Union Meetings vary from branch to branch. Your Local Branch has important updates concerning the office you work at and this is the best place to share that information. it’s also a chance to learn about any social events coming up and to ask questions about you might have. Maybe you can’t go to every meeting but you should go if it’s possible.

Branch 542 holds it’s meetings on the last Wednesday of every month, excluding July and August, at 7 pm and the branch office. The Office is located at 1 West Mount Kirk, Norristown, PA 19403.

If the meeting is cancelled or rescheduled it will be announced on our facebook page. Follow us for important updates.

A Shop Steward is a representative for the Union. They are not a member of management and try their best to help Carriers understand and fight for their rights outlined in the National Agreement. Shop Stewards represent you if management attempts to issue discipline. They study the contract and try to ensure that management respects your rights. You should talk to a Steward if you feel harassed by management or confused by an order you were given. If you cannot find your Steward, ask your fellow carriers for information on how to contact your rep. Never go into an office with management for a PDI without a Steward or Union Officer present.

Article 17- Representation

Unfortunately, aggressive supervisors exist. It should not be allowed and should be addressed. If a member of management is speaking to you in a way that is aggressive, abusive, hostile, or bullying you you should find your Steward and be prepared to make a statement. No one should work in a hostile work environment and the Post Office agrees with this. After the Royal Oak Postal shooting in 1991, the Joint Statement on Violence and Behavior in the Workplace was written. This statement outlines the type of behavior that is not tolerated in the workplace. It states that every member of staff should be “treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.” We encourage every carrier to read it. You can follow the link here to download the document.

Article 19- Handbooks and Manuals

A hold down, or “opting,” is when a temporary vacancy in an office is covered by an eligible employee (CCA, PTF, Unassigned Regular). The employee “holds down” the route and assumes all responsibility for delivery until the route is filled by a new carrier or the carrier assigned to that route returns to duty. Unassigned Regulars and PTF’s have no time limit to assume a hold down. CCA’s must wait 60 days after hire. The carrier holding down the route assumes the schedule for that route including start and end time as well as the color code. All routes vacant for 5 days or more are eligible for opting. Auxiliary assignments are not available for a hold down.

Article 41- Letter Carrier Craft

The ODL, or OTDL, refers to the Overtime Desired List. Prior to the start of each quarter, full-time carriers indicate their overtime desired status. There are three options

ODL Carrier- Desires overtime up to 12 hours on any route, including their own assignment. They are not entitled to overtime on their own assignment.

Work Assignment Carrier- Desires overtime only on their assignment. For Carrier technicians, or “swing men,” they desire to be worked on their string up to 12 hours.

No Overtime Carrier- These carriers do not desire overtime even on their own assignment.

Overtime desire status does not mean that non-ODL carriers will not be mandated to work overtime. These carriers, contractually speaking, are not suppose to be mandated unless all ODL carriers have reached the 12 hour per day/60 hour per week limit and should be worked by reverse seniority on a rotating basis

Article 8- Hours of Work

Down Time is a projection of “free time” in your 8-hour day you may have depending on the volume of mail for that day. Management uses the Delivery Operations Information System (DOIS) and the Performance Engagement Tool (PET) to determine how much work a carrier has. These are not efficient, or exact, and can be contested by the carrier. National settlements have been made finding that these tools do not determine a carriers leaving or return time or daily workload. Advocate for yourself and express you feel you do not have the down time management claims. If a problem arises, find your Steward or Union Rep.

Article 19- Handbooks and Manuals