Group 1 Staffing - Decrease in Total Hours Paid

CUPW recently received the June 2009 reports about the Appendix P national Group 1 staffing ratio.

 

Hours Paid Down in all Categories

During the first 6 months of 2009, there were 854,087 fewer hours paid to CUPW Group 1 members (PO2s, PO4s, PO5s) than in the same period in 2008.  The biggest part of the decrease was the 462,980 hour reduction in straight time hours paid to full time employees.  However, proportionately, the biggest decreases were in overtime and in hours paid to temporary employees.  As a result, the ratio as adjusted for absenteeism (official) rose from 83.88% to 84.57%.  The unadjusted (actual) ratio went from 77.63% to 78.07%.  The following chart compares the figures for January through June 2009 with the same period for 2008:

 

GROUP 1 HOURS PAID AND RATIO

	June 2008	June 2009	Difference
FT Regular	12,210,264	11,747,284	(462,980)
FT Overtime	346,206	195,425	(150,781)
PT Regular	2,558,703	2,544,039	(14,664)
PT Overtime	39,616	25,160	(14,456)
Temporary	972,940	761,735	(211,205)
Total Hours	16,127,729	15,273,642	(854,087)
Ratio (Unadjusted)	77.63%	78.07%	0.44%
Ratio (Adjusted)	83.88%*	84.57%*	0.69%

*CUPW does not agree that the employer is using the correct data to adjust the national ratio.  This issue is part of three national policy grievances.

These reductions in hours paid probably reflect job cuts on the part of the employer, and volume decreases as a result of the economic recession.

 

Decreases in Group 2; Hours up in Groups 3 and 4

It is interesting to compare these figures to what happened with other CUPW members during the same period.  In Group 2 (letter carriers and mail service couriers), there were 182,686 fewer hours paid to CUPW members in the first 6 months of 2009 vs. the same period in 2008.  However, the reduction of hours paid was almost totally due to a decrease of 520,155 in hours paid to temporary employees.  Part time hours also declined, partly due to a reduction of overtime. 

The good news was that hours paid to full time letter carriers and MSCs increased by 417,207 hours, despite a significant decline in overtime worked and losses of jobs in many restructures. 

This trend is probably explained by an increased number of full time regular bar chart relief employees, and a decrease in the number of long term absences for which the employer decided to hire a temporary employee under clause 17.06. 

There was also good news in Groups 3 and 4 (maintenance workers).  There was an overall increase of 26,970 hours in total hours paid.   Almost all of this increase came from the 24,137 hour increase in full time regular hours.

The following chart summarizes the data comparing Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Note that the total hours paid includes both straight time hours and overtime.

 

PAID HOURS - COMPARISON BETWEEN GROUPS

GROUP	June 2008	June 2009	Difference
Group 1 FT	12,566,470	11,942,708	-623,762
Group 1 PT	2,598,319	2,569,199	-29,120
Group 1 Temp	972,940	761,735	-211,205
TOTAL Group 1	16,137,729	15,273,642	-864,087
Group 2 FT	21,688,480.82	22,105,687.77	417,207
Group 2 PT	1,515,547.48	1,435,810.26	-79,737
Group 2 Temp	2,509,753.04	1,989,597.81	-520,155
TOTAL Group 2	25,713,781.34	25,531,095.84	-182,686
Group 3 & 4 FT	743,025.75	767,162.42	24,137
Group 3 & 4 PT	0	0.00	0
Group 3 & 4 Temp	3,918	6,751	2,833
TOTAL Group 3 & 4	746,943.75	773,913.42	26,970

All of the data reported above came from information provided by Canada Post under Appendix P and clause 14.29 of the Urban Operations collective agreement.