Chaos

CUPW local officers are experiencing a lot of problems because many local management representatives are unable to implement an effective hiring process for on-call relief employees (OCRE).

While we are well aware of this chaotic situation, the Union still needs to move forward in establishing annual leave schedules in postal installations where RSMCs work and where an agreement has been reached on the use of OCREs.

RSMC Vacation Leave Year

Under clause 15.01 of the collective agreement, RSMCs are entitled to three (3) weeks’ vacation leave per calendar year, which is defined as January 1st to December 31st. Vacation leave is earned at a rate of one and one-quarter (1¼) days for each calendar month in which a RSMC receives pay.

Vacation Leave Schedule

Clause 15.02 of the collective agreement provides that: “In locations where relief employees are employed, a vacation leave schedule for route holders shall be established by the Corporation after consultation with the Union at the local level. Route holders shall make their choice by seniority and shall be allowed to bid for only two consecutive weeks of leave in the first round of bidding.”

Local Union-Management Meeting

We ask that local union officers immediately begin union-management consultation under Article 7 of the collective agreement to ensure vacation leave schedules are established well in advance.

Each RSMC in the postal installation or grouping of installations must bid, by seniority, for all of his or her accumulated weeks of vacation leave. In the first round of bidding, RSMCs can select only two consecutive weeks of leave. The remaining weeks are selected in the second round of bidding.

On-call Relief Employees

Read the Memorandum of Agreement signed on December 20, 2006, as it establishes the rules for assigning OCREs. Under Paragraph 4 of this MOA, OCRE assignments to cover vacation leave are made after the completion of the vacation schedule. Paragraph 5 states that in postal installations with more than one OCRE, assignments to cover vacation leave are selected by seniority in one, two or three week blocks. Finally, paragraph 3 states that the Corporation can, upon availability, assign OCREs to cover other absences. It should be noted that OCREs receive eight point five percent (8.5%) of their earnings in lieu of payment for designated holidays and vacation leave.

Implementation

This work should be completed early enough to ensure implementation takes place prior to December 31, 2007. Should you encounter problems during this process, ask CUPW Regional Officers for assistance.