(This was originally in the SJ Area Local Newsletter of February 2019. Written by: Mike Wright)
Administrative Errors/T7s and TACS
Recently, we had found more alleged “administrative errors” where clerk hours were somehow in LDC 38 (custodial hours). One or two occurrences, one could see a possible mistake, but every week? This mirrors what “allegedly” happened in other offices last year. With time card integrity memos send out almost quarterly, how does this continue to happen? The only way to protect our hours and jobs is to enforce the 2016 Global Settlement in which the Lead Clerk will perform TACS duties.
On January 7, I had sent Requests for Information for every Level 20 and above office under our jurisdiction to see which offices are having their Lead Clerks performing the TACS duties in accordance with the settlement. After getting back most of the data, I could count on one hand how many offices were compliant. This is our work, just as much so as working the window and distributing mail. Why do we continue to give our work away without a fight?
MDAT
We’re begging to start running MDAT in offices that are fully staffed and still show a need to create full-time positions based on the hours work by PTFs or PSEs within a nine- or ten-hour window depending on the size of the office. We’ve preached Article 37.3.A.1 which states desirable duties are to be created based on actual hours worked, not what is earned, not what the computer monitor tells them (management), and certainly not based on a Function Four study. Making sure we’re continuously on the right operation is still needed and not happening in many offices which does nothing but put a bulls-eye on the clerk operations there.
Article 1.6 and 7
The other thing that continuous to hurt the clerks in the Associate Offices is the lack on witness statements regarding Management (1.6) and other crafts (7) performing our work. The job of a Local Steward is hard enough, when they’re the only one speaking up, giving statements, and making the Local aware of violations, we’re doing nothing but showing on paper that jobs can be done with less clerks. PSEs and PTFs should be the most concerned with this, it’s the elimination of full-time positions due to our complacency of the said violations which could have been the position that they might have been converted into that is in jeopardy.
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 send 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.