With talks at impasse, tell USPS: ‘I Stand With Postal Workers!’

The following is from the American Postal Workers Union:

(June 2, 2015) — Contract negotiations between the American Postal Workers Union and the U.S. Postal Service ended without an agreement on May 27. The USPS scuttled any prospect of reaching a deal by insisting on severe cuts in pay and benefits, despite the fact that progress had been made on many non-economic issues, said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.

“Management’s economic demands and proposed changes to the workforce structure were completely unacceptable,” he said.

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“The ‘I Stand with Postal Workers’ postcards are an excellent way to let Postmaster General Megan Brennan know that the people of the country want what we want: Good Postal Service! Good Jobs! Good Contract! It’s important that we continue to collect signatures to keep the pressure on management,” Dimondstein said.

The Postal Service contract proposals include:

► Eliminate cost-of-living adjustments as we know them;
► Increase employees’ contributions to healthcare coverage;
► Create a new, permanent lower payscale for future career employees with reduced benefits;
► Increase the percentage of non-career employees,
► Weaken protection against layoffs.

APWU proposals include fair and reasonable wage increases, limits on subcontracting, more career jobs, improvements for Postal Support Employees, limits on excessing, and better service for our customers, Dimondstein said.

The APWU will participate in mediation, in accordance with the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, and proceed to arbitration if attempts to mediate a settlement are unsuccessful. Mediation will be conducted by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and is expected to last 60 days.

“All the protections of the 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement will continue in full force and effect until a new contract is reached,” Dimondstein said.

For more information, visit APWU’s website.