Maximum Hours Rights: Springfield
by Union Steward Alec Helwig
I received a special request to make a post about Springfield’s maximum hours rights, so I’m going to lay this out and break it down like a fraction to make sure you’re equipped to use your rights at work. By the end of this I hope you have the education on your rights, the precedence set, and that you’re empowered to say “NO” to working beyond your maximum hours.
Now, let’s get into it.
ODL Carriers in Springfield
You may clock out at your maximum hours of 12 working hours in a day (12.5 hours total with a lunch) and/or 60 hours in a week without disciplinary consequence. This is set forth in numerous Step B decisions and has been signed in agreement by all members of management in Springfield. Management held several stand-ups about this locally last autumn, but I’m sure did not follow it up or make sure that everyone understood what’s happening.
When you are getting close to reaching your daily maximum 12 working hours, pack up and go to the office. Request and fill out a PS Form 1571 (curtailment slip, it’s pretty easy once you see it). You cannot be forced to work beyond your maximum hours.
When you are getting close to reaching your weekly maximum 60 hours, let management know in the morning how much time you have left and let them plan for it. Be sure to come back to the office, document what you bring back with a PS Form 1571, and split for the day. You should be paid for any time left in your scheduled day, so watch your virtual time card. So, if you reach your maximum hours at 12pm and your scheduled End Tour is at 4 you will be paid 4 hours of guaranteed pay. This is evidenced on page 8-19 of the Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) and in C-07323.
You are governed and protected by Article 8.5.G of the National Agreement. It reads like this:
“G. Full-time employees not on the “Overtime Desired” list may be required to work overtime only if all available employees on the “Overtime Desired” list have worked up to twelve (12) hours in a day or sixty (60) hours in a service week. Employees on the “Overtime Desired” list:
1. may be required to work up to twelve (12) hours in a day and sixty (60) hours in a service week (subject to payment of penalty overtime pay set forth in Section 4.D for contravention of Section 5.F); and
2. excluding December, shall be limited to no more than twelve (12) hours of work in a day and no more than sixty (60) hours of work in a service week.
However, the Employer is not required to utilize employees on the “Overtime Desired” list at the penalty overtime rate if qualified employees on the “Overtime Desired” list who are not yet entitled to penalty overtime are available for the overtime assignment.”
Non-ODL (Work Assignment and No-Overtime)
You may clock out at your daily maximum of 10 working hours without disciplinary consequence. This has been awarded in Step B grievance resolutions for the Springfield MO installation. This is hot off the presses from March 11, 2025, and is effective immediately.
When you are getting close to reaching your daily maximum 10 working hours, pack up and go to the office. Request and fill out a PS Form 1571. You cannot be forced to work beyond your maximum hours.
You are governed and protected by Article 8.5.F of the National Agreement. It reads like this:
“F. Excluding December, no full-time regular employee will be required to work overtime on more than four (4) of the employee’s five (5) scheduled days in a service week or work over ten (10) hours on a regularly scheduled day, over eight (8) hours on a non-scheduled day, or over six (6) days in a service week.”
Contractual Backup
Here’s the info you need to know when invoking your rights;
· Article 8.5.F of the National Agreement establishes maximum 10 working hours for Non-ODL carriers (that’s Work Assignment and 8 hours only).
· Article 8.5.G of the National Agreement establishes maximum 12 daily working hours and 60 weekly working hours for ODL carriers.
· Article 15 of the National Agreement is about our grievance resolution process, and establishes that Step B decisions are precedent setting in an installation: all offices in Springfield are part of the Springfield Installation. Compliance with signed grievance resolutions is not optional as per Postal Policy.
· The Step B resolutions for local grievances SWA11292024AH1, SWA12022024AH1, SWA12062024AH1, SWA12272024AH1, and SWA01032025AH1 states that management is in agreement that carriers may clock out at any applicable workhour limit. (This does not apply to the 8 hour list as it is not a maximum established. Yeah, I know, but the contract and present grievance resolutions don’t support that.)
· There are many more resolutions on the way.
Working Over Your Maximums Does You No Favors
When you work over your maximum hours you potentially open yourself up for discipline. The first thing management is arguing when we grieve maximum hours violations is that carriers have been instructed to not exceed their maximum hours, and they are trying to place blame on the carrier. Don’t give them a reason to issue you discipline for this. If you are wanting extra overtime beyond 12 hours then you’ll love the new ODL list work hours “negotiated” by President Brian Renfroe; you’ll be able to sign up for as much work as you want in lieu of paying carriers a living wage. Stay tuned for that implementation. As you can tell, I’m not excited about that.
Exceptions
You’ll notice that the maximum hours are excluded in December! ODL carriers have no daily or weekly maximums during December. Work Assignment don’t have any either as long as they stay on their route, if they are moved off of their route then their maximums are 11.5 working hours for the day in accordance with ELM 432.32.
Need these rights in your office, you’re a member of Branch 203, but you’re not in Springfield?
Start requesting steward time when you’re forced to work beyond your maximum hours. We will happily come represent you and work to get this precedent set in your office.
END
That’s a lot to read, I hope you got something out of this. If you like this kind of info, let Alec know and follow NALC Branch 203 on Facebook. Thanks for tuning in.