A new wireless badge reader located at each machine or stand-alone sites will be coming to postal facilities in the near future. It will be used by management to identify machine performance opportunities (usually not a good thing for workers). Also, it will let management know who is/was working on what machine, manage productivity and staffing, as well as, monitor and establish employee assignments. [Will it monitor breaks, also?]
In a presentation given to the National Union management claims it will also provide data to resolve disputes and grievances. It was not clear how this will occur. The Badge Reader will, however, be able to issue a report that identifies the machine, its location, an identifier number, operation code, start and end time, and give the name(s) of employee(s) and apparently the output of that employee in what appears to be in 24 minute increments.
“There are no current work standards under Article 34 of the CBA”, says Regional Coordinator Omar Gonzalez. “Just about everyone knows that current data used for staffing is often inaccurate as not everyone working on a particular equipment clocks in on the correct operation. Just how this new reader will impact staffing is my true concern,” said Omar. Information from HQ indicates more meetings on this roll out will be conducted at that level.