Award on Subcontracting of Associate Office Infrastructure Work

In a recent national award regarding the APWU's challenge to management's subcontracting of Associate Office Infrastructure (AOI) installation and maintenance work. Arbitrator Das sustained the APWU's grievance and ruled that management violated Article 32.1.B by not giving the union an opportunity to meet with it regarding AOI installation and maintenance work involving cabling and AOI servers. Das ordered that the Postal Service assign maintenance of "AOI servers -- to the extent they remain in operation -- and the LAN cabling within the AOs to the maintenance craft." In addition he directed that the parties discuss "the possibility of additional LAN maintenance work in the AOs being assigned to the bargaining unit." With regard to a retroactive remedy, Arbitrator Das ordered that the issue be returned to the parties for discussion of a remedy. The arbitrator retained jurisdiction if the parties are unable to agree on a retroactive remedy. (USPS #Q94T-4Q-C 97031616).