Clerk Craft Receives Mixed Results in Two National Awards

(This article appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)

Two recent national-level arbitration awards affecting Clerk Craft employees produced different outcomes. Both awards, however, clarified work assignments that should benefit our craft in the future.

Dispatch Coordinator

In 2022, the Postal Service created the new position of Dispatch Coordinator, originally assigning it to the Clerk Craft before later reassigning it to the Motor Vehicle Service Craft. Our case involved comparing the Dispatch Coordinator position to the General Expeditor position.

Arbitrator Homer LaRue disagreed with the union’s evaluation, citing a crucial element of the Dispatch Coordinator’s responsibility, “for the movement of trucks,” to ensure proper, timely dispatches of mail at Regional Processing and Distribution Centers (RPDCs). By contrast, General Expeditors “primarily handle(s) the movement of mail.” This difference in principal responsibilities was relied upon by the arbitrator, who maintained, “…the Dispatch Coordinator does not handle mail or engage in mail processing tasks,” but rather the position’s focus “remains on vehicle flow, yard visibility, and trip coordinator – not on mail flow.”

The distinction between the Dispatch Coordinator and General Expeditor positions should reinforce the Clerk Craft’s efforts to retain and acquire duties belonging to our craft.

Clerk Craft Jobs MOUs – Arbitrability

In a decision from Arbitrator Margo Newman involving Article 1.5 and Memorandums of Understanding

(MOUs) relating to Clerk Craft jobs, the Postal Service claimed the case was not arbitrable due to what it perceived as a “factual dispute about the assignment of specific duties at a particular location.” The arbitrator concluded that the union’s case is arbitrable on the merits based on “the scope and meaning of the phrase ‘non-managerial and non-supervisory work’ in Article 1.5.A” and the relevant work-preservation MOUs.

The arbitrator noted that the union’s position was evident by our statement that the cited contractual provisions draw a “bright red line” between bargaining unit work and managerial or supervisory duties, which contradicts the Postal Service’s claim of “shared du-ties.” Furthermore, the Clerk Craft Jobs MOU points out the “presumption that the duties will be returned to the APWU craft” when work is in question. The award addressed the arbitrability of the dispute only and did not resolve the non-managerial, non-supervisory work issue. That determination is made when the parties proceed to the merits hearing.

Employees’ Safety Vital in Mail Processing and Retail

Clerks working on Delivery Bar Code Sorters (DBCS) are routinely forced to operate the machines alone without proper staffing. This is not only a contractual violation, it could also cause injuries. In past years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has investigated and issued ergonomic and safety assessments concerning the DBCS. The most important aspects are employees working safely on properly staffed DBCS machines.

The Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM) contains specific conditions for staffing the DBCS. Article 37 of the JCIM has Questions & Answers (Q&As) for DBCS staffing. These Q&As require a minimum of two clerks per machine “to address safety and ergonomic issues.” During periods such as start-up or low mail volume, staffing remains at two clerks, with one per-forming allied duties.

Our members must demand compliance with these Q&As involving appropriate staffing of DBCS machines. If management fails or refuses to provide proper staffing, notify your steward.

For retail units, the Postal Service issued safety guidance in the Window Services Crime Prevention Booklet, which identifies subjects such as suspicious transactions, post office burglaries, and other situations in which the inspection service or police are notified. Also cited were procedures for handling money orders, checking for counterfeit or altered currency, and as-sault prevention. Handbook PO-209, Chapter 6, covers information regarding security and safety. It is an excel-lent tool for retail clerks handling mail, selling postal money orders, and dealing with registered and other accountable items.