PSE-Newest Members of the Postal Service     The PSE  (Postal Support Employee) are a supplemental or support work force that have replaced the  casual or TE category of employees. 

The PSE is a non career bargaining unit employee that has a term not to exceed 360 calendar days and must have a break in service of at least 5 days if re-appointed. 

The PSE are hired from a register, they accrue annual leave at the rate of 1 hour for every 20 hours of work- or 4 hours total every pay period. 

The PSE are paid overtime for work in excess of (40) work hours in any one service week and they are paid a flat rate night differential from the hours of 6 pm to 6 am depending on the level or pay grade for which they are hired- a table of the grade and pay are listed in Article 9 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

These PSE employees are guaranteed 2 hours of work or pay if they are scheduled to work and report to work, regardless if they are needed or not. These employees are also entitled to the pay increases that we receive. 

They can join the union and after one year of service they can join the Federal Employee Health Benefits.  If they work at a higher level they get paid at the higher level rate for the actual hours they work at the higher level. 

Now that we have a basic idea of what and who these new employees are some of the basic contract information on overtime, annual leave, and holiday scheduling will follow.  
    First- is the issue of overtime.  The PSE does not get paid overtime until they have worked in excess of 40 hours in a service week.  The contract states in article 8 that,

"When an opportunity exists for OT for qualified and available full -time employees, doing similar work in the work location where the emploees regularly work, prior to utilizing a PSE employee in excess of eight (8) work hours in a service day, such qualified and available full-time employees on the appropriate ODL will be selected to perform such work in order of their seniority on a rotating basis."        
Second- is the issue of annual leave. The PSE does not receive sick leave.  Their annual is used for rest, recreation, emergency purposes, and illness or injury. 

 In article 10 of the national contract it states that,

Career employees will be given preference over non-career employees when scheduling annual leave.  This preference will take into consideration that scheduling is done on a tour-by-tour basis and that employees skills are a determining factor in this decision." 

At the expiration of the PSE term of 360 days, all excess annual is paid as a lump sum. 

     Third- is the issue of holiday scheduling. The PSE will be used to maximum extent possible before the forcing of career employees.  In article 11 of the national contract it states, "PSE employees will be scheduled for work on a holiday or designated holiday after all full -time volunteers are scheduled to work on their holiday or designated holiday.  They will be scheduled to the extent possible, prior to any full-time volunteers or non-volunteers being scheduled to work a nonscheduled day or any full-time non-volunteers being required to work their holiday or designated holiday."  


     So welcome our new PSE employees and encourage them to join the union.  The Union has already been fighting for their right to belong to our union with benefits and a living wage!!! 

Terri Griner
Industrial Relations Director   

Non Traditional Full Time (NTFT) AssignmentsBy now I’m sure you have heard about these new Non Traditional Full Time (NTFT) assignments.  By the time you read this management will have or will be in the process of posting new NTFT duty assignments.  Management has notified the Union of their intent to post clerk NTFT assignments in associate offices, station and branches, in the plant and as custodians in the maintenance craft.  The contract allows for management to have NTFT’s in the MVS craft.  To date management has not notified us of their intent to post any NTFT’s in MVS.  The Union has filed grievances over the process in which these NTFT assignments were created and posted.  The contract says before implementing any new non traditional assignments, the local union will have the opportunity to review, make comments, make suggestions and purpose alternatives.  Locally, management did not provide this for the Union.  The grievances are in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Process (ADRP). Despite the Unions objections, management is moving forward with posting these assignments. 

 So what exactly is a NTFT?  By contract definition, a “traditional” assignment eight hours a day five days a week totaling 40 hours.  A NTFT is a FULL TIME assignment.  It is more or less than 5 days a week, between 30 and 48 hours a week and between 4-12 hours a day.  The purpose in creating the NTFT was to give our members and the USPS more flexibility.  NTFT assignments of more than 9 hours in a day shall include a 3^rd break excluding lunch.  NTFT’s will normally work the number of hours (daily and/or weekly) identified in their bid assignment, except in an emergency.  By the way, someone taking annual or sick leave does not qualify as an “emergency”.  If you bid a NTFT assignment and work outside your assigned schedule, you are entitled to out of schedule premium pay.  NTFT assignments may be created and posted in retail operations to cover vacancies and absences.  Management may post one “Flexible” NTFT assignment in each installation.  The start time and off-days of a flexible NTFT assignment may be changed from week to week without, out of schedule obligations providing they get a Wednesday of the prior week notification.  The daily and weekly guarantees remain unchanged.  NTFT’s may sign up on the ODL.  Over time may be built into a NTFT assignment.  If so, there are not subject to some ODL and LMOU scheduling rules.  Any work beyond 40 hours is paid at the overtime rate.  Personally, I do not believe local management will post any NTFT’s with “built in” OT.  NTFT’s brought in on a non-scheduled day will be guaranteed 8 hours.  Should a NTFT work a second or third off day, they will be paid at the penalty overtime rate of pay.  The contract also states, full time career clerk craft and motor vehicle craft employees who are not on the overtime desired list and are in an installation with employees working in NTFT duty assignments in the same functional area, will not be required to work overtime except in an emergency. Holiday scheduling will be the same as any other regular.  NTFT’s will be paid 8 hours holiday pay for each holiday.  The same goes for annual leave.  You will be required to take annual leave in the amount you were scheduled to work.  Look for more information in future articles and on our local website.  And as usual, you can always ask for s steward.  

Jerry Jacobson, Vice President