APWU Web News Article #029-14, Feb. 14, 2014
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Playing a protracted game of hide-and-seek, the USPS and Staples are refusing to come clean about the pilot program that outsources postal retail work to the office-supply chain.
The USPS brushed off the union’s Nov. 22, 2013, 27-point request for information, claiming most of the requests were “overly broad” in scope, “unduly burdensome” or that the information sought was of a “proprietary and/or confidential nature.”
On some matters the Postal Service also said the union must first “explain the relevance” of the requested information to the union’s responsibility. Much of the information the USPS did provide was redacted.
The union challenged the Postal Service’s response, and has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations.
“We have a right to this information,” APWU President Mark Dimondstein said, “and we are going after it. But make no mistake: We are not going to win this fight by filing charges or submitting grievances.
“We will only win if the members of the APWU and people of the country are willing to fight for a vibrant, public Postal Service.”
Staples Too
Postal workers also got the brush-off from Staples’ corporate headquarters.
In a Nov. 25 letter to Staples CEO Ron Sargent, the union president said, “The APWU supports expanding postal services to the people of this country and under the right circumstances we could support this program.
“However, we have some serious concerns that need to be discussed and addressed.” Dimondstein offered to meet in Washington or at a mutually agreeable date at the Staples headquarters, but the CEO refused.
“As a matter of policy,” the company responded, “Staples does not discuss the terms of vendor agreements with third parties. Given this policy, we think it is appropriate for you to discuss your concerns directly with the U.S. Postal Service.”
Union members who wrote to Staples got a similar response.
What are they trying to hide?
And…in the meantime…APWU spent union dues to send Director Steve Raymer to Bogota Columbia last week for the fourth UNI Americas Post and Logistics Conference.
the workers from the great state of tennessee, who work at volkswagen usa, just told the union to pound salt up their……….! good for them.postal mgt is smarter than harvard mba’s, and we never went to college.
Boycott Walgreens. I have never been a CVS Fan until they announced they would not sell cigarettes anymore. According to television, this is a 2 billion a year loss. Apparently they care more about people than money.
BOYCOTT STAPLES. that will send a very clear message. hit em’ where it hurts.
What are they trying to hide? What makes Diamondstein and the APWU think they can demand answers from non-postal entities? Or is Diamondstein only looking for another photo op so he can show the lemmings that the union is doing something? And what something is it they are doing? Will Diamondstein get Staples jobs posted for the lemmings? Will anyone ask him what happens if and when Staples bails on the pilot? Diamondstein is a liar if he says those “jobs” will be posted for USPS. And…who the hell wants window jobs anyway…like there is a demand for those jobs? Been to your PO lately? Seen daily long lines there? This is nothing but smoke and mirrors by Diamondstein. Someone ask him what jobs will he be successful in getting for his lemmings? Ask him please! He supported and spearheaded the movement to represent private trucking firms when they took MVS jobs away from postal employees. The man speaks with “forked” tongue. Why didn’t he pursue getting those jobs posted to members of the craft? Someone ask him please!
Legal corruption at Headquarters and Area levels. Especially at the EASTERN AREA!! OIG and Inspection service should be investigating the travel spouses.
Convenience is what people want, period.
If this idea works and generates more business like it did in the past, they would need more workers to process more mail. Just like High paid Union executives, you don’t know how to operate like a business or pick the right fight and belive me, Union officals get paid more than their salaries.
There have always been contract Post Offices and you were not complaining then.
john from long island —please take your fox and junkiebaugh horse crap somewhere else,like all tea baggers you are clueless-at best
What is needed here is someone willing to leak some documents a la Edward Snowden from either Staples, USPS, or both.
John from long island your statement make CENTS $$. CANIIVING Congress Politicans needs to give consideration to critical USPS issues such as supporting 5 day street delivery and closing small cluttered post offices that are within a 6-7 mile radius and near high level offices in towns near these debt malignant non essential money wasting offices.
“Our Product’ John? We provide a service to everyone, not a product. The question is are we going to keep good paying jobs or go down the Wal-Mart way of minimum pay? You know the Wal-Mart wage, in order to eat most of those employees depend on government benefits.
cut HQ 90% it wont hurt a dang thing dont excess management from there remove them.there is no reason for 7,000 clowns at HQs
NIce try….You want your product in other stores to boost revenue…You union lovers have to open your eyes…More access to what make you money….Union are the problems…Wake up…5 day here we come
Freedom to information act will take care of this.
Simple thing to do here is boycott Staples. USPS and its many employees still equal out to quite a bit of traffic for a store like Staples. In the future seek out another store that offers similiar services.
Revelance ? Frickin Revelance ? JOB LOSS Thats the Frickin Revelance. Keep outsourcing and see. Maybe We need to know the Revelance of upper level Managments jobs. MORONS all of them…