NPMHU Appeals USPS Craft Determination of Small Delivery Unit Sorter (SDUS) and Single Induction Parcel Sorter (SIPS)

  NPMHU Appeals USPS Craft Determination of Small Delivery Unit Sorter (SDUS) and Single Induction Parcel Sorter (SIPS)

Please find linked, copies of two separate appeals recently filed by the NPMHU to challenge the Postal Service’s November 14, 2022 determination of craft jurisdiction for employees operating the Small Delivery Unit Sorter (ADUS) and Single Induction Parcel Sorter (SIPS). These machines have been deployed in facilities throughout the country and are continuing to be installed. [PDF]

As set forth in its November 14, 2022 letter, the Postal Service determined that jurisdictional assignments on the SDUS working at the machine, including singulating/separating and facing/feeding packages and sweeping the mail should be given to the Clerk Craft. In that same letter, the Postal Service claims that the SDUS will only be used in Function 4 operations. The NPMHU is disputing this determination, and also questioning the lack of assignment in Function 1 operations.

In that same letter of November 14, 2022, the Postal Service also determined that jurisdictional assignments on the SIPS should be divided somewhat differently between the Mail Handler Craft and the Clerk Craft. The Postal Service has stated that the SIPS will only be used in Function 1 operations. Mail Handlers have been assigned in Function 1 operations to the retrieval and staging of packages and equipment, and to the sweeping of packages (removal of full containers and replacement with empty containers), including “sort plan switch out,” and to the transportation of full containers to dispatch.

These jurisdictional determinations present several questions and concerns for which the NPMHU seeks clarification, and discussions will be continuing for at least 60 days before the National Dispute Resolution Committee and, if necessary, in National arbitration. Should you have any questions about these appeals or implementation of the SDUS and SIPS in any particular facility, please contact the National CAD.

Reference: www.npmhu.org
 

NPMHU and USPS Reach Agreement on Pilot Program to Return Terminal Handling Services (THS) Work to the Mail Handler Craft

  NPMHU and USPS Reach Agreement on Pilot Program to Return THS Work to the Mail Handler Craft

The 2019 National Agreement includes a MOU on subcontracting, part of which states the following: “Under the 2019 National Agreement, the parties commit to re-establishing their Subcontracting Committee and continuing their discussions about the possibility of returning mail handler work from the Surface Transportation Centers (STC), Mail Transport Equipment Service Centers (MTESC) and the bedloading project. The Committee will consider all relevant factors when discussing the issue outlined above, to include cost, operational efficiency, availability of equipment, and qualification of employees. In addition, any MHA employees utilized as referenced in paragraph 1 will not count against existing non-career caps.”

Based on this MOU, the parties at the National level have been engaged in ongoing discussions about these subjects as well as other subcontracted work. Most recently, discussions have been focused on the Terminal Handling Services which has been subcontracted in most locations since 2001.

We are pleased to announce that the National parties have reached their first agreement on insourcing or returning some of the terminal handling service work to the mail handler craft starting with a one-year pilot program in certain postal facilities. The first installation where the THS work will be returned to postal operations at the West Valley P&DC in Phoenix, AZ. The details of this pilot program is outlined on the attached Memorandum of Understanding.

Although much of the information obtained and being discussed by the NPMHU is subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, should you have any questions on these matters, please do not hesitate to contact the National CAD.

Terminal Handling Services Staffing Pilot – July 13, 2022 (pdf)

Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317 | Alabama