MS 1 BEM Staffing UpdatesIdowu BalogunJune 3, 2019
(This article first appeared in the May/June 2019 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) Building Equipment Maintenance (BEM) Mechanics are responsible for maintaining postal building infrastructures, namely (1) Building Electrical Systems (HVAC) and (2) plumbing, air compression, elevators, dock levelers, dock doors, power distribution, switch gears, and power panels. BEM Mechanics must use the MS1 Handbook Manual to calculate required staffing. In May 2016, the Postal Service issued a new MS1 TL 5, proposing draconian changes to the then-current MS1 TL 4 Handbook. The APWU filed a dispute, and Maintenance Division Director Balogun was the assigned case officer. In 2017, Arbitrator Goldberg concluded the dispute by remanding the case back to APWU and USPS to resolve. After the decision, APWU and the Postal Service began meeting immediately to resolve the dispute. We met for the past year to address the remanded part of the decision. Below is our progress so far:
“The APWU will be provided the final draft(s) for review and concurrence prior to publication.” The USPS has not yet fulfilled this requirement.In Dec. 2018, while still meeting about MS1 TL 5, we were notified that the Postal Service issued another MS1 Handbook changes, called MS 1 TL 6. We immediately requested for meetings regarding these changes. Meetings on MSI TL5 and MS1 TL6 are still ongoing. NCED Visit March 2019On March 6–8, 2019, we visited the National Center for Employee Development (NCED) Training Center. We met with over 60 students at an evening session on March 7, 2019. The next day, we met with the NCED Managers and National Support Technician (NST) Managers to discuss concerns raised during the students/union meeting.
Dallas Area Local welcomes James Chrestman. James was appointed by a unanimous decision of the Executive Board to the vacant position of Assistant Maintenance Craft Director. We would like to also thank former Assistant Director and Steward Timberly Lyimo for all of her years of service to the Dallas Area Local, we appreciated you dedication, positive attitude and services to the Maintenance Craft and we thank you.
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