RMSS Implementation Dispute Settled for $2 Million

Maintenance Craft officers and the Postal Service agreed on March 30 on the remedy due to employees whose eligibility ratings for promotions were improperly changed to "ineligible" in August 2009, Director Steve Raymer has announced. The agreement resulted from an April 16, 2014, national-level arbitration award by Arbitrator Stephen B. Goldberg in Case #Q06T -4Q-C 09374748. 

The agreement, signed by Assistant Director Idowu Balogun, says that 671 employees will each receive a lump-sum payment of $2,950, minus applicable deductions, by the end of Pay Period 10-2015. Payments to former employees and retirees will also be processed during the same time frame, to the extent possible. The settlement totals $2 million.

The August 2009 “ineligible” ratings also will be removed from employees’ records. Where necessary, employees will complete any remaining steps in the MSS process. Employees who attain an “eligible” rating after completion of all required steps will be placed on the appropriate PER in accordance with Article 38 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the EL-304 Handbook.

Arbitrator Goldberg sustained the union’s grievance, concluding that the Postal Service's decision to re-score Exam 955 constituted a unilateral change, in violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement. He remanded the case to the parties to seek an appropriate remedy for the violation. Click here for more information.