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It's Time to Focus on the Upcoming 2008 NALC Conv
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Posted by admin On 01/28/2008 At 1:36:29 PM
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It’s Time to Focus on the Upcoming 2008 NALC Convention
By Robert A. Lind, Branch 34 President
We are about to embark on a new chapter in Branch 34 Boston history. Forty years have passed since the last NALC National Convention was held here in Boston. This opportunity may not arise for another four decades and you as branch members have a unique chance to not only see our union’s democratic process at work but participate as well.
It’s time to focus on the upcoming 2008 NALC National Convention to be held right here in Boston, Massachusetts. I appreciate the many New England NALC members outside of Branch 34 that have offered their assistance to help ensure our upcoming 2008 Convention is a success. I also would like to point out to our many members that we are the host branch of this convention – Branch 34! That being said I’m reaching out to our entire membership of Branch 34 seeking volunteers to get the job done.
We’ll need people immediately prior to the start of the convention. They will help prepare for our brother and sister delegates arrival from around this country. We will also need members during the week of the actual convention (July 21-25, 2008) to assist in a variety of functions. Certain functions will be short term (less than a day), a number of positions will be needed during the actual convention hours (7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday) itself and other positions will not be restricted to just convention hours.
The Branch has been keeping a log of those members that have expressed an interest in participating in this event. Hillary Clinton once said “it takes a village to raise a child,” well in this instance it takes a Branch to run a convention. Don’t leave it up to the same old, same old, get involved. You can call the branch during working hours and leave your name and phone number. We are comprising a list of those people interested and will be assigning future duties as needed.
“We all drink from the same well!”
We must service our customers, because if we don’t someone else will!” Does that sound familiar? Of course it does, we’ve been hearing that for years. It’s been management’s mantra throughout the years and it should be. This phrase should be their creed but unfortunately it’s merely a catch phrase to some and not readily applied in their day-to-day postal service business decisions.
Instead they remove stamp machines from lobbies and increase the already understaffed window clerk lines by forcing the elderly to stand and wait for their lonely first class stamp. Good move! Don’t worry about those individuals seeking passports, they can wait too, get those lines down then go back. We now pick and choose which patron receives service.
“Excuse me sir, your international multi-transactions are slowing down our line, would you please step aside and allow us to move this line? You can return once we get the line down.” Sounds unbelievable? It does sound unbelievable but those were actual events that took place within our Massachusetts District.
There are supervisors out there that use discretion despite the moron above them. I’m not talking about that segment I’m talking about the moron that’s running this business into the ground. There are certain people that should never have got by their probationary period never mind going higher level and they reflect unfavorably on all of us.
We care about our customers, we care about our job and we care about our future. We truly care about the future of the postal service. So why don’t they care? Too many only care about making it through that particular day and not looking beyond it. Certain supervisors have other irons in the fire and the USPS is not their number one priority.
We have postmasters that remove employees for allegedly expanding street time while they themselves violate every rule in the book. Oh I forgot, they’re protected and immune to any recourse. Not even the OIG would investigate these politically connected compadres despite violating rules and regulations. It’s nice to have family.
Then we have the bean counters that live and die by their computer. If their computer ever crashes they’d be lost. How do they know so much about carrying? They learned about it in the ASP program. These bean counters spend their day attempting to convince letter carriers that their performance must coincide with their computerized figures. WRONG!
Move what mail you can in the allotted time and hit to the street. While in the street do your job safely. End of story. Service your customers not the computer.
Overburdened routes and understaffed offices do not equate to customer service. The above mentioned supervisors may not get it but the main thing is for you to.
Stand Up and Be Counted
There’s nothing worse than walking into a unit and listening to some ignoramus making comments like, “here comes the union,” “Oh, they can do that!” “How ya’ doing, how ya’ doing?” Beside the fact that this individual is insulting and disrespectful without provocation, this behavior is unacceptable and juvenile. Some members may find it entertaining, but others find it uncalled for and downright offensive and they should.
You know this type of individual, they’re sprinkled throughout the district, the proverbial disgruntled employee. This is the person that blames the union for everything wrong in their life. They blame the union for the addition they received during the last route inspection. Warranted addition or not, the union screwed them, not management. It doesn’t matter that the Branch files the appropriate grievances. The union screwed me!
They harbor no animosity towards management because then they’d have to take a stand. Unfortunately, a stand with management would interfere with their daily routine. They complain, “they can do that” (a sarcastic slur aimed at the union), but in reality they allow it to happen, because no matter what adjustment they impose on them, they’re going to run their route to complete it so they can go elsewhere afterwards. It’s not about the union, it’s all about their own personal agenda. So, when you hear someone speak about the union in the third person, what they’re really saying is, they’re the union, not me. It’s their fight, not mine. Look over there, not at me. I’ll blame the union for the unfair adjustment I received, but I’LL COMPLETE IT IN LESS THAN THE ALLOTTED TIME EVERY DAY. In other words, don’t expect any support from me and that’s pathetic.
Their hatred and frustration is not with the union, it’s with themselves for they alone allow it. We’re only as strong as our weakest member and if they’re not prepared to stand up for themselves, then they can’t expect their steward to do it for them. So, next time Pathetic Pete pipes up to complain about what the union did or didn’t do for him, tell him to shut up and put in his slip (3996). If your route is overburdened, show the time. Either management’s right or management’s wrong, but it’s up to each member to prove it. For those that want to continue referencing the union in the third person, do us all a favor and get the hell out. You’ll probably end up in management anyway.
‘Tis the Season
As the Holiday Season descends upon us, let us reflect on the things we’ve been blessed with, our health, family and friends. Those are three things money can’t buy, but are frequently overlooked in our daily routine. Too often, we get caught up in life’s fast pace and its materialistic ideals. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring what’s really important in life into focus; health, family and friends.
As military personnel, college students and separated family members gravitate home to be with relatives, appreciate what you have, enjoy yourself and good friends. Good times and special moments are ever so fleeting.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or whatever religious day you observe. May you have a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year to each and every Branch 34 member and their family.
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Bereavement Leave Upheld By J.T. McMahon Exec VP
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Posted by admin On 01/28/2008 At 1:35:43 PM
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Bereavement Leave Upheld
By J.T. McMahon, Branch 34 Executive Vice President
A new National Memorandum of Understanding was included in the new contract. It is Bereavement Leave. All Letter Carriers may use a total of up to three (3) workdays of annual leave, sick leave or leave without pay, to make arrangements necessitated by the death of a family member or attend the funeral of a family member. Authorization of leave beyond three workdays is subject to the conditions and requirements of Article 10 of the National Agreement.
The definition of “Family Member” is defined as:
A) Son or daughter – a biological or adopted child, daughter-in-law or son in law
B) Spouse
C) Parent
D) Sibling – brother, sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law
E) Grandparent
Also under discussion nationally are mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Use of Sick Leave – For employees opting to use available sick leave, the leave will be charged to sick leave for dependent care, if eligible.
Documentation – Documentation evidencing the death of the employee’s family member is required only when the supervisor deems documentation desirable for the protection of interest of the Postal Service.
MSP Scanning Points
It has come to the Branch’s attention, recent issues concerning MSP scans. Below is a Step IV settlement nationally on MSP scanning points:
STEP 4 SETTLEMENT
Q98N-4Q-C 01045840 (M-1458)
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Managed Service Points (MSP) initiative is a national program intended to facilitate management’s ability to assess and monitor city delivery route structure and consistency of delivery service. The following reflects the parties’ understanding of MSP:
The parties agree that management will determine the number of scans on a city delivery route. Time credit will continue to be given during route count and inspections and will be credited in total street time.
MSP does not set performance standards, either in the office or on the street. With current technology, MSP records of scan times are not to be used as timecard data for pay purposes. MSP data may not constitute the sole basis for disciplinary action. However, it may be used by the parties in conjunction with other records to support or refute disciplinary action issued pursuant to Article 16 of the National Agreement.
City letter carriers have the option of using Personal Identification Number (PIN) other than the last four digits of their social security number.
Section 432.33 of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) remains in full force and effect when MSP is implemented. It provides that “Except in emergency situations, or where service conditions preclude compliance, no employee may be required to work more than 6 continuous hours without a meal or rest period of at least 1/2 hour.
Lunch locations for both the incumbent and carrier technician on a city delivery route continue to be determined in compliance with Section 126.5.b(2) of the M-39, PS Form 1564A.
“Delivery Instructions” lists the place and time that city letter carriers are authorized to leave the route for lunch. However, the parties recognize that, consistent with local instructions and operational conditions, city letter carriers may be authorized to leave at a different time and/or place. Notwithstanding this, the parties agree that city letter carriers will scan MSP scan points as they reach them during the course of their assigned duties.
When letter carriers leave their office and begin delivery before or after their normal starting time, they may reach the point at which they are authorized to leave their route for lunch at other than the time they are authorized to leave based on the current Form 1564-A. The parties should continue to handle those situations as they have in the past. The settlement states that “City letter carriers will scan MSP scan points as they reach them during the course of their assigned duties.” This means that the “lunch” scans are to be treated no differently than any other scans on a route. They should simply be scanned whenever the carrier reaches them.
(The information presented above is taken from the Joint Contract Administration Manual, as well as the new National Agreement.)
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
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