Assignments, Positions, Bids: The Basics
What is the difference between a position and an assignment?
All regular employees have both a position and an assignment. Your position is your classification and the post office you are working in. It could be, for example, FT PO-4 in the Edmonton Post Office, PT PO-4 in the VMPP Post Office, FT PO-5 in the VPDC Post Office, FT Letter Carrier in the Winnipeg Post Office, etc. Your assignment is your work area or route. For example, a FT PO-4’s assignment could be Oversize Section, Shift #3 and a Letter Carrier’s assignment could be Depot 74, Walk 45.
Group 1 Temporary employees (casuals) do not have a specific assignment or position. Instead, you are on call-in lists in order of seniority. You could be on the VMPP 4th floor call-in list, VMPP 2nd floor call-in list, VPDC call-in list, etc. A Christmas casual is hired for the sole purpose of performing work during the Christmas period. A Christmas casual who wants to work on a regular basis at Canada Post must apply to be hired as a temporary employee (surge or term casual).
What is a post office?
In our contract, a post office is not a specific building or city. Under our contract, a building is called an installation. At present, the Vancouver Mail Processing Plant is a Post Office and the Vancouver Parcel Distribution Centre is a Post Office. On January 9, 2011, a new Post Office will be created that will be called the Vancouver Mail Processing Plants which will have two installations; the Vancouver Mail Processing Plant at 349 W. Georgia and the Vancouver Parcel Distribution Centre at 2551 No. 6 Road.
Does the change in the VMPP Post Office affect me?
Yes. In our contract, a vacant assignment is open to all employees in the same classification in the same post office. So, as of January 9, 2011, all employees in the VMPP Post Office will be able to bid on vacant assignments at VPDC, the Parcel Hub (PO-4), and on the 2nd and 4th floor of the VMPP. So, for example, a PT PO-4 in the Parcel Hub will be able to bid on a PT PO-4 vacant assignment in the Coding & Mech section. A PO-5 in the RT&D (VMPP) section will be able to bid on a vacant assignment in the RT&D (VPDC) section. Employees will have more choices. That is a good thing.
How do you get a new position?
Both temporary and regular employees must apply to change classifications or post offices. The form you use is a legal size form called the “CUPW-UPO APPLICATION REQUEST FORM”. You can get one from a supervisor. Once you’ve filled it out, give it to your supervisor, who will sign it and give you back the pink copy with the title “Employee Copy Prior to Confirmation of Receipt”. The form will then go to Staffing. They will look at it to make sure there are no obvious errors — like applying for a classification that doesn’t exist – and then send you the copy with the title “Employee” to your home address.
Do I need to keep my copies?
YES!! If you are bypassed, your copy is your only proof that you applied. During the last round of hiring of PT PO-4s, several employees complained that people with less seniority than them got the jobs that should have gone to them. Unfortunately, none of them had kept their copies to prove that they had applied. Also, your copies will be a reminder to you of what you applied for. When you first applied, you bid for everything! Now you have some experience, and you have a better idea of what classification you want to work in. Check your form. Make sure your form matches your current preferences. If it doesn’t, submit a new form PRONTO!
How does the transfer list process work?
Staffing will put your name on the appropriate transfer list. Let’s say you want to transfer to Edmonton. You are a FT PO-4 now, and you’d like to remain one, but you’re desperate to transfer as soon as possible and you’ll take any inside (Group 1) position that is available. On the form, you’ll put down your 1st preference as: Edmonton Post Office, FT PO-4. Your 2nd preference might be: Edmonton Post Office, FT PO-5, and your 3rd preference might be: Edmonton Post Office, PT PO-4. Staffing will put you on all 3 transfer lists.
Let’s say your 2nd choice comes up first, because you are transferring post offices, you will receive a letter with an offer for a PO-5 position in Edmonton. You will have 24 hours to accept or reject the offer. If you accept, your name will be removed from the transfer list for PT PO-4s because you’ve told them you don’t want it as much as the PO-5 position. But, you will remain on the list for your 1st choice, FT PO-4
How long will my name remain on a transfer list?
There is no time limit on how long your name can remain on a transfer list. However, if you reject an offer for a transfer, your name will be removed from that transfer list. You must fill out another form if you want to be put back on that same transfer list.
Do I go through the same steps if I want to change classifications within my post office?
Yes, except for one VERY important difference. You will not be asked if you would like to change classifications. Your application is considered proof that you want it. This is an automatic appointment. You will receive a letter telling you that you have been successful in obtaining the position you applied for and telling you where to report. The same goes for temporary employees who apply for a PT or FT position.
I’ve just received a letter telling me that I got a FT PO-4 position. How do I get an assignment?
To start off with, Staffing will temporarily assign you to a work area and shift. That temporary assignment can be anywhere in the Vancouver Mail Processing Plants Post Office (in January that will be anywhere in the VMPP and the VPDC). Your name will appear on the duty roster in that work area BUT with a BF [backfill] next to it.
You still need to bid for vacant assignments and be successful in getting one. Vacant assignments are posted in the order books. To apply, you fill out a General Application Form, which you can get from a supervisor. Make sure you get a photocopy of your application. Pay attention to the deadline for applying – don’t miss out! The successful applicants will be posted in the order book. If you notice that someone with less seniority than you got the assignment, ask to see a steward. You should be introduced to a steward on your first shift of each temporary assignment – make sure you ask questions about the assignment bids. If you are unsuccessful in bidding for an assignment, you may be moved from work area to work area until you are successful.
What is the shift bid?
Once a year, usually at the end of the year, employees in the VMPP Post Office have a shift bid. All the employees in a section bid for the shift that they would like. For example, Oversize full-timers will bid for a shift within the Oversize section. You will receive a form with your choices on it. Make sure you fill out your choices in order of preference. Never say: “I’ll never get days, there’s no point in even bidding for it.” You never know! During the shift bid, you cannot bid for an assignment outside of your own section. You can only bid in the shift bid if you have successfully obtained an assignment in a section. An employee who is BF at the time of the shift bid will NOT be allowed to bid for a shift during the shift bid.
We hope this information has been useful. If you have any more questions or concerns, please ask to see a CUPW Steward or contact the Union Hall.
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