Understanding The Bread Racks

Russ Seibert

I keep hearing the question, “Why isn’t Russ doing ET work?”

Let’s clear that up.

About ten years ago, management bypassed a qualified ET for overtime. We filed the grievance, and at Step 2 management put something in writing they can’t escape: assigning someone who isn’t “qualified” is “unsafe for the employee and those around them.” I immediately recognized how powerful that language was and preserved it.

Then I pushed management to define what “qualified” meant. Their answer was NCED training on that specific equipment. That definition became leverage. From that point forward, whenever management tried assigning employees to equipment they weren’t properly trained on — or tried disciplining someone after something went wrong — I used management’s own written words to defend the craft.

That’s enforcement. That’s strategy. That’s how you protect people long term.

Later, when management tried cutting prescription safety glasses, I fought it. When they attempted to cut corners on Lockout/Tagout procedures, I refused to perform unsafe work. They demoted me for standing on OSHA standards. I filed complaints. OSHA issued a serious violation and fined USPS, and the safety glasses program was reinstated. I filed an EEO complaint and was returned to the ET position.

When management failed to properly qualify me within the contractual timeframe, they lost the ability to force certain assignments. They created the language. I made them live by it.

So when you see me repairing bread racks, understand this: by contract, ET incorporates all lower maintenance classifications. All work is ET work.

Real union leadership isn’t about slogans or sounding tough. It’s about knowing the contract, using management’s own words, and being willing to take the hits when it matters.

I’m not here to impress management. I’m here to enforce the contract and protect the craft — even when it costs me.

Russ Seibert
Maintenance Craft Director