APWU Receives Favorable Arbitration Award
Hundreds of SPSS Clerk Craft Jobs Preserved
December 9, 2016
The APWU prevailed in an arbitration that keeps hundreds of Clerk Craft jobs in the union’s bargaining unit.
The decision clarifies what ability the Postal Service has to change craft work assignments for new machinery. When the new Small Parcel Sorting System (SPSS) machines were installed, the Postal Service first assigned all of the work to the Mail Handler Craft. After a closer and better review, the USPS reassigned some of the functions, including facing and separating packages as well as sweeping in rotation, to the Clerk Craft.
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) filed a complaint over the USPS decision to change the work assignments.
On Dec. 3, 2016, Arbitrator Joseph Sharnoff ruled in favor of the APWU and the Postal Service on the procedural issue the NPMHU raised over the SPSS assignments. While not ruling on the merits of the craft assignments themselves, (which both the APWU and NPMHU protested) Arbitrator Sharnoff did find that it was proper for the Postal Service to revise its initial jurisdiction assignment in this situation.
With this procedural issue resolved, clerks will continue to be assigned work on the SPSS machines for now, as well as on new SSPS machines that are in the process of being deployed.
The final issue of craft assignment jurisdiction will be resolved either through the agreement of the APWU, NPMHU and the USPS, or by placing the issue back before Arbitrator Sharnoff for a final ruling on the merits of the case.
“This initial decision secures important job protections for our members,” said President Mark Dimondstein. “I want to thank APWU National Dispute Resolution Committee head and Queens Area Local President Ron Suslak and Assistant Clerk Craft Director Lynn Pallas-Barber for their hard work on this case. Also, thank you to the entire Flushing Local leadership, especially Flushing Local Clerk Craft Director Pat Vasquez for her assistance in providing information with the operation and staffing of her local SPSS machine.”