APWU Files Dispute Concerning USPS Failure to Bargain Over Safety and Ergonomic Issues
The APWU has initiated a national dispute over the Postal Service’s failure and refusal to meet and bargain in good faith the the Union about safety and ergonomic issues associated with the Delivery Bar Code Sorter (DCBS). As previously reported, the APWU filed an unfair labor practice charge in December 2008 over the Postal Service’s refusal to bargain over safety and ergonomic issues. A portion of that charge concerning information requests was settled, but the NLRB deferred the complaint on the issue of bargaining to the grievance procedure. This national dispute will be given priority scheduling under the terms of the NLRB deferral and placed at the head of the arbitration docket pursuant to Article 14.2
Click here for a copy of the Union’s National Dispute Letter
NYC Mail Handlers Local Withdraws From USPS, OSHA Ergonomic Program
“The Ergonomic Risk Reduction Process (ERRP) reduces both the number and severity of musculoskeletal disorders, builds labor/management teams with ergonomic skills, and cultivates partnerships to identify and control ergonomic risk. These partnerships include OSHA, NPMHU, and APWU. Since its inception in 2003, 176 plants and 9 districts have implemented ERRP, with over 155,000 employees receiving training. ERRP sites that have been involved in the process for at least 12 months experienced a 21.9 percent reduction in musculoskeletal disorders this year.”–source: USPS
NATIONAL POSTAL MAIL HANDLERS UNION·
LOCAL 300 AFL-CIO-CLC
WILFREDO DELGADO
Branch President -New York City
III John Street, Suite 710, New York, NY 10038 Phone (212) Fax (212) 941-6499
January 2010
MAIL HANDLER -NEWSFLASH-
Local 300 withdraws from EERPS
Management has attempted to limit this Union’s involvement with the EERPs program. Management wants to take the Mail Handler chosen by the Union to be on this committee, and replace them with the team, handpicked by management.
This is a blatant underhanded way to limit this Union’s participation in the process.
The EERP (Ergonomic Risk Reduction Process) was begun in 2003 as a result of OSHA, APWU, NPMHU and the Postal Service coming together to reduce (MSDS) musculoskeletal disorders, and help identify potential hazards and ergonomic health risks.
This Union has consistently fought for a safe work place, and will continue to hold Postal management accountable for providing a safe work environment.
We will continue to address safety and health issues through the Local Safety & Health Committee, the Grievance process and outside agencies.
An Injury To One Is An Injury To All
Letter to USPS Management:
?Mr. Sun,
This is to inform you that Local 300 Mail Handlers Union will not be participating in the Morgan P&DC EERPS Restart.
‘
You claim that there is an agreed upon structure, “one union steward chosen by the Union and two craft mail handlers chosen by management”.
Local 300 NEVER agreed to this structure. I have no idea where you have gotten this blatant anti-UNION direction. Apparently, you have not been in contact with the prior EERPS management team leader Jim Koehler, to get a clear understanding of the EERPS) process and goals. ‘
This Union has always named the Mail Handler EERP committee members. Management has never named the committee members for the Mail Handler craft.
Only Local 300 can choose who will represent our craft on any committee. This is an Unfair Labor Practice, and we will be filing NLRB charges to address this issue.
If any Mail Handler is named to this committee, they have no authority or representative rights to speak for our craft. They will be an empty seat, voicing management’s concerns, not the Mail Handler craft’s.
Local 300 has consistently fought for a safe work environment, and has worked well with management and the previous committee to resolve issues.
Apparently, management’s approach is now to minimize the Union’s input into the efforts for a safe work environment, and water down any significant improvements.
In light of that fact, Local 300 will continue to address safety and health issues through the proper committees, the grievance process and all outside agencies.
Willie Delgado
NYC Branch President
Local 300-NPMHU
OSHA partnership helps reduce ergonomic injuries at USPS
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Press Release:
WASHINGTON — U.S. Postal Service employees are experiencing fewer ergonomic injuries as a result of a 2003 partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NMHU) and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The organizations have released Examples of Good Ergonomics Practices at the U.S. Postal Service which outlines the achievements of the partnership and the steps taken to help prevent ergonomic-related injuries in the workplace.
“By bringing management, unions and employees together to cooperatively identify potential hazards and ergonomic health risks, the Postal Service, through this partnership, is transforming its workplace safety and health ergonomic program into a model for both the public and private sector,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. “Through identification and resolution of ergonomic risks, the Postal Service has saved $1.8 million in workers’ compensation costs and has had a 38 percent reduction in the musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) recordable rate.”
The document illustrates several examples that could have resulted in an ergonomic-related injury and the proactive measures taken to correct the situation before a workplace injury occurred. Several of the protective measures cost less than $100 to implement.
Once the Ergonomic Risk Reduction Process (ERRP) is initiated, an ergonomist uses the 10-step process to identify jobs with high rates of MSDs. Those jobs are then broken down into tasks and steps. The ergonomic risk is then linked to the steps before identifying an implementation plan, obtaining feedback, and determining the cost to implement the solution.
The ERRP is successful because it is a systematic process with clearly defined goals. Using ERRP improves mail flow and leads to improved morale, a better trained workforce, and assigns individual responsibility for job improvements.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure the safety and health of America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
Related link: United States Postal Service/American Postal Workers Union AFL-CIO/National Postal Mail Handlers Union Partnership Agreement
