In a September 19, 2011 OIG audit report “management at Postal Service plants were concerned that work rules inhibit their ability to manage effectively. 259 processing and distribution center (P&DC) managers were contacted using a web survey and 152 (59 percent) responded. Of those responses, 118 (78 percent) indicated they “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” that contract provisions limit their ability to manage the workforce effectively. Furthermore, 111 (72 percent) cited the restriction on assigning employees across crafts as the one provision posing the biggest challenge to workforce flexibility. 52 of 67 managers who selected overtime as limiting strongly agreed that converting full-time shifts to part-time would make it easier to manage more effectively.”
The OIG further determined from the same report that from FY 2007 through August FY 2010, the Postal Service spent approximately $29 million in APWU and NPMHU grievance costs directly related to these contract provisions. Those stipulations are probably the result of our union dues and representation at work. The USPS signed the same agreement with the Unions in regards to Collective Bargaining Agreements and when they violate the contract they should pay.
People who choose to not pay union dues are known as freeloaders, free riders, or scabs. Whatever the appropriate adjective they are also equal beneficiaries of grievance payouts because a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) law requires unions to represent all bargaining unit workers regardless of their membership. That rule on the street is known to the non-member as the “duty of fair representation” and to the union member it is “representation without taxation.” It means that non-members get the same wages and benefits as those of us who choose to disburse a few dollars from our hard earned money as symbolic for a future return on investment.
Everybody wants the benefits of pension, health care plans, safety, equal opportunity, organizational policies, higher pay, regular hours, breaks, choice vacations, voting rights, and trained representatives in times of conflict. The Postal Service is a better workplace because of the unionized force that paid their dues long before many of us. How many associates could care less and won’t pay a red cent? Why should any labor force work on behalf of scroungers?
Free-riders weaken union solidarity and impair our financial means to speak for the masses. With fewer members we minimize potential benefits, impede our economical muscle, and eventually we deteriorate from the weight of the moochers hopping the turnstile and riding this subway system for free. Before long we won’t have enough money to operate, and no one to stand up for us because our shortened arms can’t reach into our deep pockets. And by seniority we will be tossed out on the street.
The laws should require everyone who benefits from union representation to share in the cost of union membership just like the membership costs associated with shopping at buy in bulk warehouses, country club memberships, and home ownership associations that all charge a fee for incidentals, and safeguarding. Without our fair share of taxes the city can’t repair the roads and the fire department can’t respond to the blaze.
Maybe we should adapt the “Rand Formula” where dues are mandatory regardless of a worker’s union status. “Designed to ensure that no employee will opt out of the union simply to avoid dues yet reap the benefit of the union’s accomplishments.” Additionally if a person were to claim religious objections to paying dues then their dues could be contributed through the combined federal campaign to a jointly agreed upon charitable trust.
Hear ye, hear ye, divide and conqueror are counting on us to keep those fraternal conflicts stewing. You have the power to vacate ridiculous excuses for not being a card carrying constituent. Since it’s your Union too, please pay your fair share fees!
Ronald Williams, Jr.
PEN: The opinion expressed here are those of the writer and may or may not be shared by PEN and/or other readers.
Sometimes you have to get out of the union, for awhile, simply to teach the union boys at the top a lesson. If they see membership dropping at a specific plant or in general they’ll get the message that the ranks aren’t happy or something isn’t being done right at specific plants. You don’t get my money for free. No free rides.
Reps will plea-bargain punishments even if the employee is completely right. Reps rarely give out information or updates and when they do it’s usually speculation. My reps only care about their overtime and their precious up-front parking spot.
A union member can complain all they want and it will accomplish zero. Talking to reps, emails, etc. You’re just another joe to the union execs.The only way you can get their attention is to hurt them where it hurts the most. The pocketbook. Then you and anyone who gets out with you have their complete attention.
Managers complain about grievances on a contract that the USPS negotiated?So what?If they need personnel perhaps they could take the driftwood that inhabit the social/rec office,diversity compliance office,the msp scans compliance office,the useless “modernized”CFS office,the eternal route inspections office…..et al. and put them on the floor or street. It all comes down to the fact that everyone lies!
I would not like to have to argue that management is making an effort to improve its
management practices.
I wish it were.
Sirs, the OIG report is very mis-leading as the ability for inside clerks to turn around and walk the 8 miles or so per day at the pace required is virtually impossible to do without doing it regularly. Also, the idea of converting more full time jobs to part time is absurd and counterproductive to the idea of consistent delivery. How many people are going to work at a job when they never know when they are scheduled for work from one day to the next? Have these managers ever heard of daycare? What kind of government relys on come and go part time workers?
One of the hidden issues the Post Office has been contending with is the EEO mandated proliferation of incompetent “diversity” managers. A business cannot survive efficiently giving away jobs because this group or that group is said to be underrepresented. I a person on any race is not qualified they should not get the job, it’s as simple as that. America became great by the thriving of compatition, not social engineering.
The Post Office. like many other civil service jobs has been forced by extreme liberalism, to “give away” jobs to different ehtnic groups, qualified or not. Many of these people were not capable of “catching up” as the liberals called learning the job while doing and are the primary cause of the terrible work environment the Post Office still experiences today.
Inside the Post Office the rule of thumb for promotion is to see which ehtnic group got the last promotion and then automatically give what ever the job is, no matter how technical, skilled, or demanding, to the next group in the rotation.
This system is a disgrace and is the business version of welfare.