The Local Line
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Phone: 630-833-0088 Fax: 630-833-0248
Jackie Engelhart – President Alan Czerwinski - News Director
May 22, 2008
Unions Square off in Multi-Line Break-Up
On 5-20-08 at around 1550 Clerk Craft Director Al Czerwinski and I went down to Multi-Line to see who was working in the unit and to respond to a request for a Steward. We spoke with the two bid Clerks who said they have been told they cannot work in their bid because Multi-Line is now a Mail Handler unit. The Palatine Inventory signed on 5-16-01 by Ron Woodall, Yulande Robinson and Stanley Slupik assigns non-robot distribution of tubs and trays in Multi-Line and Central Dispatch to Clerks. When the work is performed by Robots the work is Mail Handler. This was agreed to in 2001 and followed until 12-11-06 when Labor Specialist Joe Kalisz advised Chachana Elliot to revert Clerk vacancies in Multi-Line and/or Central Dispatch and repost them as Mail Handler.
Clerk jobs were reposted from 2001 thru 2007 after the impact of the Robots on these units was met.
The Memo Says ...
"RE: Impact of Robot machines on bids involving central dispatch, tray-pack, tub pack, and multi-line break-up. The parties agree that currently these jobs are assigned to clerks, and the bids are held by clerks. The clerks currently holding these bids in these jobs shall continue to hold these bids upon installation and use of the Robots. No abolishing of positions or excessing of positions from the section shall take place as a result of the installation and implementation and use of the Robots. As these bids become vacant they shall be reposted as mail handler positions. "
The Inventory Says..
"Non-Robot distribution of trays and tubs-Clerk" (for Central Dispatch and Multi-Line Break-Up). These are Clerk units and have been since 1992. They are trying to bully Clerks out of our own units based on a lie cooked up in 2006. This issue is certified for arbitration and we will
try to expedite the date.
Only at Palatine ...
Signed agreements mean nothing and Clerk work is given to the Mail Handlers. Ron Woodall created this war at Palatine and then says he wants us to get along. We did get along before he came and started taking work (non-robot distribution) from Clerks on the Low Cost Tray Sorters at both Palatine and Carol Stream.
It Gets Ugly ...
On 5-20-08 the two multi-line Clerks came to work and did not know if they would be allowed to work in their bid. There were several mail handlers already in the unit at 1550. A supervisor was called and he sent the mail handlers back to cancellation. Within minutes the MH President and two Stewards showed up because the supervisor had moved the mail handlers out of a Clerk unit. The tour 3 MDO's were called to "get with the program" and put the (cancellation) mail handlers back in multi-line. Can you see us telling management to replace Mail Handlers with Clerks in cancellation?
Meeting with Ruby
Branch
We met with Chicago Metro Surface Hub Plant Manager Ruby Branch for over two hours on 5-19-08 to discuss problems at Busse. Ruby informed us that she is the Plant Manager effective 5-24-08. She also informed us that A/MDO Steve Schramm will be leaving on 6-7-08 but Shanteau Anderson will be returning as Operations Manager.
Mail Changes &
SPBS
Ruby said the mail changes now on hold are scheduled to go into effect in July. She wants to run rejects on the SPBS and said she may post SPBS bids but for now has solicited five Clerks to detail to the SPBS at 1600.
Slash Bids
Clerks with Flat/Racks and/or Racks/Flats should be moved to the Racks before a Clerk with Flats bids, but management should ask for volunteers before moving anyone. The slash bids were posted in 2006 per Plant Manager Melvin Anderson because he wanted the Clerks to be able to work in both units without a grievance being filed.
Busse Key
Handling
Chuck Olson is working on finalizing the list for the Busse Key Handling settlement which should be submitted to management soon.
Any Carol Stream Key Handling Money Left?
Tour 3 Maintenance Steward Jim Hovorka faxed me a list showing some of the employees were noted as "can't find". I sent this list to Labor Specialist Catherine Porter and asked her to let me know how much money remains from the settlement. Cathy sent me a list for the second pay-out and Jim will review that list to see if any money remains to be paid out.
eCBM
Changes in Maintenance
electronic Conditioned Based Maintenance (eCBM) is being deployed to facilities that have Automation Facer Cancellers (AFC's) and ASPS machines. eCBM is a production based process (versus calendar based) used to perform preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance tasks are performed based on pieces processed and machine run hours. While there are currently 85 tasks in eCBM for AFCS, you may see only 10-15 tasks on a daily basis, depending on the run time and pieces processed. AFCS technicians/mechanics will be expected to generate an eCBM/AFCS checklist or submit completed tasks in eMARS. Carol Stream Maintenance Steward Mike Kelly alerted us to this change on 4-18-08. National Business Agent Vance Zimmerman has advised us to file grievances for Maintenance Support Clerks when Technicians/mechanics use eMARS to generate checklists, etc. It seems this change is intended to reduce the amount of time spent on preventive maintenance on the AFCS.
MVS & Safety
Newly elected MVS Craft Director Tom Artinghelli is working on several safety-related discipline grievances. A removal was issued to a driver charged with leaving an unattended vehicle running, which they state is prohibited at any time. Another driver was issued a removal for moving a vehicle without properly securing the back door of the trailer. MVS craft employees are subject to removal for safety violations due to the possible serious consequences. Management is subjecting the MVS craft to discipline including removal for drivers charged with failing to adhere to safety policies. Safety is important but discipline must be for just cause and be corrective rather than punitive.
Low Mail & Light Duty
Mail volume is down and management is cutting costs. At Palatine they have been denying light duty requests for Clerks since March. Our Local Memo states "The number of Light Duty Assignments approved shall be 2% of the assignments in each craft represented by APWU” but light duty has never been denied based on the 2%, until now. They say they cannot afford to accommodate beyond the 2% which they say is 15 Clerks. We have filed grievances on this blanket policy in violation of Article 13.2.C which requires the installation head to make a bona fide effort to identify light duty work, giving the matter "the greatest consideration" and "careful attention". Danny Bracket is basing his denials on the 2% language and the severity of the employee's restrictions and states he is approving those who can do more.
National Reassessment Process
Manager Gilbert Lopez told us that the Northern IL District will be ready for the "interview phase" by the end of 2008. APWU Human Relations Director Sue Carney informed us that management saves the "no work available" for last with those targeted being the most limited in the work they can perform. The APWU has a national-level Step 4 dispute with USPS term "necessary" work, which is inconsistent with its own handbook EL-505. We are sending 600 CCD Czerwinksi and 601 Steward Bartlet-Walker to Washington in May for the latest information on the National Reassessment Process (NRP).