Local 44 News

LOCAL 44 NEWS

DES MOINES IOWA AREA LOCAL – APWU

January 12, 2026

DES MOINES PRIMETIME

The Des Moines P&DC Bid cluster must have their primetime slips in by March 15, 2026, at 11:59pm. Make sure to submit your slips in triplicate and get your third copy returned to you upon submission. This is your proof that you turned in your slips on time. The union will be working with management to ensure that primetime is done contractually. The percentage that management can let off is a minimum not a maximum percentage. They can always go above it.

RETROACTIVE BACKPAY

Retroactive pay for the contract that was ratified on July 11, 2025, is being processed and should be paid out around April 10, 2026.

REQUESTING A UNION STEWARD

Never be afraid to request a union steward when you need one! Once you request a union steward, the boss has to provide you one immediately, but no later than the end of your shift. If the boss fails to provide you a union steward or states that there is no union steward available, please email me at mjbates2016@gmail.com, so I can verify that no steward was available. As an APWU represented employee, you are entitled to a union steward ON THE CLOCK! We must exercise our rights under the collective bargaining agreement. It is unlawful to RETALIATE against an employee for requesting a union steward and it is unlawful and against the contract for management not to provide a union steward when the employee requests one.

MAINTENANCE OPEN SEASON

Every year from March 1 through March 31, employees have an opportunity to take the exams to transfer into the maintenance division. This is an excellent opportunity! We were thrilled that the National APWU negotiated non-career APWU represented employees (PSEs) now have the opportunity to take the in-service exam! Take advantage of the yearly opportunity!

DMI-APWU WEBSITE

We are working on the website and are very excited to bring a new, fresh look to it! We may be looking for a website master in the near future to keep it updated, so if you are interested, please let us know!

STAFFING IN SMALL OFFICES

We’ve received questions recently about who can and cannot work in offices of different sizes/levels. Here is a quick rundown:

- PSEs who staff level 4 RMPOs may not be utilized in level 20 and above APOs. These PSEs may not be utilized outside their APO installation (bid cluster), except to provide supplemental assistance for Sunday package service, provided the following pecking order is utilized:

a. PTFs or PSEs assigned to the gaining office are first exhausted at the straight time rate.

b. Available PTFs, under PTF Hub Clerk MOU, who volunteer to work on Sunday, are

exhausted at the straight time rate.

c. Available PSEs, from Level 4 RMPOs, but restricted to within 50 miles of the PSE’s level 4

RMPO office.

- PTFs, under the PTF Hub Clerk MOU, can be borrowed into the office (level 20 and below) at the straight-time rate, prior to utilizing the OTDL in the office. PTFs may not work in Level 21 and above offices. - Management cannot work in any level 4 or level 6 RMPO As management continues to cut staffing, contract violations continue to rise. Please direct all questions and report all violations to your steward, email jbatesapwu@gmail.com or call (515)265-7371.

IN UNION SOLIDARITY, DMI-APWU Mike Bates, President