UNION UPDATE
The Union’s National Convention,
held in Boston, recently concluded and resulted in amendments to our National
and Uniform Local Union Constitutions. These amendments are now in effect and
included a decrease in the per capita tax the Local must pay to the National
Union. Under the Leadership of National President John Hegarty and
Secretary-Treasurer Mark Gardner as well as former President Billy Quinn, since
1992 the National Union has gone from a deficit of more that $600,000.00 to a
surplus of more than $ 30 Million. This financial growth has allowed the
National to cut the per capita tax the Local Unions must pay for the second
convention in a row. Another interesting change to the Constitution restricts
members functioning in the capacity of a 204b supervisory position from
attending branch meetings. A full report on convention proceedings will be
available shortly.
Most of you may have heard the rumor regarding an alleged settlement with
the Postal Service on the outstanding “Casuals in Lieu of” grievances. The
rumor which began at the Philadelphia P&DC (30th St.) describes a settlement
that would pay mail handlers on the ODL $15,000.00, mail handlers not on the ODL
a little less, and PTF’s about $7,500.00. The fact is that no agreement has
been reached and no settlement signed on these cases. Further, an arbitration
hearing on the first of many of these cases will be scheduled shortly. This
rumor was borne from an informal discussion between Local President Frank
Phillips and Labor Relations Manager Charles Polk during a break in testimony in
front of the National Labor Relations Board. This hearing coincidently involved
management’s continued failure to provide the required reports on the
employment and utilization of casuals. Although this informal discussion may
ultimately lead to a settlement, it is my belief that only as we close in on a
hearing date will management entertain serious discussion. If not, we are fully
prepared to move forward and make our arguments in front of an arbitrator.
Recently
the Union posted an update that included information relating to the Article 12
withholding procedures implemented by management. I did receive some feedback on
this issue and what I heard was not accurate. As reported when the new
Philadelphia P&DC opens in 2006 many of the current employees of that
facility may be reassigned to other installations. It is possible for the BMC to
get some of these employees, which is why we are currently withholding both mail
handler and clerk duty assignments. Apparently it was reported that I was
personally responsible for any employee that may be reassigned to this facility
and for that employee retaining their seniority. Article 12 of the National
Agreement is clear on this and determines whether or not employees retain their
seniority. 12.2F and 12.2G provides
the language regarding the loss or retention of an employee’s seniority.
G3 requires “When
an employee changes from another craft to the Mail handler craft involuntarily,
the employee will begin a new period of seniority.” For
example, clerks involuntarily reassigned into the Mail Handler craft will begin
a new period of seniority. G6 states, “Any
Mail Handler involuntarily moving from one postal installation to another postal
installation shall have the seniority established as the employee’s time in
the mail handler craft.”
In a related discussion with a Mail Handler Union representative from the
P&DC, I was informed that it is unlikely that we will get any reassigned
mail handlers here at the BMC. This would mean that the seniority of mail
handlers here would not be affected. The opening of the new facility is more
than a year away and as postal employees we are all very aware that any impact
the new building will have on the BMC may change several times between now and
then. We will keep you posted.
Those mail handlers affected by the conversion grievance of 1998 and
subsequent settlement have yet to be paid and we continue to process both the
grievance and the unfair labor practice charge on your behalf. In a recent
meeting, management’s representative was again informed of his misapplication
of the settlement. At this point management has not corrected mistakes on 14 of
the 34 affected mail handlers.
To
date this year management has paid mail handlers more than $87,000.00 in
grievance settlements.
Yours in Solidarity,
John Gibson