The following is a summary of the National Arbitration dealing with the Handbook MS-47, Housekeeping Postal Facilities, via Gary Kloepfer, Assisant Maintenance Director:

Here is the Award Summary in PDF- Please Post

MS-47 Award Received - “Custodial Jobs Protected”

The National arbitration award from Arbitrator Das, dated November 16, 2006, was received by your National Maintenance Officers on November 18, 2006. The long awaited decision rescinded the 2001 MS-47 and restored the 1983 MS-47. The Union’s success could not have been achieved without the dedication and team work of National Maintenance Union Officers at all levels.

Background: The Maintenance Division was informed in August of 2001 of a proposed new MS-47 which the USPS issued in December of 2001. The Union filed a national level grievance challenging the proposed new MS-47. The Union charged that the proposed new MS-47 was not fair, reasonable, and equitable, in violation of Article 19. We also charged the new MS-47 negated the settlement agreement, which established the 1983 MS-47, and National Arbitrator Gamser’s award regarding the MS-47. The USPS replaced staffing documents with a new budget worksheet. The Union advised locals to file grievances at the local level challenging changes to custodial staffing based on the December 2001 MS-47. Many of these grievances are being held in abeyance pending the outcome of this national grievance.

Arbitrator’s Findings: Arbitrator Das rejected the USPS attempts to eliminate custodial work through the ill conceived ‘Budget Worksheet’. He ruled that, ” it is appropriate that the Postal Service be directed to rescind the 2001 MS-47, to reinstate the 1983 MS-47, and to reinstate or prepare staffing packages as soon as practicable. As the Postal Service has stressed, the building inventories still are in use and the performance standards have not been changed. Prior staffing documents based on frequencies determined by the appropriate level of management under the 1983 MS-47 presumably still exists, and can be revised under that handbook where needed. Whether a remedy is appropriate for the intervening period since the implementation of the 2001 MS-47, and, if so what it should be, is a matter remanded to the parties for further discussion. The arbitrator retains jurisdiction over that aspect of the remedy”.

Award Summary: “The Union’s challenge to the revised MS-47 issued by the Postal Service 2001 is sustained on the basis set forth in the above Findings.”

This decision is the third major success for the Maintenance Craft for our Custodians (these awards include: H0C-NA-C-16 (cleaning frequency), I94T-4I-C-98116745 (Line J), and Q98C-4Q-C-020133900 (new MS-47)). This landmark award will continue the protection of our custodial workforce. We are examining the entire decision at the present time and will provide additional information in the near future.

Steve Raymer – Director, Maintenance
Gary Kloepfer – Assistant Director
Greg See – Assistant Director
Idowu Balogun – Nat’l Rep at Large

Full text of the MS-47 Das Arbitration Award [pdf] 

MS-47-Housekeeping-Postal-Facilities-1983.pdf (link added by PostalReporter.com)