KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING, BEFORE YOU SIGN

By Berkeley Chief Steward, Liz Corriea

First of all, let me say Happy Belated New Years to my brother and sisters of this great Union. Since we now get our newsletter every other month, it seems a little strange. Hopefully, all of you will continue to read this newsletter as this is one way to be educated with information about your job and much more.

How many of you fill out your own PS Form 3971?

Do you rely on management to fill it out for you upon an absence? Well, I have been finding out many carriers have relied on management to generate the PS Form 3971 after an absence, without reading what they are signing. For those who carefully read it prior to signing it, that’s fantastic, for those of you who don’t, please start doing so immediately.

Management sometimes puts AWOL (Absence Without Leave). If you’re paying attention, you will catch it You might also find that management put in “annual leave” instead of “sick leave” that you requested. This is why it is important to read all generated PS Form 3971 that management fills out for you.

Personally, I don’t accept any generated PS Form 3971 from management. When I submit my PS Form 3971, I complete it myself. This way I know what I asked for, and I may even include my conformation number. Some carriers may take a screen shot off their phone, which is another way to keep record of what you requested. It should match whatever management generated on a PS 3971 for you. If it doesn’t then this is where you may dispute it. This is another reason for filling out your own PS Form 3971.

I am also finding that management is also improperly filling out the PS Forms 3971. Sometimes they are putting remarks where they don’t belong, instead of the simple instructions given on the PS Form. You can’t go wrong if you follow those instructions.

Just because management may give you a piece of paper and tells you or instructs you to sign it, beware not all papers given to you are Postal Regulated. If it’s a postal form it will usually indicate so, at the bottom of the form For example, “PS Form 3189.” This would let you know it’s a validated form. Don’t get fooled into signing something that is not postal approved.

There’s been a lot of made-up forms that management is using to get you to sign them, which is definitely not right

BERKELEY BLUES NEW!

Compared to some of the bigger cities, like Oakland and San Jose, the city of Berkeley is not looking that bad. We are getting some PTFs who are staying with us, and hopefully we can keep them.

However, we still have a lot of work to do to make this place more organized. We currently have another chief in town, (OIC) Officer in Charge. Berkeley is still waiting on any news about our Postmaster No one knows whether she is returning or not. Some of us have been on pins and needles, hoping to find out if she’s coming back or not. Personally, I hope not Only because we should be in a good place. No one should have to work in a hostile environment where there is too much negativity, where no one wants to come to work, being yelled at, sculled, belittled, and much more.

We spend a good chuck of our time working at the Post Office, and very little time with our families, which is a shame. Most of us in Berkeley aren’t even on the overtime desired list, and yet we’re being mandated to work on our SDO’s.

I know this is a national problem. What will the Postal Service do to help these crises go away, as this is mostly a staffing issue. It’s not just a Berkeley problem. Overall little by little Berkeley is getting some relief, but there is much more to work on. Hang in there Berkeley carriers, work is in progress.

Knowledge is Power!