Arbitrator Denies Rural Letter Carriers Fletters Grievance
The National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) objected to the Postal Service’s insistence that “fletters” (Flats and Letters) be processed on flats automation equipment when they can just as easily be processed as letters. As a result, they said mail is being improperly presented to rural carriers for delivery.
Former NRLCA President Gus Baffa’s Letter to USPS Contract Administrator Andrea Wilson (2/27/03)
The method of presenting certain mailpieces, mailpieces that the United States Postal Service has unofficially identified as “fletters”, to rural carriers constitutes a violation of, but not limited to, the USPS/NRLCA National Agreement MO-38, and Handbook PO-603. The Postal Service is consciously and by design diverting mail from the mailstream that is compatible with letter automation equipment to equipment intended to process oversized letter mail and flat mail. Although not strictly limited to the AFSM 100 flat sorting machines, the occurrence of the contractual violation is most commonly associated with the AFSM 100′s. This processing irregularity resuls in mail that is not properly presented to rural carriers. The Association seeks an appropriate remedy including an immediate cessation of this practice.
In a long-awaited decision, National Arbitrator Dana Eischen denied the Association’s class action grievance challenging the Postal Service’s practice of commingling letter-sized mail with flats when mail sorted on flat-sorting machines is presented to rural carriers for casing. We are extremely disappointed with the outcome and distressed at the limited analysis Arbitrator Eischen gave to the issue in the final four pages of his decision. Arbitrator Eischen did not acknowledge and ignored altogether most of the arguments advanced by the Association in support of the grievance. RuralInfo.net
Arbitrator Dana Edward Eischen’s 11-13-07 award on the merits of the NRLCA’s National “Fletters” grievance
As I understand it, the Association’s fundamental position is that the language of P0-603 Chapter 2, §212.13, 212.2,222 and 223, supra, and “past practice” thereunder, evidence a mutual intent of the parties, albeit by implication, that the Postal Service is contractually barred from presenting to rural carriers for casing Post-Wells machine -processed “fletters” which are “commingled” in flat tubs with other machine-processed flat-sized mail pieces. [Handbook P0-603 was jointly adopted by the parties in June 1991, as the successor to Handbook M-37, issued in May 1983. That handbook, in Sections 211,222 and 223, described the letter and flat presentation and casing provisions in virtually identical language to that in P0-603. (Postal Service Exhibit 7.) The prior version of Handbook M 37 was issued in December 1965 and likewise contains the same letter and flat presentation and casing requirements. (Postal Service Exhibit 8.)].
Below is the actual excerpt from the file.
Postal Service Expects To Deliver 20 Billion Pieces Of Mail During Holidays
USPS Press Release:
In two short days, the U.S. Postal Service begins to deliver 20 billion pieces of mail across the country and around the world, a task that requires more than 200,000 trucks, a 30 percent increase in air cargo transport, 37,000 Post Offices and 700,000 employees.
All to make sure that holiday cheer arrives on time.
The Postal Service expects to deliver 20 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, with the busiest mailing day set for Monday, Dec. 17. More than 275 million cards and letters should be mailed that day, more than three times the average daily volume of 82 million. Total mail volume (cards, letters, catalogs, packages, magazines) for the busiest day should approach 1 billion, up from an average daily volume of 703 million pieces.
The busiest delivery day will be Wednesday, Dec. 19. Staff at the National Operations Center report for “24-7 duty” on Dec. 1 to help navigate, literally, mail movement around the world.
“This is one of the most challenging and exciting times of the year for us,” said Pat Donahoe, deputy postmaster general and chief operating officer. “Whether you’re sending a holiday card to Idaho or a care package to Iraq, our employees across the country are committed to success.”
In addition to the logistics of moving and delivering all this mail, the Postal Service will have extended hours at more than 7,000 Post Offices. Customers will be able to purchase stamps online or at more than 55,000 alternate access points, including banks, grocery stores, drug stores and Automated Postal Centers (APCs).
APCs handle 80 percent of the same transactions customers can conduct in a Post Office and are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for added customer convenience. Packages can be mailed regardless of Post Office hours using these self-service kiosks, located in thousands of Post Office lobbies across the country. APCs are as easy to use as an ATM, but without the fees. Many APCs let customers conduct business in Spanish.
And, as the way Americans celebrate the holidays change, the Postal Service is changing as well. There are working mothers, single fathers, blended families. Families are multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-taskers. They are plugged in, wireless, blogging, podcasting and texting.
That’s today’s holidays. The Postal Service has products and choices to help meet these growing and changing needs.
“In the time it takes you to download a tune or a video for your iPod, you can create your own postage and design unique greeting cards online. You can order free, environmentally friendly packaging or find the nearest Post Office with late hours while you’re watching the late, late show,” said Delores Killette, vice president and consumer advocate. “That’s today’s mail.”
With 37,000 Post Offices around the country and a virtual Post Office only a click away, the Postal Service, like Santa, is everywhere during the holidays. And like Santa, the Postal Service will be delivering mail on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Donahoe stressed that mailing early is key, recommending that all First-Class Mail and Priority Mail be sent by Dec. 20 and that Express Mail be sent by Dec. 22. Mail sent by Parcel Post, the most economical service, should be in the mail by Dec. 15.
Mail destined for servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan should be sent by Dec. 4. Mail destined for any other military installation around the world should be mailed no later than Dec. 18. All military mail, regardless of destination, is sent at domestic mail rates.
“Marking these dates and taking advantage of the convenience of our online products and services will give you something you really can use this time of year,” Donahoe said. “More time.”
Court: Postal Police Manager’s Transfer Was Not A Demotion
According to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in a nonprecedential decision:
Ronald Calvin was transferred from his position of Manager, Postal Police Division, EAS-21 to that of General Analyst, EAS-21. Both positions carry the same grade and basic rate of pay. The Postal Service cited loss of confidence in Mr. Calvin’s managerial abilities as the reason for the transfer. Calvin stated that the transfer was in retaliation for his having filed a discrimination claim against his supervisor, and points to his consistent high performance evaluations. He also points to his 36 years of service, and argued that his transfer was, in effect, a constructive demotion, since he lost the retirement and other benefits and credentials of being a police officer. He argued that his removal from the position of Manager, Postal Police Division, harms him both in terms of the retirement benefits he would gain under the Law Enforcement Safety Act of 2004 and in terms of his prestige as a Captain of Postal Police. He also argued that he was the victim of an illegal reduction-in-force procedure. He states that these various grounds entitle him to a hearing on the merits of his case.
MSPB held that a transfer without a reduction in either grade or the basic rate of pay is not a personnel action that is appealable to the Board, and did not discuss the various arguments presented. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals agreed. Calvin vs MSPB (PDF)
Photo: Post Office in Williamstown OH
Post Office: Williamstown, OH 45897
APWU-Backed Bill Would Require Bargaining Over Subcontracting
http://www.apwu.org/index2.htm
APWU-Backed Bill Introduced in Congress; Legislation Would Require Bargaining Over Subcontracting
The APWU won a significant victory on Nov. 15, when Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) introduced legislation that would require the Postal Service to bargain with postal unions before making a commitment to significant subcontracting. H.R. 4236 would require the USPS to submit to arbitration if management and the affected unions were unable to reach agreement. The APWU has been strenuously advocating such legislation for several months.
Postal Service’s Oldest Employee Still Going Strong
Mail handler Chester Reed is an inspiration in many ways.
He began working at the San Bernardino, CA, P&DC in 1973, after retiring from the Air Force — and has never missed a day of work during 60 years of combined federal service. At 93, Reed is the oldest postal employee still working in the nation.
“Chester is a good role model,” Plant Manager Ken Lucas said. “He’s helpful, keeps busy, and you can count on him to do anything you ask.”
“I started as a mail handler and I’m a mail handler today,” Reed said. “I used to cancel letters but now I’m an equipment operator. I’m not ready to retire. I like the work I do.”
Reed is often questioned about his secret to longevity and his answer is always the same: “Onion sandwiches. I eat one every day.”
source: USPS News Link
USPS Instructs Managers to Comply With Bargaining Agreements
Letter Is Response to APWU Criticism of Executives’ Strategy Recommendations
APWU News
In response to criticism by APWU President William Burrus, the Postal Service has officially notified its managers that efficiency-improvement strategies must be in full compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
“Strategic programs designed to increase efficiency will always prove to be more successful when accomplished by adhering to the contractual requirements in our respective collective bargaining agreements,” wrote the Postal Service’s highest-ranking Labor Relations executive in a letter sent to postal managers and executives nationwide.
The Nov. 15 letter [PDF] was in response to Burrus’ criticisms of an October USPS News Link report on the outcome of a meeting of 700 USPS managers. When asked to identify the best opportunities for improving postal efficiency, participants at a National Executives Conference gave top-ranking to managing sick leave, managing overtime, and maximizing the use of non-career employees.
In a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter, the APWU president noted that “each of these issues is governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which details the rights of the employees.” Compliance with the National Agreement was not among the highly-ranked objectives, Burrus pointed out, even though USPS contract violations have resulted in numerous grievance settlements totaling in the millions of dollars.
The Labor Relations letter cautioned managers that, “While all three of these areas provide potential to increase our efficiency, we must proceed by being mindful of our contractual obligations that govern these areas.”
“Accordingly, it is fully expected that any and all programs designed to increase efficiency… will be accomplished in full compliance with the collective bargaining agreements.”
Burrus said, “We are pleased that the Postal Service has withdrawn what seemed to be an invitation to ignore labor agreements. As long as the agreement is honored we do not object to efforts to improve the quality of service.”
Participants at the USPS conference were asked to rank in importance from among a “list of areas of opportunities.” The list did not include compliance with labor agreements or such areas as morale and harassment of employees. “Managers who simply adhere to the collective bargaining agreement can bring about serious change that would improve efficiencies,” Burrus said.
Disabled Vets Claim Job Harassment, Racism At Charlotte Post Office
WCNC-TV finds 103 complaint letters against post office – veterans say they’re ‘treated like trash’
WCNC has learned that more than a hundred disabled veterans who work for the U.S. Postal Service in Charlotte have signed complaint letters to the federal government, claiming they suffer from on-the-job harassment and what the letters call “blatant discrimination against veterans.” The WCNC Investigators have learned the Charlotte Mail Center is also dealing with complaints of racism – in particular, about a black doll carried by one supervisor. “Why would an individual bring a doll, black, with a noose around its neck to work to a government facility and parade it?” asks Michael Anthony Smith. Full Story and video
Report: Employment of Veterans in the U.S. Postal Service
Excerpt from Report on Veterans in the Federal Government
The U. S. Postal Service (Postal Service) is one of the largest employers of veterans in the nation, second only to the Department of Defense. During FY 2006, the Postal Service employed 695,890 career employees. This was a decrease of 8,313 employees from the 704,203 employed during FY 2005 (Table 13).
There were 179,348 veterans employed in the Postal Service during FY 2006. This is a decrease of 7,796 veterans from the 187,144 during FY 2005. Disabled veterans represented 8.8 percent (61,482) of the Postal Service’s career workforce, as compared to 9.0 percent (63,456) during FY 2005. The representation of disabled veterans in the Postal Service shows a decline of 1,974 disabled veterans (Table 13). Additionally, the Postal Service’s representation of 30 percent or more disabled veterans declined by 36 from 16,859 in FY 2005 to 16,823 in FY 2006 (Table 13).
In FY 2006, veterans received 23.9 percent (6,859) of the promotions, as compared to 25.1 percent (7,270) in FY 2005. Disabled veterans received 9.5 percent (2,725) of all Postal Service promotions (28,696) in FY 2006, as compared to 10.0 percent (2,883) in 2005. This was a decrease of 158 promotions for disabled veterans. Postal Service veterans rated as 30 percent or more disabled received 2.8 percent (810) of the total promotions in FY 2006 as compared to 2.9 percent (844) during FY 2005. This was a decrease of 34 advancements for 30 percent or more disabled veterans. The promotion figures in the table for Postal Service include reassignments of Postal Career Executive Service employees and promotions to Executive and Administrative salary positions.
In advancement and promotions, disabled veterans with less than a 30 percent disability rating accounted for 10.3 percent (2,696) of the total career hires, compared to 7.4 percent (2,620) in FY 2005. This was an increase of 2.9 percentage points. Additionally, 30 percent or more disabled veterans constituted 4.6 percent (1,191) of total career hires, as compared to 3.2 percent (1,144) in FY 2005. This was an increase of 1.4 percentage points.
Although the number of disabled veterans with a 30 percent or more disability rating has declined as shown in Table 13 over the past four years, the percentage of the total workforce has remained steady at 2.4 percent. In addition, Table 13 shows the increasing percentage of 30 percent or more disabled veterans in both categories as a percent of veterans and percent of disabled veterans.
OIG Report: Potential Preferential Treatment Given to Netflix
From eKey Technologies Overview of USPS OIG Audit Report:
The report looks at just the return portion of the disk rental process. Using their own cost differential between automated and manual processing, the OIG says over the last two years the Postal Service has spent more than $40 million in additional costs processing the return portion of one company’s mail pieces. The reason for the increased processing costs is due to the non-machinable characteristics of their mail piece design. The OIG has projected over $60 million in additional processing costs over the next two years if changes are not made. Using the USPS numbers contained in the report the costs are much higher. Processing units are telling people that the outbound pieces of this customer are manually processed also, so it’s reasonable to double the above costs for a more accurate accounting.
The OIG report also states that other companies have requested approval to use a similar mail piece design but were denied its use because the design isn’t machine compatible. Several of those letters are posted on this site. The OIG says that this could be viewed as Postal favoritism. The OIG goes on to say that this rental company was told in 2002 that their current design wasn’t acceptable. The USPS marketing department later provided their own letter to the company over riding the engineering departments determination.
This seems like more than favoritism. It sounds more like malfeasance or even corruption. This isn’t about a company leveraging its size and influence; it’s about postal officials not being held accountable for the ethical administration of their duties. The USPS response seems to be that since the volume of this customer is so insignificant to the total volume in the First Class mail stream there is no need to make changes.
Additional processing costs, special handling and lost revenue running into the millions for just one customer? No wonder postage rates are going up!
source: eKeyMailer.com
OIG Report: Review of Postal Service First-Class Permit Reply Mail (PDF)