The APWU won a major victory Aug. 13 when Arbitrator Shyam Das issued a ruling that will help the union fight subcontracting, President Cliff Guffey has announced. Das ruled that locals must be notified when management makes a decision at the local, district or area level to contract out craft work.
The decision could result in the creation of additional assignments in every craft, Guffey noted. “This is a major victory in our battle to protect jobs,” he said. “That is a fight we are determined to win.”
Article 32 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which governs subcontracting, requires the Postal Service to notify locals of subcontracting at the “field level.” Beginning in October 2007, the USPS claimed the phrase meant that the USPS was required to notify locals of subcontracting initiated at the district or area level, but not subcontracting initiated at the local level.
The union asserted that “field level” refers to any subcontracting initiated below the headquarters level. (For headquarters-level subcontracting, the APWU is notified at the national level.)
Arbitrator Das upheld the union’s position.
“The ruling gives locals a tool to fight for the creation of additional duty assignments by ensuring they are aware of subcontracting decisions,” Guffey said.
In the Clerk Craft, for example, once locals are notified of subcontracting decisions they will be able to challenge the improper establishment of Contract Postal Units, which replace retail positions.
In the Maintenance Craft, notification to locals could result in challenges to the subcontracting of building maintenance work, such as roofing, air conditioning, lawn care, snow removal and cleaning, as well as the installation, repair, maintenance or movement of equipment, among other duties.
In the Motor Vehicle Service Craft, notification to locals could result in challenges to the subcontracting of preventive maintenance inspections and repairs, and emergency and temporary subcontracting of Highway Contract Routes, as well as other work. For more information, visit www.apwu.org.
enuf: It’s been 6 days now since your 1st post and I’ve failed to find one APWU article which paints this Das decision “as stopping USPS altogether from subcontracting….” You said it “will” be, so I’ll keep looking. The bottom line remains that USPS management has the absolute right to DO ANYTHING (including subcontract) as long as they follow the provisions of the contract. This case was filed by the APWU at the National level because USPS management didn’t want to follow the provisions of the contract (I believe the APWU thought enufisenuf and Das agreed). Mail is picked-up, sorted, and delivered at the local level (stations, branches, local post offices) and most, except those with ulterior motives, would agree this is also known as, or at least part of, the “field level.” It seems someone was surely caught lying this time but it certainly wasn’t “union officials.” I can’t speak for other facilities but if it weren’t for the Union representation where I work there would SURELY be much more contracting occurring than there already is. I’m not happy with everything the Union does and I certainly don’t vote for the candidates the APWU suggests, but I’ve seen and heard my local Union representatives in action and I’m very glad I have them. I hate to imagine what my job would be like without them. I’d certainly take a few more like them and a few less of the type that spend so much time stabbing them in-the-back (sound familiar?) and complaining about super-seniority and paying a small price for representation (there really are no free lunches….SOMEONE must pay for them!). Enuf is really too much!!
union worker: I’m sorry if I offend your religious-like worship of the union. My beliefs and commentaries are based upon what I know and have experienced throughout decades of involvement. you choose to be that lemming marching off the “Cliff”…as for me, I choose to call a spade a spade and if that elicits chants of “scab, scab” from morons like yourself, then so be it. I should expect simplistic reactions like that from folks that blindly revere every action by their so-called union. Say…how’s that superseniority working out for ya? Are you one of those selected and chosen few that enjoy
the perks of bumping senior employees because of your status as steward? If not, wonder if you’ll still feel the same when you get bumped by that junior steward? Oh…that’s right…someone has to stay behind to file grievances but I sure as shit bet that one of those grievances WONT be that you got bumped by a junior employee! Do you go to union meetings? Do you have the balls to ask the tough questions or do you just nod in “robot-like” acceptance of what is being fed to you? what a douchebag lemming!! Did that dues increase go through yet?
enuf I really think that is your picture in your avatar, as it looks like you don`t have a life. what a douchebag !!
Typical of APWUseless officials from Guffey on down who lie through their teeth.
APWU will paint this “victory” as stopping USPS altogether from subcontracting but the bottom line remains and will always remain that USPS management has the absolute right to subcontract as long as they follow the provisions of the contract. So…USPS…do it by the book and the APWU won’t have a prayer. The award DOES NOT prohibit maneement from subcontracting! Any APWU steward, official or local union president that tells you it does is lying…but, then again, isn’t that typical of union officials?