OIG: USPS Training..Stay Or Pay?
Should Postal Service employees be required to repay training if they resign before a specified period of time following their training?
The U.S. Postal Service employs approximately 40,000 maintenance craft employees to work in a variety of assignments. Some of these assignments, such as maintenance mechanics, require specific training at great cost to the Postal Service. For example, one training course lasts 13 days and costs $3,325 per employee.
Should employees receiving specialized training sign contracts to remain with the Postal Service for a specified period so that the cost of providing the training can be recouped? Should employees who received training be permitted to leave for more lucrative positions in the private sector as soon as they are certified without compensating the Postal Service? Should such restrictions apply to all Postal Service employees who receive specialized training?
One company requires employees to sign contracts for training programs that are considered expensive and time intensive.
Arbitrator Rules USPS Violated Contract By Subcontracting Installation Of Postal Equipment
Filed under: APWU, automation, maintenance, postal, postal news, usps
From Gary Kloepfer. Assistant Director, American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
This is a summary of Regular Panel Arbitrator Leroy R. Bartman in case H00T-1H-C-03081013 regarding the Postal Service’s purchase of a Low Cost Tray Sorter which was installed by the manufacturer. The arbitrator ruled the Postal Service violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement and ordered the bargaining unit to be whole. Read more
Arbitrator: USPS In Mississippi Must Stop Practice Of Using Custodians To Transport Mail
This is a summary of Regular Panel Arbitrator Leroy R. Bartman in case H06T-4H-C 09241417 regarding the Postal Service’s decision to transport mail between two postal facilities. The arbitrator sustained the Union’s grievance; he directed the Postal Service to cease and desist from continuing its practice of utilizing the two assigned custodians from transporting mail to other Gulf Coastal facilities. He remanded back to the parties the “make whole” aspects of the remedy so that the parties could determine Clerk Craft and/or other eligible qualified employee(s) who were denied the hours worked by the two custodians for the period of fourteen (14) days prior to the grievance filing until the award is implemented.
The Union contended the Postal Service violated the National Agreement when it used lower level employees to perform assignments and duties inconsistent with their respective job descriptions. It was the Union’s position that the Service violated the boundaries of occupational groups and crafts established by the clear and precise requirements of the standard job descriptions. To be specific, the Union argued that at the Moss Point MS Post Office Management has two custodians scheduled on a regular daily basis two (2) hours each day to transport missent mail to other postal facilities. Management has paid the two employees the higher level Clerk PS-6 wages to transport the mail. The Union argues that the MS-47 custodial staffing for the Moss Point office requires in excess of two custodians. By requiring the two employees to spend two (2) hours each and every day, the Service clearly is in violation of MS-47 standard of 2.09 custodians approved for the Moss Point facility. The Union requested that the Postal Service be required to meet the Maintenance Series Handbook (MS-47), Housekeeping Postal Facilities staffing at Moss Point. The Union asked that the Service cease and desist in assigning the two maintenance employees the daily duty of transporting mail and that the “make whole” language of the JCIM be applied at the appropriate overtime rate to the available and qualified clerks who would have been scheduled to transport the mail that was wrongly delivered by the custodians. It is further requested that the two custodians be awarded, at the overtime rate, two hours pay for custodial work not being performed.
The arbitrator properly sustained the Union’s grievance; in so doing he stated:
The Arbitrator has read all of the numerous case citations submitted by the parties. The overwhelming consensus of the awards are that the Postal Service “cannot” (emphasis added), without following the required steps of analysis as outlined in the MS-47, unilaterally alter the number of custodial staff assigned to the postal facility. In this case, Management essentially and factually reduced the required 2.09 custodians, as determined by the PS Form 4852, to a lesser amount by using the custodial staff to perform the clerk craft and duty of delivering for two hours per day missent mail. The overwhelming evidence supports the Union’s position that the Moss Point facility’s custodial staff have been performing on a regular (emphasis added) basis two (2) hours of clerk craft duties. Nowhere in the custodial job description does one find any reference to duties that could conceivably be misconstrued to include clerk craft duties. In paying the Moss Point custodians two (2) hours of PS Level 6 pay on a regular daily basis, Management recognized that it violated the MS-47 and PS Form 4852 standards of custodial staffing. The Union has met its burden of proof that the Service violated the National Agreement, Article 19, by reference the MS-47 Handbook when it regularly scheduled the two custodial employees assigned to Moss Point to Craft Clerk duties. The use of the custodians for two hours each day to deliver missent mail to other Gulf Coast postal facilities was in direct violation of part 116 of the MS-47 Handbook.
Gary Kloepfer
Assistant Director
American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
FYI: USPS Examination Requirement For Custodial Jobs Suspended Until 2011
“As background, the Service had taken a position (in National case Q98C4QC02005533) that they could ignore or waive the exam at their discretion (for example, in cases of excessing) yet maintain that minimum qualification requirement for members of the Maintenance Craft. As one example of the absurd situation this creates; current maintenance employees could not down grade or be promoted into custodial duty assignments because they were not qualified (in the USPS’ position) due to not having the Test 916 on their record. Our position is the Service can’t have it both ways, either waive the requirement for everyone or it must be enforced across the board and cannot be selectively waived.” (APWU, 2007)
Here is the text of the letter from USPS:
June 25, 2010
MANAGERS, HUMAN RESOURCES (AREA)
SUBJECT: Suspending Examination Requirement for Custodial Jobs
Suspension of the examination requirement for custodial jobs was announced via Vice President Deborah Giannoni-Jackson’s August 6, 2007, memorandum. The examination requirement was then extended to September 30,2010, by a subsequent September 4, 2008, memorandum. This suspension is being extended again, until September 30, 2011 . The reassignment of many career bargaining·unit employees has been greatly expedited by this temporary suspension, thereby supporting our efforts to deal with the impact of automation and changes in the postal business environment.
Career employees reassigned in accordance with Article 12 andlor moving voluntarily to custodial positions should not be given Examination 916, or be required to qualify during this suspension.
These employees must meet all requirements shown on the qualification standard for the position to which they are being reassigned, including satisfactory completion of any prescribed training. Districts may continue to use in-service custodial registers.
This suspension removes work from the process of placing employees into custodial positions to more rapidly make staffing changes in our work place.
Copy of Letter
source: Gary Kloepfer, APWU, Maintenance Division
USPS To Phase-Out Postal Career Custodians?
Filed under: maintenance, outsourcing, postal, postal news, usps
In unconfirmed reports PostalReporter has learn that postal supervisors are telling Union Stewards: “USPS will not re-post assignments of custodians upon their retirement.” It appears USPS plans to subcontract (outsource) duties of custodians to private companies.
USPS Creates New Structure For Maintenance Operations
USPS has created a new management and leadership structure for maintenance operations at the district level. This structure provides a more centralized approach to managing key aspects of the plant and equipment maintenance function. Now, lead plants will become the focal points for maintenance operations. The restructuring will increase effectiveness and efficiency and also improve oversight and coordination of maintenance performance. Notification to potentially affected employees starts today. More information soon will be posted on the Organization Change Management website.
source: USPS
Congressman Asks Boston Postal Managers For Explanation Of Outsourcing Vehicle Maintenance Work
Filed under: APWU, maintenance, motor vehicle services, outsourcing, postal, usps
From the American Postal Workers Union:
Expressing concern about the outsourcing of maintenance and repair work on postal vehicles, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) wrote to the USPS Boston District Manager on Sept. 22, [PDF] and asked for an explanation of USPS policy.
“It is my understanding that the vehicle maintenance work is currently being contracted out at an hourly rate which exceeds that of USPS” employees, he said. In addition, Lynch said he had seen documentation indicating that some of the work failed to adhere to maintenance guidelines and risked harm to the environment.
“Also of grave concern is that these contactors have access to universally familiar USPS vehicles” and are authorized to remove them from postal premises. Lynch said he was concerned that contractors may not have been vetted to ensure that they pose no threat to homeland security.
“It is my hope that you can provide a detailed explanation of USPS motor vehicle maintenance policy and the process by which these contractors are selected,” Lynch concluded.
Rep. Lynch wrote the letter in response to complaints from Boston Metro Area Local Motor Vehicle Services Craft President Bill Weaver. In a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter, [PDF] Weaver outlined concerns about the security of the mail, the lack of training of subcontractors, and the cost of subcontracting, as compared with assigning the maintenance and repair work to postal employees.
APWU national officers praised the activities of the members of the Boston Local and of Rep. Lynch. “We have always gotten a good turnout from Boston,” Assistant MVS Director Michael O. Foster said. “This is exactly the kind of grass-roots effort we need.
“Motor Vehicle Craft employees and local leaders have to get involved,” he said. Foster noted that Rep. Lynch authored the Mail Network Protection Act (H.R. 4236), which would require the Postal Service to bargain with postal unions before it engages in significant contracting-out. The APWU enthusiastically supports the bill and has encouraged union members to urge their congressional representatives to sign on as co-sponsors.
Postal Service Announces VER Timeline For Letter Carriers, Maintenance, EAS, PCES
Filed under: early out, maintenance, Postmasters, retirement, scams, usps, ver
Headquarters / Headquarters-Related EAS & PCES; Motor Vehicle; Maintenance (excluding Electronic Technicians); Rural Carriers; City Carriers
The Postal Service recently received approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer voluntary early retirement to eligible employees nationwide.
Automation and technological advances coupled with mail volume reductions has the Postal Service continuing to look for ways to voluntarily reduce its workforce while maintaining excellent customer service.
This offer is open to employees in those positions who meet the OPM conditions, and who are at least 50 years of age with 20 years of creditable federal service or any age with 25 years of creditable federal service.
Please Note: The age and years of service criteria must be met by the effective retirement date of this VERA: February 28, 2009. If you don’t meet the criteria by February 28, 2009, you are not eligible for voluntary early retirement.
For your convenience, a timeline of activity related to this VERA can be found by clicking on VER Steps At-a-Glance. Read through this timeline carefully and consider your retirement options. It’s important to note that November 21, 2008 is the date when an employee’s voluntary choice to retire becomes irrevocable (cannot be withdrawn) under this VERA.
As a reminder, a voluntary early retirement is just that — voluntary. But if retirement is part of a near-future plan for you, make sure to navigate through all the information on this website and get all the information you need to make an informed decision.
VER Information Sessions
While Local Services won’t have any additional information regarding VER eligibility lists, HQ and HRSSC will work together to coordinate and set up information sessions to provide opportunities for Q&A dialogue. VER Information Sessions include reviews of eligibility requirements, the pre-established timeline and the Retirement Seminar DVD. Watch for local announcements within your District on times and locations.
In the meantime, don’t waste time; it’s your retirement, after all! Look through all the information provided on this website and view the retirement videos along with the workbooks to prepare prior to the VER Information Sessions.
Timeline
October 10, 2008 – Annuity Estimates are mailed out to all VER eligible employees.
October 15, 2008 -VER Offer Packet mailed out to all VER eligible employees.
October 20 – November 21, 2008 -VER eligible employees must decide whether to apply for retirement during this period.
October 20, 2008 -HRSSC begins sending out Retirement Forms to all early retirement applicants.
November 21, 2008 – 8:30 p.m. (Eastern time) -Required documents must be received at the HRSSC to take advantage of VER offer.
November 21, 2008 – 8:30 p.m. (Eastern time) -Sent in your retirement application and changed your mind? SUBMIT REQUEST TO WITHDRAW BEFORE THIS TIME.
Mid-January, 2009 -HRSSC begins notification to employees on status of VER applications.
February 28, 2009 -Effective retirement date for approved EAS and PCES in Headquarters and Headquarters-related positions (excluding bargaining unit positions and Area positions). Maintenance, Motor Vehicle, City Carrier, and Rural Carrier positions.
https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/ver2008/effective_retirement_date_022809.htm
Clerks, Mal HAndlers, Supervisors FAQs
https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/ver2008/effective_retirement_date_123108.htm
APWU Wins $48 Million Settlement In MS-47 Handbook Grievance
The APWU and the Postal Service have finalized a $48 million payout to “remedy” the USPS violation of staffing procedures for custodial employees. The settlement will be in the form of lump-sum payments of $2,700 to more than 17,000 employees occupying custodial positions, with payments to be made by April 18
USPS Puts Custodial Exam on Hold Until 2008
Re: Suspension of Custodial Exam 916 (8/27/2007)
From: Steve Raymer, Director, Maintenance Division via Gary Kloepfer, Assistant Director, Maintenance Division
There have been inquiries from the field about the suspension of the custodial exam. This is to provide some information to the field so please forward along as appropriate.
We have received notification from the USPS that requirement to pass the Test 916, Custodial Exam, is suspended until September 30, 2008 for all purposes.
A meeting with the Service at this level is scheduled for Friday, August 31, 2007.
We believe this suspension may be a good thing (pending the responses at the above meeting) and possibly a step towards the total waiver of the Test 916. That would put us in the same position as with the old custodial exam, Test 911. The Test 911 had long been waived for career employees but the Service did not permit waiver or substitution of the Test 916.
As background, the Service had taken a position (in National case Q98C4QC02005533) that they could ignore or waive the exam at their discretion (for example, in cases of excessing) yet maintain that minimum qualification requirement for members of the Maintenance Craft. As one example of the absurd situation this creates; current maintenance employees could not down grade or be promoted into custodial duty assignments because they were not qualified (in the USPS’ position) due to not having the Test 916 on their record. Our position is the Service can’t have it both ways, either waive the requirement for everyone or it must be enforced across the board and cannot be selectively waived.
We will, as always, keep the information coming when we have an update to give
Gary Kloepfer
Assistant Director
Maintenance Division
(202) 842-4213
(202) 289-3746
(202) 251-1495 – Cell