APWU Web News Article 95-2012, Aug. 2, 2012
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Arbitrator Shyam Das has closed the record of an arbitration hearing regarding the number of hours postmasters in small offices may work.
A Memorandum of Understanding in the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement places strict limits on the number of hours postmasters may work in Level 15, 16, 18 and 20 post offices.
The Memo says, “All time the supervisor or postmaster spends staffing the window during the day will be counted towards the permissible bargaining unit work limits.” Despite this clear language, the USPS is arguing that management must only count “earned time” as described in a unilaterally created work measurement system.
In addition, in spite of language that states that “any office downgraded in level will remain at the bargaining unit work standard that is in place at the beginning of the Agreement,” the management claims an exception for DUO (Delivery Unit Optimization) offices. The union’s grievance on the subject was heard on June 26-27, 2012, but the arbitrator kept the record open for 30 days. Briefs will now be filed and a decision will follow.
Guffey Describes the Feast in LA.
APWU President Cliff Guffey describes the Feast (Convention) in LA, regardless of the expenses, our members will have to bite the bullet on excessing, when the party is over we will again think about our members.
USPS RIF – Reduction in Force
USPS ELM: 354.211 Definition of Reduction in Force
Source: USPS ELM – Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
A reduction in force (RIF) is a uniform and systematic way of making organizational changes resulting in the release of an employee from his or her competitive level as defined in 354.217a. A RIF action occurs in the Postal Service when an employee is released from his or her competitive level by separation, demotion, or a reassignment requiring displacement. Release from a competitive level must be caused by elimination or significant modification of existing work, creation of new work, reorganization, transfer of function, an individual’s exercise of reemployment or restoration rights, or a reclassification of an employee’s position based on the erosion of duties that will take effect after a RIF has been formally announced in the employee’s competitive area (see 354.217b), or when a RIF takes effect within 180 days.
Note: With the exception identified above concerning the reclassification of an employee’s position, a change to lower grade based on the reclassification of an employee’s position due to a change in classification standards or a correction of a classification error is not a RIF.
ISC
Who’s jerking who around?
USPS does not has to answer to APWU on whether to call a buyout. Buyout money does not come from the Union. If the APWU thinks that they are holding USPS hostage over some measly negotiation, they need to think twice. The official contract has already been settled and this holdup only delay the exit of eligible employees.
USPS now has reasons to declare a bankruptcy and have the court review the contract in having it void and reorganize.
Even though Guffey is saying he is not negotiating in public, what is the “accepting the best offer that is not in the best interests of our members”? What can be improve of this buyout other than more money?
Will Guffey reveal what was his best interest offer for employees if USPS decides to go ahead with the buyout without the union’s approval?
Congress is going home and won’t return until the end of the month but USPS will continue to lose $2 Billion a month.
This $2 Billion is more than enough to complete the 100,000 employees exit. So far only 4,000 postmaster and 3,000 mailhandlers are leaving. This 7,000+ number is far short of expectation of USPS.
Are people forgetting USPS plans of 30,000 a year for the next 5 years? They’ve been short for the last 2 years.