Investigating Maintenance Subcontracting
The postal service has a contractual obligation to notify the union, at the local level, when the decision to subcontract has been made at the field level. Some local unions have existing past practices or local agreements that require notification and discussion prior to the postal service making the decision to subcontract. Once the union receives this notification, it is imperative that information requests are submitted to determine whether or not the subcontracting was done in compliance with the national agreement.
Often times, the postal service fails to notify the local union when the decision to subcontract is made (which is a violation and must be grieved). As such, local unions should submit information requests at regular intervals to discover whether the postal service subcontracted work under the radar and without notification. Information requests will be largely based on local fact circumstance, but all maintenance subcontracting investigations must, at minimum, submit information requests for the following:
- Copy of the actual contract
- Copy of the scope of work document
- Copy of the Article 32 Due Consideration Summary
- Copy of the cost-comparison analysis (fair comparison of all reasonable costs)
- Copy of the notification to the union
- Identify which postal official made the decision to subcontract
- Copies of all FSSP problem / call worksheets (if applicable)
It is important to understand the difference between national contracts and national initiatives. Just because the postal service, at the area or headquarter level, push for projects to be completed across the country, that does not automatically make it a national subcontract. Local investigations must flush out who made the decision to subcontract and who completed the due consideration requirement. These two pieces of key information will help determine whether it is a national contract or not. Don’t hesitate to contact your National Business Agent if you are unsure or need clarification. Just because management claims it is a national contract, doesn’t make it so… investigate and rebut, if necessary.
