2021 National Maintenance Agreements

(This article first appeared in the January/February 2022 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)

The following summary identifies all of the maintenance agreements successfully achieved during the 2021 national contract negotiations, with text from the tentative agreement.

Per Diem for Maintenance Employees at Off- Site Training

USPS and APWU agree that it is in their mutual interest to increase maintenance craft participation in off-site training at NCED.

The parties agree to pilot a per diem meal allowance for Maintenance Craft employees attending such training.

Within 90 days of the effective date of the 2021 CBA, parties will meet to discuss current postal policies and obligations regarding meal service at NCED.

Starting date of pilot will be no later than 6 months from conclusion of the aforementioned discussions unless mutually agreed upon by the parties to extend the start date.

Pilot will continue for a period of at least 3 years, commencing on the date that employees subject to this Memorandum of Understanding are first provided the full per diem.

Inservice Examination – Annual Frequency

Annually (from March 1 - 31), career employees may submit a written request to test for maintenance craft eligibility ratings for all occupational groups (excluding NST ET-11).

Once an employee receives eligibility ratings, the employee may then request placement, or reinstatement, on lnservice registers. If no In-Service Register exists, the employee’s eligibility ratings become part of their eOPF.

Management shall notify the employee of the results no later than 60 days after testing, provided that the applications have been properly completed. Annually on April 1, (beginning in 2023), employee names from the preceding year’s In-Service Registers shall be purged, with the following exception: employees on In-Service Registers must submit a written request to the MSS Coordinator during the month of March to remain on the registers.

Annual Off-Site Training Cap

38.6.A.4. Employees selected for off-site training will be given as much advance notice as is reasonably possible.

Additionally, two (2) weeks notice will be given. Employees will not be involuntarily selected for off-site training courses more than three (3) times within a twelve (12) month period.

TL-3 to TL-5 Conversion Suspension During 2021 CBA

The parties agree to suspend any further custodial staffing conversions from MS-47, TL-3 to TL- 5 for the duration of the 2021 CBA.

MS-47 Handbook to reflect Juneteenth as an official holiday, reducing 1,760-hour man-year to 1,752.

NST ET-11 Pay Raise

Hourly rate of pay between ET-10 and ET-11 is insufficient and is contributing to lack of promotions to NST ET-11 occupational group.

Relief Assignments: Amend Article 38.7.C. as follows:

Newly created and reposted relief assignments shall be by occupational group and tour. Positions posted prior to ratification of the 2021 national agreement are not subject to this section. Relief positions shall be no greater than 10% (or 1 minimum) of the occupational group and tour.

The following occupational groups shall be consolidated or upgraded:

• Elevator Operator and Laborer Materials Handling Level 4 will be reclassified as Labor Custodian Level 4.
• Fireman Laborer Level 5 will be reclassified as Building Maintenance Custodian Level 5.
• Materials Handling Equipment Operator Level 5 will be reclassified as MM Level 7
• AMS and Letter Box Mechanic Level 8 will be reclassified as AMT Level 9.
• Machinist, Maintenance Electrician, Carpenter, Painter, Plumber and Welder Level 8 will be reclassified as BEM Level 9.

Members should see Jobs Consolidation MOU for more details.

We thank NBA Dave Sarnacki for his contributions to negotiations.