New MS-1 Settlement and Implementation

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2019 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

On Aug. 8, the Maintenance Craft reached a settlement with the USPS regarding Handbook MS-1, TL-5 and TL-6 Revisions and Related Maintenance Management Orders. The dispute was originally grieved by current Maintenance Division Director Idowu Balogun in May 2016, when the Postal Service issued a new MS-1 TL- 5, proposing draconian changes to the then current MS1 TL-4 Handbook.

On Sept. 13, 2017, Arbitrator Goldberg remanded the MS-1 revisions case nos. Q10T-4Q-C-14171644/ Q10T-4QC- 16481407 back to the APWU and USPS for resolution. Further, Arbitrator Goldberg directed the Postal Service to provide all data and data analysis collected by the Postal Review Team “relating to appropriate allowances for (a) preventative maintenance time and frequencies; (b) space adjustment and miscellaneous work. (If the parties wish to jointly validate appropriate allowances, they are encouraged to do so.)”

The new settlement designates that maintenance work in stations and branches transitioning to Field Maintenance Operations (FMO) as a result of MS-1/TL-6 will continue to be performed by the employees currently performing those duties. Specifically, it states:

2. Transfer of Maintenance Work in Stations and Branches from Plant Maintenance to Field Maintenance Operations

A. Maintenance work in stations and branches transitioning to Field Maintenance Operations (FMO) as a result of the MS-1/TL-6 will continue to be performed by employees currently performing those duties until adjustments occur resulting from attrition. When attrition at the installation results in a staffing level below the authorized complement, management may determine the occupational group of the employee(s) that will continue to perform the work in the stations and branches.

B. The parties agree that due to the transferring of maintenance work of stations and branches from plant maintenance to FMO, the FMO authorized staffing may increase in order to provide maintenance for the stations and branches. For FMO staffing increases that exceed the available plant LDC37 positions that were providing maintenance for the stations and branches within the FMO coverage area, those positions shall be posted and filled under the FMO in accordance with Article 38 and the Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM).

C. For fiscal year 2020 only, FMO staffing including positions from the plant assigned to FMO, will be calculated based on the number of positions for the prorated square footage of the stations and branches being serviced.1 This FMO staffing will be reevaluated after fiscal year 2020 through an analysis of the assigned FMO historical data. In order to minimize the dislocation and inconvenience to employees, however, the parties agree that staffing adjustments that would require a reduction in FMO staffing will occur no sooner than October 2021.

D. When a new plant eWHEP staffing package is approved and additional positions are required in the FMO to provide maintenance for the stations and branches, when the existing plant LDC37 complement is above the authorized level and there are no additional positions to move to the FMO, management can revert vacant plant LDC37 positions that are in excess of their authorized complement, determine the occupational group of the employee(s) that will continue to perform the work in the stations and branches, and post duty assignments under the FMO to accommodate the necessary maintenance of the stations and branches.

E. Promptly upon an MS-1/TL-6 and eWhep staffing package receiving final approval, a copy of the approved staffing package will be provided to the appropriate Local APWU President and/or designee.

The Postal Service published the final versions of MS-1 TL-6 and MMOs on Aug. 8, 2019. All regional cases held in abeyance are returned for resolution. The full settlement on Q10T-4Q-C-14171644/ Q10T-4Q-C-16481407 is available here.