The Postal Service has started 2015 with drastic changes at the Houston P & DC facility. The union is not in agreement with these changes and we are fighting to save jobs.  It is obvious the postal service does not care about the hardship these changes have on some employees.  Change is not always easy and the effect it has on our daily life takes time to adjust.  We must stay strong during these changes and be prepared for the future of the Postal Service in 2015.  The closing of the Houston P & DC is going to be challenging not only for the employees but also for the service to the customers.  Make your concerns known to your elected officials by writing or calling them today.

NO "Career Employees" move until April 18, 2015

The APUW and the USPS met to further discuss updated USPS plans on the closure of the downtown post office and the mail processing transition to the North Houston facility. The union was advised that the reassignment of employees and the movement of equipment to the North Houston facility has changed. The time-line has changed in that "Career Employees" will not be moved until April 18, 2015 "National Move Date". This recent change affords employees more time to evaluate choices before making final decisions.

The most current developments are as follows:

The Postal Service is continuing the excessing event per contractual provisions provided in Article 12 of the National Agreement. "Centralization of Mail Processing" provisions will be applied for the clerk craft. These provisions provide in part:

1) Involuntarily reassigned full-time clerks will not be eligible to bid for 180 days and the reassignment is treated as a detail for that period of time to avoid inequities in the selection of full-time duty assignments by full time clerks in the gaining installation (North Houston). One hundred eight days (180) is computed from the first detail of an employee.

2) Duty assignments which become vacant during the period of the detail will be posted for bid and awarded to full-time clerks who were assigned to the installation prior to the involuntary reassignment of the first full-time employee.

3) All newly created and remaining clerk craft duty assignments shall be posted for bid at the close of the detail period, all full-time clerks then assigned to the centralized installation (North Houston) are eligible to bid.

(MOU) Memorandum of Understanding allows for: Transfer Opportunities to Minimize Excessing in the clerk craft within the Houston District and outside the District within 100 miles for a period of 21 days through eReassign. All clerks will be notified by management of their right to apply for transfer to residual clerk craft vacancies. These clerks will retain their seniority but will not have retreat rights. All full-time regular clerks in the impacted (Houston) Installation regardless of seniority, level, status, best qualified or senior qualified will be eligible for priority consideration. This will possibly reduce the number of involuntary reassignments. The postal service began posting Clerk Vacancies June 1, 2014. These vacancies will continue to be posted each month through eReassign for a period of 21 Days and awarded until the excessing event has occurred.

Maintenance Craft:

Residual Bids will be filled by involuntarily assign employees. Employees can sign the (PAR) Preferred Assignment Register and the (PER) Preferred Eligibility Register within 30 days of reassignment.

Motor Vehicle Craft:

Motor Vehicle Operators and Tractor-Trailer Operators will move to the North Houston Facility on the April move date.

Reprinted - FYI

The contract allows for senior (non-impacted) employees to volunteer in lieu of an impacted employee in the same craft or occupational group to withheld duty assignments which also reduces the number of involuntary reassignments. These volunteers will retain their seniority but will not have retreat rights back to the Houston Installation. In accordance with the contract the postal service will post on official bulletin boards a notice informing non-impacted employees of the opportunity to replace an impacted employee and include a listing of the withheld duty assignments. Selection of volunteers will be made by seniority.

The union continues to fight againsted plant consolidations and station closures and you can be assured we will do all we can to minimize the impact on you and work to make this as uncomplicated as possible. The APWU is opposed to the currect attempt to not only close the Barbara Jordan Post Office, but the closure of the other proposed 81 plants around the country and the reduction of service standards to the American public.

Contact your Congressional Representative - click - Congressional Information Center in the left-hand column on this home page.  Make your voice heard.