Allow me to tell you about myself. I was born and raised in San Francisco, California, home of the 5-time Super Bowl Champs, and 2-time World Series Champions.  

During the Vietnam War I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to serve my country.  After I was honorably discharged from the Marines I joined the San Francisco Fire Department as a Fireman.

During testing there were over 8,000 applicants, and I came out number 36. As we all know firefighting is a dangerous job, and several years later, after being injured in the line of duty I was forced to take a disability retirement from the San Francisco Fire Department. During natural disasters I report to disaster service centers for assignment.

 After rehabilitation I began my career with the US Postal Service.  I joined the APWU during orientation, and have been a proud member of San Francisco Local 2 for over 20 years. 

In 1997 I became a shop steward for the MVO craft in San Francisco. I have served as Assistant MVO Director and MVO Director. I was appointed to be a California State Arbitration Advocate in 2005.

In 2013, I was elected as the National Business Agent for the Western Region Motor Vehicle Craft. 

I received training and completed the course of training at an Injury Compensation Specialist seminar given by the Department of Labor in Washington DC.  I have taken many workers compensation cases from claim to hearing, and have experience at all levels of the worker’s compensation process.

In December 2009 I was sent home by management under the NRP after management claimed no work available that matched my medical restrictions.  Because of my off duty status, I felt that I should not continue as MVO Director while at home, and did not run in 2010.

I continued to file grievances, and do arbitration's while off work.  In 2009 I filed a NLRB charge on the US Postal Service that resulted in the strongest consent order ever issued against the USPS, and included a fine of $17,500 per violation, and $300 per day until requested information is supplied.  

I filed non-compliance charges in 2011, and as a result the USPS was found in contempt of the consent order and fined $50,000 for violating the consent order twice, once in 2012 and once in 2014.

While off duty at home I also filed grievances for employees sent home under the National Reassessment Program. I took the cases to arbitration and won full back pay for lost wages, holidays, overtime, and annual and sick leave. Since that time each employee in the San Francisco MVS Craft that was sent home under no work available, has been returned to work, with settlements under these same terms.

Also during my time off, I felt it was important to further my education instead of sitting around wasting time.  I enrolled in Solano Community College, and when I returned to work in 2011, I didn’t return empty handed.  I had obtained a degree, and graduated with high honors.

I was inducted into the PHI THETA KAPPA society, which is an international scholastic order for two year colleges, for students with a GPA of 3.50 or over.  My GPA was 3.87.

As a vigorous fighter to protect the rights of Motor Vehicle craft employees, I have insight of how the USPS continually ignores the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and manipulates issues. 

I understand the continuing fight that we have concerning our jobs being contracted out. When the USPS decided to contract out California PVS, President Guffey created a committee to stop this action. I was honored to be appointed by President Guffey to be a part of this committee and contribute to the solution. 

During my first term I have worked to advance Motor Vehicle craft interests, while at the same time using my knowledge and experience to provide the professional oversight and dedication needed to preserve the full range of benefits that we have historically enjoyed. 

I have returned many employees to work after being unjustly terminated, had contracted work returned to the craft in multiple installations, settled thousands of cases, and fought for member’s rights on a daily basis.

We are facing difficult times in the postal service with the constant attacks on our jobs, and our livelihood.  The new contract will determine our future for the next 4 years and hopefully this contract that will be beneficial to us and our families.

The Postal service is constantly evolving and with it, we must move the MVS Craft forward and into the future. As such, the duties of local craft directors and stewards are continually changing, intertwined between policing the contract, representing our members, and protecting our work. We receive a large amount of grievances in the Pacific area and the Western region constantly. 

While we have had a few successes in arbitration, our biggest success has come at pre-arbing, and step 3 settlements.  While we can get a decision on one case at arbitration, I can settle 40-50 cases at step 3 each time I meet.  I don’t believe that I can arbitrate my way out of the large amount of cases that come in weekly.  Last year we resolved over 1500 cases at step 3, and in the Western area there is currently not one case at step 3 that is over 45 days old. 

I have taken many cases to Arbitration since my election, but the case load remains very large.  I know that I cannot significantly reduce the case load by arbitration only, so I have engaged in having Pre-arbitration meetings with each area of representation, and have settled hundreds of cases that would still be on the arbitration waiting list.

I have been on the front lines mixing it up with management officials from supervisors to Plant managers for many years with great success. 

 As a trucker, I understand the problems that we are confronted with on a daily basis. I also understand our biggest fight concerning our jobs being contracted out, and I know that we have a long and hard road ahead.

I would like continue to be part of the solution. I have knowledge, education, desire and the heart to help our Union to continue to fight for the rights of our members.

I ask your support to re-elect me as Western Region National Business Agent for the Motor Vehicle Craft. 

JEROME PITTMAN: Expertise Based on Experience