At Hughes the results of the route counts are out for zone 5, and it isn’t good. This section of the National Agreement is being violated daily in zones 5 and 22, “41.3.K Supervisors shall not require, nor permit, employees to work off the clock.” We can see via the workhour workload report, and many members physically observing fellow carriers starting as early as 7:40am and working through their breaks to be pulled down by 8:30am some of the time, has caused great harm to all NALC Branch 231 members. There is enough of this going on in zone 5 that at the very least an auxiliary route if not a full route was not created. If anyone needs a PDF of the M-41, so that you know how to properly deliver mail text me your email address, and I will get it to you. I will also send you the M-39, so that you know what management can’t do to you.
I recently had a management type say something to the effect that I need to turn in a PS Form 1260 with the ET time of 1850 hours when I worked to around 6:36pm or so. When I sought clarification this management type refused to clarify the instruction. I then requested that they put that in writing which they refused to do. I am pretty sure at some point in the near future there will be a PDI for me, and the management type will be issuing me “Failure to Follow Instructions” discipline. I and every carrier must refuse to falsify the PS Form 1260 when management tells them to, make sure you ET using the scanner, this way the Union has proof in TACS if something is falsified after you ET using the scanner.
We are down to the wire to vote for me to be a delegate to the national convention via absentee ballot, so if you are not planning on attending the November NALC Branch 231 meeting 11-14-2023 at 7:00pm, please call the branch, and ask that an absentee ballot be mailed to you, so that you can vote for me to go to the National Convention. I believe there are 26 nominees, and only 10 will be elected to go in addition to the 5 Chair Officers. As some one pointed out to me a while back you do not need to vote for 10 people, you can vote for anywhere from 1 to 10 of the 26(?) Nominees. Remember there are 2 places to that you need to sign to have your vote counted.
I have made it known not only am I running for VP, once the sign up sheet is posted in November for zone 5 steward, I plan on putting my name on it. It is insane that NALC members are under constant attack via the creation of a toxic/hostile work environment, and nothing is being done to support the dues paying carrier. Basically, while there aren’t out right elections (for lack of a better term) there basically is a caucus to help determine who the next steward is for each zone in the branch. Management did not appear happy when I told them that I would be in the running to be steward in 2024. As if that should even matter…..
In steward class AND the monthly meetings we are told to file when there is a violation of the National Agreement. While I am all for working with management to avoid a violation of the National Agreement, it is often pointless. I recently informed the supervisor that something is an Article 8 violation, and they insisted that it was’t, and went forward with their brilliant plan..… LOL Ok, I will take the free money that you want to pay all the ODL carriers….. I suspect this supervisor will whine about the filing to E street, but leave out the part that as a steward for NALC Branch 231 I tried my best to avoid the Article 8 grievance altogether. Which isn’t shocking really, because what else can management do? Under Article 3 management has the right to manage or mismanage how it sees fit, and until the bosses of this supervisor hold them accountable for their willful violations of the National Agreement not much will change.
In closing, don’t forget to vote in person, or via absentee ballot for me as a convention delegates, and any others that you feel are deserving of the honor. As always be safe, when you’re out delivering.