LOCAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
East Texas Processing and Distribution Center
Clerk Craft
2006-2010
ITEM 1. Additional or longer wash-up periods
A five minute wash-up time shall be granted for all employees, based on individual circumstances.
ITEM 2. The establishment of a regular work week of five days with either fixed or rotating days off.
The Clerk craft will work with fixed consecutive (achieved through attrition) days off for all career employees. Considering Friday through Monday as preferential off days, no casuals will be scheduled off during these days. Upon the written request of a casual for a preferential day off the union (appropriate craft director or their designee) and management (MDO or their designee) will make the final decision.
ITEM 3. Guidelines for the curtailment or termination of postal operations to conform to orders of local authorities or as local conditions warrant because of emergency conditions.
A. Management will communicate with the Union concerning the appropriate action to be taken when the emergency is of such a nature that advance notice is possible.
B. Management will provide the union with a standard operating procedure for fire, tornado, and bio-hazard emergencies
The Clerk craft will abide by the National Policy regarding this matter.
ITEM 4. Formulation of local leave program
A. Leave rosters will be used for employees to sign for their choice selection. The rosters will be circulated each year in order of seniority among employees for choice selections in the following sections:
Tour 1 Mail Processing clerks - Automation
FSM Operators
Mail Processing clerks – Longview MPO Scheme
Mail Processing clerks – Longview NW Scheme
Mail Processing clerks – Tyler Azalea Scheme
Mail Processing clerks – Tyler MPO Scheme
Mail Processing clerks – Tyler South Tyler Scheme
Mail Processing clerks and Expediters – Non scheme
Tour 2 Mail Processing clerks - Automation
FSM Operators
Mail Processing clerks – Longview MPO Scheme
Mail Processing clerks – Longview NW Scheme
Mail Processing clerks – Tyler Azalea Scheme
Mail Processing clerks – Tyler MPO Scheme
Mail Processing clerks – Tyler South Tyler Scheme
Mail Processing clerks and Expediters – Non scheme
Tour 3 Mail Processing clerks - Automation
FSM Operators
Mail Processing clerks and Expediters – Non scheme
All Other Craft Employees in Administration Functions
B. All rosters will have one week blacked out for the APWU State and/or National Convention reserved for leave by the local delegate(s) to the conventions, except in an installation with fewer than four (4) employees. The local Union is responsible for informing management of the dates for the convention weeks. No later than 30 days prior to each convention the union will inform management of the employees that will attend each convention. When the delegates are known and their leave has been scheduled in their sections during the reserved space(s), any remaining reserved spaces in all sections shall be granted by the supervisor in the following order: (1) for employees coming on the tour from other sections that are not scheduled for their full allowable leave during the choice period; (2) for employees that will have forfeitable leave; (3) for employees submitting applications on form 3971, first-come, first-served. ANY EMPLOYEES APPLYING FOR LEAVE UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH MUST APPLY FOR THE TURNED BACK WEEKS WITHIN 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE THE WEEKS BECAME AVAILABLE. AFTER THE 15 DAYS THE WEEKS WILL BE AVAILABLE UNDER ITEM 12 OF THE LMOU.
C. The first circulation of the roster will be by seniority in all crafts for choice selections to begin by November 15 and end no later than January 31st. If leave rosters are not completed by January 31st, then all leave requests submitted up to the percentage agreed to in item 9 will be considered approved. One or more weeks up to limitations in Article 10, 3D1 and 3D2 may be selected as specified in Item 7.
(Previous language deleted)
D. Each employee will be responsible for planning his/her selections, with alternates, so that he/she can make immediate selection when receiving the vacation leave sheet. If an employee does not make a selection within a 24-hour period, within one 24-hour day, within his/her work week, after receiving the vacation leave roster, they will forfeit that selection. Should an employee be out on extended leave for a week or more, the union and management will attempt to contact the employee within 48 hours, and if unable to do so the roster will be moved to the next senior employee in that section. The bypassed employee will be permitted to sign immediately upon his/her return to work.
E. Employees transferring to a different section, with their choice period selection not taken in their former section, are responsible for contacting the supervisor in their new section by submitting a Form 3971 for the annual leave. The employee will be permitted to take their choice selection(s) in the new section. Any employee changing sections and/or tours prior to selecting his/her choice leave weeks will be placed on the leave roster in the new section in the proper rotation. He/she will be permitted to sign for their remaining selections in the new section, even if the roster has already been completed.
F. Scheduled annual leave in the choice period may not be canceled unless all of the following conditions are met:
1. The canceled leave must be in full weeks. (Exception: Less than a full week may be canceled if the employee’s leave balance is less than 40 hours.)
2. Scheduled leave will not be canceled if this causes the employee to have a forfeitable leave balance at or near the end of the leave year.
3. The employee will submit a written request for cancellation on Form 3971 to his/her immediate supervisor at least 14 days prior to the beginning date of the week(s) involved. If the request meets all the conditions, the supervisor will so endorse, date and sign the Form 3971 and post it on the APWU bulletin board as a notice to employees in the same leave section that this period is open for application.
4. Employees in the section applying for canceled leave must submit complete Form 3971 by hand to the immediate supervisor no later than 7 calendar days prior to the beginning date of the leave period. The supervisor and employee will endorse the Form 3971 with the date and time received in hand by the supervisor.
The supervisor shall grant the canceled leave in the following order: (1) to employees coming in the section from other sections that are not scheduled for their full allowable leave; (2) to employees that will have forfeitable leave; (3) to employees submitting applications on Form 3971, first-come, first-served.
ITEM 5. The duration of the choice vacation period
A. Clerk Craft - The choice vacation period shall be the full leave year except for the first full week of December through December 23.
ITEM 6. THE DETERMINATION OF THE BEGINNING DAY OF AN EMPLOYEE’S VACATION PERIOD
A. Employees leave week will begin no later than Monday. The employees with weekdays as their non-scheduled day will be allowed to have an approved Change of Schedule for the Saturday and Sunday following their scheduled leave. The Change of Schedule will be submitted to the MDO prior to the posting of the schedule of the leave week.
B. Employees shall not be required to work on their holiday immediately preceding or following their vacation period.
ITEM 7. Whether employees at their option may request two selections during the choice vacation period, in units of 5 or 10 days.
A. (1) Employees who earn thirteen (13) days leave per year have the following options:
(a) One (1) selection during the choice vacation period of ten (10) continuous work days, or
(b) Two (2) selections in units of five (5) continuous work days.
(2) Employees who earn twenty (20) to twenty-six (26) days annual leave per year have the following options:
(a) One (1) selection during the choice vacation period of fifteen (15) continuous work days, or
(b) Two (2) selections in units of five (5) or ten (10) continuous work days the total not exceed 15 working days.
B. After the roster has been circulated one time by seniority among all career employees in the section for their choice leave selections, the roster will continue to be circulated a second time in order of seniority for remaining choice selections. Employees will initial for each choice selection of a unit of five (5) working days.
ITEM 8. Whether jury duty and attendance at National or State Conventions shall be charged to the choice vacation period.
A. Jury duty and attendance at National or State Conventions will not be considered a choice in the choice vacation period.
B. When an employee is scheduled for annual leave prior to learning of the date(s) for jury duty and/or convention, he/she shall be allowed to make a different selection from available dates.
ITEM 9. Determination of the maximum number of employees who shall receive leave each week during the choice vacation period
A. 14% of the employees in each section will be allowed annual leave during choice leave selection, except in an installation with fewer than four employees, then one will be allowed leave during the choice leave selections. When 14% factor is applied and the result is fractional, the fraction will be rounded up if .5 or above, dropped if below .5.
ITEM 10. The issuance of official notices to each employee of the vacation schedule approved for such employee.
After leave rosters have been completely circulated for choice selections, the appropriate supervisor will sign, date, and put the roster on the bulletin board in the unit as the official notice to each employee of their approved choice vacation schedule.
ITEM 11. Determination of the date and means of notifying employees of the beginning of the new leave year
Article 10, Section 4.A., of the 2006-2010 National Agreement will apply to all crafts.
ITEM 12. THE PROCEDURES FOR SUBMISSIONS OF APPLICATIONS
FOR ANNUAL LEAVE DURING OTHER THAN THE CHOICE
VACATION PERIOD
(Previous language deleted)
A. Employees may apply for incidental annual leave by submitting hand-to-hand a completed Form 3971 to their immediate supervisor with the date and time received in hand by the supervisor on the form.
B. Unscheduled annual leave in increments of weeks or days (leave which
was not requested during the choice vacation planning period) shall be
granted up to the leave capacity used for vacation planning purposes.
Approval will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
C. This annual leave may not be applied for more than sixty (60) days in
advance of the day or days requested, nor later than the day before the
posting of the schedule of the week that requested leave falls in. The
employee will submit his/her Form 3971 to their immediate supervisor on duty, who will sign, date, and insert time of receipt on the Form 3971. The requested leave will be approved or disapproved within 7 calendar days of receipt of the leave request. Should management fail to notify the employee(s) within the proper timeframe, the leave will be considered approved.
D. Annual leave requests made during an employee's regular tour of duty for the same service day will be approved or disapproved within 2 hours at the supervisor's discretion.
E. After the leave roster has been circulated in accordance with item 7,
employees with a forfeitable leave balance will be permitted to schedule all such excess leave in increments of one full week. These selections shall be made within 30 days after the posting of the leave roster. Selections will be made on the leave roster from available dates and circulation will be by seniority.
F. Any remaining employees who earn 4 or more weeks of annual leave
shall be permitted to sign the leave roster in any remaining available dates in increments of one full week. Selections shall be by seniority within 30 days after the leave roster has been posted, where reasonably possible. These selections will be made in red ink to indicate scheduled incidental leave selections.
ITEM 13. The method of selecting employees to work a holiday
A. The following procedure will be followed in selecting employees to work on a designated holiday:
1. Part-Time Flexible
2. All designated holiday volunteers
3. All non-scheduled regular volunteers
4. All casual employees
5. All remaining nonscheduled regulars by inverse seniority
6. Any remaining designated holiday regulars by inverse seniority
(Previous language deleted)
B. Holiday volunteer lists shall be posted two weeks prior to the actual holiday on each tour. These lists shall be removed no later than the Monday preceding the posting of the work schedule.
ITEM 14. Whether ‘Overtime Desired’ lists in Article 8 should be by section and/or tour.
A. Overtime Desired Lists shall be established by section and/or tour as defined below:
Administrative Clerks – On individual overtime desired lists by section.
Tour 1 – All employees will be on the same overtime desired list, with overtime opportunities assigned by skills and availability in accordance with Article 8 Section 5.C.
Tour 2 - All employees will be on the same overtime desired list, with overtime opportunities assigned by skills and availability in accordance with Article 8 Section 5.C.
Tour 3 - All employees will be on the same overtime desired list, with overtime opportunities assigned by skills and availability in accordance with Article 8 Section 5.C.
B. Employees shall normally be given one-hour advance notice when overtime is scheduled but may receive less notice when unusual conditions are found to exist. Employees will be allowed to make telephonically necessary arrangements when remaining past the end of tour for overtime work. Except where an emergency exists, less than one hours notice will excuse the employee from working overtime. An emergency is defined in Article 3 F of the National Agreement. This provision applies only to end of tour overtime.
Relief from overtime will be in accordance with Article 8.5 (E).
C. Overtime desired lists shall be posted as follows: (1) BT/ET with 10/12 selections and (2) a list for N/S days. Overtime will be assigned according to availability and qualifications needed at the time, per the National Agreement Article 8. The overtime desired lists shall reflect, where applicable, scheme assignments for those employees currently assigned a scheme.
D. Any Work beyond 8 hours in a day will be offered to employees on the OTDL prior to assigning such work to other employees.
ITEM 15. THE NUMBER OF LIGHT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS WITHIN EACH CRAFT OR OCCUPATIONAL GROUP TO BE RESERVED FOR TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT LIGHT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS
There shall be a minimum of 2% of light duty assignments on each tour. Upon request of light duty from an employee, the light duty committee shall meet within two (2) working days (Excluding Saturday and Sunday) to discuss the individual’s case. Final decision is contingent upon concurrence with the committee and plant manager. Any adverse decision shall be subject to the grievance procedure per Article 15. (See item 17 for further details on assignment(s).) The light duty committee shall consist of an MDO/SDO on each tour and the appropriate APWU Craft Director or their designee.
ITEM 16. The method to be used in reserving light duty assignments so that no regularly assigned member of the regular work force will be adversely affected.
A. A temporarily ill or injured employee will be given an assignment in his own craft that he can effectively perform. If this is not possible, management will consult with the gaining craft steward prior to assignment.
B. Any cross craft assignment to the clerk craft will not be made to the detriment of the clerk employees. No clerical schedules will be changed to accommodate a light duty assignment from another craft. Prior to any cross craft assignment, management will provide written notice to the Local APWU President.
ITEM 17. The identification of assignments that are to be considered light duty within each craft represented in the office.
There shall be a minimum of 2% of light duty assignments on each tour within each craft and/or occupational group. The following areas shall be considered for light duty assignments: (1) Nixie; (2) Rewrap; (3) Prep mail for automation; (4) Express mail; (5) Security Booth; (6) Assistant to Safety coordinator; (7) Manual Letter/Flat Distribution. The light duty committee shall not be limited to these areas for consideration; however, this gives a broad range of areas for which to assign employees.
Each request for light duty will be considered on its merits in accordance with pertinent provisions of the National Agreements. Maximum effort must be made to assign an employee who is recovering from an illness or injury to duties which he/she can perform with due consideration given to the nature of the illness or injury and the availability of such duties. A doctor’s certificate specifying the limitations on the duties an employee may perform must be one of the guidelines in placing the employee in a light duty assignment.
ITEM 18. The identification of assignments comprising a section, when it is proposed to reassign within an installation employees excess to the needs of a section.
Tour 1 Mail Processing Clerks; Azalea Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, MPO Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, South Tyler Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, Longview MPO Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, Longview NW Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, Non scheme/manual
Mail Processing Clerks, Automation
General Expediters
FSM Operators/Scheme (by station)
FSM Operators/Non scheme
Tour 2 Mail Processing Clerks, Azalea Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, MPO Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, South Tyler Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, Longview MPO Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, Longview NW Scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, Non scheme/manual
Mail Processing Clerks, Automation
General Expediters
FSM Operators/Scheme (by station)
FSM Operators/Non scheme
Tour 3 Mail Processing Clerks, Non scheme
Mail Processing Clerks, Automation
General Expediters
FSM Operators/Non scheme
All other clerks are in the Administrative Function:
Clerk Steno
General Clerk
Training Technician
Contract Technician
Data Collection Technician
TACS Clerk
ITEM 19. The assignment of employee parking places
Parking shall be on a first-come, first-served basis, except for reserved spaces for handicapped employees. No postal vehicles will be parked in the employee parking area. All employees shall park his/her car in designated parking spaces – one car, one space!! The employee parking area begins at the entry door on the south end of the building and includes all thereafter.
ITEM 20. The determination as to whether annual leave to attend Union activities requested prior to determination of the choice vacation schedule is to be part of the total choice vacation plan.
Annual leave requests to attend Union activities in addition to the provisions in Item 8 will not be charged against an employee’s choice vacation leave.
ITEM 21. The other items which are subject to local negotiations as provided in the craft provisions of this agreement.
Clerk Craft - Article 37
Section 2.C. - An updated seniority list will be issued quarterly to the Union.
Section 3.A.4 - The following changes will cause a duty assignment to be reposted:
1. More than two (2) hours change in key position work assignment.
2. If one scheme is added or removed.
3. Any change in work assignment location.
4. If a required skill is added to or removed from a bid by a local decision.
5. When it is necessary to change the reporting time of a duty assignment one (1) hour or less, the incumbent shall have the option of accepting the new reporting time. If he/she does not accept the new time, the assignment will be reposted (in accordance with Article 37, Section 3.A.4.d.). If more than one hour, the duty assignment shall be reposted.
Section 3.A.7. Best qualified positions shall be awarded within 21 days from the date of the close of the posting. The successful bidder must be placed in the duty assignment within 28 days after the successful bidder notice is posted, except in the month of December.
Section 3.A.9a When an occupied Clerk Craft position is upgraded on the basis of the present duties:
(1) The incumbent will remain in the upgraded job provided the employee has been in that job for more than one year.
(2) The job will be reposted for bid or application in accordance with the Agreement if the incumbent has not been in the job for more than one year. (the same process is applied for Section 3.1.9.b as well)
Section 3.F.2 - In accordance with the National Agreement.
Section 3.F.3.a Normally, the employee will begin the required training within 10 days after the posting of the senior bidder, excluding December. An employee who has scheduled leave of a week or longer (four (4) days during a holiday week) within the first twenty-eight (28) days, may at their option, begin training upon return from the scheduled leave. The employee should put their request in writing and be placed in his/her training folder.
ITEM 22. Local implementation of this agreement relating to seniority, reassignments and posting
A. Computerized and/or telephonic bidding will be mandatory for all employees to use to bid on assignments. All vacant positions will be posted for bid in any unit(s), when an employee in the unit(s) is eligible to bid on the vacant position(s). A copy of the job posting will be placed at each unit(s) where bidding is to take place. Management will provide a telephone for employees to use for telephone bidding, preferably in the computer bidding area.
B. DEVELOPMENTAL DETAIL
The following is the procedure which will be followed when an opportunity arises for a temporary Clerk Craft detail in excess of 30 days. This applies to craft to craft details.
1. The position will be posted for bid as a best qualified or senior qualified in accordance with Article 37 and Handbook P-1.
2. The posted position will have a beginning and ending date.
3. The Local President of the APWU will be given advanced notice of any detail posting stating the position by title, grade, craft, level, duties, and length of detail.
4. The parties agree to make the necessary revisions, deletions, or additions as necessary to provide orderly implementation and insure service efficiency and success of the program.