“Your Overtime is Unauthorized…”
“…but you still need to carry it.”
This is a familiar phrase in Springfield, but we haven’t heard it in a little while. This article is how to cover your butt! It’s time to dusk off the handbooks and grievance resolutions to find out what you do in the situation and how you know you’re secure in your procedures. Without further ado, let’s have it!
1. When you turn in your 3996 you give your estimate and management must give you a disposition under Article 41.3.G of the National Agreement, which states:
“The Employer will advise a carrier who has properly submitted a Carrier Auxiliary Control Form 3996 of the disposition of the request promptly after review of the circumstances at the time. Upon request, a duplicate copy of the completed Form 3996 and Form 1571, Report of Undelivered Mail, etc., will be provided the carrier.”
2. Management has a responsibility to give you a disposition of your overtime, and it must be done in writing. This is evidenced by section L of your 3996. Section L reads in part:
“The manager reviews the request and makes a determination as to the appropriate actions. The manager shall check the appropriate actions and initial each section.
3. Management may unauthorize your overtime, which means you’re not allowed to work beyond what they’ve stated. So, if you think you’re going to be 1.5 hours over but management says they’ll approve .45, that means you can work .45 hours of overtime and no more or you can be disciplined. This is evidenced by Handbook F-21, section 146.24, which states:
“An employee who continues to work contrary to a direct order from his or her supervisor must be paid for all time worked but may be subject to disciplinary action. In such cases, the supervisor must insert a written entry on PS Form 1017-B, Unauthorized Overtime Record.”
You must receive instructions in writing to cover yourself from falsified 1017B records.
4. If you are told in the morning that your overtime is unauthorized but you will need to carry it, tell management you need clear instructions because you cannot work beyond what is authorized. If they repeat their contradictory instructions, inform them you will seek clear instructions via scanner later in the day. Management is required to give you clear, unambiguous instructions or they have violated numerous grievance settlements. This is evidenced in the Step B decision for case # 4J19N4JC24315340, which states in relevant part:
“When management denies overtime/auxiliary assistance, they are obligated to provide the carriers with instructions regarding the disposition of the mail they have notified management they estimate they will be unable to deliver in accordance with Handbook M-41, City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities…”
5. At around 2pm, text management using your scanner that your overtime request was denied in whole or in part and ask what you should do. If you get no prompt response, notify them you will be bringing any mail back that is in unauthorized overtime and you should get a response quickly. This is in accordance with the above-cited F-21 Handbook provisions, and Handbook M-41 Section 131.41, which states:
“It is your responsibility to verbally inform management when you are of the opinion that you will be unable to case all mail distributed to the route, perform other required duties, and leave on schedule or when you will be unable to complete delivery of all mail.”
6. If they instruct you to carry it, but it’s unauthorized, take a picture of the message and request steward time; it violates an atmosphere of mutual respect in which you are instructed to carry out an order that may result in your discipline. The text message from your scanner or a written disposition on your 3996 is your evidence of instructions that you are attempting to comply with.
7. If you are given a 1017-B on your ledge, immediately request a steward. You can be disciplined based on 1017-B entries, so if management is falsifying them, they are setting you up for unwarranted discipline and falsifying your official records. Don’t let them off the hook with falsifying your records.
THE SHORT VERSION SUMMARY
Give your best, honest estimate via 3996.
If management unauthorizes your OT you may not work the overtime or you can be disciplined.
You are not obligated to speed up to make your estimate meet management’s authorization; they are obligated to come up with a plan for the extra mail.
If your time is unauthorized, bring that time back to the office or notify them via scanner text message. Document their response.
If you are given contradictory instructions (carry it, but it’s unauthorized), request steward time; management is setting you up for discipline.
If you are given a 1017-B, request steward time immediately. It’s nothing to joke about.
Management has violated this numerous times previously so egregiously that they have to pay out $50 per improper 1017 they submit; we’ve been down this road before and we’ve won it. Don’t be silent about 1017-B, and don’t let management intimidate you with unauthorized overtime.
If you have questions, get in touch with your stewards.