General Session Begins for Motor Vehicle Service Division
October 6, 2023
On Tuesday, the Motor Vehicle Service Division held its general session. Directors, officers, and members from across the country gathered to vigorously debate and disseminate information learned to better represent and fight for the MVS craft.
Director Foster welcomed delegates to the 45th MVS General Session and called the meeting to order.
After an invocation by Teddie Days (Missouri Postal Workers Union Retiree Chapter President and former Assistant MVS Director) and Pledge of Allegiance by Thomas LaFouci (former Northeast Region MVS National business Agent, now of the Charlotte NC local).
President Dimondstein gave remarks. He greeted officers and thanked everyone for their work on the frontlines during the pandemic. He touched on MVS wins, such as the PVO pilot program in, and upcoming union initiatives.
President Dimondstein then took questions from the MVS body on sub-contracted work, extended routes, pilot programs and the retention of jobs.
National Executive Board members Vice-President Debby Szeredy, Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell, Industrial Relations Director Charlie Cash and Western Region Coordinator Omar Gonzalez gave brief remarks, saluting the men and women of the MVS craft and congratulating Shana Parker’s historic appointment as the first woman to represent the MVS as a National Business Agent.
MVS Director Michael Foster gave his Director’s Report, where he touched on the Postal Vehicle Operators position expansions in Athens, GA and Richmond, VA, and the growth of the MVS craft, which has seen a 31 percent increase in complement numbers since 2011.
He also went over Dejoy’s 10-Year “Delivering for America” Plan, National Arbitration decisions, VMF issues, settlements, Step 4 Disputes, and NLRB charges filed. “This is going to be a long and arduous journey,” exclaimed Director Foster. “It’s going to take each and every one of us here to take this information back and to utilize it to the best of our ability to protect our craft and our work.”
At the conclusion of his report, several delegates lined up to ask questions into the afternoon. Despite the massive volume, Director Foster took the time to answer each one over the course of an hour and a half, addressing concerns ranging from the impact of electric vehicles on MVS positions to issues about the lack of information being passed down by management. After the last delegate left the queue, Director Foster adjourned for the day.
The general session resumed the following morning, where MVS Assistant Director Garret Langley presented his report. He covered Step 4 Reports and delved deeper into PVO pilot programs. The Division’s NBAs gave their regional reports following Assistant Director Langley’s presentation.
Later that afternoon, the delegates went over the history of the MVS Division and 2021-2024 CBA highlights, including salary increases, uniforms, PTF conversions, and training initiatives.
Delegates convened the general session newly equipped with the knowledge and resources to safeguard the MVS craft and defend the contract at the local level.
