Continuing Understaffing

By Narciso Paderanga, IV, First Vice President

As we await the outcome of the negotiations for a new national agreement, City Letter Carriers continue to work very hard, work very long hours with minimal days off to recuperate. Understaffing is still an issue with no relief in sight. Non ODL Carriers being mandated to work overtime constantly, sometimes being subjected to discipline for not following instructions of being sent back out to deliver more mail after completing their assignments. In some occasions, full time carriers are pulled from their own routes to work in another station. The latest egregious violation is PTFs being sent to other installations to work on Sundays while there are available ODL carriers at the gaining installation.

Management act like the 2019-2023 national agreement doesn't exist anymore since its expiration on May 20, 2023. Do we have to remind Management that the previous contract, although expired, has to be complied with until the next agreement is ratified?

Sometimes local management will do everything to get the mail delivered with total disregard of the Contract. Sometimes the instructions come from the District level. Either way it's still a violation and we must continue this never ending battle.

I know how frustrating it can be when you are put in a situation of which you don't want to follow instructions. If safety is involved in having to follow such instructions, you can choose not to follow their instructions. But always be mindful when choosing not to follow instructions because failure to follow instructions is one of the main reasons carriers are issued discipline.

Always request for a Shop Steward/ Union Representative in the event a similar situation is upon you.