photo credit: APWU
11/04/2015 – The APWU won an important legal victory on Nov. 4 when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled unanimously that Staples cannot intervene in hearings on charges that the USPS illegally subcontracted work to the office-supply chain.
“The ruling is very significant,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.
If Staples had been allowed to intervene, it could appeal rulings – independent of the Postal Service – and exponentially complicate the litigation.
“With Staples’ deep pockets, they could have appealed the case all the way to the Supreme Court, even if the Postal Service chose not to,” Dimondstein said.
“It’s long past time for the Postal Service to end its dirty deal with Staples and stop efforts to privatize retail operations,” Dimondstein added.
Administrative Law Judge Paul Bogas granted Staples’ request to participate as a full party to the case when the hearings began in August, but the APWU and the NLRB General Counsel appealed the ruling.
“The APWU deplores the ongoing collusion between the Postal Service and Staples to transfer the work of highly-trained USPS employees who are accountable to the people of the country to low-paid Staples employees,” Dimondstein said at the time. “This ploy enriches Staples executives while advancing the privatization of the public Postal Service,” he added.
The August hearings continued on Nov. 2 and 3, and were dominated by disputes over documents subpoenaed by the NLRB and the APWU. In response to subpoenas, the Postal Service provided the NLRB with more than 90,000 records and withheld thousands more it deemed confidential and/or covered by attorney-client privilege. Thousands of documents were given to the union as well.
“The APWU will continue to fight with everything we’ve got in the legal arena,” Dimondstein said. “But we also know that the best way to secure victory is to spread word of the Stop Staples campaign and the boycott of Staples and Quill.com,” he said.
Everything offered at Staples could and should be done at our own offices. But no, we shortened our hours and tell customers to go there
BOYCOTT STAPLES!
That the USPS management broke laws to try to force privatization demonstrates they have no intention of ever being honest or reliable in their business dealings with anybody. We have got to figure out a way to stop this insanity and greed, and outside going through Congress and embarrassing them publicly I’m at a loss how to stop them because we as employees are forbidden to criticize management publicly and instead have to settle for anonymous posts and social media.
Dimondstein does appear to have some balls, unlike the heads of the other unions. One would have thought the NALC might have been much more vocal in supporting the APWU because we’re all affected, but typically Rolando remains silent, and I can tell you this, didn’t get very many votes of confidence when they applauded the new PMG ogre shortly after she started her job. Brennan was one of the “masterminds” behind closing plants, reducing service standards and encouraging Staples. I think that is tantamount to postal treason for a postmaster general to knowingly and deliberately do things that hurt its employees, but since, and I truly believe this, the high level postal “officials” are all on the take and dipping their beaks into the postal budget illegally, such details are of no concern to these crooks.
Another problem some of us face is with our legislators, especially those who are Republican. All mine, the U.S. Representative who adores Michelle Bachmann and Scott Walker, and the two Senators are GOP and couldn’t give a rat’s ass less about the future of mail service or the well being of its craft employees. In their sick twisted insular world, it’s all managers, CEO’s, bank presidents, Wall Street Execs and the like who make the country work, when it’s that bunch who is killing us for money. I have had to write to Congresspersons or Senators from out of state who are at least nominally democrats.
Oh, but the Postal Service invites your comments and really cares about your input! Just get on postalblue and find out how much they care, and note you have to identify yourself first. I’m sure the next round of the VOE or Postal Pulse will be considered honestly just like the last ones were.
Our real problem is the total equal retardation of ideolugues,both on the political left and the political right,who r unable 2 abandon outdated,disproving ideas. And especially ineffective actions. And these mentally deficient humans r most prevelent in out D.C. House and Senate.
The plan with Staples pushed by our pal Pat Downthehole, was the dreamed up to start the process to privatize the Postal Service. Just think, Postal employees could be replaced by $7.50 per hour part time employees! More economic redistribution, money going from well paid employees to business big time bastards and investors. That is how you build a strong country, concentrate the wealth of a nation into the hands of a few. And let the many do without! Psychiatrists have said when one hoards items it is an disorder. However, in America, it is just fine for one to hoard money.
I’m totally on board with wtodd!
If u really cost Staples money,they will probably just drop their agreements with USPS. But,if the business partnership is dropped with Staples,it will lead to fewer USPS customers;especially 4 highly profitable parcels. This is hardly beneficial 2 any postal-workers. And just 4 ur information Dimondstein,the leading businesses is in 2015 r companies,such a Amazon and Google,not Staples or Walmart.