When We Fight, We Win!

Over 2,000 APWU members and representatives from across the country participated in the highest authority of the union during the 27th Biennial National Convention held in Detroit, MI in July. Prior to the convention, several hundred Motor Vehicle Service (MVS) Craft officers and members participated in the 46th MVS Directors’ Conference, also held in Detroit.

The MVS Council, comprised of the Directors and National Business Agents (NBAs), provided reports and conducted training both at the conference and the MVS pre-convention workshops. The trainings included:

• Effective Grievance Writing
• Maximization Reports and Holddowns
• Article 39.2.A.11 Filling Residual Vacancies
• PVS and VMF Subcontracting
• Article 39 Back to Basics
• Local Memorandums of Understandings
• Department of Transportation Commercial Drivers Licenses Procedures
• DOT Self Certification
• Last Chance Agreements

Delegates were fully engaged and participated in all phases of the training.

MVS General Session

MVS Director Foster continued the tradition of ringing the Liberty Bell to start the General Session and welcomed delegates to his birthplace, Detroit, and home local, the Detroit District Area Local.

Members were updated on the status of the Das 110 Supplemental Award and how the USPS has control over the award. No funds have been paid to employees, released to the union, or retained by the union. We are still in discussions to insource permanent Highway Contract Route (HCR) work to the craft prior to identifying the employees included in the remedy. The grievance procedure fell under the duties and responsibilities of the Director, according to the APWU Constitution.

President Dimondstein, Executive Vice President Szeredy, and Secretary-Treasurer Powell gave reports on the convention proceedings, the state of the union, and the importance of the 2024 Presidential Elections. Industrial Relations Director Cash update delegates on contract negotiations, which began on June 25.

The craft has gone through many challenges since 2009 with the Amended Work Rules Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the conversion of Postal Vehicle Service (PVS) operations in Columbus, OH. Then the Postal Service attempted to contract out all PVS operations in California in 2012. Subsequent to that attempt, the Postal Service gave notice that they were considering contracting out the entire PVS operations in all 162 sites. Despite these illogical attempts to contract out their transportation, the APWU has challenged them in national level arbitrations and federal courts. The craft still remains viable, with a growth rate during this period of approximately 37 percent due to arbitration decisions such as the arbitrator Das 110 Award, the Brent 600 Award, and the newly created Postal Vehicle Operator (PVO) Pilots.

Also discussed were the recent Step 4 Disputes filed on Relief Supervisors performing craft work, supervisors performing Schedule Examiner Vehicle Run duties by creating PS 4533’s in VITALS and other programs, non-compliance with the arbitrator’s award in the Denver Network Distribution Center (NDC) case, and the creation of the Dispatch Coordinator position, which shifted work from other MVS Craft duty assignments and other crafts.

Assistant Director Langley reported on the Vehicle Fleet changes and training courses for the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles, the safety equipment needs for the battery electric vehicles, and the training facility at the National Center for Employee Development. He also reported on driver training aspects for the PVOs and the need for additional Driver Safety Instructors certified on the Trainer Provider Registry with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration continue the development of our operators to become MVOs and TTOs.

Eighteen resolutions were discussed, acted on, or referred to the Convention and adopted “in toto”. The MVS NBAs Pittman, Amey, Shaw, White, Krueger, and Parker reported on their regional activities and arbitration awards.

The MVS Craft, after passionate debate, adjourned with a renewed direction and purpose for negotiations and the challenges of the future.

When We Fight, We Win!” ■