Answers to the Latest BMC Questions

(This article first appeared in the July/August 2008 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

Your Maintenance Division officers look forward to seeing as many of you at the upcoming National Convention as can attend. We’re confident that it will be a productive and successful convention, and that all who attend will get their union batteries re-energized fort he continual battles with work-floor management.

Whether or not you are in attendance, you can always stay up-to-date on APWU activities by visiting these pages. Those who make use of the APWU Web site find a wealth of information.

The Web site is updated often, so you should check in frequently to stay on top of the major events, which are always headlined on the home page. We hope, of course, that you go past the main APWU page and check out the Maintenance Division pages. On the home page, you’ll find a direct link to Maintenance by clicking “Departments & Divisions.”

On our main page, you will find recent news important to our craft. On the left side panel you will find several links to different topics. Be sure to check these for updates or as your resource (along with the Maintenance e-Library CDs) for Maintenance Craft issues.

Bulk Mail Centers

You will also find in this panel a link to our BMC pages. Maintenance National Representative-at-Large Idowu Balogun has as part of his duties the responsibility of BMC Coordinator. This link is our latest effort to keep those with an interest in BMC issues informed. You needn’t be a BMC employee to be interested, as much of what may potentially affect the BMCs could have a downstream effect on other facilities. For instance, on the pages, you will find a link to Frequently Asked Questions, including the following:

What types of machines are scheduled to be deployed at BMCs?

The Postal Service is considering deploying Universal Sorters and Flat Sorter Sequence (FSS) machines to most BMCs by 2010.

Does the Postal Service plan to deploy FSS machines anytime soon?

Flat Sequencing Sorters will be placed in some BMCs. A tentative deployment schedule provided by the Postal Service dated Jan. 7, 2008, shows the following:

• The New Jersey BMC is scheduled to receive four FSS machines, May 2009-October 2009;
  
  
• The Springfield BMC is scheduled to receive three FSS machines, January-April 2010; and
  
  
• The Atlanta BMC is scheduled to receive four FSS machines, June-August 2010.

What happened to USPS plans to convert BMCs to RDCs (Regional Distribution Centers)?

In May 2006, the Postal Service notified the APWU of plans to convert the network of BMCs (as well as other facilities) to Regional Distribution Centers, as part of its Evolutionary Network Development plan. However, following blistering criticism of the plan by the APWU, the Postal Rate Commission and others, in August 2007 the Postal Service announced it had scrapped the RDC concept.

Does management plan to subcontract BMC core duties?

The Postal Service notified the union in January 2008 of its intent to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in an effort to subcontract some sortation and transportation of parcels, duties that are currently performed at BMCs. For background on this issue, click here.

Should I bid out of the BMC based on the potential effect of planned outsourcing?

Decisions about bidding and transfers are personal, but employees are advised not to react to speculation about staffing as a result of the Postal Service’s plans for the BMCs.

What is happening to Primary sections at BMCs?

Parcel volume has been declining dramatically, due to the weak economy and competition. Most BMCs are gradually eliminating the use of Primary sections and moving employees to Secondary areas. However, there has been no appreciable change in the staffing of APWU-represented employees as a result.

How is Maintenance Craft staffing determined for BMCs? The staffing levels for non-custodial Maintenance Craft positions at BMCs are determined by a software program known as BMC Gold, which is different from the Work- Hour Estimated Program (WHEP) that is used at plants. Please note that this replacement for the BMC Interim Staffing Guidelines has been challenged by the APWU at the headquarters level.

How is custodial staffing for BMCs determined? Is it similar to theMS-47 at the plants?

Staffing for all custodial positions — including those at BMCs — must be based on the 1983 version of the MS-47 Handbook.

Special Concerns

Bulk Mail Center employees have special concerns, and BMC locals are the primary resource for addressing the problems they face.

In accordance with the APWU Constitution, locals that represent BMCs meet each year to discuss these concerns — this year, as in all convention years, the meeting is on the Friday preceding the first day of the convention (Aug. 15). The BMC conference is open to any APWU member who works at a BMC and others are welcome to observe.

The standing of the BMC employees within the APWU will remain strong. USPS decisions to re-organize facilities do not affect the internal functioning of the union. The Postal Service has renamed processing plants many times in the past; it has also re-organized its regions and areas without having an impact on the union. If the BMCs are renamed, the conferences will continue, and the special needs of BMC employees will be addressed.

If you have a question about the BMCs or if you wish to file a grievance, contact your steward, craft director, or local union president. Inquiries of a general nature also can be directed to Representative-at-Large Balogun, who serves as national BMC Coordinator.

Send questions to bmc@apwu.org. Inquiries will be forwarded to the appropriate officer. A response will be sent by e-mail.

More on Custodial Staffing

All custodial staffing documents can be obtained electronically, in PDF format. In fact, local management uses the eMS47 program, which converts documents to PDFs during the “print” process.

You can obtain PDFs for your PS4869, PS4839, and PS4852 forms, then send them to headquarters. Provided that your local president has sent a request for staffing review, this will expedite the review by a national staffing advocate.