The National Postal Mail handlers Union (NPMHU) has filed a grievance challenging USPS’ attempt to allow Lead Clerks to “lead, guide, or direct Mail Handler Craft employees”.

USPS position on the issue in part:

The MOU clearly has not extended such authority to the bargaining unit (Lead Clerks). For the NPMHU to extract the words “assign” and “direct” from the list of supervisory duties, and imply that the use of these words in the MOU and STD Job Descriptions somehow extend supervisory authority to Lead Clerks, is to take the terms out of context in the NLRA definition. The oversight and direction provided by Lead Clerks to other bargaining unit employees within the group are merely routine or clerical in nature, and do not require the use of independent judgment. The application of the MOU provisions is not intended to grant supervisory authority, or responsibility for employees within the Mail Handler Craft, to Lead Clerks.

As a remedy NPMHU is requesting USPS rescind its position that APWU “Lead Clerks may guide, assign, or otherwise direct mail processing employees assigned to mail processing operations.”

If the Postal Service means to state that Lead Clerks may guide other employees in the Clerk Craft, or other employees in other APWU-represented crafts, it should so limit these documents With clear language. If, on the other hand, the Postal Service means to imply that Lead Clerks may guide mail processing employees in other crafts not represented by the APWU, specifically employees in the Mail Handler Craft, that is unacceptable to the NPMHU. Undeniably, such a policy would be a unilateral change in the terms and conditions governing Mail Handlers, and the Postal Service’s adoption of such a policy without bargaining and/ or agreement with the NPMHU would specifically violate Articles I and 5 of the Representatives of the NPMHU are prepared to hold additional discussions with Postal Service representatives at their earliest convenience.

Lead.Clerk_.National.Level_.Grievance.8.21.12 (PDF)