Do You Know What’s In Your Personnel File?
Have you checked your personnel file lately? Some carriers have probably never seen their file. I would recommend that everyone check their file at least once a year for mistakes and for discipline that should have been removed. The Postal Service, in compliance with OPM has gotten rid of the paper versions of the OPF (Official Personnel File), the files are all digital now and you can view your file from your home computer. Go to the eOPF website athttps://eopf.usps.gov/eOPF/jsp/essLogin.jsp
Once there, you will need your EIN (Employee Identification Number), this is the number on your pay stub, and your USPS PIN number (the same one you use for PostalEASE). If you forget you PIN, call 1-877-477-3273 and follow the prompts to have a new PIN mailed to you. Once you log in you can view and print anything in your file. If you find something that shouldn’t be there, contact your Shop Steward.
Postal Manager Demoted Over Violation of NALC Contract
Here are some excerpts from an MSPB decision out of Atlanta, GA:The appellant served as the EAS-20 Manager, Customer Services, at the Glenridge Post Office in Atlanta, Georgia. On April 26, 2007, Charles Gracek, Manager, Customer Service Operations, Atlanta, Georgia Post Office, proposed to reduce her in grade and pay to the EAS-17 position of Supervisor, Customer Services, based on a charge of failure to perform her duties in an effective manner. Gracek specified as follows:
The appellant failed to provide information to the NALC union steward or to schedule “Formal A meetings” in the grievance process, which caused the steward to forward the grievances without management documentation and responses. The appellant’s failure to support management’s position at the Formal A step resulted in the “Step B Team” rendering decisions and awards totaling nearly $28,000 in the union’s favor. The appellant’s error cast doubt on her ability to manage her unit in a satisfactory and effective manner, and her inability to delegate duties to her supervisors and to timely complete tasks resulted in substantial financial liability for her unit.
On December 20, 2007, Kevin Helmer, Postmaster, Atlanta, Georgia, issued a revised letter of decision sustaining the proposal and reducing the appellant in grade and pay for failing to perform her duties in a satisfactory manner. He informed her that she would be reassigned to the position of EAS-17 Supervisor, Customer Services, Martech Station, Atlanta, Georgia, effective December 22, 2007. The appellant filed an appeal with the Board’s Atlanta Regional Office.
MSPB ruled that “The penalty was within the bounds of reasonableness.”
Hopefully, management here in the South Jersey district will take note of this decision and start complying with the National Agreement.
Overtime Again
Due to all of the questions and phone calls I receive about forced overtime and pivoting, I felt the need to do another article on overtime. Given the complexity of Article 8, please understand that this is only a simple summary, borrowed in part with much thanks from Branch 576, Phoenix, AZ.Non-ODL: Full-time employees who have NOT signed up for any overtime.
Work Assignment (WA): Full-time employees who only want overtime on their OWN route. In case of Carrier Technicians (T-6), this includes existing overtime on any routes on their string. However, when both the regular and the T-6 are WA, the regular has priority before the T-6. If the regular is ODL, then the T-6 has priority.
Overtime Desired List (ODL): There are two types; 10 and 12-hour list employees. (The 10-hour list is a “preference” and they do not become non-ODL after 10 hours, rather, management should use the 12-hour employees before using the 10-hour employees into penalty.) The ODL carriers should first and foremost be assigned overtime (with exception of WA carriers) before forcing non-ODL.
Regarding Article 8.5.C.2.d, the JCAM states; prior to using non-ODL for overtime on a regularly scheduled day, management must seek to use auxiliary assistance (pg 8-14). Auxiliary assistance includes PTFs, TEs and ODL at the straight time or regular overtime rate. Once auxiliary assistance is utilized up to penalty, management can then require non-ODL to work overtime on “their” route on a “regularly scheduled day”.
However, “Before requiring a non-ODL carrier to work overtime on a non-scheduled day or off his/her assignment, management must seek to use a carrier from the ODL, even if the ODL carrier would be working penalty overtime.” (JCAM pg 8-14)
“For purposes of overtime on a non-scheduled day or on other than their own assignment, carriers on the Work Assignment list are treated exactly the same as any other full time carrier not on the overtime desired list” (JCAM pg 8-19) This means management must seek to use ODL even if at penalty overtime prior to using a WA off-assignment or on a non-scheduled day.
What about volunteers? Article 8.5.D says a non-ODL carrier may volunteer to work overtime, however, volunteering may not relieve management of its obligation to first use available ODL at the penalty rate prior to seeking volunteers.
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School's Open |
OPM Approves Early Out For Letter Carriers
As we went to press, word came out the Office of Personnel Management has informed the Postal Service that it may offer voluntary early retirement to members of the city letter carrier craft. NALC President William H. Young said details of an early retirement agreement are being worked out and will be released once finalized.
FERS Minimum Retirement Age
Many of our FERS carriers are confused about when they are eligible to retire, so here are the minimum retirement ages for FERS employees:| Year of Birth | Your Minimum Retirement Age Is |
| Before 1948 | 55 Years |
| 1948 | 55 Years 2 months |
| 1949 | 55 Years 4 months |
| 1950 | 55 Years 6 months |
| 1951 | 55 Years 8 months |
| 1952 | 55 Years 10 months |
| 1953-1964 | 56 Years |
| 1965 | 56 Years 2 months |
| 1966 | 56 Years 4 months |
| 1967 | 56 Years 6 months |
| 1968 | 56 Years 9 months |
| 1969 | 56 Years 10 months |
| 1970 and later | 57 Years |
