All Sections ------------------------------- News & Events Pay & Benefits Departments & Divisions Members Only

Advanced Search

Printer-Friendly Page

Arbitration Decision Announced

APWU News Service Bulletin #34-01, Dec. 18, 2001 | PDF

Arbitrator Stephen B. Goldberg issued his ruling on the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the U.S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union on Tuesday, Dec. 18.  The highlights of the three-year contract are listed below:

Three General Salary Increases, Plus Cost-of-Living Increases:

• Wages: 1.2% Nov.18, 2000 (Retroactive for hours paid)
  COLA: $499 Lump Sum for two 2000 Cost-of-Living Allowances (Not added to basic pay)

• Wages: 1.8% Nov.17, 2001 (Retroactive for hours paid)
  COLA: March and September 2002
• Wages: 1.4% Nov. 16, 2002
  COLA: March and September 2003

No Changes in the Cost-Of-Living Formula

Upgrades:

Effective no later than March 23, 2002:

• Mail Processor positions upgraded from PS 4 to PS 5

• Senior Mail Processor positions upgraded from PS 5 to PS 6

The panel required that all grievances on mail processor upgrades be withdrawn.

Effective Nov. 16, 2002:

• Motor Vehicle Operator positions upgraded from PS 5 to PS 6

• Tractor Trailer Operator positions upgraded from PS 6 to PS 7

• Building Equipment Mechanic positions upgraded from PS 7 to PS 8

• Maintenance Mechanic MPE positions upgraded from PS 7 to PS 8

• Electronic Technician positions upgraded from PS 9 to PS 10

• Electronic Technician positions upgraded from PS 10 to PS 11

• All upgrades will be to higher grade while carrying in-step waiting time.

• Employees in Schedule 1 salary scale when upgraded will be moved to the next higher grade on Schedule 2.

  

Transitional Employees

• All non-REC TEs will be phased out by Dec. 31, 2005.

• Until Dec. 31, 2005, USPS may hire up to 4,000 non-REC TEs pursuant to the agreement known as "TE 2."

• REC TEs will continue pursuant to existing memo.

Changes to Working Conditions

Article 11

• Effective Feb. 2, 2002 employees who work their holiday or designated holiday will have the option to get credited with eight hours of annual leave in lieu of holiday pay.

Article 15

• If payment of grievance settlements or arbitration awards are not made within 60 days, affected employees are entitled to receive a pay advance of 70 percent of the award.

• Union and management have the right to elevate one case per scheduling docket to top of schedule for arbitration hearing.

Article 19

• Management must include explanation of handbook changes and how they impact employees.  Must also make available a manager with actual knowledge of proposed change in the Article 19 meeting.  Union will have 90 days to appeal changes.

Article 26

• Clothing allowances increased 4.5 percent on Nov. 21, 2001 and 2.5 percent on Nov. 21, 2002

Article 30

• The panel changed management's right to challenge Local Memo provisions as "in conflict or inconsistent" with the National Agreement, limiting such right to only those provisions of the local agreement that have been affected by changes to the National Agreement since last negotiated at local level.

Article 32

• The panel required that the union's views must be considered prior to decisions regarding subcontracting.

Article 36

• All job-related travel time is compensable.

Article 38  Local Memos

• The panel accepted the union's demand to establish a joint task force to evaluate the assignment of duties to specific work assignments .

Other Issues

• The panel continued the Sick Leave for Dependent Care Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement.

• The panel continued the No Layoff Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement and extended protection to career employees who were in the regular work force as of Nov. 20, 2000. 

• The panel continued the Annual Leave Exchange Option Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement.

• The panel continued the Retail Operations Within Installations Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement.

• The panel continued the Leave Sharing Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement.

• The panel continued the CFS Rotation Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement.

• The panel continued the Dependent Care Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement, with selection of the contractor to be determined by the sub-committee, which includes union representatives.

• The panel continued the PTF Reassignment Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement.

• The panel continued the Mail Equipment Shops Memorandum for the life of the 2000 National Agreement.

• The panel discontinued the NLRB Dispute Resolution Process.

• The panel ordered the Article 7, 12, 13 Memorandum be continued for the life of the 2000 National Agreement.

• The panel ruled that a memo permitting locals to negotiate modified work weeks will be included in the 2000 National Agreement.

  

  To All APWU Members
  Season's Greetings!

  

  The officers and staff of the APWU wish you and your family the very best this holiday season.

[back to top]