Where Is My Grievance?

The NBAs deal with numerous grievances on a wide range of issues. Some are more complex than others and require more discussion and attention. We are not simply going to agree on everything with our USPS Step 3 representative so that we don’t have a backlog of grievances pending arbitration. Just like at the local level, management can just deny grievances all the way to arbitration. If that means certifying every case for arbitration because Management won’t see the language in the contract for what it is, then so be it. “Your NBAs will not sell out the membership simply to reduce the number of cases pending arbitration”

It’s a Management Problem

How about we call it what it is? It’s a management problem! Your NBAs have had numerous Labor/Management meetings at the Area and District levels and have continuously voiced their concerns over the lack of good faith bargaining by the Postal Service. The Postal Service’s blatant disregard for the CBA and signed settlements has been voiced at every meeting, but management’s violations continue.

New Approach

The National Clerk Craft Director, Lamont Brooks, has done an amazing job working with the Clerk Craft NBAs on all the current issues. We appreciate Lamont’s leadership and aggressive actions to protect our Clerk Craft work, as well as Lamont’s leadership and wisdom for holding the line on rejecting a 25-year-old ineffective policy that mirrors the desires of USPS management, which limits our ability to react to the new reality of DeJoy's tenure. We are encouraged and emboldened by the leadership of the Clerk Division and hope the old guard understands that the current reality requires a new approach and the ability to face management in a variety of ways.

If there is an issue with the grievance/arbitration process, our Clerk Crafty Director Lamont Brooks is fully capable of addressing situations as they arise. We are all united in our fight against PMG Dejoy and his efforts to dismantle our service and destroy us from within. Within our Union there have been recent deliberations regarding arbitration scheduling and assignments. The APWU constitution assigns such tasks to the National Business Agents. Talks of moving these duties to others were a throwback to how things were done over 20 years ago. We as National Business Agent would just like to recognize and acknowledge the support of President Mark Dimondstein and Clerk Craft Director Lamont Brooks in rejecting these policies and look forward to any discussion on improving both our internal processes and our dealings with the USPS.

Clerk Craft Director Lamont Brooks is doing an outstanding job supporting us in our efforts to protect our work and supporting the National Business Agents in efforts to resolve our members' grievances as expeditiously as possible.

Arbitration Date Selection

Under the JASS (Joint Arbitration Scheduling System), the NBAs and their management counterparts pick
and choose hearing dates based upon the dates the arbitrators give us. The parties have to jointly agree to schedule arbitration dates. So even when your NBAs chose 5 dates a month, management still has to agree to our selections. Management will never pick 5 APWU dates a month as they also have to schedule cases with the Letter Carriers, Mail Handler, and Rural Letter Carriers Unions. This backlog is nothing new. There was a backlog of cases pending arbitration before your NBAs started scheduling arbitrations with JASS and there will continue to be a backlog of grievances until managers are individually held accountable for their violations of our Collective Bargaining Agreement.

If you have filed a grievance and have questions or concerns, please don’t bother your Clerk Craft Director Lamont Brooks. Lamont is working hard with National Contract Negotiations starting soon and is leading the fight to protect our Clerk Craft work. Your National Business Agents are responsible for the grievance activity in accordance with the APWU National Constitution and we will be glad to answer your questions or concerns anytime.