The question in this grievance is whether management violated Article 17 of the National Agreement, when management scheduled the Step 2 meeting at the Main Post Office and did not compensate the grievant, a Union Steward, for travel time. During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the Step 2 discussion as set forth in Article 15, Section 2 of the National Agreement, may be held at other than the originating office at the discretion of management. With respect to travel time, it is our position that travel to a Main Post Office for purposes of hearing a grievance cannot reasonably be said to involve the actual handling of a grievance as so enumerated in Article 17, Section 4 of the National Agreement. While the steward is enroute to the meeting, he/she is not engaged in grievance handling, but in traveling. The grievance handling begins only when he/she arrives at the meeting. It therefore follows that the steward has not satisfied the express conditions of Article 17, Section 4 and is not entitled to payment for travel time.
Document Type: USPS Position Letter
APWU National Grievance Number: H1C5KC1438
Craft: Clerk