Arbitration Decision Reassigns Postal Supervisor For Violating Workplace Violence Policy

May 14, 2009 by postal
Filed under: NALC, postal, postal supervisors, usps 

Grievant, Matthew Ackah is a Letter Carrier at the Diamond Farms Post Office. Mr. Ackah filed a grievance about an alleged incident that occurred on Saturday, August 30,2008 between Mr. Ackah and his Supervisor, Mr. Hugo Aldana.

Grievant asserts that Mr. Aldana told him to go back and get a gun because that is what thieves do when Grievant approached Mr. Aldana’s desk and requested PS Form 3996 for auxiliary assistance. PS Form 3996 is a form that Letter Carriers request from their Supervisors when the postal carrier thinks that he/she will require overtime to complete their mail responsibilities for the day. Grievant asserts that he felt threatened, intimidated and provoked by the comment.

Mr. Ackah informed his Shop Steward, Chester Crews on August 30, 2008 about the incident and he also informed Shop Steward Hugh McElroy by an email Mr. McElroy received on Sunday, August 31, 2008 about what he alleges was said to him by Supervisor Aldana.

The Grievance is sustained. The Postal Service will reassign Mr. Aldana to a Supervisor’s position at another Post Office or any other position at another Post Office as it deems appropriate. Within three months (3) months of this decision, Supervisor Aldana shall receive sensitivity training – training geared to learning how to proactively avoid words and actions that can be perceived as disrespectful or intimidating by others as well as training to only reflect the positions of the USPS and not his own personal positions or views, especially with regard to overtime.

read full arbitration decision from NALC Branch 3825 (PDF)

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Comments

14 Comments on Arbitration Decision Reassigns Postal Supervisor For Violating Workplace Violence Policy

  1. Potter - PMG on Thu, 14th May 2009 7:14 am

    2. With this guy’s attitude I should promote him so he can cause more damage…thats the postal way!!

  2. Clerk on Thu, 14th May 2009 7:28 am

    3. to Potter: RIGHT ON!

  3. Anonymous on Thu, 14th May 2009 8:44 am

    4. what happened to zero tolerance? As usual it does not apply to Mangement. Another case of managment taking care of there own. I am so sick of the double standards!!!

  4. Hello,Newman! on Thu, 14th May 2009 3:12 pm

    5. Outrageous!! If a carrier even so much as mentions a gun he or she will be shown the door. The fact that this supervisor is merely transferred shows that zero tolerance is a JOKE!

    Confucious Says:

    Those who can’t do, manage;
    Those who can’t manage, manage Post Offices!

  5. r.c on Thu, 14th May 2009 7:02 pm

    6. actually, this wasnt just an ignorant remark by a supervisor, a violation of the “zero tolerance” policy. Dont you find this “encouraging” of a supervisor to cause work place violence? Dont you find the scenerio a risk to the entire work force? Dont you find this indirectly threatening? Our MDO is an irrational, aggressive, verbally abusive, condensending, social outcast. What would have happened to the REST of us had he suggested this comment to a co-worker who could take no more? Geez, they would just move him to another office to place at risk? congradulations to the employee who got this noticed right away, went through the proper steps to have it remedied and intervened before it got to far out of hand. EVERYONE must file complaint with thier union (keep a copy)for any such situation or similiar.

  6. Clerk on Thu, 14th May 2009 8:25 pm

    7. Why the hell wasn’t this guy fired? The PO loses all credibilty when they let this crap go on!

  7. Monty980 on Thu, 14th May 2009 8:55 pm

    8. Why didn’t they demote him? If he were a minority they would have demoted him on the spot. Thats’ the Postal way.

  8. NALC Stud on Fri, 15th May 2009 8:55 am

    9. this is BS. When a supervisors violates Zero Tolerance Policy of Violence and Behavior Memorandum the supervisor is sent to anger management or sensitivity training. When a craft employee raises his voice he/she is automatically fired. If that isn’t a WTF moment?

  9. route9 on Fri, 15th May 2009 11:55 am

    10. let me tell you something people,the unions have become much more pussified over the last 30 or so years.i’ve been in the po for 35 years and have never seen the unions back as much water as they do today.i don’t know if they’re payoffs or other favors involved..i won’t comment,but i have my own opinions.
    about 35 years ago,i worked at a sectional center[that's what they were called then]..if a supervisor ever got agressive and threatened an employee,there would be repercussions.either that night or later that week.he would find his car minus tires and up on blocks.
    needless to say,the problem vanished and everthing was a ok.no need to waste union and management’s money on a grievance.oh..by the way ,he got his tires back. true story.

  10. kayser sose on Fri, 15th May 2009 2:56 pm

    11. I’ve been in the PO for 29 yrs. Worked with at least 20 stupidvisors. I don’t know the quota, but when they get a certain numbers of grievances, he/she just transfer to another station.

  11. Shut up on Fri, 15th May 2009 3:30 pm

    12. I can’t believe how arrogant most of the craft employees are. Your the first to try and get away with doing as little as possible and yet the first to yell foul when someone holds you accountable to do an honest days work. Your motto should be how much can I get paid for doing the least amount of work. I do agree that this supervisor should have been fired but for you to not be able an look at your own faults is just sad. Don’t look at what everyone else is or is not doing. Work as if you were working for yourself. Make sure your house is in order before you start throwing rocks through someone elses glass house.

  12. route9 on Fri, 15th May 2009 5:39 pm

    13. hey stupid pmg…that’s only one story dickhead.i was just telling you the one everyone could digest and understand.as for a supervi
    sor getting his head handed to him,that’s happened too.as a matter of fact one got moved out of the sectional and wound up where i eventually worked full time.he got banged up pretty bad;but you know what? he turned out to be a good ,decent boss.maybe that’s what you need chump,a good beating.

  13. Union Man on Tue, 19th May 2009 5:58 pm

    14. I am familiar with this case. Management is appealing the decision. The stupidvisor is appealing via MSPB and ELM 650. Basically, the the Arbitrator had no authority over the supervisor. It looks like the PO might win. too bad.. he will probably never go……. :(

  14. mstar75 on Tue, 26th May 2009 5:34 pm

    15. I HAD A 9+ HOUR HEARING BECAUSE A FEMALE CLERK SAYS SHE FEELS THREATEND BY ME , THEN , THE FEMALE SUPER SAY THE SAME , I THINK THE ARBITRATOR BOUGHT THE WHOLE THING .. 18 YEARS AS EMPLOYEE WITH AN UNBEMISHED RECORD , AND THEY WANT TO REMOVE ME !