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Despite calls for overtime at the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center, employees with job-related injuries still are getting locked out, said Jackie Engelhart, president of the American Postal Workers Union’s Northwest Illinois Area Local chapter.
“We’ve got quite a group out of work right now,” Engelhart said Monday.
The employees were told there no longer was work available for them and not to come back unless they are called by post office officials.
Since March, more than 50 employees with job-related injuries have been taken off the job.
However, Sean Hargadon, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service Northern Illinois Region, said the postal service tries to find work for limited-duty personnel within the plant or in other districts. So far, work has been found for 167 employees in the Northern Illinois Region.
“It’s not just a program that walks people off the job because they can’t work,” Hargadon said.
He said because of the decline in mail volume, there is less work available for what employees with job-related injuries can do.
“(Some people) might be getting overtime, but they might be doing enough work for the six or seven who can’t because of the limited work they can do,” he said. “That’s one of the challenges when you’re restricted to such a degree that it limits your ability to adapt.”
Engelhart said union officials already have started filing grievances on behalf of several workers with labor relations.
“We’re obviously not going to resolve these things at the local level because it’s a national plant and they’re just following orders,” she said.
The postal service is projecting a $238 billion shortfall during the next decade because of the decline.
Locally, as a result of a study begun in June, the postal service has made the decision to move originating mail processing operations from the Palatine Processing and Distribution Center to the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center.
The transition began this month and is expected to be completed by July. Some employees might be reassigned to the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center, or to other vacant positions as a result of the move.
Officials said consolidating operations is necessary to keep the postal service viable.
Despite calls for overtime at the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center, employees with job-related injuries still are getting locked out, said Jackie Engelhart, president of the American Postal Workers Union’s Northwest Illinois Area Local chapter.
“We’ve got quite a group out of work right now,” Engelhart said Monday.
The employees were told there no longer was work available for them and not to come back unless they are called by post office officials.
Since March, more than 50 employees with job-related injuries have been taken off the job.
However, Sean Hargadon, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service Northern Illinois Region, said the postal service tries to find work for limited-duty personnel within the plant or in other districts. So far, work has been found for 167 employees in the Northern Illinois Region.
“It’s not just a program that walks people off the job because they can’t work,” Hargadon said.
He said because of the decline in mail volume, there is less work available for what employees with job-related injuries can do.
“(Some people) might be getting overtime, but they might be doing enough work for the six or seven who can’t because of the limited work they can do,” he said. “That’s one of the challenges when you’re restricted to such a degree that it limits your ability to adapt.”
Engelhart said union officials already have started filing grievances on behalf of several workers with labor relations.
“We’re obviously not going to resolve these things at the local level because it’s a national plant and they’re just following orders,” she said.
The postal service is projecting a $238 billion shortfall during the next decade because of the decline.
Locally, as a result of a study begun in June, the postal service has made the decision to move originating mail processing operations from the Palatine Processing and Distribution Center to the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center.
The transition began this month and is expected to be completed by July. Some employees might be reassigned to the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center, or to other vacant positions as a result of the move.
Officials said consolidating operations is necessary to keep the postal service viable.
