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

Advanced Search

Printer-Friendly Page

Clerk Craft Upgrades Will Have Ripple Effect

APWU Web News Article #03-06, Jan. 12, 2006

Upgrades to take place in March that affect Bulk Mail Clerks (and 13 other positions) also may be significant to other APWU-represented workers.

Because Sales and Services Associates (SSAs) and Sales, Services and Distribution Associates (SSDAs) who handle bulk mail will be performing higher-level work when they accept and verify business mailings, the union has negotiated an agreement to make sure they are compensated at a higher rate during times when they take on such duties.

The Postal Service and the APWU have agreed to a series of Questions and Answers [PDF] about how to apply the National Agreement after the March 18, 2006, upgrades. The parties hope to preclude grievances over higher-level work assignments by establishing “mixed-duty” assignments with work in two separate pay levels.

The upgrades from were part of last August’s one-year extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This means that none of the incumbents who hold duty assignments under these position descriptions will have their assignments reposted. Bulk Mail Clerks, Air Records Processors, Time and Attendance Clerks will be upgraded from PS-5 to PS-6; Ramp Clerks will become Level 7.

The Q&A [PDF] was signed on Jan. 3, and establishes that any employee who performs the duties of bulk-mail acceptance must be compensated at the Level 6 rate.

[back to top]