RICHARD SIU RETIRES
Don Gonzales Appointed Western Regional Director (Oakland)

The NPMHU National Office has announced that Richard Siu, Western Regional Director, Oakland will be retiring on May 1, 2014.  We congratulate Richard on his well-deserved retirement.

Richard began working as a Mail Handler in San Francisco in 1979.  He became a shop steward in 1985, and later assumed the role of chief steward.  He took on numerous responsibilities in his Local Union, including service on both the Safety and Health Committee and the Local Joint Steering Committee for the Quality of Working Life process (QWL).  Richard was appointed to the Western Region CAD in 1993, where he continues to serve as Regional Director in the Denver Field Office.  We wish to thank Richard for his long tenure in serving the members of the Western Region, and we wish him all the best as he starts this new chapter in his life.

To fill the vacancy created by Richard’s retirement, President Hegarty has appointed Don Gonzales, the current President of Local 321, as the Regional Director, Western Region, Oakland.  

Brother Gonzales started as a Mail Handler at the Denver BMC in July 1980, and became a Union member immediately.  Don has served as a Union representative for 25 consecutive years.  He became a shop steward in 1990, served as Chief Steward starting in 1991, and then served as the AVP of the Denver BMC from 1993 to 1996.  He was the editor of the Local Union’s “State of the Union Newsletter” from 1993 to 2011, and also served as a trainer for Local 321 during that time frame.

In 1996 he assumed the role of Recording Secretary, and then from 2002 to 2011 he was the Vice President of Local 321.  Since 2011, Don has been the Local President.  Don has experience in both RI-399 and regional arbitrations, OWCP, helping employees negotiate retirements, disability retirements, OWCP claims, and - HR-related matters.

Don has attended training classes for steward, advanced steward, arbitration, OWCP, CIM, RI-399, discipline, and FMLA, and he has also led training classes on many of these subjects. Don will be starting at the Denver Office effective March 22, 2014.  Please join us in congratulating Brother Gonzales on his appointment, and in wishing Brother Siu all the best in his retirement.