Opinion ID: 204770
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Changes to the AFSM-100

Text: Between December 23, 2004ten months prior to the AFSM-100 Settlementand February 8, 2006, USPS provided periodic updates to the national president of APWU regarding planned modifications to the AFSM-100, modifications that could result in the elimination of one to two clerk positions (App. at 319-323) at post offices around the country. In a final letter on February 8, 2006, USPS disclosed specific details regarding the modifications to the AFSM-100, which would consist of two enhancements: an Automated Induction (AI) process and an Automated Tray Handling System (ATHS). AFSM-100 machines receiving both enhancements [3] (which the Trenton Post Office's machines did) would require one person to operate the AI's Load Station, one to four persons to operate the AI's Prep Station, one person to operate the AI's Feed Station, and one person to operate the ATHS. The USPS letter stated that mail handlers would have primary jurisdiction over the Load Station, Prep Station, and ATHS, while clerks would have primary jurisdiction over the Feed Station. Those jurisdictional assignments would result in just one clerk being staffed on modified AFSM-100 machinesobviously far fewer than what is specified in the Trenton Inventory and restated in the AFSM-100 Settlement. The proposed assignments for the newly enhanced AFSM-100 were later disputed by both the national APWU and NPMHU, and those national parties are presently engaged in tripartite discussions to resolve that jurisdictional dispute at the national level. [4]