had a use for the apwu, now there is a reason to get out. Who wants to associated with such a BS org?
more and more excuses to freeload.
K@@L aka L@@K -- The names of the organizations you belonged to seem to indicate the only criteria for membership is you are an asshole. Your posting prove you were highly qualified.
I believe my previous post clearly articulates that I am no longer a member of those organizations I am retired. It just takes awhile for the odor to leave ya, you will find out when you retire. I am getting better, up until this point I have not singeled out or ridiculed anyone's personal post. Your comments to me were below the belt, unfortunately in was the back of your wifes head that you hit.
true colors of the union are showing how embare ass ing.
how can any scap expect the union to jealously defend them against management? is anyone who whithdrew from the union and then rejoined always on triple secret probation?. what if it had been a customer that came to the aid of one of our union brothers and had been murdered for their efforts? i'd like to think my union whould include them in a memorial fund. what was done in previouse postal killing? what did mo biller do? are we honoring precident? how hollow are words of condolences must sound to malekas family. if i were her husband or father i would spit in your proud apwu faces.
Maleka Higgins Fund, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, 20 E. Carrillo St., 93101.
Now go ahead and mail you money
interesting read
Postal workers' Web site hot with debate
http://www.newspress.com/Top/Art...1&
ARCHIVES=true
Hmmm - You are a fool. After decades of throwing my money away supporting lazy workers and even theives, this is enough to give it up! I don't want to be associated with such cold hearted, greedy fools. Solidarity-- is in your heads,, rocks, not brains!
cleansweep - thank you. With 4 years 9 months to go, that means 122 paydays that the apwu will not get my dues. I'll be sending a nice check Tuesday!
L@@K, you are back! I guess all bottom feeders have to come up for air. In your case it should be meds. Trying to take the moral high ground will only cause your nose to bleed especially since you don't have the natural pressure of having your nose up the A$$ of your supervisior! I guess that you are bitter that your co workers saw you for what you are. A lazy light duty coaster that couldn't cut it as a carrier. Your stench would be unbearable to any craft that had to take you. Why don't you end it all so that we can see how much love there is out there for you? We can measure it by how much is donated to your estate!
I am a union member! You all can kiss my ass if you think I am going to contribute to a union fund that is going to allow a scab to reach out from the grave and tag me one more time! L@@k at the scum on this site condemning the members who PAY union dues. It is typical scab rhetoric how even more of our income should be spent on them. Now they are crying that they can't continue there freeloading ways beyond the grave.
Please dont call me a scab no more. I just can't take it boo hoo boo hoo Stop already I give up boo hoo boo hoo Go ahead and sign me up boo hoo I can't take being called a scab no more. Yeah right! Screw you! Get me whatever raises youre gonna get me or whatever! I'm short and never had to depend on you in 30 years of working for the PO and I'll never have to depend on you by the time I retire!
I'm proud to be a scab and no I'm not going to send back that measley 1.5% raise. You're gonna raise dues anyways you bunch of morons!
Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh Ha Ha Heh Heh!!!!!!!!!!!
DAMN PROUD TO BE A SCAB! 30 YEARS AT IT AND STILL GOING STRONG!
scabilicious - after 31 years of paying dues, I'm finished next month. How fortunate the union 'brothers' proved just how stupid and greedy they are a month prior to being able to become a scab. A very proud scab knowing the money I had contributed to the parties where brothers actually screwed sisters and all stayed in a drunken stupor on my dues. I wonder if they have pins to designate how many STDs they caught at conventions. I'll feel better knowing that money went to the family of a LADY that tried to save some UNION people.
L@@K,
Ahhhhh....it's now clear what is wrong with you - you have your head buried in your ass! A typical case of severe cranial rectal inversion. I sincerely hope you do get your sorry ass out of the union and the very next day, you get in trouble!
You won't stand a chance on your own, not these days! They're just looking for a good excuse to get rid of people. But, your biggest problem is that you let your ego get in the way of sound judgement(not that you had any to begin with!).
Your all a bunch of Jerks!
No Class!
Fullof Sh_t!
Greedy Bastards!
May all you souls end up in 030, twelve hours a day!
I'm sorry, but being a 21 year member of the Santa Barbara area local, as well as a former shop steward and craft director locally, I feel obliged to say that Meleka was a friend and a co-worker as well as a dues paying member of our local for many years. I am also sorry that this became a subject of public debate. I don't know who brought this to the press' attention, but it could have been handled within the local. BUT, I am also ashamed and embarassed to have OUR union be made to look mean and evil. This is NOT the case, but image can mean alot. I would hope that we can make this situation more equitable, and our local is looking into that. In the meantime, I would hope that my brothers and sisters within the union would please stop being so acidic in their comments, and let we who are here in SB have some time to sort this horrible occurance and deal with its consequences as best we can. THANKS
Scabalicous, You got no balls! Why don't you print your last post on a T- shirt and wear it to work?
My sympathies to this young ladies family. I wonder when she was calling 911 or screaming for her fellow employees to leave the building if she differentiated between Union and Non-Union members!
Thanks to her some of these Union Members may be alive today......what a shame, they should have been the one to take the bullet! Union people are so self-righteous.....I dropped out and will never rejoin!
They suckered me for 8 years but no more.......Bust the Unions! Lets Privitize and get rid of the dead weight!
Tarheel= deadweight..
Our union is supposed to represent those who belong and those who do not with the same dilligence. For those who need the address to donate and who don't want to read this stuff again:
Maleka Higgins Fund, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, 20 E. Carrillo St., 93101
ANONYMOUS, I WOULD NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD AT ONE OF YOUR MEETINGS. NOT BECAUSE I AM A SCAB, IN FACT, BECAUSE I AM A MEMBER OF THE NPMHU AND I WILL BE BUSY WORKING YOUR OLD JOBS THAT YOUR NATIONAL LOST AGAIN. APWU SHOULD BE AS TOUGH ON MANAGEMENT AS THEY ARE BEING WITH THIS POOR WOMAN'S FAMILY.
thank you, disgusted.
scabs are for scabs.
From the 21 Century Postal Worker website:
Joe Quinlan
Philly BMC Local 7048
- Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 10:21:08 (PST)
"To address the concerns raised by Unionbuster Barney Brantingham, perhaps the APWU should establish a fundraising effort for "non-members" who perish in natural disasters, postal shootings, etc. We should call this program "The Dead Scab Society". Union members would be asked to contribute an amount equivalent to that contributed by the freeloading scabs to collective bargaining. That is - zero, zilch, nada, nothing.
Remember this: the Scab is the enemy working next to us, the deserter in Labor's battle for economic justice. We should rejoice every time one of these scabs is sent to their last punishment."
REQUEST A FORM 1188 FROM YOUR PERSONNEL OFFICE OR FROM THE SHARED SVCS KIOSK IN YOUR OFFICE. NO SENSE IN BEING A MEMBER OF APWU!
This "issue" is a falsehood manufactured by a small town columnist and the mother of the dead woman. The posting on the APWU clearly and repeatedly identifies the fund as being for the benefit of the families of slain MEMBERS. Absolutely no corroboration is given that the slain woman's family is "financially challenged" nor is any mention made of death benefits, survivor benefits or insurance her family will receive from other sources. I believe the motivation of the APWU was to have Union people help Union people, PERIOD.
This whole "controversy" has been started by people paying too much attention to the writings of a lazy, backwater hack trying to fill print space. Gee, that's unusual. NOT!
If anything, I would like to see the APWU challenge the assertions that not including this non-member in the fund was some sort of insult. If that's the case, the Postal Service is insulting all of the slain workers by doing nothing of the kind for their families. They also need to set the record straight about quiting the union because of maternity leave and the contention "she was going to rejoin". These kinds statements have been uttered by non-members for years as reasons "they would join but".
I wonder if this kind of hack journalism will have the unintended consequence of discouraging anyone from doing anything for anybody. In the meantime, how much cash are you coughing up Barney?
To Disgusted, A duty of fair representation ends with the contract. In matters of dilligence it only applies to the contract. In my local you will have options that scabs don't get because they don't want to pay their fair share and that is the way it should be.
Hey, the address for the fund has been submitted here. End of subject.Either donate to it or not. It is your choice, but stop slamming this poor dead woman.Her family is understandably in a state of shock. Their words have probably been taken out of context or were said in a state of extreme pain. For crying out loud, they lost a young woman- a sister, a daughter, a wife, a mother in a very violent way. So, she made a bad decision about the union; she doesn't deserve some of these horrific remarks, guys! Enough already. Go on to another subject where the person can speak for themselves. It is easy to say things about someone who can't defend themself. Just the thought of being associated with some of you because we work for the same employer or even belong to the same union makes me very ashamed and disgusted.I am a union rep, but I don't just donate to the union. I donate to other causes, too and this will be one of them. Those of you making these negative and hurtful remarks should be ashamed of yourselves.
VERY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT -- It seems that Maleka Higgins' mother has established a SEPERATE FUND for donations to HER FAMILY ONLY. This is in addition to a fund established and managed by local charities to assist all of the families of the slain workers. I would encourage everyone to read the stories. Barney reported this but he doesn't consider it an insult to the other slain workers. This is looking more and more like it's all about money and who gets how much and nothing to do with respect and compassion.
She wasn't a member. If I drop my car insurance do they pay for an accident? No. Case closed...
Way to go Santa Barbara...I aplaud you...
Postal Union Helping Maleka Higgin's Family
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Efforts are underway by the local American Postal Workers Union to help the family of Maleka Higgins. Higgins is one of the six Goleta postal employees shot to death last month by Jennifer San Marco. Because Higgins wasn't a member of the APWU when she was murdered, her husband and daughter are not entitled to special funds collected by the union. The United States Postal Service says beneficiaries will receive the victim's annual salary, plus $2,000. Now local chapter of the APWU is making Higgins an honorary union member.
KEYT3 Santa Barbara
the only thing this women did wrong was pay dues to a toothless and ball-less union.
smart move was quitting, it's the biggest raise you can give yourself.
hopefully her child will join a real union like the teamsters!
"The issue is a falsehood manufactured by a small town columnist and the mother of the dead woman"?
Nothing was manufactured you ignoramous...it was all fact! She wasnt a union member-fact...the APWU established a fund and left her out because she wasn't a union member-fact...the reporter upon contacting the APWU was told exactly that-fact!
No falsehood here oh mighty mental one...only the facts! And these facts will lead to a shortage of 1188s in the coming weeks/months! I can only hope you listen closely to that giant whooshing sound cause it'll be me and several others quitting your union!
Making her an honorary union member is only intended to attempt to deaden the mighty roar of discontent over a heartless union that doesn't even know the meaning of unionism and who realizes that they really blew this one big time!
To the Higgins family:
We will be quitting this union in memory of Maleka and all those who were murdered! We are ashamed and don't want to be part of a union that has inflicted additional pain upon you and your family. Peace be with you!
Shame on those of you who are using this poor woman's death to promote your own agendas- pro or anti-union. Her death should not be used as a forum for your hateful diatribes.
May she rest in peace.
"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Therefore when you do a charitable deed,do not sound a trumpet before you as the HYPOCRITES do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
" that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees it in secret will Himself reward you openly"
Matt 6:2-4
I hope those of you who read this before it is deleted will think about what Jesus said.
Grow up children, be the better person, & help all 6 of the victim's families out ..through other means(donations besides the APWU) if neccesary. This issue was poorly handled. It appears many are missing the point & are side-tracked regarding this tragedy.
Sincerely,
Disappointed APWU Member
I dunno....I still like the one about "Dead Scab Society"..........!!!!
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!
Leave it to Anonymous.....that was too good!
All that want to quit the Union go right ahead, At a National Convention APWU stated that if the drop out rate continues the USPS can challenge their charter, that was several years ago. So drop out and see how the USPS treats you when you have no union. Drop out and find out, OR actually vote and change the current leadership. My quess is most of you losers who want out never bothered to vote.
Thanks Bad News Bear! I guess that speaks volumes.
I believe the real SCABS are the members who pay dues and don't work a minute to earn their pay. Like it was stated it is an OPEN shop and if they want to FORCE people to join then change the law and make it a CLOSED shop. People died and I believe all should get donations.
the scabs in our office don't have to worry about getting shot because they are inside getting the job done while the union steward and his slug buddies are on the dock taking 1/2 hour ciggy breaks. the shooter would run out of ammo before he/she reached us!!! talk about losing dead weight!!
You people don't even know why she got out of the union!! Maybe she had a good reason. Lord knows there is alot of room for improvement when it comes to getting half-decent representation from the APWU. Probably too busy representing people that don't want to work.....wh