Mail-Handlers Union Wins PTF Case

Arbitrator Joseph Cannavo agreed with the mail-handlers union that management failed to convert the 10 PTF's in 2008 and, instead, reverted the jobs that should have been awarded to them.

The case was heard on March 6, 2009, at the Bellmawr facility. Ike Morris, Labor Relations Manager, served as the Postal Service's advocate. The advocate for the union was Steve Bahrle, NJ State Rep. and Branch President of the Trenton P&DC.

In his decision, Cannavo stated that Article 12.3.B.11 of the National Agreement is clear and unambiguous: "As long as the installation is not under withholding and if no qualified unassigned full-time regular employee is available to be assigned to the residual vacancy, then the senior PTF employee in the installation will be converted to full-time regular and assigned to the residual vacancy."

He said that the Article created an absolute and automatic right to those residual vacancies by the PTF's. Simultaneously, it created an obligation for management to convert those PTF's to full-time regular.

Therefore, the grievance is sustained.