The question about Postal Employees receiving hazard pay has been elevated to the Industrial Relations Department multiple times. Specifically, it has been rumored that USPS supervisors and managers are receiving hazard pay. The Postal Service has stated that supervisors and managers are not receiving hazard pay. The various supervisor organizations requested hazard pay and it was denied. They also requested additional pay much like they receive during the peak Christmas periods. This was granted. The letters the USPS sent to the employee organizations are attached. We received the following response from Rickey Dean, Manager Contract Administration (APWU) at USPS headquarters, in regards to supervisors and managers receiving hazard pay:
NAPS sent a letter to the PMG requesting hazard pay for all hours worked by ALL employees (bargaining and non-bargaining) and requested additional pay for hours worked of Exempt employees since Exempt employees are salaried employees. Doug’s letter responded that the Postal Service does not have the authority to grant hazard pay and thus didn’t approve the request.
Doug’s [VP Labor Relations Doug Tulino] letter did modify existing pay rules to provide for additional pay of Exempt employees similarly to how exempt employees are compensated during the designated Christmas period. I included the ELM provision below that provides for additional pay, at the straight time rate, for Exempt Managers during the designated Christmas period. The criteria that must be met to receive authorization for additional pay is that the Manager must be supervising bargaining unit employees directly due to COVID related absences of a supervisor. If the supervisor is quarantined and there are no supervisors available, the Exempt manager may be required to work 12-16 hours per day and 6-7 days per week.
ELM Section 434.143 Eligible for FLSA–Exempt EAS Additional Pay
FLSA special exempt employees in EAS–18 positions and below are eligible for EAS additional pay if authorized to work over 8.5 hours on a scheduled day or any hours on a nonscheduled day, even while on a temporary assignment such as to an OIC position. When authorized work exceeds 8.5 hours on a scheduled day, EAS additional pay is received for the first half hour as well as for the authorized work over 8.5 hours. Regular FLSA–exempt employees in EAS–23 positions and below positions except postmasters and officers–in–charge are eligible during the designated Christmas period provided they are authorized to work over 8.5 hours on a scheduled day or any hours on a nonscheduled day and the additional hours are spent directly supervising bargaining unit employees in mail processing or delivery functions.
The APWU is pursuing hazard pay for the employees we represent. The USPS does not have the legal authority to grant hazard pay as they are not authorized by the law that allows federal agencies to grant hazard pay. Presently Hazard pay cannot be negotiated under current laws and regulations. In order for hazard pay to be granted to APWU and any other USPS employee, Congress must enact legislation to allow for it and more importantly, fund it.
The US House of representatives recently passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. This bill grants the USPS postal employees and other essential frontline workers the hazard pay they deserve. It also grants financial relief for revenue the USPS has lost due to COVID-19. This bill, currently waiting action in the Senate, is the only way any postal employee will receive hazard pay. We encourage you to contact your members of Congress, especially your Senators (both parties) to support and pass the HEROES Act quickly and grant you the hazard pay you so deserve.
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