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Postal Service Looks to Destroy Layoff Protection in Collective Bargaining Agreements Through Legislation

Sat, 08/13/2011 - 12:56pm

 

This week the Postal Service announced they would like to reduce their workforce by 120,000 career positions by 2015. This number is over and above the 100,000 workers it expects to leave through attrition by 2015. The Postal Service is asking Congress for legislative changes to be made to eliminate the layoff protection in our collective bargaining agreement, therefore allowing them to layoff 120,000 career postal employees.

The Postal Service is also looking for power from Congress to allow them to remove postal workers from the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), as well as remove postal employees from federal retirement programs.

To Read more please click here.

To read more about the story on the APWU’s website click here.

The Status of NRP

Thu, 08/11/2011 - 11:43am

Recently a Postal Service official confirmed that as of December 2010 all reassessments were completed. As a result, the National Reassessment Process protocols are no longer being used. APWU was advised that official union notification has been delayed until authorization is granted by the USPS Legal Department and Labor Relations. 

APWU to Washington Post: Destroying Unions Won’t Fix USPS

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 10:37pm

APWU President Cliff Guffey has a simple message for the Washington Post: Destroying unions and attacking workers’ rights won’t solve the Postal Service’s financial problems. 

APWU Vows to Fight to Keep Offices Open

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 8:42pm

“The American Postal Workers Union will stand with our neighbors to demand that post offices, stations, and branches remain open – and expand the services they offer – wherever they are needed,” APWU President Cliff Guffey said. The USPS announced July 26 that it plans to study 3,700 post offices, stations and branches for possible closure. 

Center for American Progress:

Wed, 07/20/2011 - 11:56am

The postal reform bill (H.R. 2309) introduced last month by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) has a hidden agenda, according to an analysis by the Center for American Progress (CAP): To eliminate collective bargaining for postal employees. 

APWU Rejects Issa’s Call to Cancel Ad Campaign

Tue, 07/19/2011 - 9:22am

The APWU has rejected a call from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) to cancel a union-sponsored television ad that has been airing on CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News. “The APWU stands by the ad, which dispels the myth that the USPS is funded by taxpayers,” APWU President Cliff Guffey wrote on July 15 [PDF].  

APWU Ad Campaign: Phase Two

Tue, 07/19/2011 - 9:19am

The APWU has launched the second phase of its advertising campaign with a radio spot, President Cliff Guffey has announced. The radio ad began airing July 18 and will run for three weeks on news and/or talk stations in Washington DC and other markets. 

APWU to Launch TV Ad Campaign

Thu, 07/07/2011 - 9:56pm

Postal Jobs, Pay, Benefits Threatened by Congress

Sat, 07/02/2011 - 7:18am

 The Postal Service is in danger of financial collapse, and could close its doors as early as July 2012. A battle is raging on Capitol Hill over what to do about it, and one thing is clear: Our jobs, our pay, and our benefits are in jeopardy! Two very different plans are under consideration in the House of Representatives .

Payment to FERS Suspended

Wed, 06/22/2011 - 11:37pm

 

June 22, 2011
 
Dear Local and State Presidents:
 
The American Postal Workers Union is working fervently to make certain that the Postal Service's decision to suspend employer contributions to FERS does not negatively affect the hard-working men and women who sort and deliver the nation's mail. We will take every step necessary to ensure that retirement benefits are protected. We are currently evaluating the best course of action.
 
There is a solution to the Postal Service's financial crisis:
  • " The USPS has overfunded its FERS and CSRS retirement accounts by billions of dollars;
  • " It is the only employer - public or private - that is required to pre-fund the healthcare benefits of future retirees. This obligation drains more than $5 billion annually from the USPS budget, and is the principal cause of the Postal Service's dire financial circumstances.
Congress must act now to correct these inequities. It can start by passing H.R. 1351, which would allow the Postal Service to apply pension overpayments to the pre-funding obligation. This bill would provide the USPS relief from its financial crisis at no cost to taxpayers.
 
The Postal Service's financial predicament is the result of flawed legislation (the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006) that Congress can and must correct.
 
Postal workers did not cause USPS financial problems and our retirement benefits should not be jeopardized to solve them. The APWU received the attached information from the Postal Service today, June 22.
 
In solidarity,
 
Cliff Guffey President 
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