Washington DC– With less than nine (9) months before negotiations begin over a new contract, management is signaling probable targets for hard bargaining.
On the bargaining table will likely be health benefits, pay, leave, holidays and work flexibility.
The current collective bargaining agreement covering hours, wages and working conditions for over 200,000 postal workers expires on May 15, 2015. Contract talks usually begin 60 days before
Revealing Their Hand
The PMG has not made it a secret that he wants and plans on changing retirement and health benefits beyond seeking more worker contributions.
A recent “White Paper” offered insight on the thought process of USPS especially in light of management ‘s mantra that USPS is financially deep in debt caused mainly because it is labor intensive.
Approximately 434,000 postal workers are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) while about 50,000 fall under the old Civil Service Retirement System.
Article 28 of the current contract applies provisions of the law (Chap 83 and 84 Title 5 US Code) to postal employees.
Although the White Paper requested by postal management makes it clear USPS does not have the authority to change retirement benefits for their employees, it included a strategy of sorts for union negotiations.
One such strategy is to openly communicate pension issues and costs with the unions so that negotiations are encouraged. “Good luck with management being trans-parent on anything, “ said Western Regional Coordinator Omar Gonzalez. “Whether the bosses actually submit proposals to alter our plans remains to be seen. The point is that they are preparing.”
However, management does have a current plot to change the retirement plan for new hires.
Health Plans Targeted
The PMG continues to claim –80% of total costs is for labor with 48% of that chalked up to federal benefits.
The PMG has also targeted employee Health Plans. Management acknowledges that in order to change the plans it requires union agreement so they want Congress to first impose a Postal Health Plan in 2015.
Management claims the current federal programs exceed the standard of comparability to private sector employees. The PMG’s desired “Postal Health Plan” is supposed to incorporate participation in Medicare.
The USPS Strategic Initiatives Plan openly calls for a Postal Health Plan. The proposals, to be submitted for contract talks, if not sooner, will reveal the full extent in which management is willing to go during negotiations. Usually management seeks increased employee contribution and will likely seek even more from workers in 2015.
Altered Leave Program
Another “White Paper” recently released again points out management’s claim that employee costs is the largest part of total expenses. [ However this paper reflects a more accurate percentage of 76 % not 80% which includes managerial pay too ]
This report requested by management targets Leave. Under current law USPS is required to offer benefits similar to those of the private sector. USPS provides leave benefits resembling the federal sector.
According to the paper the bosses cut annual leave and sick leave for non craft employees and executives but offers what are called Paid-Time-Off (PTO) programs.
Article 10 of the current contract provides that management is to continue funding the current leave earning level during the duration of the CBA,Article 10 Sec 2 also provides that the Employee Labor Relations Manual Chap 510 remains in effect for the life of the contract.
PTOs, however, can reduce the number of days off allotted and eliminate categories of leave such as sick and annual leave. The “white paper” recognizes union negotiations on this matter would be difficult and will likely need a major trade off.
Internal Preparedness
Ironically USPS does not usually live up to the Stamp issued years ago. Usually its all “conflict”.
Thousands of postal workers expressed their disdain for the 2010 CBA which gave up $3 billion in concessions to management. So far the National Executive Board, except for a historic slide show, has not been given any indication of the Union’s strategy, concepts or even what the Union will seek in contract talks.
By Omar Gonzalez, APWU Western Region Coordinator
we really can’t make an informed decision until “All Your TSP Belong To Us !” chimes in and whines about it.
So far Dimondstein’s words and actions indicate he’s into as many photo opps as he can get. Demonstrating at Staples stores will not (I repeat) NOT get him or anyone else any jobs. It is designed to impress the younger rookies that recently came on board and have no clue about unions. As for the Motor Vehicle Craft, the one person that led the charge that destroyed your craft is now your prez…go figure. Who knew?
Just pay by volume!!! Simple solution! !!
Dimondstein and the leadership are already planning for arbitration.Bring it on!
All the APWU has to do (AGAIN) is scare their members into thinking that it is more likely, than not, that Arbitration will lead to a loss of the “no lay-off” language in the CBA, and the lemmings will rush to overwhelmingly ratify another POS contract; no matter how bad it is! The merer threat of the possibility of lay-off’s sends the membership into a complete and total panic.
Just what does management plan on giving up on the next contract?
will they pay for their Health Insurance ,or any part of it?
Can we have a new PMG ? After all these years he say’s we are still losing money,why should he keep his job?
@Sac MVS-All of the PTF’s under the APWU contract were supposed to be converted to regulars,unfortunately,most of them only had part-time NTFT bids available to them thanks to Guffey and the stupidity of the members who voted to ratify the CBA.
Let’s just get a contract extension for the APWU requiring that we will do the APWU contract bargaining AFTER the carriers and mailhandlers settle their contracts.
2011 Stats – ups 66%
– fedex 45%
It always turns my stomach when I see the words “Like the private sector.” In the private sector most of the big companies don’t offer benefits.Mcdonalds, walmart, K-mart,and others have little to no health plans or they’re employees are part-time and don’t qualify. They make huge profits and use they’re employees like bar rags. People like our PMG are scum bags, who don’t care about employees making a living wage or having access to good health benefits or a decent retirement. When employees have good benefits they work harder and appreciate them because when you have these benefits it not only is making the employee feel secured but also they’re families. Donahue and his minions don’t get it or they do but driving the PO out of business is they’re goal, so they can sell off Postal properties to friends so they can huge sums.Let’s hope the unions prvail in contract negotiations.
I mostly just want to see our old PTF’s converted to regulars and guaranteed 40 hours a week. Throw in Consecutive Days off and I might vote yes on the contract. But I think this time I will for sure vote NO.
Management is part of the overall labor costs as well…it’s not just craft and or bargaining unit employees. Let’s not forget that part of equation.
So far Dimondstein’s words and actions indicate he’s no Donahoe stooge and will fight for the members,unlike the previous union president who let management walk all over him and has put all of the unions in a tough bargaining position for the next contract,we shall see.
Get ready for the lying games by the management, let them freeze their own wages.
Yes the USPS is 80 percent labor because it is a labor business. Ask UPS and FED EX what pecentage of their business is labor. Who do think moves the mail? Management?
All unions should watch this round of negotiations carefully. What the USPS asks for here they’ll want with the rest of us. Donohoe will be out for blood, and their intent to screw around with leave is just the tip of the iceberg. The APWU is a weak ineffective union, brought to its knees for its notorious lack of balls and eagerness to cave in to management, as they usually do. It’s always the NALC who forces them into arbitration while the others bend over.
As long as Donohoe is in charge, contract negotiations will be a disaster, and if the APWU ever grows a spine they’ll try for arbitration through a fair minded arbitrator. Anybody expecting a fair negotiation process is a manager or an exceptional idiot, or both.
ENOUGH! We should be able to STRIKE like other unions.
the union will seek more ways to collect dues . these ways will include sticking it to the older members by getting more pse on the roles.
the union will seek more ways to collect dues . these ways will include sticking it to the older members by getting more psa on the roles.