The union won a major arbitration victory on March 29, when Arbitrator Shyam Das issued a long-awaited decision that will affect Clerk Craft jobs in small post offices. The ruling settles a long-simmering dispute about the amount of bargaining unit work postmasters and supervisors may perform in Level 18-and-below offices.
“This decision will mean more hours for the clerks who work in small offices and more Clerk Craft jobs,” said APWU President Cliff Guffey.
Arbitrator Das upheld the union’s position, ruling that an agreement between the union and management sets absolute limits on the number of hours postmasters may perform bargaining unit work (BUW) in small offices. A “Global Settlement” that was included in the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement, says postmasters may perform up to 15 hours of bargaining unit work in Level 18 post offices and up to 25 hours in Level 15 and Level 16 offices.
During bargaining, when the agreement was struck, the APWU proposed language stipulating that, “All time the supervisor or Postmaster spends staffing the window during the day will be counted towards the permissible BUW limits.” The USPS agreed.
The union clearly stated during negotiations that if the window is open for business, it is being staffed. If the person staffing the window is a postmaster, all time the window is open must count against the limits, regardless of other tasks the postmaster performs during that time.
After agreeing to the language in negotiations, the USPS took the position at headquarters, in the field and at the arbitration hearing that what management intended was not “all time” staffing the window but rather “earned time” or “actual time” working the window, as reported by the postmasters and supervisors themselves. “All time spent staffing the window” didn’t mean what it said, management asserted.
The arbitrator rejected management’s arguments, ruling that “All time the supervisor or Postmaster spends staffing the window . . . applies to all time the supervisor or postmaster is covering the window, which, in the absence of a clerk, includes all time the window is open.”
“This is a major win for the APWU and especially for clerks who work in small offices where postmasters have been improperly taking work from our members for years,” said Industrial Relations Director Mike Morris. “The task ahead is to enforce the agreement. We will leave no stone unturned to make sure that happens.”
President Guffey praised the ruling. “We want to thank the officers and members who supported the union through this protracted fight,” he said. “Many union officers and staffers assisted in researching, preparing and presenting this case. They did an outstanding job.”
Another disputed section of the Global Settlement dealt with offices that were downgraded under the Delivery Unit Optimization (DUO) program after Nov. 21, 2010. The arbitrator ruled that the APWU agreed to an exception for offices without a clerk that are downgraded to Level 13 or-below offices. “This very narrow exception should not work to the detriment of any bargaining unit employees, because it only applies to offices that have no clerks,” Morris said.
“This award sets the table for our challenge to POStPlan, which was another full frontal attack on our union and especially on clerks in small offices,” he said. A hearing on that dispute is scheduled before Arbitrator Stephen B. Goldberg on April 16 and 17.
“The POStPlan is next,” Morris said. “Stay tuned.”
They should not do ANY CRAFT work just all the STUPID USELESS REPORTS. If they do they don’t need to be PM just a higher than level 6 clerk. In fact that would really save the PO lots of money.
All you non-members know this…the money is for members and non=members alike. If you dont get your share jus cause you not in union file an unfair labor prctice wit DOL.
Many of these small suburban community post offices should be consolidated or closed as they are not necessary to provide service. Many postmasters only box mail and sell stamps and make $63,000-$75,000 salary depend on length of service in the position. Paying rent and utilities is another waste. Small offices in remote rural area should be left in tact but many areas have 5-6 small offices in a 5-6 mile radius of each other which is wasted cost as service is not the issue.
win what? they still abuse employee and trying to break the labor rules.
There is no such thing as Level 15 and 16 offices any longer. Those offices became either Level 18 or 2,4,or 6.
Then the Levels 18 and above became Administrative Post Offices for the 2,3 & 4s.
Now that Level 18s have Remotely Managed Post Office responsibilities (up to 10 offices). Those Postmasters are taking on added duties. They need their clerks.
This will sort itself out. Now if everyone would put in an honest day’s work for getting paid, the Post Office would be in better shape. I see too much entitlement mentality in this day of such a huge drop in mail volume.
Lets have a big party and close down every Sat and Sun so we can get drunk and not have to call in sick. What do you think are you with THE SLUG or Not.. “The Slug” cant wait till 8/5/2013 a day that will live in Postal Infamy!!! I love getting toasted on Saturday Morning while I watch cartoons!!!!! Sincerely “The Slug”
The Union says: ‘We win! Yay we win!
Thanks Mikey Murray. You Sir speak wisely!
Dear God is the APWU always a dollar short and a day late???? Claim VICTORY and lose the entire battle, the war and clerks EVERYWHERE!!
It should be their motto and this flag should be raised up at Headquarters in DC and Union offices Nationwide!!
Thank you Das
Open window at 9am – close from 11 – 1 close for the day at 4. 5 hours per day,,, clerk works the window 2 per day at level 18 and zero at 15 & 16s… simple!
das LAW, unless you’re a fascist dictator.
das bull s*#t