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Bulk Mail Centers The APWU represents clerk, maintenance, and motor vehicles craft employees at 21 Bulk Mail Centers in metropolitan areas around the country. Listed below are the responses to questions that are often asked by APWU members who work at these facilities. 1. What types of machines are scheduled to be deployed at BMCs? The Postal Service is considering deploying Universal Sorters and Flat Sorter Sequence (FSS) machines to most BMCs by 2010. 2. Does the Postal Service plan to deploy FSS machines anytime soon? Flat Sequencing Sorters will be placed in some BMCs. A tentative deployment schedule provided by the Postal Service dated Jan. 7, 2008, shows the following:
3. What happened to USPS plans to convert BMCs to RDCs (Regional Distribution Centers)? In May 2006, the Postal Service notified the APWU of plans to convert the network of BMCs (as well as other facilities) to Regional Distribution Centers, as part of its Evolutionary Network Development plan. However, following blistering criticism of the plan by the APWU, the Postal Rate Commission and others, in August 2007 the Postal Service announced it had scrapped the RDC concept. 4. Does management plan to subcontract the core duties of BMCs? The Postal Service notified the union in January 2008 of its intent to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in an effort to subcontract some sortation and transportation of parcels, duties that are currently performed at BMCs. For background on this issue, see the following:
5. Should I bid out of the BMC based on the potential effect of planned outsourcing? Decisions about bidding and transfers are personal, but employees are advised not to react to speculation about staffing as a result of the Postal Service’s plans for the BMCs. 6. What is happening to Primary sections at BMCs? Parcel volume has been declining dramatically, due to the weak economy and competition. Most BMCs are gradually eliminating the use of Primary sections and moving employees to Secondary areas. However, there has been no appreciable change in the staffing of APWU-represented employees as a result. 7. How is Maintenance Craft staffing determined for BMCs? The staffing levels for non-custodial Maintenance Craft positions at BMCs are determined by a software program known as BMC Gold, which is different from the Work Hour Estimated Program (WHEP) that is used at plants. 8. How is custodial staffing for BMCs determined? Is it similar to the MS-47 at the plants? Staffing for all custodial positions — including those at BMCs — must be based on the 1983 version of the MS-47 Handbook. 9. How does the APWU address the special concerns of BMC employees? BMC locals are the primary resource for addressing the problems faced by BMC employees. In addition, in accordance with the APWU Constitution, locals that represent BMCs meet each year to discuss their special concerns. In convention years, they also meet on the Friday preceding the convention. The conferences are open to all APWU members who work at BMCs. If a conference is held in your area, you are welcome to attend. If you have a question about the BMCs or if you wish to file a grievance, contact your steward, craft director, or local union president. Inquiries of a general nature also can be directed to Idowu Balogun, who serves as national BMC Coordinator. Send questions via e-mail to bmc@apwu.org. Your inquiry will be forwarded to the appropriate officer and a response will be sent via e-mail. 10. If the BMCs are renamed, will that weaken the standing of BMC employees within the APWU? No. USPS decisions to rename or re-organize facilities do not affect the internal functioning of the APWU. The USPS has renamed processing plants many times with no affect on the APWU; the Postal Service has reorganized its regions and areas with no impact on its union counterparts. If the BMCs are re-named, the conferences will continue, and the APWU structure that was designed to address the special needs of BMC employees will remain intact. Revised May 23, 2008 |
ABOUT BULK MAIL CENTERS
The APWU represents clerk, maintenance, and motor vehicles craft employees at 21 Bulk Mail Centers in metropolitan areas around the country.
The BMCs are unique: They were established in 1974 to process large parcels, and the mechanized equipment required to sort the oversized packages created working conditions unlike those at other postal facilities. BMC employees faced other unusual circumstances as well: The parcel sorting operations were moved from other facilities, so a large percentage of the original BMC employees were involuntarily transferred, or excessed, into their assignments.
