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Changes
of Address
For Grievance Appeals
(05/17/12) The Postal Service has notified
the APWU of several changes of address for grievance appeals, effective
June 1, 2012, Industrial Relations Director Mike Morris has announced. “I
encourage locals to make a note of the new addresses and adjust
their grievance appeal procedures accordingly,” he said.
[read
more]
PSE Pay, Sunday Premium
Mike Morris, Director
Industrial Relations
Clarification: Because the words “PSE” and “Sunday Premium” are both included in the title of this article, some have mistakenly drawn the conclusion that PSEs are entitled to Sunday premium pay. PSEs, like TEs before them, are not entitled to Sunday premium pay. The PSE Memorandum of Understanding that begins on page 279 of the 2010-20015 Collective Bargaining Agreement clearly excludes Sunday Premium pay for PSEs and nothing in this article indicates PSEs are entitled to Sunday Premium pay. That will, of course, be a goal in the next round of negotiations as we seek to improve the pay and benefits for all PSEs.
(This article by first appeared in the May/June 2012 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
For many years part-time flexibles ( PTFS ) have questioned why their overtime rates of pay were calculated differently than full-time employees. Now we have Postal Support Employees (PSEs), and their overtime rates are calculated differently as well. I have received many questions from the field on how the rates are calculated. A little background is necessary in order to fully understand the calculations. [read more]
APWU Forms Available for FMLA Medical Certification
(05/02/12) The APWU FMLA Forms are once again available for employees to use when submitting medical certification for leave under the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In accordance with an April 18, 2012, award by Arbitrator Shyam Das, the Postal Service cannot require employees to use the Department of Labor’s WH-380 forms. Arbitrator Das recognized that the DOL Forms are optional forms. The USPS must accept an employee’s medical certification in any format — provided it contains all of the information required under the law. [read more]
APWU Wins Important FMLA Arbitration
(04/23/12) The APWU won an important arbitration on April 18, when Arbitrator Shyam Das upheld the right of postal employees to use forms developed by the union when submitting certification for leave under the provisions of the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Das’ ruling overturned a Postal Service policy, announced on July 6, 2010, that required employees to use forms developed by the Department of Labor (DOL). [read more]
Union
Wins Settlement
In Accident Report
Privacy Dispute
|
(04/05/12) On March 28, the APWU reached a Step 4
settlement with the Postal Service that requires management to better
protect employees’ privacy
when workers report accidents. The dispute arose when the union learned
that the USPS had replaced the paper version of the Accident Report
form (PS Form 1769) with an electronic version of the document, e-1769.
[read
more]
OSHA
Affirms Whistleblower Protection
For Employees Reporting Workplace
Injuries
(04/03/12) Reporting work-related injuries and illnesses is “a core employee right,” the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has pointed out, “and retaliating against a worker for reporting an injury or illness is illegal discrimination.” [read more]
Maintenance Craft PSE
National Dispute Resolved
(03/30/12) The APWU and the Postal Service settled a Step 4 grievance [PDF] on March 30 regarding the use of Postal Support Employees (PSEs) in the Maintenance Craft. The settlement [PDF] stipulates that PSEs will only be used in custodial positions.
