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Ask the President Question: Why can’t the APWU negotiate a national agreement on the Code of Conduct of Managers and their abuse of power against APWU members? I work in the Palatine P&DC. In this facility a manager feels he can yell, demean, swear, and treat employees like they are dirt. This appears to be condoned by higher-level managers. Name Withheld, Northwest Illinois Area Local President Burrus: Thank you for communicating with my office via Ask the President. You ask why the union has not been successful in negotiating a Code of Conduct for managers. In fact, however, USPS policy requires managers to treat employees with dignity and respect. Section 673.31 of the Employee & Labor Relations Manual (ELM) stipulates that, “All employees are expected to treat each coworker with dignity and respect.” Furthermore, Postal Bulletins and management statements about violence in the workplace repeatedly emphasize that all employees must be treated with dignity and respect and that managers should strive to improve workplace relationships. The requirement that managers treat employees with dignity and respect is enforceable through the grievance procedure. I suggest that you document each occasion that a supervisor or manager is aggressive towards employees and present your documentation in the form of a grievance, requesting that the behavior be discontinued. You will need dates and witnesses. If a record of disrespect by a supervisor has been established but management refuses to take appropriate corrective action, the local should consider going beyond the grievance procedure to address the problem. Media campaigns and informational pickets may be appropriate in such circumstances. The union is much more than the institution you turn to when you have a problem. We negotiate the contract that provides you with good wages, benefits, and conditions of employment. In fact, the only difference between a career employee and a casual is the union contract. Thank you for your membership. I hope we can count on you to help us become a better, stronger organization. June 2, 2008 |
