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Motor Vehicle Division Officers |
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Battle for MVS Jobs Continues
Bob Pritchard
Motor Vehicle Division Director
Mike Foster, Assistant Director
(This article by first appeared in the May/June 2012 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
The officers of the Motor Vehicle Service Division have been very active in recent months, in an effort to get postal management to adhere to the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
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We have tried to interact with the Postal Service in a positive way in these exceptionally trying times, but the USPS has failed to act in a responsible and timely manner as it relates to hiring mechanics and drivers under the guidelines set forth in the MVS Jobs Memo in the CBA.
The contract was signed on May 23, 2011, and almost a year later, as far as we know, not a single person has been hired to fill any of the new jobs promised in the memo. In fact, despite management’s commitment to create 740 new jobs in Vehicle Maintenance Facilities (VMFs) and 600 new jobs from Highway Contract Routes (HCR) routes, the MVS complement has declined.
VMF Vacancies
There are many vacant assignments at VMFs around the country. Managers have posted vacancies for internal bidding, which gives postal employees the opportunity to move to higher-level positions. However, when people retire, their jobs are left vacant. If this occurs, locals should file grievances requesting that management fill residual vacancies. (Stewards should cite what is now Article 39.2.A.11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.)
We recently came across a Web-COINS report, which proves there are vacancies at various VMFs. These complement reports show the authorized positions in an installation, whether the positions are occupied, and by whom.
Although Web-COINS reports frequently understate the number of vacancies, they provide evidence of the minimum number of vacancies, and should be cited in the grievances filed.
Unless the managers in your facility have hired recently or filed vacancies, they are in violation of the contract.
PVS Jobs
Postal officials recently said they would provide the union with a list of an additional 300 new Postal Vehicle Service (PVS) jobs that will result from the conversion of HCR to PVS. But the promise to hire seems hollow because, so far, the USPS has failed to hire anyone for the 330 new duty assignments on a list it provided in September! The lists relate to the 600+ HCR routes that the union and management agreed would be turned over to the APWU bargaining unit during contract negotiations.
Lists are fine, but we want the jobs!
Management’s failure to implement the contractual agreements has soured relations between the APWU and the USPS. Unfortunately, the Postal Service’s failure to meet its obligations under the new CBA extends to the other crafts as well, not just MVS. Wherever the hiring of APWU-represented employees was promised, it seems not to have occurred, and the work that was supposed to be shifted to the APWU hasn’t moved.
The Postal Service’s refusal to live up to its commitment to increase
complements and shift work to the APWU is unfortunate. In many cases, the cost
of using APWU employees is competitive. According to the Postal Service’s
own account, using VMF employees results in savings.
Management’s refusal to comply with the CBA is affecting the Postal Service’s
credibility, not only with the APWU, but with the other postal unions. The
other unions are questioning whether they can negotiate a contract with the
Postal Service, because the USPS has failed to live up to its agreement with
the APWU.
Most adults understand when people say they will not or cannot do something. In most cases, we just move on. What really causes consternation is when two parties make an agreement in a give- and-take situation and then one party wants to take but not give. That is what is happening now. Hopefully, the USPS will soon realize that they have an obligation to live up to the agreements set forth in our CBA.
Advocating for the Postal Service
Despite our frustration, it is important to note that, like it or not, our future is tied to the Postal Service. We must put pressure on our elected officials to rectify the congressionally- manufactured crisis so that the Postal Service can be viable. This will enable us to continue to provide the American people with good service and allow us to enjoy good jobs. Every member must support the election of legislators who are on board with the APWU on postal issues and who are willing to protect working families in America.
Some politicians claim it is class warfare to demand that millionaires pay the same tax rate as working people. Perhaps it is. But we agree with billionaire Warren Buffet, who is chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. He says class warfare has been going on and the upper class has won! It is time to reclaim America for the people and for our federal government to work for the good of the majority — not just the top 1 percent.
