Maintenance Defines Custodial Staffing in POStPlan Clusters

(This article first appeared on the Web News Article #: 67-2017)

On June 30, Arbitrator Stephen Goldberg issued a national award for Case No. Q10T-4Q-C 15206030 concerning custodial staffing in POStPlan office clusters (a group of postal facilities consisting of at least one Remotely Managed Post Office [RMPO] directly reporting to the postmaster located at the Administrative Post Office [APO]).

Arbitrator Goldberg’s award certified that a POStPlan office cluster, is an installation as defined in Article 38.2.B and the custodial staffing formula outlined in the Maintenance Craft “Subcontracting Cleaning Services” Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) applies. This means the USPS cannot continue to freely subcontract out bargaining unit work in these small offices.

“This MOU requires applying a formula which adds together the gross interior and exterior square feet of all facilities within an installation to determine if the Postal Service can subcontract custodial work,” Maintenance Director Steve Raymer explained. “Locals and state organizations representing POStPlan ‘clusters’ should determine whether the MOU is being complied with. If the result of applying the formula is 1 or greater, then management is prohibited from contracting out the Maintenance Craft’s work.”

Article 38.2.B of the CBA defines an installation as, “a main post office, airport mail center or facility, terminal, bulk mail center, processing and distribution center or facility, Maintenance Support and Repair Facility or any similar organizational unit under the direction of one postal official, together with all stations, branches and other subordinate units.”

“As the Union points out, the POStPlan office structure is almost identical to the main post office – station/branch structure described in Article 38.2.B,” confirmed Arbitrator Goldberg. “Simply switch the names from APO to main post office and from RMPO to station or branch, and the management and operational structure of the POStPlan and non-POStPlan offices are exactly the same.”

If you have questions or concerns, contact your Maintenance National Business Agent for help.

POStPLAN CUSTODIAL STAFFING.6-30-2017

White House 2018 Budget Proposal Targets Postal Workers and Postal Services

(This article first appeared on the Web News Article #:  53-2017)

This week the White House released their budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, as they do every fiscal year. There are a number of disturbing provisions which will directly affect postal workers and postal services for the American people.

The White House’s budget proposes $46 billion in “savings” to the Postal Service by a reduction in the methods of delivery. This could include cutting the number of delivery days and a further reduction in service standards.

The budget further calls for an increase of 6% employee pension contributions into the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) – 1% a year for each of the next six years. This would result in a pay-cut of thousands of dollars a year for each FERS postal employee.

The budget also proposes eliminating Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) on FERS retirement benefits, reducing COLA on current civil service retirees and a change in calculating future retirement benefits from the current “high three” average to a “high five” year formula. In addition, the proposal advocates doing away with the social security supplement currently covering the gap in FERS benefits for those who retire before they are eligible for social security benefits.

Each of these proposals would be to the severe detriment of hard working postal employees, both active and retired.

Will Devastate Working Families

Contrary to President Trump’s campaign promises to elevate workers and protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits, the proposed budget contains a number of extreme cuts which will deeply affect tens of millions of working families. These include massive cuts to social security disability benefits, Medicaid coverage, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the student loan program. The budget proposal shrinks all these essential programs while lowering the taxes for corporate America and the wealthy elite.

“This budget proposal is Robin Hood in reverse,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “It robs from the workers to give more and more to the wealthy. Taken in their entirety, these are draconian attacks on hard working postal workers and our families.”

Ultimately, Congress sets the federal government’s budget. However, the White House’s budget proposal is a reflection of the spending priorities of the Trump administration. The APWU, working with our sister unions and many allies, will vigorously oppose actions by Congress to allow these cuts to vital government programs as well as any attempts to undermine postal services and the well-being of postal workers and postal retirees.

“No postal worker cast a vote in the last presidential election to cut postal services and worker benefits,” Dimondstein continued. “I am confident, that our members of all political persuasions will stand up and fight back against these new assaults on postal workers and all working folks.”

Dealing with the OIG

As a steward, at some point, we all will be in the unique situation of dealing with the Postal Inspectors or Office of Inspector General (OIG). As intimidating as it sounds, the contract gives (us the stewards), the right to represent the members once they (the member) enacts their Weingarten Rights. At this point, the grievance procedure starts. As the member has to comply and participate with any investigation of the OIG, the OIG has to follow and comply with the contract once the member requests a shop steward. Below, are some points brought to us by Mike Wright to better inform us on things to be aware about if approached by the OIG or if you’re the representing steward for a member. The first two (2) on the list point out the types of inspectors and for what reasons they would show up at a location.

  • Postal Inspectors (PIS), specifically mail theft
  • Office of Inspector General (OIG), on-duty narcotics, falsification by employees, OWCP fraud
  • OIG must comply with Article 17.3, polygraphs are voluntary
  • OIG has no right to influence grievance procedure, management must do an independent review
  • Miranda Rights, involves custodial interrogation, advise counsel, try to advise grievant not to speak to you (the steward) on details of the investigation. Steward can be obligated to testify against grievant.
  • Garrity Rights, involves non-custodial interrogation, employee cannot be threatened for not choosing between self incrimination or job forfeiture
  • Kalkine Rights, non-custodial, employee will not be prosecuted but will have to cooperate even if it means job forfeiture, grants immunity from prosecuted, must be in writing
  • Weingarten, non-custodial, employee has a reasonable belief that discipline will be the outcome of the interview, has right to representation, employee must make request for said representation
  • OIG, PIS can give false or misleading facts to help get needed information out of an employee
  • Employee must make the request for Union representation, management cannot bring a steward to an interrogation. Weingarten, global settlement, whatever information gathered during the said investigation cannot be used.

If you have any further questions about dealing with the PIS/OIG, feel free to request/contact your local steward or call your local business agent.