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Maintenance Craft Conference Update 6/13/05--Safety Committee Rep Needed 3/1/05--Red Bank Local Maintenance Update 9/25/06 Red Bank Maintenance Update ARCHIVED (LOCAL) MAINTENANCE ARTICLES
Maintenance
Craft Conference 2007 Greg See will assume the duties of reviewing all future
PM MMO's for Click here for link to F-15 travel manual The following vacancies are now available through eReassignAt Monmouth P&DC: Occupation Tour bt/et Rest Days HRIS# MPE -8 Tour 1 23:00-07:30 S/S 5674123 MPE -8 Tour 2 07:00-15:30 S/M 5569779 Note: The MPE 8 job requires a passing rating on the 933 exam. L/C -3 Tour 1 23:00-07:30 S/F 6120370 L/C -3 Tour 1 23:00-07:30 S/M 5674127 L/C -3 Tour 3 15:00-23:30 S/M 6202613 Note: The L/C 3 job requires a passing rating on the 916 exam. All vacancies are currently being withheld. If you have a passing rating, provide a copy of your NOR (notice of rating) to the APWU office and send a copy with a letter of consideration to: Greg Cooke, Maintenance Manager Monmouth P&DC 307 Industrial Way West Eatontown, NJ 07799 If you would like to join the Maintenance Craft you MUST apply for these vacancies through eReassign. For more information call Exam Specialist Debra Jones @732-819-3853
Vacant Duty Assignments Are a Hardship for All (This article was first published in the July/August 2005 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) After going through the in-craft process, local management sometimes delays the filling of Maintenance Craft duty assignments by claiming no one is available for the job. One common rationale is that no transfer requests are pending and that the in-service registers are empty. As a result, local management stalls the filling of our vacancies for months on end. [FULL STORY from APWU.ORG]
Safety Committee Representative Needed
September 24, 2006
ODL & Holiday Volunteer ListsThe ODL sign up sheets will come down Wednesday 9/27/06 at 11:00 AM. The Columbus Day Holiday volunteer lists will be pulled down on Monday October 2nd at 12:30 PM. Travel Issues $39 divided by 4 DOES NOT equal $7.75. I am still arguing this point with management. We may have to take this one to arbitration. The F-15 Travel Handbook is the reference for travel rules. It can be accessed at any ACE computer including the one by the parts room. Click on "USPS Blue", "My Work", "Travel Guidelines" under the Travel heading. Appendix A lists the current mileage, per diem & meal rates. Craft employees are not required to use eTravel or the eTravel credit card. You can use PS Form 1011 & 1012. You can do your own eTravel if you have an ACE login. Whichever method you choose, make copies of your forms & receipts. You are responsible for reconciling your travel advance. The F-15 states in section 10-2.1.1: “If your travel advance remains outstanding for a period of 120 days or more after your travel is complete, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers that advance to be reportable compensation and, therefore, subject to federal income taxes, FICA, and Medicare taxes.” Do not write a check to the USPS unless you are absolutely sure you owe them money. Get it in writing. You have the right to see the calculations and you have the right to file a grievance if you disagree with them. If you need help, ask for a shop steward. You have the right to Union time on-the-clock off the workroom floor to discuss your grievance with a steward. MS-47 There is still no decision on the MS-47 Custodial Staffing case yet. You can check the following website: http://www.21cpw.com/maint.html
Ray Glasser Maintenance Craft Director
Red Bank Local Maintenance Update Do not hesitate to ask for assistance from your Union. Ray Glasser
21st
Century Postal Worker Maintenance Craft Message Exchange National Center for Employee Development (NCED) APWU Maintenance Arbitration Summary LuNewsViews Maintenance News Updates Things Every Maintenance Employee Needs To Know (Detroit District Area Local)
TECH/MECH Links (Red Bank Local) USPS Automation & Technology Updates (Lu's News) USPS New Technology and Machines (San Antonio Alamo Area Local)
Gary Kloepfer's Maintenance Issues--Arbitration summaries (Trenton Metro Area Local)
Cincinnati APWU--Maintenance Issues Help Prevent Staffing Cuts--Mechanics (Broward County Area Local) Custodial Staffing (Broward County Area Local) More Great Maintenance Articles From Broward County Nuts and Bolts (and a few loose screws) (Central Florida Area Local) THE PILOT PROGRAM Results 2001 (Maintenance Developmental Training, Detroit)
The Red Bank Local, APWU, AFL-CIO, is a non-profit organization.
12/24/04--Local Grievance Update Employee Assignment Work Sheets Maintenance Exams Being Offered Maintenance Update From HQ at NJSPWU Seminars USPS Awards Northrop Grumman $130 Million Contract Management recently settled local grievance RG04-556 with a
lump sum payment of 32 hours at the ET overtime rate. This grievance arose from
management's failure to notify the Union in advance of an outside contractor
entering the building to perform our work. On November 13th & 14th 2004, a
contractor from Siemens was here performing a modification to the FSM 100s.
Article 32 of our Contract requires management to notify and discuss with the
Union decisions regarding subcontracting. This is an important win for our
Local. We must all be alert to contractors in the building. If we all work
together, we can win more grievances like this and prevent some of the blatant
subcontracting that has gone on for far too long. All employees are urged to
notify a Steward if you see a contractor working here. You can be anonymous. But
it would be helpful if you would give a witness statement or be interviewed by a
Steward. The EAWS Employee Assignment Work Sheet is an
important piece of evidence that a Steward or Arbitration Advocate can use to
win a grievance against management. It is also very useful in establishing
proper staffing. Fill out your work sheet accurately. Get a work order for all
repairs that you do. Do not use excessive Area Assurance time (OPMS). We only
get credit for 10% of Actual Machine Run Hours. You can use standing work orders
for repairs. See MMO-149-98, which is posted on the Maintenance APWU board for
an explanation of what codes to use. Minimize the use of Work Code 09. Use
work codes 07, 08, 21 & 23 as needed. If your supervisor will not get you a work
order or instruct you how to get a work order, ask to see your Shop Steward to
file a grievance. You have the right to speak to a Steward, on the clock, off
the floor. If you are denied your right to see a steward, we will file a
grievance. APWU Prevails in "Line J" Case by Martin Johns In an award dated July 12, 2004, National Arbitrator Shyam Das gave the APWU a long overdue victory in the "Line J" case. The central point of the award in case number I94T-4I-C 98116745 is that the bargaining unit is entitled to the work (and work hours) shown on Form PS 4852. PS 4852 ("Workload Analysis and Summary") is a preprinted form designed to permit calculation of the building cleaning staffing requirement for postal facilities. The parent grievance for "Line J" originated in Iron Mountain, Michigan in 1998. The Union had alleged that management was failing to schedule/work the hours specified in accordance with the Gamser Award, the MS-47 "Housekeeping" manual (1983 edition) and PS 4852. "Line J" is an average of weekly custodial hours, using total annual work hours ("Line H") and dividing by 52. In 1981, Arbitrator Howard Gamser held, in case number A8-NA-0375, that the MS-47 was not just a "guide" (as the Postal Service had maintained), but a system to ensure that facilities were maintained in a clean and safe condition as required by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Gamser ruled: "Once a custodial staffing level is determined using the procedures in this handbook, that staffing level must be maintained. If conditions arise that warrant a change in staffing, the entire staffing procedure must be redone." In 1983, the Postal Service issued a revised MS-47. A major "bone of contention" at the time was the USPS use of "Line D" and "Line J" to contract out custodial work. The parties reached agreement, in 1994, on a different methodology for determining whether the work should be contracted out. Throughout, PS 4852 remained unchanged. By this time, many grievances had been filed by local unions which argued that management was failing to schedule custodial hours in accordance with "Line J" and the Gamser Award. Many of these were sustained at the Regional Level. Management then determined to label the issue "interpretive," sending it to the great "Black Hole" feared by local union representatives everywhere--Step 4. The Union had no choice but to file for National Level Arbitration. Arbitrator Das held that the issue was interpretive and, thus, properly before him. Since each facility and grievance would have "specific fact circumstances" unique to that facility and/or grievance, Das held that each grievance would have to be remanded to the field for application (upholding the Union's contention). Das also stated that his decision applied only to the 1983 MS-47, not the 2001 version. Importantly, Das rejected management's arguments as follows: Management argued that the Gamser Award did not apply to the 1983 MS-47. Das ruled that management had an "obligation to conform to MS-47 standards consistent with the Gamser Award." Management argued that "Line J" was meaningless. Das ruled that "The specific frequencies to be followed at a particular location are those specified on the PS 4852. The average weekly hours total shown on Line J...is an approximate yardstick against which to measure management's compliance." Management argued that many weeks were not "average." Das noted that there was no dispute between the parties that the "Line J" total is not "a rigid obligation" to be fulfilled each and every week. Das noted that exceptions would likely exist due to unexpected absences, holidays and seasonal work (though at least some of these would have been applied to Line H). However, Das noted, "a significant deviation from this average particularly over an extended period is likely to reflect a failure to meet the required standards." According to APWU Maintenance Division Director Steve Raymer, the award applies to offices which are fully and properly staffed. "We believe that this shifts the burden to the USPS to not only assert one of the three exceptions to not completing the work, but must also justify and prove the exception made compliance with Gamser and the frequency of cleaning requirements impossible." Raymer cautions locals that they must document their cases. "Having accurate work records is critical in applying this award." A well documented grievance, he says, will verify what work was not performed. A National Level grievance on the 2001 MS-47 is still pending. Maintenance Exams Being Offered The USPS is currently offering examinations for individuals interested in becoming Building Equipment Mechanics, Maintenance Mechanics, and Electronics Technicians. The tests are open from May 10 to August 27, 2004. You need to call 1-866-999-8777 to apply. This is not only an opportunity for current Maintenance Craft members to advance their careers, but for members of other crafts to get their names added to the In-Service Registers. The more skills you possess, the more secure your future.
Exam Hotline 732-819-4334.
BEM = Building Equipment Mechanic level 8. Top step pay $47,918.
MM = Maintenance Mechanic level 5. Top step pay $43,872.
ET = Electronics Technician level 11. Top step pay $52,261.
USPS Examinations and Job Openings By State (USPS.com) Subcontracting by Ray Glasser Subcontracting is threatening our jobs.
Management is trying to contract out all of our work. Don’t think it won’t
affect you because eventually it will. Some recent examples are the contractor
brought in to do snow removal and salt spreading in the parking lot. Helpful
members provided the Union with the necessary information to help us fight this.
Through the diligent efforts of maintenance craft members and stewards, an
agreement was signed requiring this work be done in house. A new salt spreader
was purchased and broken plows were repaired. Now management can’t use the
excuse "the salt spreader and plows are broken, we have to contract it out". Now
we need to keep an eye on management to ensure the equipment remains useable.
Let your supervisors know when any tools or equipment are in need of repair or
replacement. What we learned from this incident is put your statements in
writing and make a copy for yourself and the Union. There is a copier in the
Union office. Knock on the door or find any steward. We have tried to inform the
stewards in the clerk craft what we are doing about maintaining staffing. We
need to use the clerks as our allies in this fight. They too could be the
beneficiaries of increased maintenance staffing. Holiday Scheduling Previously, on this page, we had posted a notice to Red Bank Local Maintenance Craft members about Holiday Scheduling. The notice was moved to the Archives when we achieved a settlement on the issue with management at the Monmouth P&DC. However, since that time, we have received inquiries from stewards and members at other facilities about the cited arbitrations. If you are experiencing a problem with Maintenance Holiday Staffing at your facility, you may find these arbitration awards helpful. I90T-1T-C-95073243 These are available in text and pdf formats through the Lexus-Nexus search (link available at APWU.org). Please note, the Lexus-Nexus arbitration search is password protected. Your local shop steward should be able to access them. Maintenance Update From HQ at NJSPWU Seminars From the Webmaster: I pretty much leave the Maintenance page to the people who know the craft best--our Maintenance Director and Stewards. However, I did attend the Maintenance Update from HQ Seminar on December 4 and wanted the opportunity to thank National APWU Maintenance Director Steven Raymer and National Representative-at-Large Idowu Balogun for doing an excellent job presenting a wealth of information in a manner that not only engaged the Maintenance members but allowed clerks such as myself to keep up. Some pictures appear below. (Links to biographical info have been removed as, in retrospect, it could be taken as electioneering for candidate(s). Check 2004 ELECTIONS PAGE for APWU Election info and candidate submission of same.)
APWU National Maintenance Division Director, Steven Raymer
William LaSalle, Maintenance Craft Director Pennsylvania Postal Workers, and candidate for National Maintenance Division Director
Two candidates for APWU National Maintenance Division Assistant Director "B" Gregory See (President, Mansfield Ohio Area Local)--left and Joe Frega (Associated Crafts VP, Central New York Area Local, and former Maintenance Staffing Advocate)--right
National Maintenance Division Representative-at-Large, Idowu Balogun, leads a discussion on Maintenance Staffing
U.S. Postal Service Awards Northrop Grumman $130 Million Repair and Inventory Contract (Northrop Grumman Press Release)--Northrop
Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Information Technology (IT) sector has received
a contract from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to provide depot-level repairs,
and inventory and ordering system management. Postal Service sticks with Northrop Grumman for repairs Northrup Grumman Union workers (IBEW) without contract; health care at issue (10/14/03)Interested in E-learning? Sure, you've clicked on the
National Center for Employee Development (NCED) link below. And,
sure, they let you look in the windows at some of the courses you could
be taking. But you just can't get in. You've begun to feel like a hungry child
five cents light for a piece of candy. News from NCED (from 21cpw, via Lu's News) 10/17/03
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