Union Fights USPS Abuse of PSEs in Small Offices

“The Postal Service is abusing Postal Support Employees in small offices and systematically violating contractual restrictions governing PSEs, Clerk Craft Director Rob Strunk has declared. “And we intend to do something about it.

“Locals and state organizations must take note of these violations and file grievances based on the specific circumstances in their area,” he said.

A PSE Compliance Report dated March 8, 2013, demonstrates that management has assigned 1,373 Level 4 PSEs to 1,323 Level 18-and-above offices, even though the position description stipulates that Level 4 PSEs may be assigned to Level 15 and 16 Post Offices only.

“We have received reports that district managers have threatened to terminate Level 6 PSEs if they do not ‘voluntarily’ reduce to Level 4 PSEs, so they won’t show up in PSE Compliance Reports,” Strunk said. “This is shameful.

“These unscrupulous deceptions cheat the PSEs of $2.26 for every hour they work,” Strunk said.

“They also mean that the PSEs are not being counted against the number of PSEs that are allowed to work in a given district.”

The parties agree that only Level 6 PSE Window Clerks or Mail Processing Clerks may work in post offices where career clerks are employed. Nonetheless, the March 8 Complement Report shows more than 100 post offices where Level 4 PSE Post Office Clerks are employed alongside career clerks, Strunk pointed out. (The PSEs in question have a Designated Activity Code of D/A 81-8.)

PSEs in Level 18-and-above offices who are being paid at the Level 4 rate should contact their steward or state representative to file a grievance if they haven’t already done so. Local and state officers who have questions about how to process these grievances should contact their Clerk Craft National Business Agent.

The 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement also prohibits the use of Postmaster Reliefs (PMRs) in Level 15, 16 and 18 post offices, but the Complement Report shows that as of March 8, 2013, the USPS admits that 3,478 PMRs are working in these offices. “PMRs are prohibited from working in these offices,” Strunk reminds local and state officers. “Every hour that they work deprives clerks of work opportunities,” he said.

“Locals and state organization should file grievances if PMRs are working in Level 15, 16 and 18 offices, if they haven’t already done so,” he said.