American Postal Workers Union

Austin Area Local

General Membership Meeting

December 16, 2006


President Roberts called the meeting to order at 12:01pm at the AFL-CIO building. There was a quorum. Brother Ken Fontenot led the Pledge of Allegiance. There was a roll call of the officers.

Excused absent: Calvin Smith, Willie Sugg, and Patricia Mercado


The November minutes were passed out to the membership. A motion was made Sister Cathy Robbins and second to accept the minutes with a correction about the donut giveaway dates changed from December 13th and 14th to December 21st and 22nd, 2007. Motion passed by the general membership. The November financial report was passed out to the membership. A motion was made by Sister Robbins and second to accept the financial report. Motion passed by the general membership.


Unfinished Business:

  1. Brother Vasquez spoke about the money the local has raised this year for COPA. This will be presented in San Antonio at the multi-craft seminar.


New Business:

  1. There will be no Union meeting in January 2007. Brother Harry James will present an OWCP seminar on January 20th, 2007 at 9:30am at the AFL-CIO building. Any interested APWU member is welcome to attend.

  2. A motion by the E-BD to send up to ten stewards to a multi-craft seminar in San Antonio, TX in February at $550.00 per person. Motion passed by the general membership

  3. A motion by the E-BD to donate $500.00 to the USPS toy giveaway for underprivileged children. Motion passed by the general membership.

  4. A Constitutional amendment – Article 9 Section 2D: to change the name of the Orville Bennet Scholarship to the Orville Bennet/George Roman Scholarship. Passes by the general membership.

  5. 2nd reading of Constitutional amendment Article 3 Section 4: To change the authority of the Asst. Maintenance Director. There was much discussion for and against this amendment. The question was called for. Vice President Ben Solis took the leadership so President Roberts could speak on the amendment. The amendment failed.


President Roberts spoke about grievance settlements and the new contract. Ballots will be mailed out next week for voting. The letter carriers are going to arbitration. The mail handlers and the rural route carriers have reached an agreement.


There were the hams, turkeys, and 1 chicken drawing. There was the door prize drawing.

H Gayton D Torpey D Esparza D Hill M Holt M Kallus C Millard A Ramos

G Stone W Wright J Yule S Alba Y Garcia B Mckinley C Bunn J Sanders

J Brock G Brantley D Blakey H Williams- winner!!! Next Month $25.00.


Meeting adjourned at 1:33pm. I would like to thank Sister Linda Daniel for taking the minutes while I was absent from the meeting.


In Union Solidarity,



Patricia Mercado