12/21/2018 – The Collective Bargaining Agreement (Union Contract) between the American Postal Workers Union and the United States Postal Service initially expired on September 20, 2018. Negotiations began in July with a big kick off and national day of action during which many of you participated as together we are “Fighting Today for a Better Tomorrow!” Since our contract expired there have been four extensions of negotiations in an effort to reach a voluntary agreement.
As your president, taking general guidance from the National Negotiating Committee, I led in reaching a tentative agreement with management on December 6, 2018. I believe it to be fair and positive for the members.
The APWU Constitution has a democratic process where any tentative agreement goes to the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee for acceptance and their decision whether to send it to the membership for a ratification vote.
The Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee had some serious concerns with the tentative agreement and sent it back to the APWU National leadership to reopen negotiations with management and attempt to address their concerns.
We did just that in two meetings on Wednesday December 19, 2018 and follow up discussions on Thursday December 20th. However, we were unable to reach any changes or new agreements with the Postal Service. The APWU and USPS are now at “impasse.”
Next Steps
Interest Arbitration will now be the next major step. Our future wages, benefits and working conditions will be determined by an outside arbitrator. During this period both sides can continue discussions and, if possible, reach new tentative agreements. The APWU National leadership is committed to the goal of reaching a voluntary agreement that addresses the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee’s concerns and can be put before the membership for a ratification vote.
The APWU will be fully prepared to present a solid case in interest arbitration to back up our demands and protect the many gains of the past. The union has already been preparing for such a possible outcome and preparations will continue full steam ahead. We will also consider invoking the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) process prior to interest arbitration. Interest arbitration is a slow process and can take many months of preparation, hearings and adjudication.
It is important to remember that almost all the provisions, rights and benefits contained in the current union contract remain in full force and effect until we obtain a new contract. This includes the no lay-off protections for those career employees with six years of employment. The MOU “Re: Retail” with a moratorium of any expansion of CPUs, VPOs and Approved Shipper programs. (page 337 of the CBA) and the MOU providing lay-off protection for the life of the contract for career employees who had not yet reached their six years of employment (p 274 of the CBA) have both ended due to their specified expiration date.
Past APWU President Moe Biller always said, “the struggle continues.” And so, it does.
Negotiations and interest arbitration are fluid and challenging. They are not helped by rumors, half-truths, fabrications, innuendos and accusations.
Let’s make sure we stay united and strong as APWU family, wear your union gear with pride and keep those Contract Action Teams on the move. The battle for a new and decent contract is far from over!
I have called my NBA’s about the contract and ask the same thing that we all want to know what & why we could not come to a agreement. Let the members know what is going on it’s our union and we deserve to know. Come on Mark tell ley the members know something.
I will be calling National on Wednesday and ask what is going on and demand the membership be informed.
In Solidarity
What is being done to get rid of the Windfall Elimination Provision which robs csrs retirees of their SSI. This is a horrible crime being perpetrated on innocent retirees.
Mike Hunt-Trump is not our dictator,he can sign an executive order abolishing collective bargaining any time he wants.it won’t be valid since Congress has to change the rules and get an anti-union bill passed,extremely unlikely since the House is shifting to Democratic control on Jan.3rd and any anti-worker legislation from the Republicans will be quashed while he’s still in office.
Let me make myself clear… We’ll still have a Union and collective bargaining, but the Union won’t be able to negotiate salaries of the craft employees.
If Trump can freeze Federal workers wages, he could do this also.
Translation: “We haven’t come to agreement on the amount we’ll receive in bribes and kickbacks for screwing the membership over. Again.”
The APWU hierarchy believe they know better than you or I and that there are some things that better left unsaid….hence the secrecy from Diamondstein. Aint dat right brutha Larry?
Too bad the union members will never know what the contract Diamondstein thought was “fair” was all about. You’ll get the standard 1% like the city carriers will get too. Nothing changes in this business including Trumps Task Force. Been trying to get rid of collective bargaining for years. 10 years from now we will still be talking about the same things. Enjoy APWU.
Same old same old. I am glad I got out of this bs. Never trusted the apwu as everything that is important to the members is always cloaked in secrecy. As most recent retirees know, this contract will give current employees a minimal raise. No better benefits and the rhetoric that “the colas are a substantial part of the raise process
“. Of course cola increases are never guaranteed. Oh and of course substantial betterment for the pse employee. Ask yourself..have raises and colas beaten the true cost of living for employees that have maxed the pay scales? Anyways hopes and prayers for those that have to live with the arbitration result.
Let us not be confused: the rejection by the rank and file comittiee, not rejctions, was Article 8 (OT). There are NOT enough employee to process the work load and NOT enough revenue to process the influx of parcels . The carrying of parcel for a fixed cost and NOT a variable cost is causing problems. The USPS has painted itself into a box , too much volume, not enough employees , and not enough profit
This s… is all smoke and mirrors. The tentative agreement will never be revealed. These mf’s are taking our dues and acting like we don’t exist. If the union president thought it was a good deal why does it need to be discussed further? If he made a bad decision, then maybe we need a new president.
Yes, WE DEMAND THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BE placed on the website. NOW.
Diamondstein=Goofey. Same bullshit, different year.
Our Das Fuhrer wants to take collective bargaining away from Postal employees. He thinks that all workers should work as told by management, except little pay, and have zero benefits. In the 1880’s workers in Chicago stood up and fought for better pay and working conditions. The men were paid $1.50 per day for a ten hour work day, while women were paid.75 cents per hour for their ten hour work day! Reverend Philip Moody in the 1880’s went around the country giving speeches saying that workers ” Should realize that when business pays workers vast sums for their work, the day must be for ten hours. Business can’t afford to pay big wages for only eight hour work days. Workers must understand they can enjoy the fruits of their labor in heaven” So work for nothing and wait till your dead to be paid. President Eisenhower vetoed six pay bills in the 50’s. That is what Postal employee’s are to go back to?
Postal management is just stonewalling the process until Trump can sign the executive order taking away collective bargaining from postal workers….there won’t be another contract.
Moe Biller is turning over in his grave….the struggle is just beginning.
A pay cut for the union hierarchy? LMAO! They will first cut salaries of their secretary staff in Wash DC right Larry?
Trump is not our Dictator, any executive order abolishing collective bargaining won’t be valid.Only Congress can change the rules and since the Democrats are taking over Jan.3rd no anti-union,anti-worker legislation will come out of this Congress while he’s still in office.
not sure he can do that
Is this the same Union that’s pushing legislation mandating postal retiree’s to pay for medicare because the PO is not in good financial shape….maybe it’s time for the Union and it’s membership to take a cut in pay and benefits to help the post office!
And when does the membership get to see what the negotiated settlement on Dec 6 by the union president was…….sure would be nice not to be kept in the dark.
Incredibly hard to trust anyone these days…..the membership doesn’t pay dues to be kept in the dark……..Maybe what was negotiated on Dec. 6 was great or maybe the president is incompetent…..Maybe the rank and file committee is corrupt…. Who knows???? Better yet ….Who cares!
If you are that unhappy with the Union, go get on of those wonderful Amazon job So!
I have listened to these bullshit artists like Dimondstein for over 30 years as a Postal Worker. What a shame that they take our Union Dues and deliver nothing but less than 40 hours is Full-Time, Higher Health Benefits,
oh and don’t forget the 1% raise. They love to tout their wins for the employee but stop listening to the bull and look further that I just got a raise and am making more per hour. You are also paying more Dues everytime you get a raise, higher medical coverage rates, less security in the workplace and most of all more power being given to management with each and every contract.
I’d like to know what the RAF Bargaining Committe’s concerns were? Pres. Dimondstein’s “disclaimer” seems to indicate disagreement with them. I’d also be interested to compare the differences between the initial tentative agreement and the subsequent arbitration, purely in the interest of full disclosure in regards to the “democratic process.”
I, along with all other members in my Local, would like to know what exactly the rank and File committee didn’t like about the tentative agreement. A lot of the rumors, half-truths, fabrications, innuendos and accusations would not come about with a little more transparency.
Odd. Never saw that coming. Same story. Another contract.
WHAT WAS THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON DEC 6TH??? as members of APWU we would like to know what and why the advisory committee REJECTED IT..ARE we hiding something for the members ,AGAIN..?
I think it would be nice if the union gave the rank and file a glimpse of what was the major issues in the tentative agreement. Were going to arbitration,so it’s going to be known anyway by others. Why all the secrets Diamondstein?
WTH!!!!!
Make the managers open the books and you will find that the contracts are offered to former associates of managers and postmasters first!!!….Some of these contract go exclusively to these people!!!
The contracts are no-bid, tax-free, perpetual contracts that have never been monitored or audited !!!
Read my Facebook page and the book titled,
Going Postal, The Story Behind the Forever Stamp….
The book is on Amazon…