12/10/2015 – The APWU reached a major milestone in November: More than 25,000 Postal Support Employees (PSEs) – including some from every craft – have been converted to career over the last two years.
“This is a life-changing event for the workers who were converted and their families,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “It means more stability and greater financial security. It’s an outstanding example of the union at work.
“It’s also a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together,” he said. “Local and state leaders, National Business Agents, Regional Coordinators and Craft Directors and Assistant Directors all persevered to win these conversions.
“Of course, the PSEs themselves – and the former PSEs – played an important role,” Dimondstein added.
“Many spoke out about the need for conversions and got active in the union to make sure they happened.”
The involvement of a new generation of workers in union affairs is a great benefit to the APWU, and will be for years to come.
The majority of the conversions were the result of the Memorandum of Understanding on Filling of Residual Vacancies, which the APWU and the Postal Service signed in March 2014. A July 2014 Maintenance Craft settlement on custodial staffing, a September 2014 arbitration win on staffing “POStPlan” offices, and the “global settlement” that enforced limits on postmasters performing clerk craft work in small offices, were also essential to the PSE conversions.
Were you converted recently? Tell us what it has meant to you. Write to Communications@apwu.org.
HI just responding about my conversion to PTR custodial in August 2014 has made a difference with the benefits that are available,retirement leave Holiday pay,I also have a complaint at my location I am part time at post office that has 17.00 hrs a week and there are 2 post offices within the city and I am Happy with my hours that I get, but I am constantly being asked to work at the other post office because the custodian there since April of this year has been filling in as Supervisor which I have no problem with but he will not give up his custodial position and so the job is not being filled and he came up saying i can do both or resign that is not right he needs to go back or give up his custodial job and let it be filled I don,t want both I am Happy with my post office and hours union rep, said he could not put me in a position to work both or resign this should be Taken care of henery st,post office TN. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND MAY next year begin without Greaveince,s
And a special “thank you” to Cliff Guffey for negotiating lower wages for these new career employees a few years ago.