Month: April 2019

(This is a combination of written emails by Mike Wright, Director of SJAL AOs and Julio Cebollero, SJAL Area Steward)

The latest nonsense to come out of the South Jersey District is not authorizing pre-tour overtime. Here are some things management will try to comply with the latest marching orders that we need to keep an eye on;

• Article 1.6 (Management) and 7 (other crafts) performing our work, management loves to rely on Article 3 (right to mismanage) to claim “emergency situations”, short staffing is not an emergency, heavy volume is not an emergency, mail up-time is not an emergency, and finally NOT AUTHORIZING PRE-TOUR OVERTIME IS NOT AN EMERGENCY.
• Do not let management solicit you into changing your schedule to avoid overtime, we’re hurting ourselves and other members by doing this. There is language in the ELM that supports our argument, just like there is language in the ELM to protect us if they retaliate against an employee who does not cooperate in these situations.
• Make sure to keep management honest on their up-time scans, don’t scan the barcode early, if they instruct you to, inform them you’re doing so under protest and let us know immediately. There have been integrity memos send that I like to refer to even though we have many offices that ignore these.

Everyone needs to keep watch on this in their office! Management shouldn’t be performing any bargaining unit work.

Does management rights stated in Article 3 allow management to violate the other provisions of the National Agreement?

NO. MANAGEMENT RIGHTS ARE LIMITED BY OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT AND/OR APPLICABLE LAWS

What is “emergency situation” as mentioned in Article 1 section 6.A?

AN EMERGENCY IS “AN UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCE OR A COMBINATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION IN A SITUATION WHICH IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE OF A RECURRING NATURE. 

Other crafts shouldn’t be performing clerk work unless the union is properly notified. Crossing crafts is allowed at times if there is too much work in one craft and not enough in the other. Again proper notification must be given to union.

If you are a Custodian asked to perform clerk work then you must move on the the clock to proper operations number and be paid level 6.

Also, you are entitled to do your work as a Custodian and get Overtime for that day.

Don’t be quiet. Contact your in office steward or the office ASAP!

Write a complete and thorough statement of what is going on in your office and get to union ASAP!

Don’t let management change your schedule to avoid Overtime. This not just a violation of your rights under the national agreement but a violation of law.

Remember, if any of this is going  on in your office, we need to be informed in a timely (14 days) manner. Don’t sit on this, don’t fear retaliation, and most important DON’T MAKE DEALS.

You have a strong local that has your back. Don’t be intimidated by management!