Haygrrl
Well-known member
What?
Steward misbehavior
- Thread starter coleen
- Start date
Employees are to request time to speak to a steward on the workroom floor. Local stewards may have the time spent in union time reimbursed through a similar system to vehicle wait time. The time must be logged and recorded for compensation.
This isn't new. It's been that way since usps had the obligation to fund local steward time.
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EthelAnne
Well-known member
Article 17 of the contract covers this and yes, what you describe is (mostly) correct. Carriers are supposed to request to speak with steward and local stewards accumulate “Z” time for their work on grievances.
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TheMailman302
Well-known member
Art 17 covers pay, yes, but other stewards have requested the time from mgmt, not the carrier themselves. It just seemed like a way to make a carrier not file. Intimidation almost. Not for me, just the weaker ones.
EthelAnne
Well-known member
After re-reading this thread, I’d like to add more to my response above regarding whether or not a NRLCA District Representative would tell a carrier they could walk out of a PDI:
I’m thinking a DR might have said something like “You can do whatever you want, go ahead and get up and walk out of the PDI, but you can be disciplined for that.” And the OP conveniently didn’t hear that last bit.
It’s kind of like the response stewards generally give when asked, “Can I grieve <whatever >?” and the response is, “Yes, you can grieve the sky being blue or the grass green. Doesn’t mean you will prevail in that grievance.” Or “Do I have to follow a direct order?” and the response is “You don’t have to do anything but understand that you could face discipline for failing to follow.”
I’m reminded once again in reading OP’s comments that what a steward says, what a carrier hears, and what the carrier thinks the steward said are very often three different things.
Lastly, working off the clock, which theoretically seems to be a very black and white issue, has shades of gray in reality. While a clear violation of the evaluated compensation system, USPS policy, and labor law, it’s a grievance that local stewards are reluctant to file, due to the appearance of “snitching “ on a carrier and getting them in trouble, which seems to go against the steward’s (and the union’s) reason for existing.
I’m thinking a DR might have said something like “You can do whatever you want, go ahead and get up and walk out of the PDI, but you can be disciplined for that.” And the OP conveniently didn’t hear that last bit.
It’s kind of like the response stewards generally give when asked, “Can I grieve <whatever >?” and the response is, “Yes, you can grieve the sky being blue or the grass green. Doesn’t mean you will prevail in that grievance.” Or “Do I have to follow a direct order?” and the response is “You don’t have to do anything but understand that you could face discipline for failing to follow.”
I’m reminded once again in reading OP’s comments that what a steward says, what a carrier hears, and what the carrier thinks the steward said are very often three different things.
Lastly, working off the clock, which theoretically seems to be a very black and white issue, has shades of gray in reality. While a clear violation of the evaluated compensation system, USPS policy, and labor law, it’s a grievance that local stewards are reluctant to file, due to the appearance of “snitching “ on a carrier and getting them in trouble, which seems to go against the steward’s (and the union’s) reason for existing.
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EthelAnne
Well-known member
Yep, and there are managers who use it that way (to intimidate).Art 17 covers pay, yes, but other stewards have requested the time from mgmt, not the carrier themselves. It just seemed like a way to make a carrier not file. Intimidation almost. Not for me, just the weaker ones.
It could also be the case in your office that carriers were disrupting the steward’s work with questions, etc. Most local stewards do that work (answering questions, giving advice, providing training) for free, but it may have become so disruptive to the steward’s work as a carrier in the office that the steward requested management remind carriers of the procedure.
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It may be the local mgmt is refusing to compensate time without prior approval of discussion. Which they have a right to do. Just ask for the time like the contract warrants. It's not intimidation it's proper procedure.Art 17 covers pay, yes, but other stewards have requested the time from mgmt, not the carrier themselves. It just seemed like a way to make a carrier not file. Intimidation almost. Not for me, just the weaker ones.
Otherwise, your Steward would be working for free.
TheMailman302
Well-known member
Steward herself established at "5 min" limit on questions without involving mgmt. I utilized this today, and got yelled at by Steward, and told "GO ASK MANAGEMENT ". 204Bs aren't allowed to work routes or touch mail unless it's an emergency and all other avenues have been worked, right??
Your Steward is correct to ask mgmt. There isn't a possible grievance until mgmt gives an order or takes action. Seriously, just ask mgmt for a few minutes to speak to your Steward and the issue is null. Stewards, especially locals, are required to track their time in union status. If they don't, mgmt refuses to allow compensation for any Steward time. And they can try to discipline that Steward for not obeying working rules. Stewards are like psychics - you have to make an appointment and pay to ask questions. In this case, mgmt is providing the payment for your questions and, as such, have the right to schedule time and place of discussion.
I know many carriers think of their stewards at their beck and call but, time must be requested of mgmt to speak to a Steward on the workroom floor. Remember, they have a route and life to get back to also.
The answer to your question is yes. Mgmt should take every avenue to find a rural employee to cover a route. Anyone serving in the 204b position or PM is mgmt that day. Unlike nalc, there is no provision to split status of carrier and mgmt in a day for rurals.
If available substitutes can be found, they should be provided the work.
I know many carriers think of their stewards at their beck and call but, time must be requested of mgmt to speak to a Steward on the workroom floor. Remember, they have a route and life to get back to also.
The answer to your question is yes. Mgmt should take every avenue to find a rural employee to cover a route. Anyone serving in the 204b position or PM is mgmt that day. Unlike nalc, there is no provision to split status of carrier and mgmt in a day for rurals.
If available substitutes can be found, they should be provided the work.
If you have a 204b on assignment just ask steward after getting the ok from management to talk to them. How long that 204b has been on assignment. If over the time limit grieve it and force management to hire them or put them back on route.
If 204b is only sporadically working as management, and that’s a game they like to play a lot. Nothing can be done as stupid as it is. It never hurts to have Union investigate it either way. Many may onky work a cpl days a week as 204b but are I fact assigned as 204b. Which does start the clock for how long before they have to be on route for xxx amount of days.
Shannonboy
Well-known member
WWWWWWHHHHAAATTTTTTT!!!!???
She mails rural
Well-known member
No one should work off the clock, I mean really why would you want to give them anything js...but the steward isn't helping the entire office if your being thrown under the bus. That's ridiculous so I'd watch and keep watching because I'm sure their are others doing the same thing and that's fine as long as they are treated the same way just like you was. It's rare but I always ask management if I can start early only if I have an appointment or event I want to ensure I can make. They have never said no. Now im covered and they are too. You know the mother may I game lol I hate that happened to you but I guess they needed someone to make the example out of. I would just make sure what's good for one is good for all and move forward.
EthelAnne
Well-known member
Ok, I have to ask: I assume you are a regular carrier, do you want the work on the other route? There is a current MOU allowing regular carriers to perform work on other routes at the OT rate. I would file a grievance to get paid my OT rate for that work the 204b did. Here’s a link to a grievance form: http://www.nrlca.org/UserFiles/File/steward/references/Forms/USPS Forms/PS8191-USPS-NRLCA Joint Step 1 Grievance Form (March, 2007).pdf
And, you know, I would let management know how eager you are to work on other routes so in the future they’ll know to come to you.
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TheMailman302
Well-known member
Lol, God no! I only do MY rt. I'm just thinking of the sub that missed out on time. We have subs only getting one day a week that would gladly come in and help. I know, I know, it's up to them to file, but we have a new steward, and she's not really too hungry to hold managements feet to the fire on following the contract. Whatever, my paycheck is still the same.
If you want some extra $$$, you could file under, " did mgmt fail to offer rural work to all rurals prior to violating the working rules and performing the work themselves?"
I mean, technically, you were available. You may have offered if they asked. But, they failed to offer the work. That is all that is required for payment.
If rcas see you get paid, if may encourage them to start filing to be paid for not working. Just mention as long as usps is j u st leaving pot's of cash around like a Pac-Man game - someone is going to gobble those suckers up.
EthelAnne
Well-known member
Hey, if you feel you can do a better job holding management’s feet to the fire, have at it.
stillfirstclass
Well-known member
steward screwed up, he should have went straight to dr and poom, not your supervisor...
TheMailman302
Well-known member
Well, I WAS going to run, after 10 years of no steward, and I was about to, then this woman wanted to run against me, so I let her have it. Teach her a lesson. Nothing like becoming a steward out of spite without having the basic knowledge of the contract, RRECS, or any postal handbooks, AND I'm still accomplishing everything I wanted to do as a steward, just without the work and headache. So I still win.
No, local stewards must start at office level. If escalated, then a higher Steward gets involved.
