Custodial Employees to Share in Long-Awaited Remedy
Union Wins $48 Million Settlement
In MS-47 Handbook Grievance

(Jan. 30, 2008) The APWU and the Postal Service finalized a $48 million payout Jan. 29 to “remedy” the USPS violation of staffing procedures for custodial employees. The settlement will be in the form of lump-sum payments of $2,700 to more than 17,000 employees occupying custodial positions. Payment will be made by April 18, 2008.

The settlement [PDF] is the culmination of a Nov. 16, 2006, arbitration victory in which Shyam Das ordered the USPS to rescind Handbook MS-47, Housekeeping Postal Facilities, issued in 2001, and to reinstate the 1983 version. The 2001 handbook had revised custodial staffing procedures.

Arbitrator Das remanded discussion of the remedy for the violation to the parties, and the $48 million settlement is the result.

“The 2006 award was the third in a series of national-level awards since 2002 that have helped us to better protect the custodial workforce,” said Maintenance Division Director Steve Raymer. “But we were frustrated in our efforts to secure an appropriate remedy for our members for the improper staffing policies that management instituted via the defunct 2001 handbook. Finally, after more than a year of intense negotiations, we have achieved our goal.”

In October 2001, the APWU filed a national-level grievance protesting the revised MS-47, which eliminated the use of staffing standards based on cleaning frequencies and implemented a staffing policy based upon budget considerations. Previously used staffing documents were replaced with budget worksheets.

“We were extremely gratified by the original arbitration award, which was critical to the job security of custodial employees,” said APWU President William Burrus. “And I commend Maintenance Craft Director Steve Raymer for aggressively pursuing this substantial remedy.” [Explanation of MS-47 Handbook Grievance Q98C-4Q-C-02013900]

Arbitration Award in 5-7-9 Case
Sets Principles for Skilled, Semi-Skilled Work

(10/04/05) After multiple hearings and a lengthy briefing period, Arbitrator Shyam Das has issued an arbitration award that establishes principles for differentiating between semi-skilled and skilled maintenance work. Although the union's grievance was sustained in part, denied in part, and remanded in part, union officers generally believe the award will benefit Maintenance Craft employees.

The award in what is known as the "5-7-9 case" is the result of the Maintenance Division’s Article 19 challenge to three Maintenance Management Orders regarding preventive maintenance that the USPS published in 2000. [read the Maintenance Division officers' analysis of the case]