Collective Bargaining begins between the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the USPS

 Collective Bargaining Begins between the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the USPS

The National Postal Mail Handlers Union bargaining team met with representatives of the U.S. Postal Service on August 30, 2011 to mark the official start of the collective bargaining process for a successor agreement to replace the 2006 National Agreement which is scheduled to expire on November 20, 2011.

“We recognize the tough financial straits in which the Postal Service finds itself,” said National President John Hegarty, “and notwithstanding the unjustifiable actions recently taken by USPS Headquarters in asking Congress to overrule our collective bargaining agreement, we intend to work hard, in good faith, to try to reach an agreement.”

“We are not happy that the Postal Service has tried to abrogate the no-layoff clause through Congressional action, or that the Service has issued ill-advised proposals to pull out of the Federal health and retirement systems” said Hegarty, “but we intend to devote significant time and resources to try and reach a contract that is fair for the hard-working men and women whom we represent, fair for the USPS, and fair for the American mailing public.”

The NPMHU will put out periodic updates, in the form of bulletin board postings, as bargaining progresses. Please stay tuned.

Reference: www.npmhu.org 

APWU garners 740 new craft positions, locations announced

 Locations announced for 740 New Jobs in Motor Vehicle Craft

"...APWU Web News Article 096-2011, Aug. 30, 2011

In accordance with the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the USPS has agreed to establish 740 new assignments in Vehicle Maintenance Facilities. A list [PDF | XLS] provided to the union on Aug. 30 specifies the locations for the new positions and indicates whether they are Level 8, 9, or 10 Automotive Technician or Lead Technician positions.

Under the terms of the contract, the new jobs are being created so that members of the APWU bargaining unit can perform work that was previously done by contractors.

“This is good news for the APWU,” said Motor Vehicle Service Craft Director Bob Pritchard.

“Locals should immediately submit information request forms asking local management what subcontracted duties will be brought in-house to provide work for the individuals assigned to the new jobs,” he said. “That is the only way to ensure these new jobs are being posted properly.

“If additional positions are needed because of general understaffing, additional jobs — beyond 740 on the list — should be posted.”..."

Reference: www.apwu.org 

Last 2011 Mail Handler COLA for ending contract

Earlier this week, we called the National Office in an effort to garner information relating to our next COLA adjustment. Our call was transferred to Dallas H. Jones, Jr., National Representative, of the NPMHU Contract Administration Department -- National Office. Mr. Jones was not in the office so a message was left with our name, number, and a request for information on the COLA adjustment. We received no return call. UPDATE: We received a return phone call from contract administration this morning confirming the information posted below and informing us an update will be posted to the national site soon, with an updated wage chart. Additionally, the contract admin office wanted to thank Local 317 for our support. We appreciate the return call and we offer our support to our national office in our fight in preserving our wages and benefits under our national agreement in the upcoming contract negotiations.

Local 300 has posted the following information.

 COLA $978

"...The Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) was released for the month of July. The CPI-W for the month of July was 663.314. This last COLA adjustment will be an increase of $978 added to our annual salary, ($0.47 an hour) which shall be paid in September.

This shall be the last of our negotiated wage increases from the 2006-2011 National Agreement. Our current contract expires on November 20, 2011..."

Reference: www.local300npmhu.org 

NALC announces COLA, no word from NPMHU national site

 Ninth contract COLA: $978 annually

"...The ninth and final cost-of-living adjustment as negotiated under the 2006-2011 National Agreement is $978 annually, based on the July Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) announced Aug. 18 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics...."

Reference: www.nalc.org 



Check the NPMHU National Site to See if There is a COLA Update

Intentional delay of mail a new money saving option?

 Slower mail could save Postal Service $1.5B

"...Postal executives are seriously considering the idea and are expected to announce new plans regarding delivery schedules after Labor Day, according to USPS officials...."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com 

Lay-off protections one of most important contract items

 Difficult union talks begin for US mail carriers and handlers

"...For the mail handlers’ union, it will focus on job cuts associated with the USPS plans to reduce area mail processing capacity from 508 plants down to less than 200..."

Reference: mailhandlercontract.blogspot.com 

USPS to close sixty percent of mail processing plants by end of next year

 Postal Service plans to close about 300 mail processing plants

"...More than 30,000 Postal Service employees will be affected. The agency will follow requirements in union contracts in dealing with them, Williams said afterward. Attrition would take care of some of the impact, while other workers would be reassigned to jobs elsewhere, John Hegarty, president of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, said later in a phone interview...."

Reference: www.federaltimes.com 

Postal Service wants to layoff and hire at the same time!

 Things that make you go, huh?

"...How can the Postmaster General propose breaking union contracts to layoff 120,000 craft employees, while at the same time hire PSE employees at half the pay and no benefits? Take the poll and leave your thoughts at Things that make you go, huh?..."

Reference: Things that make you go, huh? 

Postal Service is considering cutting as many as 120,000 jobs

 Cash-strapped USPS may cut 120,000 jobs

"...the agency also wants to pull its workers out of the retirement and health benefits plans covering federal workers and set up its own benefit systems...."

Reference: www.cbsnews.com 

NALC / Postal Arbitration

 Arbitration ahead for Postal Service, rural letter carriers union

"...“They basically want us to do the same amount of work for significantly less money.”..."

Reference: federaltimes.com  

23 postal districts move FMLA processing to HRSCC

Processing FMLA Applications

"The Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC) began processing Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requests for employees of 23 districts and headquarters July 11. FMLA processing for all other districts nationwide will transition to HRSSC Sept. 10.

Employees who need general information regarding the Family and Medical Leave Act can click here. HRSCC staff also will be available for case-specific questions, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. ET.

Supervisors and managers may email requests for FMLA information to the Outlook email address designated for each Area. Click here for the list, which includes detailed contact information of districts that were affected by the move of FMLA to HRSSC last month.

Until the transition is completed, employees who hand deliver their certifications to work locations within a district where FMLA processing has been transferred to HRSSC should be allowed to fax the information or be given an envelope to mail their information to HRSSC."   

Reference: usps.gov


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Note: This information was garnered from the Postal Briefing news website.