The Lead Clerk positions assigned to Function 1 and Function 4 were created through the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Re: Clerk Craft Jobs, a negotiated provision of the 2010-
2015 USPS/APWU collective bargaining agreement. In establishing responsibilities for this new
position, the parties agreed that Lead Clerks would be assigned to timekeeping duties in TACS
(see May 4, 2012, Lead Clerk Questions and Answers, attached, and the Lead Clerk position
descriptions).
Despite that commitment, one of the most conspicuous grievance-generating issues that
continues to be seen in the field is non-compliance with the requirement to assign Lead Clerks to
perform timekeeping duties in TACS. In response, the APWU initiated several national-level
disputes. Those disputes were ultimately resolved through national-level settlement agreements,
copies of which are attached to this memorandum.
Unfortunately, non-compliance with these settlement agreements has generated financial
liabilities at both the District and Area levels, which has resulted in millions of dollars in grievance
payouts. Such payouts are avoidable and unacceptable. Avoidable financial liabilities are
especially disturbing at a time when the organization is undertaking a phase of transformation
designed to achieve financial sustainability.
To ensure compliance going forward, attached to this memorandum are two documents (one for
Mail Processing, the other for Retail and Customer Service) that provide step-by-step
instructions
Document Type: Postal Service Directive
Craft: Clerk