Our office is going to go from using 17 machines to sort mail down to 9. Incoming mail will be sorted on 2 tours instead of one. Management wants to go from 11 ETs down to 5. We told our Maint. Manager it will take 3 ETs per running tour and at least 2 for preventative maintenance on day shift. Her response was that because the displaced ETs would have saved pay grade for 2 years, if they are ethical workers they will still do the higher level work.
Two of the ETs would become level 7 Maintenance Mechanics, the rest unkown as to their future with the P.O. My question is what is the proper procedure for downsizing? Can an ET with more seniority then an MPE bump the MPE from their position, etc?
With the contract expiring in April 2015, would the 2 years of saved pay grade continue or can that change with the new contract?
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
NY Metro
Office held, if any
Shop Steward
It was settled in Step 4 in August. Even if you are getting paid Level 10 but are NOT an ET, you can not work “up”. The ET’s you replace are entitled to that work in overtime, even if it is penalty. Also correct is the fact that Management made you a Level 7, nobody else. So why would you do the work and help management out? They should have left the ET’S alone and reverted the positions through attrition. They can always have the junior ET’S work down to Level 9 or 7.
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
CNYAL
Can an ET with more seniority then an MPE bump the MPE from their position, etc?
No, there is no bumping in the maintenance craft.
Her response was that because the displaced ETs would have saved pay grade for 2 years, if they are ethical workers they will still do the higher level work.
The saved grade is perpetual in the maintenance craft, until they refuse a return to a higher level job at the same level. Tell your dear manager that they’d be absolute idiots to continue to work as an ET while being in a lower level position, as they would be screwing the people after them who might want those ET jobs, but won’t be able to get them.
I’d also remind those who wind up being downgraded that they are no longer ETs. They are MMs, and as such are only semi-skilled employees, with no troubleshooting ability, and limited knowledge. Their new job positions limit what they are supposed to do. Work the position, not the pay rate.