‘Pecking Order’ Set for Filling
New Positions in POStPlan Offices
October 9, 2014
The APWU and USPS have agreed on a “pecking order” for filling newly created positions in POStPlan Installations. A recent arbitration award will result in the creation of 9,000 new Clerk Craft jobs in six-hour and four-hour offices affected by the POStPlan. The pecking order is based on the arbitration award and the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
“The union attempted to come up with a clean and quick pecking order that would place bargaining unit employees from the area into the positions as soon as possible and make it easier for the locals and state organizations to manage the staffing process,” said Clerk Craft Director Clint Burelson.
“Given the 3,000 or so jobs expected to be filled in six-hour Remotely Managed Post Offices (RMPOs) and the almost 12,000 part-time flexibles in the bargaining unit, the majority of the jobs are expected to go to PTFs within the installation (bid cluster) and/or in a 50-mile radius from the Administrative Post Office (APO),” he said.
“This will present a good opportunity for many PTFs to increase their hours. It also will offer an opportunity to improve their “high three” earning years, which are used to calculate retirement annuities,” Burelson pointed out.
“As a result of PTFs filling positions in the six-hour RMPOs, it is expected that Postal Support Employees (PSEs) will be converted to career by filling the vacant PTF positions. PSEs are also expected to fill the jobs in four-hour offices, where they will be able to move to career as future vacancies come up in the installation (bid cluster),” he added.
“Employees in six- and four-hour RMPOs will be the only person working in their offices and will have the opportunity and responsibility to help preserve the post office for their community,” Burelson noted.
“The APWU is working to gather the resources to help employees, locals, and state organizations preserve and enhance living-wage jobs and good service in our communities,” he said.
For more information about the POStPlan arbitration award and the MOU, click here.