APWU President Mark Dimondstein has issued the following update on contract negotiations:
As we say in our union, “The Struggle Continues…” And our struggle to secure a new Collective Bargaining Agreement continues as well.
The mediation process, which began in June under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, is drawing to a close.
Mediation is designed to facilitate a voluntary agreement between the union and management, but up this point, there has been no substantial progress.
If mediation fails to result in an agreement, the next step is “interest arbitration,” where each side makes its case before an arbitration panel. Arbitration awards are final and binding.
The APWU National Negotiating Committee, the union’s attorneys, and much of the resources of our organization have been focused on preparing for arbitration. This includes consultation with economists and postal workers alike. These efforts have been coordinated by the Industrial Relations Department.
The timetable is hard to predict, but if mediation doesn’t result in an agreement soon, I expect that the USPS and the APWU will choose an arbitration panel and begin the initial arbitration hearings by mid-November.
Interest arbitration takes time. In 2000, the last time we engaged in the process, it took 13 months to complete.
In the meantime, the doors are open for further informal discussions with management. If we can reach a voluntary agreement that is principled and fair to postal workers and the public, we will do so. If not, arbitration will run its course.
We will keep you informed as events unfold.
In the meantime, your involvement is essential. Postal management takes note of how many people are wearing union T-shirts, buttons, armbands and stickers, and how many people are participating in rallies and other activities. They take it as a measure of the union’s strength.
So please wear your union gear every Thursday to let management know we stand together for Good Postal Service! Good Jobs! Good Contract Now!
Well put Tommy Gun
The union leadership,with its 6 figure salaries has failed to notify the people paying those unjustified salaries , exactly what we are asking for and what the usps is offering. Their only true concern is for people not even born yet, so their salaries will be safe for many decades to come. WORRY ABOUT THE PRESENT EMPLOYEES THAT ARE KEEPING YOU IN YOUR CUSHY JOBS!!!!! FULL TRANSPARENT DISCLOUSURE SHOULD BE YOUR ONLY PRIORITY!!!!
Guys believe me our union is doing a great and wonderful job. If not for the union the Postal Service would pay us $14 per hour without no night time pay, no Sunday Premium, not as good Medical Benefits and Etc….
The Postal Service Also wants to take away our COLA, and the union will not hear this. So if we go to Arbitration as I think we will go maybe they give us 2% raise or 1.5% for Three years with no elimination in COLA and or Sunday Premium , so that’s a big big win for us. Remember we are earning $60,000 per year plus OT and believe me I have friends working in the private world as mailroom clerks in major company’s only making $25,000 per year with no OT and paying into a lot with Medical. Our union is great at the local level too (1022)
With Ron Suslack and Company.
Up sounds like our UNION leaders forgot to put on their big boy pants again! I haven’t seen anything worth staying in the limp dick union! Postal Mgt. are doing what they want, when they want, whenever they want.
And upper Mgt. are down sizing the smaller PO’s and wanting more & more everyday.
27 years in and I can’t wait to be a Wal-Mart greeter! (9 more years)
Does anyone actually know what the union is asking for in negioations? Nope…… just stand together brothers….. give us your dues and don’t worry about what each side wants…… yup- 1% raise again…… carriers see above and you know what to expect as well
We all know that the post office will not give us a contract but we should be glad that the union has not accepted their offers either. I am not a big union fan but they are better than nothing. I guess they have to wait until the so called mediation is complete just to say they tried.
great another one percent raise. so much for union muscle.
You’re being sarcastic, but if it weren’t for union muscle you wouldn’t even have a job. And even if you did have a job you’d be making about 10 bucks an hour. You can complain about what you don’t have because the union can’t get it for you, but you’re an idiot if you can’t see all of the things that you have just because of the union.
LET ME LINE UP SOME UNION OFFICIALS ASSES FOR YOU TO KISS!!!!
u’ll be goin to arbitration and u can bet the house on it!!
What about the plant closures or consolidation? R they indefinitely postponed? Was the Queens,NY P&D.C. the sacrificial LAMB? Anyone want 2 guess?
Why not just move on to interest arbitration now? This is just a waste of time as Megan Brennan and management negotiators have no interest in settling at the bargaining table and did this last time with the unions, after six months of “negotiations” bring on arbitration.