Management Plans to Repost Every Mail-Handler Bid Job

The mail handlers union was handed a train wreck this afternoon - a plan by management to repost every mail-handler bid job. That plan is in direct opposition to the National Agreement and the union's National President, John Hegarty, himself said so to Judy Herrick, senior plant manager, when he visited the SJ P&DC on April 8. Yet, management has decided to:

Repost all present mail-handler bid jobs on all three tours
Eliminate 22 higher-level bid jobs
Repost bid jobs that eliminate all but two Saturday/Sunday nonscheduled days on Tour 2
Create 63 so-called "general-purpose" mail-handler bid jobs that require the bid holder to report to a different operation each day.
Create one start time for each tour: T1, 2200; T2, 0615; T3, 1430
Everyone who works in a particular operation would have the same days off, for example, Sun/Mon for those working at the APPS. The general-purpose mail handlers would then cover the nonscheduled days for the new bid jobs in each operation.

Management has given the union just five days (until April 20) to evaluate the material even though the union has not received enough information to determine the legality of management's actions - not even job descriptions.

The union is requesting the following information. This information request is being posted here to keep all mail handlers informed and involved.

Job descriptions of the new bid jobs.
Management's detailed analysis that led to such drastic action. The union wants to see statistical reports, all written correspondence between this facility's management and those at the regional and national levels. That correspondence should consist of any memos, meeting agendas and minutes, e-mail messages and notes taken during telephone calls and/or conference calls.
What is management's justification for taking this particular course of action? What other actions has management considered and rejected? Why?
Management said it would give more T2 employees Sat/Sun off if the union did not file grievances about the work realignment. What would allow management to make that concession if the union did not file any grievances? Why can't management make that same concession if the union did file grievances?
The letters submitted by PTR's requesting the change to PTF status.
What were the work conditions have led management to this action?
When has the current configuration caused the mail to be delayed?
What has been the OT percentage by tour? By operation?
What has been the grievance activity because of the current mail handler bids by tour? By operation?
In which operations do the PTF's work?
In which operations do the PTR's work?
Why hasn't management converted PRT's to PTF's as requested?

Further, the union requires answers to the following questions:

How many casuals were employed in the facility leading up to management's recognition that it needed to affect change?
How did the presence of casuals contribute to or alleviate the problem?
In which operations did the casuals work?
During what tours were the casuals working?
Will casuals continued to be employed after the proposed change?
The bar code machines are being sent to Camden. How will that change affect operations?

The union is vehemently opposed to these changes. And it has clearly informed management of the following:

Article 12 requires that any repositioning of the workforce is based on the principle "to minimize the impact to the existing workforce." The wholesale reposting of all mail handler bids clearly does not minimize the impact - it does the direct opposite.

Article 12 requires management to justify why it is necessary to change the work days of any duty assignment. Management has yet to do so. Management did say that most bids are not a full 8 hours and that the wholesale change will make it easier to supervise and move employees. The union told management that mail handlers are currently moved off of their bid jobs by juniority and that the movement by juniority complies with both the National Agreement and the Local Memorandum of Understanding.

Over the next two days the union will be talking with its national leaders in Washington - including those in the Contract Administration Department - to get its input on what can be done to stop management's draconian plans.

Keep watching the bulletin board for more information.