New Contract! (Tentative)
Jon M
happened yet, but I expect it will be voted in. I haven't done more
than glance at it, but friends have read it, and it seems better than
we expected. Does anyone left here see anything that they would vote
against?
The contract is viewable at
www.apwu.org
It seems to be overwhelmed by traffic at this time, though.
--
Jon M
"History proves again and again how Nature points up the folly of
men." -- Godzilla
Adam H. Kerman
>The APWU and USPS have a tentative contract! Ratification hasn't
>happened yet, but I expect it will be voted in. I haven't done more
>than glance at it, but friends have read it, and it seems better than
>we expected. Does anyone left here see anything that they would vote
>against?
>The contract is viewable at
>www.apwu.org
>It seems to be overwhelmed by traffic at this time, though.
Is there still heavy reliance on temporary workers? How are the mass
layoffs being handled?
dbriggs
part. took 4 pages
http://www.apwu.org/news/nsb/2011/nsb01-110314-contract-tentative.htm
here's the part about the new category of worker
---------
New, Non-Traditional Positions
*
The tentative agreement changes the definition of “full-time” in
a way that gives the Postal Service and our members greater flexibility.
The “full-time” designation will apply to any position of 30
or more hours per week and to any position of 48 hours or less per week
No current employees can be forced into a full-time position
of less than 40 hours per week or more than 44 hours per week.
These provisions will allow for the creation of many
non-traditional full-time schedules, including four 10-hour days, three
12-hour days, and four 11-hour days.
There will be no mandatory overtime for employees in
non-traditional assisgnments or in functional areas that utilize
non-traditional full-time assignments.
* To provide the USPS with flexibility, the parties agreed to
create a new position for Non-Career Assistants, who will comprise up to
20 percent of the workforce in most functional areas of the Clerk Craft
and up to 10 percent in both the Maintenance and Motor Vehicle Crafts.
These employees will be paid lower wages than career employees, but
higher wages than Transitional Employees and Casuals. They will be part
of the APWU bargaining unit and will receive raises, health benefits,
and leave. Non-Career Assistants will have access to the grievance
procedure, and they will have the opportunity to join the ranks of the
permanent, career workforce by seniority.
* Transitional Employees and Casuals will be eliminated as
workforce categories. Employees who are currently serving as TEs or
Casuals will be eligible for conversion to Non-Career Assistants if they
have passed the appropriate tests.
Adam H. Kerman
>here's the part about the new category of worker
-
>New, Non-Traditional Positions
That's very interesting.
> *
> The tentative agreement changes the definition of full-time in
>a way that gives the Postal Service and our members greater flexibility.
> The full-time designation will apply to any position of 30
>or more hours per week and to any position of 48 hours or less per week
Some clerk is assigned to more than 48 hours a week? Is that possible?
> No current employees can be forced into a full-time position
>of less than 40 hours per week or more than 44 hours per week.
> These provisions will allow for the creation of many
>non-traditional full-time schedules, including four 10-hour days, three
>12-hour days, and four 11-hour days.
That should work for some working mothers and families, I would think.
> There will be no mandatory overtime for employees in
>non-traditional assisgnments or in functional areas that utilize
>non-traditional full-time assignments.
> * To provide the USPS with flexibility, the parties agreed to
>create a new position for Non-Career Assistants, who will comprise up to
>20 percent of the workforce in most functional areas of the Clerk Craft
>and up to 10 percent in both the Maintenance and Motor Vehicle Crafts.
>These employees will be paid lower wages than career employees, but
>higher wages than Transitional Employees and Casuals. They will be part
>of the APWU bargaining unit and will receive raises, health benefits,
>and leave. Non-Career Assistants will have access to the grievance
>procedure, and they will have the opportunity to join the ranks of the
>permanent, career workforce by seniority.
Huh. Same work for less pay but mandatory union dues.
I take it no benefits, like casuals.
> * Transitional Employees and Casuals will be eliminated as
>workforce categories. Employees who are currently serving as TEs or
>Casuals will be eligible for conversion to Non-Career Assistants if they
>have passed the appropriate tests.
But they never accumulated any seniority of course.
Jon M
<a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>Non-Career Assistants will have access to the grievance
>>procedure, and they will have the opportunity to join the ranks of the
>>permanent, career workforce by seniority.
>
>Huh. Same work for less pay but mandatory union dues.
Career employees in the USPS aren't required to pay union dues, even
though the union is required to represent them. Why should non-career
assistants be any different in that regard?
dbriggs
>> * To provide the USPS with flexibility, the parties agreed to
>> create a new position for Non-Career Assistants, who will comprise up to
>> 20 percent of the workforce in most functional areas of the Clerk Craft
>> and up to 10 percent in both the Maintenance and Motor Vehicle Crafts.
>> These employees will be paid lower wages than career employees, but
>> higher wages than Transitional Employees and Casuals. They will be part
>> of the APWU bargaining unit and will receive raises, health benefits,
>> and leave. Non-Career Assistants will have access to the grievance
>> procedure, and they will have the opportunity to join the ranks of the
>> permanent, career workforce by seniority.
>
> Huh. Same work for less pay but mandatory union dues.
>
> I take it no benefits, like casuals.
thought I saw somewhere they'd get health ins & leave accumulation, but
no retirement; at least the matching part. maybe they'll be able to
enter TSP on their own.
Adam H. Kerman
>>>Non-Career Assistants will have access to the grievance procedure,
>>>and they will have the opportunity to join the ranks of the permanent,
>>>career workforce by seniority.
>>Huh. Same work for less pay but mandatory union dues.
>Career employees in the USPS aren't required to pay union dues, even
>though the union is required to represent them. Why should non-career
>assistants be any different in that regard?
Pardon my misstatement. But they would pay partial dues for the union's cost
of grievance and probably for the union's cost of collective bargaining.
That's typically the way these things work.
I'm no fan of two-tier contracts, sorry. As everyone knows, years ago,
I moonlighted as a casual clerk and worked exactly the same hours, six
hours a day, six days a week, as the part-time career clerks, for a lot
less money and no benefits. They didn't bother to have me learn the
scheme, but then, the part time clerks rarely worked to scheme anyway.
The one advantage I had without a career was the freedom to disagree with
the supervisor when she was wrong, because her supervisor liked me a lot
and wasn't going to allow her to fire the guy making minimum wage.
Other than loss of sleep, I'm glad I did it. But higher wages would have
made me a lot happier.
ElLippo
> I'm no fan of two-tier contracts, sorry.
I agree with you since everyone does pretty much the same thing in
their respective 'crafts' (at least in the smaller size office where I
worked).
But historically, that's how the original 'unions' worked. Back then,
they were known as craft guilds where they used a three tier system.
They were paid according their level of experience and had to
exemplify their skill in that level before they could advance to the
next level in order to make higher pay. Anyone who travels to the East
can understand this since the ritual is based on this concept.
BTW - A Happy Birthday to you, Adam. Don't drink too much of that
green beer. I'll stick to green GatorAde since Bill W. miight give me
a swift kick in the ass if I transgress.
Adam H. Kerman
>BTW - A Happy Birthday to you, Adam. Don't drink too much of that
>green beer.
Thank you. I stuck with a McD's Shamrock Shake (not as minty as I recalled)
and spinach lasagna for any Irish themed food.
>I'll stick to green GatorAde since Bill W. miight give me
>a swift kick in the ass if I transgress.
I'm sure you'll be fine. Dying beer should be enough to put anyone
off drink.