The Local Line
“A PPA Award
Winning Publication”
The Official Voice Of
The
American Postal
Workers
Phone: 630-833-0088 Fax: 630-833-0248
Jackie Engelhart – President Alan Czerwinski - News Director
February 18, 2008
The APWU and the Postal
Service finalized a $48 million payout Jan. 29 to remedy the USPS violation of
staffing procedures for custodial employees. The settlement will be in the form
of lump-sum payments of $2700.00 to more than 17,000 employees occupying custodial positions as of 1-29-08.
Payment will be made by 4-18-08. The settlement is the culmination of a 11-6-06
award in which Arbitrator Shyam Das ordered the USPS to rescind Handbook MS-47,
Housekeeping Postal Facilities, issued in 2001, and to reinstate the 1983
version. The 2001 handbook had revised custodial staffing procedures to lower
custodial staffing. Arbitrator Das remanded discussion of the remedy for the
violation to the parties, and the $48 million settlement is the result. The
2006 award was the third national level award since 2002 to protect the
custodial workforce.
"Only
those employees in the harmed occupational groups on 1-29-08 will receive the
$2700.00 payment. If a member left the harmed occupational groups (promotion,
retirement, etc) prior to 1-29-08, then they would not be eligible for any payment
under the terms of the settlement. This decision was made at this level based
on prior APWU settlements which limited the scope of the employees receiving a
financial remedy. It was not our intent, nor did we have the resources, to remedy
each person that occupied one of the identified bargaining unit positions between
12-31-01 and 1-28-08. As such, our decision was made in the best interest of
the harmed bargaining units as well as the Union. While individuals may believe
they were slighted by the terms of the settlement, the case was not about
individual losses, rather it was about a loss to the Union and our bargaining units.
"
More Custodial
Jobs
The 1-29-08
agreement requires the Postal Service to complete the custodial staffing
packages per the 1983 MS-47 within 30 days of 1-29-08. The Local union is
entitled to all information relied upon in developing the custodial staffing
packages including forms 4869, 4839, 4851, 4776 and 4852 as well as e-MARS reports. Maintenance Craft Director
Chuck Olson has informed me he has completed and will submit appropriate information
requests for al1 NWIAL offices. In
facilities where the staffing
packages result in additional custodial positions, these additional positions
shall be posted by notice of intent within 60 days of 1-29-08 and filled in
accordance with the contract. Palatine Custodian and Maintenance Craft Steward
Bob LaFoe has been instrumental in keeping me informed on all issues pertaining
to the MS-47 settlement and custodial staffing issues. Steward Ron Langten is vigilant
on custodial staffing issues at Carol Stream.
From VP Dave
Baskin ...
"On February
6th, the Labor Scheduler grievance was heard in arbitration. You may remember February
6th was the day of the big snow storm. We would like to thank Chris Savas, Joe
Speciale, and Pat Thoele for braving the conditions and testifying on behalf of
the Clerks affected by the Labor Scheduler. The hearing went well. The Union
was able to present all our evidence including charts that showed between the 3
months prior to the Labor Scheduler and the 3 months after the Labor Scheduler, with all
the overtime used, management saved a total of 61.20 hours per week by
excessing the 40 Clerks. We were also able to show the
overtime worked after the Labor Scheduler alone, equaled 61 full-time duty
assignments and that this overtime rate continued up to the implementation of
the AI in 2007. The Union’s witnesses also testified that employees
were constantly being moved from area to area, and that employees lost their
bids only to keep the same schedule for up to a year afterwards. We expect a
decision in about a month. "
Dave will be
arbitrating LMOU Impasse Items for Carol Stream, Palatine and Chicago Metro
Surface Hub. The main issue appealed to Impasse
Arbitration is the 14% issue. For years management at all three facilities has refused
to honor the LMOU negotiated 14%
(15% at CMSH) off by
section and tour during the choice vacation period. They have substituted
"vacation" for the negotiated language "choice vacation
period." The arbitrator will have to decide the 14% issue.
Meeting with
Robert Hart
On 2-1-08 we met
with Northern IL District Manager Robert Hart to discuss Our views on the VOE
survey. Mr. Hart had read the Local Line dated 1-21-08
and he stated he agreed with what we said. The Local Line article criticizing
VOE was then used as a tool to mislead APWU members at NWIAL offices that we support VOE participation. Our position was twisted
beyond recognition by some WEI (Workplace Environment Improvement) staff member
in a Service Talk given to NWIAL offices. Our position on the VOE has not
changed. We advise APWU members to decline participation in this
voluntary survey. We told Mr. Hart that the problems with communication and
dignity and respect start with senior management and flow down to the MDO and
Supervisor levels. The Supervisor is yelling at the employee because he/she
just got yelled at by a senior
manager. I have heard that during the daily telecom supervisors were routinely
belittled by senior management while all others were forced to listen. You can talk
about "Workplace Environment Improvement" but it starts at the top. Mr.
Hart is aware of the problems at Palatine and he said he is working on them. We
meet again on 3-7-08. Management conducts VOE Surveys on a quarterly basis,
with each employee surveyed once per year. The survey comes in an envelope
addressed to you and is your property. We remind you that APWU remains opposed
to VOE participation
Chicago District
Manager Gloria Tyson came to Busse on 1-31-08 for a scheduled Town Hall
meeting. Due to a bad snow storm and the call-ins she cancelled the Town Hall and
will reschedule it. While there she did speak with both unions.
Since FMLA
functions were consolidated at the district level the problems have escalated. We
met with the Northern IL District FMLA staff on 2-5-08. 600 FMLA Coordinator
Cora Krause told us she finds 90% of all FMLA forms submitted to her to be
"incomplete". On the 601 side, Shirley Taylor said she finds 55-60%
to be incomplete. Most FMLA requests are processed within 60 days of request, but
if your form is deemed incomplete, you will go to the end of the line where you
could wait another 60 days. Each FMLA Coordinator is assigned 5000 employees
for a total of 10,000 District employees. Two people cannot process FMLA for 10,000
employees and management has added two more Coordinators and a Clerk. They
still can't keep up, and with a 90% and 55-60% incomplete rate, it is unlikely
they ever will catch up. To come up with a 90% incomplete rate I'm thinking
Cora is working very hard to find reasons to find forms incomplete. We will
share information from the FMLA staff in the next LL.
The one-level
upgrade for all APWU employees is effective on 2-16-08 and will be on the 3-7-08 paychecks. A computer glitch will
delay numeric level adjustments until pay period 10.
We are happy to
report that Olivia Norman is back as the Chief Steward on tour 1 at Palatine P&DC,
and we thank Alternate Chief Steward Carolyn Walker and the tour 1 Stewards for
stepping up in her absence.