Contract Negotiations Update

Wed, 02/03/2016 - 11:43am
Contract Arbitration Begins Feb. 17
 
Message from APWU National President Mark Dimondstein
American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO 1300 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
MARK DIMONDSTEIN, President JOHN MARCOTTE, Editor Vol. 46, No.2 • Jan. 25, 2016
 
APWU members across the country will mark Feb. 17 – the opening day of arbitration for a new contract – with a show of solidarity.
Workers in every craft and every category will wear stickers specially made for the occasion. The stickers bear the slogan, “Opening Day – Fighting for Justice.”
Union members will receive two stickers in the mail – one to wear and one to share with a co-worker. Local and state presidents will receive extra stickers too.
In arbitration, the APWU seeks to:
  1. Win fair wage increases; •
  2. Protect cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs);•
  3. Defend the no-layoff clause;•
  4. Win improvements for Postal Support Employees • (PSEs) and Part-Time Flexibles;
  5. Secure more career jobs;•
  6. Redefine “full-time” so that it once again • guarantees a 40-hour work week;
  7. Limit subcontracting, and•
  8. Win better service for our customers. •
Management wants to gut the COLA for current workers and is seeking a new tier in the career workforce that would earn no COLAs; have virtually no protection against layoffs, and earn less annual leave and sick leave than current employees.
Because of the complex nature of the case, the hearings are expected to take numerous sessions, which will be scheduled based on the availability of the arbitrator.
Fighting for Justice
 
“We’ve been preparing for the possibility of arbitration for more than a year – even before negotiations got started,” said President Mark Dimondstein. “We’re ready for the challenge.”
“We’re fighting for justice – for a strong Postal Service for generations to come and economic justice for postal workers and retirees, today and in the future,” he said.
“As we enter the last stage of our contract battle, I urge all union members to show solidarity by wearing the ‘Fighting for Justice’ stickers.”
 
On Opening Day, Wear a Solidarity Sticker
 
To show solidarity, union members will wear stickers on the opening day of arbitration. Stickers are being mailed to members’ homes.
Contract Arbitration Begins Feb. 17
 
Union members are invited to take part in a live Telephone Town Hall call on Feb. 9 with APWU President Mark Dimondstein for an update on our fight for a good contract.
Two time slots are available: 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. EST. Participants must register online at www.apwu.org/contract-town-hall-call-feb-9 by 6 p.m. EST on Feb. 8. The calls will last approximately 30 minutes.
At the appropriate time, participants will receive a phone call at the number provided during registration. All you have to do is answer your phone!