Departments & Divisions Vice
President Magazine
Articles Four-Day Week Has Finally ArrivedFour-Day Week Has Finally Arrived
(This article first appeared in the November/December 2008 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
The APWU and the Postal Service have been meeting periodically at the headquarters level and have finally reached a tentative agreement on a method that will allow for locally-negotiated four-day workweeks.
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The sticking point of the negotiations was the need to come up with a method that would allow for as many flexible work schedules as possible, which necessarily would have to be implemented on a facility-by-facility basis.
The agreement was set to be finalized the first week of October, with some local parties authorized to negotiate immediately, which could mean that they have been doing so by the time you receive this edition of The American Postal Worker.
We have been pushing for a modified-workweek agreement seemingly forever: The first pilot programs were in 1994. The 2000-2003 APWU-USPS Collective Bargaining Agreement — as well as a contract extension ratified Aug. 5, 2005 — also provided for the establishment of “modified workweek” pilot sites, with employees selecting work schedules of four 10-hour days.
The pilot programs the last two years were frequently stymied and stalled by Area-level managers who restricted the pilots to a very limited number of post offices and areas within post offices.
This should be a giant step into the future for many postal employees. Changing a full day of work to a full day off for employees will dramatically change lifestyles. A side benefit of the elimination of a full day of work each week is that it reduces the amount of time workers spend getting to and from their jobs, which can only diminish congestion on the roads and help save energy. That’s a win for employees, the Postal Service, and our nation as a whole.
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Employees who go on a modified workweek will work 10 hours a day straight time, and will receive penalty pay when they work more than 10 hours in a shift. Workers who like to work overtime should realize that while some straight-time hours and overtime hours will be available, if a sufficient number of employees choose a modified schedule — which is expected — overtime will be possible by working a fifth day.
Employees who want overtime may from time to time work a five-day schedule, but will forfeit their “third day off” in such weeks. Some employees who work the four-day schedule will not necessarily have the third day off consecutively with the other two.
Health Plan Open Season
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During this year’s Open Season, take a look and encourage everyone you work with to consider the APWU Health Plan. The number of federal employees who are members of our plan continues to grow and the satisfaction — both in quality of care and in customer service — continues to rank among the best in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program.
It’s also open season for beginning or making changes to Flexible Spending Accounts. This pre-tax benefit can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses 20 to 30 percent. Everyone is encouraged to study whether this option can help with your health or dependent care under the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
(Updated Dec. 9, 2008) The 2008 Federal Benefits Open Season for the 2009 plan year began on Monday, Nov. 10, and and was extended until Jan. 31, 2009. The effective date of an open season change is Jan. 3, 2009, the first day of the first full pay period next year. (For annuitants the date is always Jan. 1.)
Reminder: Since July 1, 2005, it is always Open Season for the Thrift Savings Plan. Thanks to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, you have had some serious raises this year.
If you are not taking advantage of all the matching funds available to you, look into the ways in which TSP members start (or resume, change, or stop) at any time. Elected changes will be effective at the beginning of the pay period following the one in which submitted.
Seeking Historical Documents
Attention! Attention, all locals that have traditionally maintained a union office, as well as long-time APWU members and retirees…
We are seeking copies of Biennial Convention reports from 1972 and earlier, from our predecessor organizations. We are asking anyone who has these in their archives to give me a call.
We’re looking for other historical documents and memorabilia as well. If you have some of the records we are missing — the April 1972 edition of this very publication is on-hand only in a photocopy — we may want to talk you out of those possessions.
Post-Election Thanks
By the time this is published, we will have a new president-elect. There’s no question that most of us were looking for a change — more than just a new face — and we thank everyone who took the time to vote.
If you also took the time to work for a candidate of your choice, you deserve everyone’s gratitude.
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