Motor Vehicle Service Employees Are Essential

Voluntary Early Retirement

Whether meeting with the Postmaster General (PMG), Deputy PMG, members of Congress, or national arbitrators, the Motor Vehicle Service (MVS) officers are always extolling the value of our craft employees. The skill set and knowledge required to perform our duties, and the professionalism and pride of our members, should justify higher wages, better benefits, and the minimal contracting out of work.

The Postal Service recently offered Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) opportunities to eligible employees. These are occasionally offered over the years and can accomplish at least the reduction in the size of the bargaining unit and the ability to create lower-salary employees. While our value is obvious, the positions taken by the USPS during contract negotiations, interest arbitrations, and contracting-out decisions, makes essential employees appear to be expendable.

The USPS determined the MVS Craft employees to be essential, and only 12 percent of eligible employees would be allowed to complete the VER. If you choose to take it, you must make the Postal Service aware by March 7, 2025. If the 12 percent cap in MVS is exceeded, then the incentive will be granted based on total Postal Service seniority. The offer is also open to Part-Time Flexible employees on a pro-rated basis. The decision to retire is always a personal one, and for any APWU and MVS member who chooses the VER, congratulations and best wishes.

Position Papers Exchanged

The APWU and the USPS have exchanged their respective positions in MVS-filed national disputes on the following issues:

MVS Dispatch Coordinator

The first of several exchanges on this national dispute addressed the Postal Service’s creation of the MVS Dispatch Coordinator and the combination of duties across craft lines. We believe that the number of duties associated with this job description are so numerous that many contract violations occurred with the creation of this position. The job description encompasses the entire job description of the Clerk Vehicle Dispatcher, as well as duties from Vehicle Operations Assistant (Bulk Mail), Schedule Examiner Vehicle Runs (SEVR), as well as other APWU craft job descriptions. The MVS Dispatch Coordinator job description has the potential for employees to perform different duties daily, making it highly possible for management to begin siphoning work away from the bargaining unit. The Dispatch Coordinator is assigned to the MVS Craft.

Schedule Examiner Vehicle Runs (SEVR)

The SEVR dispute is about the shifting of those duties to management, which has been the subject of multiple Step 4 national disputes in the past. The Motor Vehicle Craft has had to ght for the SEVR position in the past and we have no intention of giving this work back to management.

Bulk Transportation of Mail

Bulk transportation of mail between facilities is the primary responsibility of the MVS Craft and Postal Vehicle Service (PVS) operators. In many locations, letter carriers or other employees are performing these duties. Where a Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC) has been established, the USPS instructs the Letter Carrier Craft to transport mail between the hub and spoke of ces. This is a direct violation of the S&DC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the history of the bargaining language.

Dynamic Route Optimization

Dynamic Route Optimization (DRO) was a plan by the Postal Service to change the Highway Contractor Route either weekly or even daily. However, when these routes became due for renewal, this dynamic routing did not allow for the APWU to fully exercise the rights we have bargained for in the contract. These programs utilize various methods of cost-saving strategies. DRO only uses a mileage calculation and does not include the hourly calculations required by Article 32.2.

As with all disputes, if you witness or have questions about these violations, please contact your local representatives, your National Business Agent, or the MVS Division.