BULLETIN . . . October 13, 2011
CLERK BID CYCLE FOR OCTOBER
Once again, management has not been upfront concerning the posting of new bids, or as it's called – Non-Traditional bids for the October bid cycle. I believe they had no intention of posting these newly established bids until the December bid cycle. The contract was ratified on May 23rd, at which time the Postal Service had 90 days to convert all former PTRs to full time; but at the same time bids should have been posted for all ex PTRs.
As you know, this was not done and a class action grievance was filed for anyone working less than 40 hours. Across the country there are 9300 employees that are unassigned & working less than 40 hours. The Postal Service - day in and day out - states they are broke but yet continue to violate the contract.
The National grievance on this issue will be heard on Dec 13 and 14th, and I expect the APWU to prevail, at which time 9300 employees will receive a nice check compliments of the Postal Service. This is just another example of how Headquarters has run this business into the ground.
Therefore I have been informed that this bid cycle will mirror the last few with limited bids. There is no bid cycle in November so I believe December will have these so-called bids. I can't tell what kind of bids will be eventually posted because the Postal Service has not met with our office. I know it is frustrating to everyone, but please look around you. The people we are dealing with have messed this up from day one.
I will keep you informed of any changes in the upcoming weeks.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Paul Kilduff, Jr., General President
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BULLETIN . . . October 6, 2011
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR HOURS
To all members that are unassigned working less than forty (40) hours,
It has come to our attention that the TACS system does not automatically pay "out of schedule" premium to employees who work extra hours.
If you currently are unassigned with a thirty (30) hour schedule, and management forces you to work an additional two (2) hours that day – you should receive two (2) hours of "out of schedule" pay. Your supervisor must manually input your "out of schedule" pay for each hour any member works beyond their schedule.
I would ask you to keep track of your hours and match the hours with your paycheck. If your supervisor does nothing, then you will only receive straight pay - instead of "out of schedule" pay.
Hopefully in the near future this problem will be corrected.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Paul Kilduff, Jr., General President
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BULLETIN . . . Sept. 12, 2011
NO NTFT BIDS ON SEPTEMBER BID CYCLE
Management has notified this office that the September bid cycle will not have any Non-Traditional Full-Time (NTFT) bids. For whatever reason, the Northeast Region has dropped the ball once again.
I am now being told these new bids will be posted in the October bid cycle. I will not believe anything that comes from the Region until I see the new Non-Traditional bids in front of me.
Management must meet with us before posting these positions. The union has a right to give input before these newly created bids are posted. This office will keep all members informed regarding the future bid cycles.
Any member who has been placed in a thirty (30) hour unassigned schedule, who wishes to bid in the September bid cycle, MUST DO SO MANUALLY (Form 1717). Shared Services is not currently able to process these bids if done other than manually. This problem should be resolved by the October bid cycle. This only applies to current unassigned full-time clerks who were converted on August 27, 2011.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Paul Kilduff, Jr., General President
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The following is from the National APWU's website.
USPS: No Excessing for Failure to Bid on NTFT Jobs
APWU Web News Article 095-2011, Aug. 26, 2011
The USPS has instructed Area Labor Relations Managers that employees may not be excessed because they fail to bid on Non-Traditional Full-Time (NTFT) duty assignments. The notice was sent in response to union allegations that management is trying to force senior employees to resign or retire by threatening to reassign them outside of their bid office if they don’t bid on non-traditional jobs.
In an e-mail message to the field, the Area Manager for Labor Relations wrote, "APWU President Cliff Guffey has informed us that he has received reports from union representatives in the field that some managers have told employees that they will be excessed if they fail to bid on NTFT duty assignments." NTFT assignments can range from 30 hours per week to 48 hours per week.
"If LR [Labor Relations] becomes aware of situations involving this allegation please ensure they are investigated and properly handled," the message continued. "We have advised Mr. Guffey [PDF] that of course, employees have the right to bid on posted duty assignments of their choosing and no employee may be excessed for failing to bid on any NTFT job."
An article on the union’s Web site on Aug. 25, said Guffey believes management is trying to force senior employees to resign or retire by threatening to excess them. "If you work in an office with junior employees, they must be excessed from the office before you, whether or not they occupy non-traditional schedules," he said.
"So don’t be intimidated to quit, and don’t be coerced into bidding on a non-traditional assignment unless you want it," Guffey advised. "I am pleased with management’s written response," the union president said. "I look forward to hearing from our members that it is being adhered to in the field."
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BULLETIN . . . August 4, 2011
FOR ALL CURRENT PTRs
As stated in a previous bulletin, this office has been waiting for management at the headquarters level to establish new Non-Traditional Duty assignments. Despite our repeated attempts to management as to the whereabouts of these bids, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
The way it was suppose to work under our new contract was – newly established bids should have been created and awarded by August 23 so that ALL part-time regulars who became full-time would have a newly established Non-Traditional assignment. Like I said, that is the way it was and should have happened. Headquarters has not done their part, so management in the Boston area has notified us that they have a two-step plan.
1. All current PTRs will become unassigned full-time clerks as of August 27, 2011. All PTRs will receive a schedule by August 23, 2011, of thirty (30) hours. This schedule should closely mirror the one you currently own.
2. Non-Traditional newly established bids should be posted in the September bid cycle. ALL former PTRs who became full-time must bid to secure a bid.
NO ONE under the new contract will be slotted into one of the newly established bids. BIDS ARE AWARDED BY SENIORITY.
It is the position of the Boston A.P.W.U. that as of August 27, 2011, all former PTRs that are unassigned full-time clerks as of August 27, 2011, should be guaranteed forty (40) hours. Management does not agree so the appropriate grievances will be filed for all unassigned full-time clerks working less than forty (40) hours.
I will keep you informed with any changes that may occur with each passing day.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Paul Kilduff, Jr., General President
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BULLETIN . . . August 17, 2011
NEVER BID A POSITION OF LESS THAN 40 HOURS
This office is still waiting for the new staffing proposals for the Plant and Stations. From all indications from management, they intend to cut and reduce as many hours as possible. I believe management intends to abolish as many full-time (40-hour) bids as possible, and create less than 40-hour assignments. No current full-time employee can be involuntarily forced into a position of less than 40 hours, but it is very clear management is going forward with a staffing package that is intended to slice and dice full-time jobs.
It is also clear the Postal Service does not intend to adhere to the new contract. They have already violated several signed agreements which are now being grieved nationally.
I would strongly urge anyone who currently has a full-time 40-hour position to NEVER BID A POSITION OF LESS THAN 40 HOURS. You may never be able to bid back to 40 hours for the rest of your postal career under the new Agreement.
The Postal Service and the union must meet to create desirable bids. I believe they have no intention of creating these desirable bid assignments. I have informed management that I will ask all full-time members not to bid any newly established position that is less than 40 hours. As your President, I don’t have any problem telling you the Postal Service is purposely lying to all of us to make us feel like they have our backs. They want you to believe it’s a good thing to reduce the workforce by 235,000 employees. They want you to believe lifting the "No Layoff Clause" is a good thing. They want you to believe paying more health premiums is a good thing. I don’t see good in any of the above.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Paul Kilduff, Jr., General President
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BULLETIN . . . July 14, 2011
TO ALL CURRENT PART-TIME REGULAR CLERKS
As many of you are aware of by now, the category of "part-time regular clerk" will cease to exist as of August 23, 2011. Under the newly ratified contract, the re-classification of all PTRs to full-time must be done within ninety (90) days of ratification, which is August 23rd.
There is mass confusion as to what will occur from this time forward.
1. ALL PTRs will be abolished - whether they are 20, 25, 30 or 35 hour clerks - by August 23rd.
2. All PTRs will be required to bid to secure a bid in the upcoming bid cycles. No one will remain in their current bid unless they bid it and secure it by their seniority.
Since day one our office has tried to get management to get off their asses to meet with us to discuss bids for all approximately 200+ PTRs. There has not been a week that we have not approached the Postal Service to expedite their intentions of how and where they are going to create these newly established Non-Traditional Full Time (NTFT) positions.
I wish I could ease everyone’s mind with this bulletin but, unfortunately, I can’t. I will keep everyone updated as this process moves forward. I believe management does not have a clue as to what they are doing, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone. They have known for three months they must create new bids, but yet one has to wonder – what is the problem?
Please feel free to call this office at any time for updates.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Paul Kilduff, Jr., General President
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May 26, 2011
STAFFING MATRIXES TO BE DONE
AT NATIONAL LEVEL
The national union has announced that staffing matrixes will be done at the national level.
It is hoped this will discourage local managers and postmasters from developing unreasonable staffing packages as a result of the new contract.
The local union then has the opportunity to negotiate and "tweak" these matrixes, based on specific circumstances and needs.
In Union Unity,
Scott M. Hoffman, Clerk Craft President
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BULLETIN . . . May 19, 2011
ATTENTION
ALL PART-TIME REGULAR CLERKS
With the ratification of our new contract, part-time bidding restrictions no longer exist.
Effective with the May 2011 bid cycle, part-time regular clerks may bid ALL BIDS.
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| FOR YOUR INFORMATION . . . |
ATTENTION WINDOW CLERKS
CUSTOMS FORMS
Changes were implemented to the handling of PS Forms 2976 & 2976-A. This change will require the Retail Associates to type the information into the POS terminal. The Post Office will then send the information electronically to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency prior to the mail piece leaving the United States.
Please try to enter all information on a POS terminal – and not an ACE workstation, so we keep the time within the window operation. This is a clerical function and should be done by Retail Associates. Supervisors should not perform these duties.
If you experience any problems getting enough time to do your job properly, please ask to speak with your steward.
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February 2010
CLERK CRAFT
VACATION SIGN-UP PERIOD
The following Local Agreement language in the Clerk Craft speaks to the vacation sign-up chart. Every year there are problems with this provision solely due to management not doing their job. If your manager is not complying with this provision of Article 10, please contact your steward or the union hall as soon as possible. This vacation sign-up chart must be posted in your section during the first service week in May. No ifs, ands or buts. If we don’t force the supervisor or manager in your office to do their job, chaos can set in.
Remember - - this is your vacation. Don’t let your boss screw it up!
A. The choice vacation period for the clerk craft shall be eighteen (18) consecutive weeks starting with the last service week in May that contains Memorial Day.
B. Selection and award of choice vacation shall be determined by craft seniority, by tour, section, and occupational code. Sections for leave purposes are those outlined in Article 12, section D and E.
C. In the clerk craft, fourteen percent (14%) per week of the clerk craft complement of each occupational code within the section, by tour, by seniority, shall be allowed off each week during the choice vacation period.
The same procedures will apply to part-time regular clerks within their own bid sections; however, their seniority will not be combined with full-time and part-time flexible clerks for vacation purposes. Part-time regular clerks will be figured separately. When computing the percentage, any fraction .25 and over will be carried over to the next full number.
G. Allocation of vacations in the choice vacation period shall be through the use of sign-up vacation charts, following the procedure outlined in C. above. Sign-up for choice vacation will begin on March 15 and terminate on April 15. The vacation charts will be posted in their respective sections during the first service week in May.
During the two (2) week period immediately after the charts are posted, any open vacation weeks may be requested by clerks in the section in increments of five (5) consecutive work days and may be granted, by seniority. If a clerk leaves a section for any reason after the vacation chart has been posted, approving his/her vacation period, the clerk will retain the approved vacation. However, this does not create an open vacation period within that section.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Clerk Craft President
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| BULLETIN. . . Dec. 2008
TRAVELING WINDOW CLERKS
Management continues to misuse the R&P window clerks to avoid paying overtime. If management sends you to a different assignment (station) during your tour of duty, they cannot require you to use your own vehicle to get there. If you do, they should reimburse you for your mileage.
If management requires you to cover multiple assignments / vacancies during the course of your day, ask them to provide transportation. If not, ask them for a PS Form 1164-E (eTravel Expense Report – Local Travel).
When leaving your first assignment, make sure you make a TACS move (onto Operation 621 – Travel move), and then another move (to whatever operation number that is appropriate) when you arrive at the new destination.
If you experience any problems with the above or have any questions, please contact your steward.
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BULLETIN. . . Sept. 2007
O.T.D.L. CHANGE FOR THE
CLERK CRAFT
During local negotiations earlier this year, the following provision was added to the Boston Local Agreement.
Article 8, Section 5
5. In all sections, all tours, employees will be able to add their name to the Overtime Desired List non/scheduled, daily or both, within ten (10) days after the posting of the Overtime Desired List.
a. Once a clerk is on the Overtime Desired List, he/she need not sign up for a subsequent quarter, but will remain on the list until he/she requests to have his/her name removed.
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BULLETIN . . . August 17, 2007
COMPUTER BIDDING - USING LITEBLUE
You can now bid from any computer using the U.S.P.S. LiteBlue website @ www.liteblue.usps.gov. You will need to key in your Employee ID Number (EIN) and your U.S.P.S. PIN Number in order to enter the site.
When you enter the site, scroll down to "Employee Self Service" on the lower right hand side of the screen. Click on "eJob Bidding (craft)", then click "Continue" and your name and job title will appear on the bidding system page.
On the left side of the page, click on "Enter Job Bids", then click on the posting number, and the job numbers for the bid cycle will be listed. Click on the jobs you want to bid, then enter your numbered choice of preferences in the choice box. By clicking the "Submit Job Bids" box, you will complete the bidding process.
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BULLETIN. . . June 2007
CLERK CRAFT
Due to the fact that the training for Lead Sales, Service Associates no longer has a "pass/fail" exam, if you are awarded a Lead Sales, Service Associate bid, it will be a straight transfer, not "pending qualification".
You cannot be held accountable for level 6 duties until you have taken the training.
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| BULLETIN. . . May 2006
REMAINING A LIVE BIDDER
According to Article 37.3.F.8.a . . .
When a clerk is awarded a bid and wants to remain a "live bidder" for a position they wanted on a previous bid cycle, you must notify management in writing within ten (10) days that you want to remain a live bidder on one or more assignments.
The notice to management must include the job number and the posting number of that bid cycle.
Failure to notify within ten (10) days will cancel such other bids.
At the present time, send this notification to Personnel, U.S.P.S., 25 Dorchester Ave., Boston, MA 02205.
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| BULLETIN. . . January 2006
CLERK O.T.D.L.
Oftentimes our members in the Clerk Craft forget to sign up for the Overtime Desired List in their work area. Please remember, you can sign up on the O.T.D.L. two (2) weeks prior to the start of the new quarter.
We also have ten (10) days to sign the supplemental O.T.D.L. This ten day period begins on the first of the month.
First Quarter - January
Second Quarter - April
Third Quarter - July
Fourth Quarter - October
The supplemental ten day period begins on the first of the particular month you sign up. Please remember this ten day period is put in place by the union in case you forget to sign up by the first of the month.
I also would remind my brothers and sisters that once this ten day period passes, you cannot get on the O.T.D.L. I hope this helps our brothers and sisters when putting your name in for the O.T.D.L. in the Clerk Craft.
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| FAILURE TO QUALIFY
Q: If I am awarded a bid from a bid cycle and fail to qualify can I be removed from the Postal Service?
A: NO - If you fail to qualify on a voluntary bid you remain in the same position you held.
Q: If I am an unassigned regular and assigned a job that requires training and fail to qualify can I be removed from the Postal Service?
A: YES - If you fail to qualify on any required training you will be subject to discipline up to and including Removal.
Q: If I am excessed from the Boston Installation or volunteer to be re-assigned in place of an excessed clerk and I fail to qualify on required training can I be removed from the Postal Service?
A: YES - You will be subject to discipline up to and including removal.
Of course, any disciplinary action against a clerk will be vigorously challenged by the union.
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FAILURE TO QUALIFY ON A BID:
IF YOU ARE AWARDED A BID AND FAIL TO QUALIFY, YOU REMAIN IN YOUR CURRENT BID AND WOULD BE SUBJECT TO BIDDING RESTRICTIONS OUTLINED IN ARTICLE 37 OF THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT. IF YOU ARE ASSIGNED A BID AS AN UNASSIGNED REGULAR, OR VOLUNTEER TO GO TO ANOTHER INSTALLATION UNDER ARTICLE 12 AND FAIL TO QUALIFY, YOU ARE SUBJECT TO CORRECTIVE ACTION UP TO AND INCLUDING REMOVAL FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE.
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