Clerk Craft, Postal Service Settle Four Disputes

The Clerk Craft recently settled four disputes as part of a pre-arbitration review process that was agreed upon by APWU President Mark Dimondstein and the Postal Service, Clerk Craft Director Clint Burelson has announced. Clerk Craft Assistant Director Lamont Brooks negotiated the settlements. 

“The settlements should reduce tension and grievances on issues that were addressed in the settlements,” Burelson said.

Mail Processing Clerks, Seniority, Light/Limited Duty Employees

 The first settlement [PDF] involves the application of seniority when management assigns light- and limited-duty mail processing employees outside their principal assignment area.                          

The union and management agreed that assignments will be based on operational needs and employees’ qualification, in accordance with the May 9, 2002, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Re: Mail Processing Clerk Position. Seniority will be applied as follows:

1. When management determines there is a need to assign employees outside of their primary assignment area, the employees will be moved by juniority (except when a junior employee with a scheme assignment has not reached the minimum 30-hour sortation during the accounting period).
2. Any employee not holding a bid assignment within the principal assignment area will be moved before any mail processing employee who holds a bid assignment.

The APWU and USPS agreed that pending grievances on this topic will be resolved in accordance with the settlement and based on local fact circumstances.

Lead Clerk, TACS Training and Duties

The issue in dispute was whether the MOU Re: Clerk Craft Jobs and the subsequent Lead Clerk Questions and Answers dated May 4, 2012, require that all employees occupying Lead Clerk bid assignments must be given access to the Lead Clerk Role in TACS, receive the required TACS training, and be assigned TACS duties.

The union and management agreed [PDF] that:

1. All Clerk Craft employees occupying Lead Clerk assignments will be provided the required training for the Lead Clerk Clock Office role in TACS.
2. Access to the Lead Clerk role in TACS and assignment of TACS duties will be based on local operational circumstances. For example: Where there is more than one Lead Clerk duty assignment within the facility, not all Lead Clerks must be assigned TACS duties. However, a minimum of one will be assigned the Lead Clerk Clock Office role in TACS to perform these duties.
3. The provisions above are only applicable in facilities that meet the criteria for Lead Clerk duty assignments, in accordance with the MOU Re: Clerk Craft Jobs and the MOU Re: POStPlan: Staffing of Offices, Filling of Assignments, PSE Usage and Conversions.
4. In facilities that are authorized Lead Clerks and in POStPlan offices that are authorized Lead Clerks in the APO installation TACS duties will be assigned to the Lead Clerk, in accordance with the TACS Lead Clerk Clock Office role.

Custodial Duties Performed by the Clerk Craft

The union and management also agreed to a series of Questions and Answers [PDF] regarding situations when there are two hours or less of custodial work and the work cannot be combined with other maintenance duties to create a duty assignment. In those situations, clerks perform the duties.

The questions and answers are listed below:

1. How will the time be recorded when performing the custodial duties?

Answer: It will be recorded under maintenance LDC 38 and the applicable operation number (747 or 748), and the custodial duties will be in addition to the clerk craft duties that are part of the bid duty assignment.

2. How much additional time will be allowed?

Answer: The time allowed for custodial duties will be based on Line H of the MS-47.

3. Can a Part-Time Flexible (PTF) or Postal Support Employee (PSE) assigned to the facility perform the custodial cleaning duties?

Answer: Yes, when the custodial duties can't be added to an existing duty assignment.

4. Will the employee performing custodial duties receive required OSHA training?

Answer: They will receive required OSHA training based on the duties expected to be performed.

5. Will clerks be required to perform custodial duties between waiting on customers?

Answer: No.

204-B Details Beyond 90 days

The APWU and USPS also settled a dispute [PDF] regarding 204-B details that last longer than 90 days.

The issue in dispute was whether after 90 days the supervisory work performed by the 204-B must be considered bargaining unit work.

The parties agree that there was no interpretive issue regarding the 90-day limit. Alleged violations should be investigated based on local fact circumstances. The union may file grievances in accordance with Article 15.