Letter carriers protest against new bill

Letter carriers nationwide are protesting before the doors of their Senators’ offices. This week, the
Senate is considering legislation, S 1789, which would end Saturday mail delivery as well as phase out mail delivery to the porches and doors of homes. Letter carriers claim S 1789 will be destructive to the
Postal Service.

Since 2006, the Postal Service has been in the “red” financially, due to legislation that requires it to
deposit $5.5 billion each year to prefund for retirees up to 75 years from now. Unfortunately, this
prefunded money has been taken away from the Postal Service and used by Congress to offset other parts of the budget that have nothing to do with the Postal Service.

Without the 2006 law, the Postal Service would operate in the “black,” making a profit based only on the postage collected for mail. Incredibly, the Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars and is totally off budget. And, year after year, the Postal Service ranks as “highly trusted” by Americans, receiving a favorable rating of about 90%.

What do you think Congress should do? Does the 2006 law make sense? Should S 1789 be passed?

Attorney Joshua Javits appointed to mediate between the USPS and NALC

On February 13, 2012, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service announced that attorney Joshua Javits was appointed to mediate between the U. S. Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers.  The parties moved to the mediation phase of negotiations on January 20, when the USPS declared there was no advancement in the negotiations.  Javits will work with both sides in an attempt to help them reach a voluntary agreement. 

 

The law generally requires a sixty-day mediation period during which time the parties will try to negotiate a contract.  If, after the sixty days, there is no agreement, the parties will begin the arbitration phase.  During the arbitration phase, a three-arbitrator panel will be assigned to listen to testimony and arguments from both parties.  There is no time limit to the arbitration phase, and the arbitrators have the power to set the terms of the contract. 

USPS to take contract negotiations with the NALC

The U.S. Postal Service has decided to take contract negotiations with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to a federal mediator.  Under the law, parties must work with the mediator in an attempt to resolve differences and reach a negotiated contract.  If mediation fails to produce a contract, the parties will submit the matter to arbitration.  There, a panel of three arbitrators will be chosen.  One arbitrator is chosen by each side.  After each party selects its arbitrator, the two sides work through a list of arbitrators to select the third and final arbitrator.  This three-person arbitration panel will hear testimony and consider the surrounding facts in order to decide the specifics of the NALC and U.S. Postal Service contract.  The final decision from the arbitration will be binding and final.  Much is riding on these negotiations.  We wish the best to all involved.   

NALC Committee of Presidents Meeting

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) recently completed its Committee of Presidents (COP) meeting.  National President Fred Rolando addressed the COP with many topics pertaining to the upcoming negotiations later this year.  Postal Uniform Xpress wishes NALC much success in these negotiations.