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REC Site Dispute Resolved
APWU Web News Article #02-06, Jan. 5, 2006
A long-standing dispute between the Postal Service and the APWU regarding the use of Transitional Employees to the detriment of career part-time flexible employees at Remote Encoding Centers (REC) was resolved late last year. The settlement [PDF], dated Dec. 21, 2005, requires that the USPS “cease and desist” from the practice, and awarded payment to affected PTFs not to exceed a total of $500,000.
The national union provided the USPS with names of PTFs who are eligible for payment. The amount that will be paid to individuals depends on the extent of the violations and the degree of harm to the PTFs.
The Postal Service had taken the position that Article 7 did not cover — and therefore did not protect — PTFs who work in REC sites.
“This important agreement recognizes that PTFs should have Article 7 protections at REC sites,” said APWU President William Burrus.
“Many thanks and congratulations go to the officers and stewards representing PTFs at REC sites in Pittsburgh, Akron, Beaumont (TX), Peoria (IL) and Fort Wayne (IN),” said Clerk Division Director Jim McCarthy. “The settlement could not have been reached without their diligent efforts.”
Under the agreement, USPS REC site management will immediately begin to apply Article 7.1.C.2: “Over the course of a pay period, the Employer will make a reasonable effort to ensure that qualified and available part-time flexible employees are utilized at straight-time rate prior to assigning such work to transitional employees working in the same work location on the same floor.”
The APWU national office will provide the USPS with the name and pay location of every affected PTF. Because the Postal Service has agreed to stop violating Article 7 at REC sites, the union has agreed to “withdraw any and all grievances with the same or similar issue.”
