(This was originally in the SJ Area Local Newsletter of April 2019. Written by: Mike Wright)
Misappropriation Nation
In August 2018, the last South Jersey District Labor-Management Meeting we attended, one of our main concerns that we brought to the District’s attention was their investigation into alleged “administrative errors” of another office and why the Union was kept in the dark in their findings until a Step 2 decision from Labor.
I apologize for sounding like a broken record, but regardless of how many times a Timekeeping Integrity Memo is sent (either from District or Area), these memos are not being read, followed or both. My suggestion, maybe we can send these memos around in 5-inch cardboard tubes, since this is how the memos are being treated.
If you were at the February General Membership Meeting, I reported on almost 800 hours of alleged “administrative errors” (in Woodbury) where clerks who never spent a minute performing custodial work were somehow moved to OC 747 (custodial duties). A settlement was signed that management:
- would transfer the hours back to the proper LDC,
- 100% of the Line H hours would be met for Fiscal Year 2019,
- and the Union and Management would review the hours.
Everything seemed right on the surface until a month later when the same supervisor, again alleged in a grievance interview, had instructed a clerk to swipe onto 747 and continue to perform clerk duties.
I don’t mince or sugar-coat words, this is FRAUD (if this is true) not an “administrative error”, or whatever management’s catch phrase of the week is. The alleged moving clerks onto custodial operation codes, is FRAUD. This isn’t the first office and, I’m willing to gamble, not the last office we’re going to find this issue in.
In Hammonton, we had a RMPO where a custodian was instructed to work the retail window under the Postmaster’s ACE ID. This again was confirmed in a grievance interview and further admitted to by the Postmaster to Labor Relations in the District. While not as egregious as what allegedly happened in Woodbury, this is still falsification.
I think it’s safe for me to say this Local is done trying to seek accountability from this District. This is the scenario where rogue management is running the asylum with no recourse for their alleged actions.
Misc.
My email is mjwrightapwu@hotmail.com. Those who have emailed me over the years know my quick response rate regardless of the time of day. I’ve also, over the years, sent out what many offices don’t post, which are conversion opportunities. In a perfect world, I’d like to see every dues-paying member in a full-time position. We need to continue to fight, if you see something that isn’t right, email me, contact the office @ 856-228-8090, or fax a statement to the office @ 856-228-2627.