IT/AS Support Services Members Ratify Contract

Following an overwhelming 429-129 ratification vote on Aug. 23, the new Information Technology and Accounting Services Centers (IT/AS) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the United States Postal Service was signed by APWU President Mark Dimondstein and USPS Vice President of Labor Relations Douglas Tulino.

“I salute the members who stood strong through the negotiations,” said President Dimondstein. “This successful contract negotiated by Support Services Division Director Steve Brooks and National Business Agent Judy McCann is a solid foundation to build on in the future.”

The contract covers approximately 1,140 IT/AS employees with service centers in Eagan, MN, St. Louis, MO, San Mateo, CA, and Wilkes-Barre, PA. Over 60% of the membership participated in the ratification vote.

“We conducted onsite visits to each of the four IT/AS facilities and presented the terms of the agreement to the members,” said Support Services Division Director Steve Brooks. “The process was successful and members were able to get answers to questions about the contract’s terms and the negotiation process. How this contract puts us in a good position for future negotiations was also explained.”

Contract Details

The CBA is retroactive to Jan. 21, 2017 and expires Jan. 20, 2019. It provides for the following pay increases:

• 1.3% general increase effective Jan. 20, 2017 (retroactive), and
• 1.3% general increase effective Jan. 19, 2018.
• $333 COLA increase effective April 29, 2017 (retroactive).
• Future COLAs based on the Sept. 2017 CPI-W Index, March 2018 Index, and Sept. 2018 Index.

The Employer/Employee shares of health insurance premiums will be the same as all other postal union agreements – shifting 2% of the total premium to employees.

Other provisions provide additional growth of employment and some upward movement in grades and steps:

• With the filling of vacancies, and with the 50 positions promised in the previous contract and 20 new positions in this contract, the number of programmers will increase to 431 from the current 361.  The agreement also calls for regular tracking reports to assure quick movement to the agreed upon staffing.
• A Step Q is added to the top of Levels 14, 15, and 16, eventually increasing pay for more than 524 employees, with an immediate raise for about 240 people. This change provides for consistency with the pay step structure through Level 23.
• Four new Level 18 positions will be added to Accounting Services.

The contract continues progress in providing for career ladders by adding a new one and amending another:

• A new career ladder for the Quality Assurance area and,
• An amended career ladder for Accounting Specialists in Payroll.

In addition, the Voluntary 10/4 work schedule option was modified, making it easier to get on the program.

The parties will also create a task force to review the programming application testing procedures on both the IT and Accounting areas. A different task force will review the accounting levels and duties and possible career ladder opportunities.