TIME TO STAND UP, By NBA: Chuck Locke

By National Business Agent: “Chuck Locke“

TIME TO STAND UP

Time to Stand Up It’s no longer enough just to pay your dues and allow others to fight the battles for you.

We are in challenging times and your Union needs you to participate! Don’t be afraid to write a statement when you see something that violates the Collective Bargaining Agreement in your office. Come to a local union meeting and get to know your local officers. Go to a local protest in your area. We need to fight to protect our jobs and save the Postal Service for the public as well. The Postal Service is a national treasure that has been around for more than 250 years but the current administration hates voting by mail and they are willing to destroy this national treasure for their own personal gain. We need to fight back and get the public on our side. I know there is a lot going on in our country right now and it’s easy to become complacent and just want to ignore it all but we can’t! That is what they want us to do. Mid-term elections will be here soon and this is our opportunity to turn this country around. It is important to make sure you are registered to vote, make sure all of your family are registered to vote, all of your friends and neighbors are registered to vote and that they all VOTE! If we don’t take back the house and the senate in the upcoming midterm elections, I am afraid that the postal service as we know it will not be around with 3 more years of Trumps unchecked outrageous policies. It’s up to us to stand up, resist and fight back to save our jobs, the postal service and our democracy.

The postal service is cracking down on attendance in an attempt to reduce their employee roles. Automation is also reducing the need for employees and that will continue to occur as automation is getting better and more efficient. If you can qualify for Family Medical Leave, I would encourage you to get the paperwork in now. FMLA will cover you, your child (if 18 or under), your spouse or your parents if they have a serious health issue. FMLA absences cannot be utilized against you in discipline. So, get yourselves covered and protected. If you don’t have FMLA, get to work or you’re going to be disciplined. When you are called in for an investigative interview and asked why you missed a day of work 2 months ago, don’t just say I must have been sick. If you don’t remember because it was a long time ago, say so or tell management that you will have to check your records. Also don’t simply say you are aware of all the handbooks and manuals management cites at your investigative interview. Most of you have never heard of these manuals let alone know the meanings of them. So just tell management that you are not aware of that manual or section of that manual. Management has to prove you were aware of the policy before they can discipline you for violating that policy. I have seen a lot of discipline for employees being outside in the parking lot, going for coffee or going to get lunch while on the clock. That badge you wear to get into your facility tracks you wherever you go. It’s like having an ancle bracelet if you are on probation. This is a major violation and could lead to you being removed from the postal service. You are stealing time which is no different than stealing mail or money. Stay inside the building once you begin tour. Don’t go move your car or take breaks in your car. That will eliminate this being an issue for you.

The postal service has a major issue with supervisor harassment and not correcting hostile working environments. Every employee has the right to work in an environment free of harassment. Management issued a Joint Statement on Violence and Behavior in the Workplace in which they affirm, “ that every employee at every level of the Postal Service should be treated at all times with dignity, respect and fairness. Those who do not treat others with dignity and respect will not be rewarded or promoted. Those whose unacceptable behavior continues will be removed from their positions.” Only if management would live up to this commitment. It seems to be just the opposite and upper management support the supervisors who violate this policy now. We need to stand together as employees and hold management accountable. Write statements when management yells at you, harasses and abuses you and/or your coworkers. We all need to stand together and let management know we are not going to take it anymore! Fill out a PS 1767 when your environment is hostile. These forms are tracked and once you report it, management is required to investigate. This investigation must be completed by a higher-level supervisor or manager who has the authority to launch the inquiry. The IMIP ( Initial Management Inquiry Process) will not replace a harassment investigation conducted by Human Relations. The IMIP requires management to promptly react to complaints associated with harassment, and mandates that management properly address the problem. Once the complaint is received by management, they must separately and thoroughly interview the harassed worker, the harassers and all witnesses. This process must be acted upon promptly. Publication 552 also states the postal service must also conduct an IMIP without delay and they must follow the rules and procedures to ensure that a legitimate investigation is carried out. When they don’t follow up and do an investigation as they are required, see your steward and file a grievance. If we support each other and stand up together, we can change the workplace environment. Smile and File!

In Solidarity,

Chuck Locke, NBA San Francisco Region