Latest COLA Will Yield $686 Annual Increase
Even with the Consumer Price Index falling slightly in July, the latest Cost-Of-Living Adjustment under the National Agreement will give APWU-craft employees an annual raise of $686. July was the last month of the second six-month COLA measuring period in the 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The COLA will be effective Sept. 1, and will be reflected in Sept. 21 paychecks (Pay Period 19-07). The adjustment will amount to a 33 cents per hour increase, or $26.40 per pay period. This will be the third largest COLA increase since 2000. PWU-represented employees received an $812 cost-of-living raise last September, and a $728 COLA in September 2005.  (8/15/07)

2007 Joint Contract Interpretation Manual

The 2007 Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM) is now available. The 2007 JCIM update was agreed to by the parties on June 29, 2007. The JCIM is intended to be a resource for the local administration of the National Agreement. Jointly prepared by the APWU and the USPS, the JCIM provides a mutually agreed to explanation of how to apply the contract to the issues addressed. When a dispute arises, the local parties should first go to the JCIM to determine whether the dispute is addressed and, if it is, the parties are required to resolve the dispute in accordance with this manual. Click here for a copy of the 2007 JCIM [PDF].  (7/09/07)

APWU: Back Pay to Be Issued May 18

The USPS has notified the APWU that it expects to disburse back pay for the period from Nov. 25, 2006, through Feb. 2, 2007, in paychecks dated May 18 (Pay Period 10-2007). The retroactive pay will reflect a 1.3 percent raise for five pay periods (Pay Period 25-2006 through 03-2007).The 1.3 percent raise was negotiated for all APWU-represented employees as part of the 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement. (3/06/07)

Ask President Burrus
I support the union and all the good that comes from it. However, I strongly disagree with the provision of the tentative agreement that would allow casuals to work year-round. Not to mention that we lose our right to protest the use of casuals in lieu of career employees. Please help me understand why our union would consider allowing this to be part of our contract. Jamie, Southwest Florida Area Local (1/08/07)

Video: Postal Workers 1978 Strike Against Mandatory Overtime, Speedups - On July 21, 1978 thousands of postal workers across the country walked off their jobs when their contract expired, saying "No" to mandatory overtime, forced speedups and hazardous working conditions. As a result of this wildcat strike, six hundred thousand postal workers won a better contract. But two hundred workers were arbitrarily fired by management to teach all postal workers a lesson (1/08/07)

If You Didn’t Get a Ballot…
(12/28/06) Ballots for the contract ratification vote must be received in the New York office of the American Arbitration Association by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007. If you have not received a ballot, contact the American Arbitration Association by phone at 800-529-5218 or via  email e-mail  apwu [at] adr.org to request a duplicate.

Union Presents Economic Proposals; Assails ‘Lack of Progress’ in Talks

After offering a blunt assessment of the first two months of negotiations, APWU President William Burrus presented the USPS with economic proposals on Nov. 6, calling for raises and upgrades that are commensurate with union members’ performance over the six years of the contract that expires Nov. 20.

Burrus then made the following economic proposals for a contract of three years duration:

• Basic annual salary increases of 4 percent, effective Nov. 25, 2006, Nov. 24, 2007, and Nov. 22, 2008;

• Semi-annual COLA increases, using the current formula with a base month of October 2006, based on the change in the CPI-W Index points for January 2007, July 2007, January 2008, July 2008, January 2009, and July 2009;

• Upgrades;

• Return of Night Differential to 10 percent of the basic hourly straight-time rate;

• Continuation of the bi-weekly Employer contribution for Federal Employees Health Benefits Program self-only and self-and-family plans at 85 percent of the weighted average biweekly premiums; and

• Conversion of the current uniform and work-clothes allowances to a centralized purchasing and distribution system for required on-the-job clothing. (11/06/06)

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Burrus Denies "Raid" On Mail Handlers Union  - "You may have heard that APWU is considering an effort to “raid” your union. This is untrue. While we favor combining employees who work in mail processing and the BMCs into a single union, only the employees involved can make that decision." (10/14/06)

APWU Negotiations Update
Management representatives painted a bleak picture of USPS finances during contract talks held Oct. 3, and, to no one's surprise, concluded that "cost containment is the only answer." Labor expenses are the "key drivers of costs," management asserted, in a presentation clearly intended to convey that labor costs must be restricted. Union negotiators challenged the USPS analysis and raised pointed questions about productivity improvements, excessive postage discounts, and mail volume. Management's presentation did not include any contract proposals.   (10/04/06)

  APWU President Burrus Responds to Postcom Gene Del Polito (PDF) -In a recent article, "What's Up with APWU", Gene Del Polito asserts: "Here is an organization that is supposed to represent the long-term best interests of a key sector of the Postal Service's employees in a manner that best insures continued employment. Yet, nary a week goes by without seeing something in the electronic or print media that reflects a union that is hell-bent on ensuring its members' extinction." Burrus responds in part by writing:. "I attribute your failure to understand the objectives of the American Postal Workers Union to my communication skills - or lack thereof - and take full responsibility. It is not the intent of the American Postal Workers Union to ensure our own extinction. In fact, if there is any doubt, our union plans to be a viable organization far into the future. In we have failed to deliver a clear message identifying our objectives, I offer the following .

Burrus Outlines Union’s Contract Goals For Rank and File Bargaining Committee - In a meeting with the union’s Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee, APWU President William Burrus identified three paramount issues for contract negotiations: securing adequate wage increases, protecting workers’ healthcare benefits, and revising the process by which craft jurisdictional issues are decided. Burrus did not address specific proposals at the June 29 meeting, and he noted that the union’s bargaining stance would be refined by the committee, as well as by delegates to the national convention in August. Bargaining is set to begin Aug. 29 — 90 days before the expiration of the current contract. (6/29/06)

Proposed Revisions to F-1, Section 473.12, Rescinded [pdf]

This settlement (case #Q94C4QC96092498) rescinds a proposed revision to Handbook F-1 (Accounting Procedures) Section 473.12 which would have provided that "Employees cannot grieve or request a hearing for salary or travel advances."

Ask President Burrus
Question: There has been an increase in rumors concerning CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System). According to these, CSRS seems to be in a precarious state. Is it possible to do away with CSRS? Have there been discussions between management and the APWU in regard to a CSRS enticement? I’m getting sick and tired of hearing things that supposedly came from a very reliable source, so I’m bypassing this and going directly to you. (6/19/06)

APWU: Five Consolidations Cancelled - USPS: ‘No Significant Opportunities to Improve Service’ - APWU has been notified that the proposed consolidation of “certain operations” at five postal facilities in the Northeast Area has been cancelled, because they present no substantial opportunities to improve efficiency or service. The five Processing & Distribution facilities are: Utica (NY) ; Plattsburgh (NY) Post Office; Burlington (VT) ; Springfield (MA) and Portsmouth (NH) (5/24/06)

Judge Issues Opinion in Union’s AMS Specialist award suit

 On March 23, 2006, U.S. District Court Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr. issued an interim opinion finding that Arbitrator Snow’s award in the Address Management System (AMS) Specialist case is final and binding. However, a final decision in the APWU’s suit to enforce the Snow award is still pending further motions and/or a trial. The Snow award, dated April 29, 2003(Case No. Q94C-4Q-C98117564 sustained the union’s grievance challenging the exclusion of the AMS Specialist position from the bargaining unit. The NALC and the USPS petitioned the arbitrator to review his decision, but he passed away before responding to the parties’ motions. It should be noted that the National Labor Relations Board has yet to rule on a related Postal Service petition seeking to overturn the arbitrator’s decision on the grounds that it violates NLRB rules on adding employees to an existing bargaining unit. (4/24/06)

Click here for a copy of the opinion

Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee Members Named
APWU President William Burrus has announced the names of members who will serve on the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee. In accordance with Article 13.9 of the APWU Constitution, each member of the National Executive Board names one person to the committee; a 13th member, appointed by the president, is a representative from the APWU Deaf/Hard of Hearing Task Force. (4/05/06)

APWU  Creates e-Team

The APWU Legislative Department is establishing an e-mail alert system that is intended to help union members react quickly to important developments. “Legislative matters can change with very little notice,” said Legislative Director Myke Reid. “And with the security measures that are in place on Capitol Hill, letters are often delayed until it is too late to affect a representative’s actions on important legislative issues. “We are introducing the APWU e-Team, to ensure that our members’ voices are heard quickly and loudly on Capitol Hill. We are asking union members — as well as their family, friends and supporters — to join us by signing-up for the APWU e-Team.” Union members, retirees, and family members can  can register here  (3/20/06)

APWU Executive VP: Long-Anticipated Grievance Cases Should Soon Be Scheduled -It’s looking like 2006 will be a good year for resolving several long-standing and lingering disputes. I expect four cases that I appealed to arbitration more than 10 years ago to be scheduled for national arbitration in the next few months.  March/April 2006 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine

USPS Revises Standard Operating Procedures for Handling Hazardous Materials - The Postal Service has revised its Standard Operating Procedures for the Handling of Hazardous Materials. The new procedures are effective immediately and may not be altered in any way by local management. These procedures apply to acceptance, handling and transportation of mail containing or believed to contain hazardous materials, and provide detailed instructions for the actions that must be taken to minimize potential hazards during processing, distribution and transportation.  (2/27/06)

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Update
For Employees Covered by the National Agreement and the Operating Services Agreement: (Feb. 22, 2006) In January, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) rose to 577.7. The ninth Cost-Of-Living Adjustment under the extended 2000 National Agreement and the 2000 Operating Services Agreement (the first COLA under the 2005-2006 extension agreements) will be $457 per year. The adjustment amounts to a 22 cents per hour increase, or $17.60 per pay period. The ninth COLA will take effect March 18, 2006 (pay period 07-2006, pay date April 7, 2006).

Operating Services [pdf]

Intermediate Travel for Training Settlement [pdf]

(Feb. 2, 2006) This settlement (case #H0C-NAC 19002) reinstates the language of Section 716.123 of the ELM that existed prior to 1991, which permits intermediate travel (for employees on an extended duty assignment) to a location other than the employee's permanent duty station when authorized in advance by the employee's management.

APWU: Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM) Update - A change has been made to the section on "Full-time Flexibles" on pages 37 and 38 of the 2005 JCIM. The title of the section was changed to “Full-Time Flexible Memorandum” and a note was added to the end of that section as follows: “Note:  Conversions required pursuant to the Full-Time Flexible Memorandum shall be in addition to (but not duplicative of) conversions that may be required pursuant to Article 7.3.A, B and C.” The note is taken from the Mittenthal Award on the issue. These changes have been incorporated into the PDF version of the JCIM (available below) and will be reflected in any future purchase of the JCIM from the APWU Store. (1/25/06)

APWU purchases home for Southern Region - other new offices planned -In the next few weeks, APWU’s Southern Regional Coordinator and several of the region’s Clerk Craft Business Agents will have a new place to call home. The APWU is planning to purchase property in other locations as well, as part of a plan to gradually reduce the use of rental property. Discussions currently are underway regarding the purchase of property in Tampa, FL.  (1/21/06)

APWU, Serco Open Talks Over Detroit MTESC Agreement -The APWU’s Detroit District Area Local and the privately-owned Serco Corporation have begun negotiations over a successor contract at its MTESC site in suburban Detroit. Serco purchased RCI (Resource Consultants Inc.) last March. In 2003, RCI negotiated the first Detroit MTESC (Mail Transportation Equipment Service Center) contract, which covers about 160 APWU-represented workers.  (1/21/06)

Ask President Burrus
Question: Why was the national APWU caught off guard by the USPS consolidation plans? The only time I know of that the APWU protested management’s refusal to provide the consolidation plan was during the first year of the contract extension. Why was there no follow-up? Why wasn’t legal action taken or a grievance filed? What is the national doing in regard to all the Area Mail Processing (AMP) studies? Grassroots efforts are fine, but what is the national union doing?

Answer (in part): We are continuing to review the options for filing a lawsuit, and are reaching out to appropriate congressional representatives and requesting their assistance. In addition to these activities, we took steps to inform and mobilize the union membership. Early in 2003 we distributed a packet to all local and state presidents outlining methods for organizing union members and involving the community in efforts to oppose consolidation. (1/18/06)

Burrus to Sam Ryan: Postal workers' pay did not cause stamp rate increase -

In his Jan. 6 Opinion piece, "Instead of raising stamp rates, the USPS should cut costs," Sam Ryan claims that postal workers earn "substantially more than their private sector counterparts," when, in fact, FedEx and UPS employees earn more than the workers we at the American Postal Workers Union represent. Though many postal clerks, truck drivers, mechanics, and computer and electronic technicians are highly skilled, on average they earn far less than the $65,000 Mr. Ryan implied. Meanwhile, no serious postal commentators are blaming the latest rate increase on costs associated with workers' pay or benefits - not the Postal Service, not the legislators grappling with postal reform, and not large business mailers.(1/17/06)

Previously Adopted Labor Management Resolutions Book Available

In preparation for contract negotiations, and to assist APWU locals and state organizations as they prepare for the national and state conventions, the Industrial Relations Department has compiled a book of Previously Adopted Labor Management Resolutions [pdf]. Delegates to state conventions can use this book to determine whether resolutions they are considering may have already been adopted and are therefore standing resolutions. Labor Management resolutions adopted by delegates to the national convention are used to guide the APWU's national negotiators as we prepare for contract negotiations (1/17/06)

APWU: REC Site Dispute Resolved - USPS Agrees to Pay Up to $500,000 - A long-standing dispute between the Postal Service and the APWU regarding the use of Transitional Employees to the detriment of career part-time flexible employees at Remote Encoding Centers (REC) was resolved late last year. The settlement , dated Dec. 21, 2005, requires that the USPS “cease and desist” from the practice, and awarded payment to affected PTFs not to exceed a total of $500,000. (1/05/06)