OCTOBER 20, 2005                                                  201-653-1767, IN-HOUSE 5082

NO.12                                                                         80 COUNTY RD. 07097

Tommy Reid, Branch President                                  FAX NUMBER 201-653-1767

                                       WEB SITE: l300nji-bmc.org/

                             

                                Reversion of bid jobs

                      

On September 30, 2005 the Union was notified that management was reverting 48 vacant bid jobs. The letter was from Artie Carucci, head of Human Resources. In the letter he claims, the reason for these reversions was to afford Operations time to accurately access staffing issues as they relate to the Mail Handler Craft.

 

On October 5^th myself and Chief Steward Tom Mullahey met with Mr. Carucci to dispute these reversions. Artie Carucci said he would get back to us after discussing our concerns with Plant Manager Frank Tulino.

 

I was contacted on October 12^th by Artie and was informed that Management was going ahead with the reversions despite our arguments. We informed him that grievances will be filed regarding the reversions. A meeting with the Plant Manager along with Local President Paul Hogrogian has been scheduled to discuss the time change in the International Building and the effects of the reversions on the people who will have difficulties to make it here at 6:00 AM.

 

If they need to accurately access where jobs are needed, all they have to do is simply see where Mailhandlers are reassigned to on a daily basis. Many times whole pay locations are closed and the employees are then re-assigned to staff jobs just to get operations up and running!

 

 

In addition they are reverting jobs where they currently use casuals on a regular basis.

 

What about Military Tour III??? For years they have been staffing operations with all casuals, in lieu of Mailhandlers. So the membership knows, grievances are being filed for bid positions in every area where casuals are employed on a regular basis. In addition, all pay locations that multi-rate on a daily basis, grievances are being filed for bid jobs.

 

I will keep the membership informed of any new developments regarding these reversions.

                                      Change in Start time

Local 300 has been informed on October 29^th, the start time for all employees assigned to the Foreign and Military Operations will be changed from 6:45 AM to 6:00 AM. Allegedly the reason for these changes is to better align our Mail Processing commitments to improve our service to the customers we serve.

 

The Union is now requesting the statistical data that management relied on to make these time changes for the Foreign and Military buildings. We are concerned for those people who because of the tour change may encounter difficulty with child care or other problems as deemed appropriate.

 

                                EMERGENCY AMBULANCE

 

With the scaling back of Postal Police officers at the facility employees are faced with a serious safety problem should the need arise for the mini-ambulance. Currently procedures call for a Postal Police officer to drive the mini-ambulance in times of need. They have been specially trained to know the quickest routes to be taken to get to a particular location in the facility. On Tour III, many nights there are only two Postal Police officers on duty in the facility and they are often out on patrol in the parking lot. If the need for the mini-ambulance arose they would have to be called by the Delta room  using a maintenance phone and then have to get back to the facility, then to the ambulance and then to the proper location. Without a doubt this would certainly fall beyond the OSHA five minute emergency response time. This puts each and every one of us at risk of not getting the proper emergency response if the need arises. This has been raised at various safety and health meetings and no acceptable answer has been given to the Union by management. If it ever happens, when the need for the mini-ambulance occurs and the response time is beyond the OSHA requirement the Union will be filing an official complaint and will be requesting a willful intent violation.

 

                   TOUR III & TOUR I MAILHANDLERS

The list for the snow day grievance settlement is available for review in the Union office if you took off on January 22, 2005 due to inclement weather please stop and check to see that your name is on the list. If it’s not, request a copy of your 3971 for that day from your supervisor and give it to a Steward.

 

                     TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY

NPMHU Local 313 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) President Julio Figueroa has informed Local 300 President Paul Hogrogian that San Juan is looking to hire or transfer-in 45 Mail Handlers in the VERY NEAR FUTURE. Anyone interested in applying can contact President Figueroa via e-mail (julio40@prtc.net). They will need your name, social security number, and current installation. If you are interested, please act quickly since the USPS wants to fill these positions immediately. If you have any questions please contact Local Headquarters @ 212 431-0040.                                               

                                  

                          WOMEN TAKE NOTICE!!!

The latest issue of the Local 300 Women’s Caucus Newsletter has come out this past week. It’s filled with helpful and useful information. If you have not already seen it, stop in the Union office and pick up a copy.

A special thanks to everyone who has contributed to its production.