Branch 193
                                 San Jose, California

                             

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        GRIEVANCE  ASSISTANCE  PAGE

  Use this page to help prepare your grievance accordingly from Informal Step A to Arbitration

 

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                             To help prepare your grievance properly, read the following:

              

              

1.   Ask management for union time.  If management tells you that you only have a limited amount of time (5-10 min etc.) to investigate, call the  
      Branch President or Vice Presidents immediately @ 408-288-8138. If your upset, stay calm and maintain your composure. Some Supervisors
      would like nothing better than to upset you to make matters worse.

2.   Clock on Union time to investigate alleged grievance(s).   Take the time to investigate!   ONCE YOU ARE ON UNION TIME, YOU ARE
      ON EQUAL GROUNDS WITH MANAGEMENT IN PRIVATE!  DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED!

3.   Contact your Branch President or Vice President(s) to inform them of the grievance(s).

4.   Meet with the grievant(s), then the supervisor. "Class Action" is Union filed. Find out what or which articles were violated, if any.

5.   Properly fill out your Grievance Form , 8190. Click here >>> JOINT INFORMAL STEP A GRIEVANCE FORM  Type & Print up!

6.   Interview ALL witnesses if any and get written statements of what they saw or heard. If travel time must be done for investigating, it should be
      done with managements awareness and on union time.

7.   Request any and all information that led to managements decision  to issue discipline including  supervisory worksheet, investigative interviews,
      statements  and view carefully. There are times when information is not filled out correctly or signed and you can win your grievance on
      management errors, technicalities or misinformation.

8.   Collect  copies of time records, clock rings, 3971's, 3996's etc. Grievance Checklist Below

9.   Make sure grievant has given you a written statement to back up the alleged violation(s).

10. Read all Manuals & Handbooks including the J-Cam, National Agreement, Local Agreement.

11. Don't forget about using  "Just Cause",  "Past Practice" and "Punitive rather than Corrective in Nature" argument's  when applicable.
      Click here to view >>>DEFENSES TO DISCIPLINE

12.  Always ask for a FAIR & JUST Settlement. Do not "shoot for the moon." You must maintain your credibility at all times.  You will command
       respect from your peers and management will be more willing to settle the grievance if your not asking for an outrageous remedy. If your grievance
       advances to Step B, the National Business Agent or Arbitration, they only want the facts and paperwork to justify the grievance. Make sure ALL
       Documentation is attached and sent with grievance.

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     MANUALS / HANDBOOKS / TOOLS &  REFERENCE   LINKS

                                                                        Click on the Links below:

 

DEFENSES TO DISCIPLINE

GRIEVANCE CHECKLIST SHEET <<<< Click here to view and print up!

NATIONAL AGREEMENT

USPS MANUALS & PUBLICATIONS

M 39

M 41

E L M

M R S

J-CAM

DOIS - What YOU Should Know

F M L A

CSRS  & FERS HANDBOOKS

M S P B

O P M

O W C P

E E O C

E E O COMPLAINT FORMS

O I G - Office of Inspector General

 

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WEINGARTEN RIGHTS

 

                                                                 WEINGARTEN CARD

 Copy and Paste to any Word, Works or Blank Email page and print up as many copies as you wish.

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Duties and Requirements of a Letter Carrier

                         Usual Requirements of the Letter Carrier
                                           ( Can be used for Doctors/OPM/OWCP )

 

Activity Continuous Intermittent Hours Daily
Lifting/Carrying 10 Pounds 70 Pounds 8 or More Hours
Sitting     4 or More Hours
Standing     6 or More Hours
Walking     6 or More Hours
Climbing     2 or More Hours
Kneeling     2 or More Hours
Bending/Stooping     2 or More Hours
Twisting     4 or More Hours
Pushing/Pulling     2 or More Hours
Simple Grasping     8 or More Hours
Fine Manipulation     8 or More Hours
Reaching Above Shoulder     2 or More Hours
Driving a Vehicle     6 or More Hours
Temperature Extremes All types weather   8 or More Hours
High Humidity     6 or More Hours
Fumes/Dust     3 or More Hours
       
Carrier may be required to work up to 10 or 12 hours per day or longer as service needs require.
Carrier may be required to lift up to 70 lbs from floor to waist height or higher.

 
                                                              Copyright © 2005 Postal Employee Network

 

OFFICE DUTIES:

As a letter carrier, there are many physical duties and requirements. After the carriers tour of duty begins he/she must inspect their postal vehicle and then
retrieve letter and flat mail from the mail distribution case. This mail may weigh from mere ounces to 10 or more pounds. This mail must be lifted and
transported by the carrier to their route case for sorting.

At the carriers case there are trays and tubs of mail that have been distributed to their route by a distribution clerk. The carriers day begins by loading their
case ledge with as much mail as possible. In order to do this the carrier must bend and lift trays and/or tubs of mail off of the floor surrounding their case and
place same on their case ledge for sorting as needed. These tubs or trays of mail can weigh 30 or more pounds. The carrier then begins casing this mail into
their "U" shaped route case, which is setup in route delivery sequence. On average days this may take from approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours of continuous
standing, twisting, turning, and reaching above the shoulder.

The USPS handbook entitled City Delivery Carriers'--Duties and Responsibilities, states that "the accurate and speedy routing of mail is one of the most
important duties of a carrier; you must be proficient at this task".

After casing all available mail for their route the carrier must retrieve their parcel hamper which is a wheeled container filled with large and small parcels that
may weigh up to 70 lbs. The carrier rolls this hamper to their case where the carrier then pulls the route down in delivery sequence and places this mail into
trays or tubs and then into their parcel hamper. After this has been completed the carrier must clock onto street time, roll their hamper of mail outside, pick up
their DPS Letter trays & proceed to their postal truck and load this mail into their truck or vehicle for street delivery. All mail tubs, trays, and parcels must be
lifted by the carrier from their parcel hamper and placed in their vehicle. Loaded mail trays and tubs can weigh as much as 35 pounds or more. All of these
duties requires continuous twisting, turning, bending, lifting, and stooping.

 

STREET and/or DELIVERY DUTIES:

After completing their office duties and loading their vehicle the carriers street duties begin which may last up 6 hours or much longer. The vast majority of
mail routes are park and loop routes, which consists of parking and "looping" mail delivery up one side of the street and then back down the other side
carrying their mail in their hands and via a satchel normally hanging over their shoulder filled with up to 35 lbs. of additional mail and parcels.

The carrier returns to their vehicle when completing each park and loop. He then moves the vehicle to the next park and loop point. These  "park and loops"
can subject the carrier to all types of terrain from concrete to sand to mud, from hilly to flat grounds, rugged rock filled paths, or normal downtown street
sidewalks. Naturally, the carrier performs all of these street duties in all types of weather. Their park and loops may expose them to walking on snow or ice
covered terrain, as well as rain soaked ground cover.

The carrier is required to be able to lift up to 70 pounds - in the office or while on the street. Street duties require constant bending, twisting, stooping, lifting
and climbing of stairs or hills in all types of weather. All of these duties exposes the carriers body to constant pressure upon feet and knees and upper and
lower body.

Copyright © 2005 Postal Employee Network

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                    SAMPLE GRIEVANCE FILE CHECKLIST

 

This checklist may be used to assist in developing the UNDISPUTED FACTS for Joint STEP A Grievances

 

Request any and all information that led to managements decision  to issue discipline including
                       supervisory worksheet, investigative interviews and statements.

 

 

OVERTIME

 ____Overtime Desired List for the quarter

____Time cards/Employee Activity Report

____Carrier Form 1813

____Corner Form 3996

____Carrier Form 3997

____Documentation of mail volume

____Notes &/or statements that explain:

____Why OT was called

____Work performed by T-6

____Availability of employees

____Why T-6  was not equitable (if applicable)

 

 HOLIDAY SCHEDULING

 ____Leave Calendar

____Sign-up list for volunteers

____ Seniority List

____Holiday schedule with posting date

____Form 3997

____Form 1813 for the holiday

____Holiday scheduling provision of Local Memorandum of Understanding

 

ANY and ALL DISCIPLINARY ACTION

 ____ Letter(s) of  Charges

____ Proposed Personnel Action

____ Supporting Documents

____ Fact Finding Documents

____ Grievant’s years with USPS

____Supervisory Worksheet

____Investigative Interviews

____Copies of ALL Statements

 

 DISCIPLINE for AWOL/ATTENDANCE

 ____Letter(s) of charges

____Proposed Personnel Action

____Form 3971's

____Form 5972's

____Form 3997 (AWOL) day

____Fact Finding Documentation

____Medical certificate substantiating absences

____Supervisors statement explaining denial of requested leave

____Supervisory worksheet

____Investigative Interviews

____Copies of ALL Statements 

 

DISCIPLINE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT

 ____Copy of Proposed Personnel Action

____Copy of disciplinary action

____Carrier statement of accident (Form 91)

____Vehicle Accident Investigation Worksheet (Form 1700)

____Street Observation Master Form (Form 4582A)

____Accident Report (Form 1769)

____Street Observation (Form 4584)

____Grievant’s Statement about accident

____Police Report (if applicable)

____Investigators/s/witnesses notes taken at the accident scene

____Grievant’s prior job related accident record

 

DENIAL OF LIGHT DUTY

 ____Employee’s written request for light duty

____Medical documentation of physician that supports request

____Management’s letter stating reasons for denial

____Management’s statement detailing what jobs were considered and why they were rejected

____Carrier Form 1571

____Carrier Form 3997

   

DENIAL OF SPECIAL ROUTE INSPECTION

 ____ Carrier Form l62l

____ Carrier Form 3996

____ Proof of employees inspection request

____Time cards/Employee Activity Report

____Supervisors notes of any discussions with employee regarding performance

 

LETTERS OF DEMAND

____ Copy of the Letter of Demand

____Form 3294 for Grievant

____Form 3368 for Grievant

____Form 3369 for Grievant