http://www.apwu.org/index2.htm The latest news from the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO en Wed, 19 Mar 2014 10:00:00 EDT http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-051-staples-nalc-140319.htm (03/19/14) The National Association of Letter Carriers is taking a stand in support of the APWU's fight against the sweetheart deal between the USPS and Staples that puts postal retail operations in Staples stores -- and staffs them with low-wage, high-turnover Staples employees rather than postal employees. Wed, 19 Mar 2014 10:00:00 EDT http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-051-staples-nalc-140319.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-050-staplesactionday-140311.htm (03/11/14) The APWU has announced a National Day of Action on April 24 to protest the sweetheart deal between the USPS and Staples that puts postal retail operations in Staples stores -- and staffs them with low-wage, high-turnover Staples employees. Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:00:00 EDT http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-050-staplesactionday-140311.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-049-unionalliance-140311.htm (03/10/14) Declaring that "the U.S. Postal Service is under unprecedented attack,"the presidents of the four postal unions have formed a historic alliance to fight back. "A congressionally-manufactured financial crisis drains the USPS of vital resources, the union presidents write in a proclamation signed over the last several days Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EDT http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-028-womenshistory-130214.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-048-clerks-barberappointment-140310.htm (03/10/14) The APWU Clerk Division Council approved the appointment of Lynn Pallas-Barber to the position of Assistant Clerk Craft Director "B" at a meeting on March 7. Pallas-Barber fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Lyle Krueth in January. Mon, 10 Mar 2014 18:00:00 EDT http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-048-clerks-barberappointment-140310.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-046-staples-npmhu140310.htm (03/10/14) The National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) is offering "wholehearted support" for the 'Stop Staples' campaign, the union has announced. In a memorandum to the field, NPMHU President John Hegarty wrote that the union is joining with the APWU "in fighting the Postal Service's decision to subcontract certain retail services at Staples office-supply stores."   Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:00:00 EDT http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-046-staples-npmhu140310.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-047-psesdesirableduty-140310.htm (03/10/14) The Postal Service has withdrawn a challenge to provisions in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that require management to post newly created duty assignments using all available work hours -- including hours worked by Postal Support Employees, Clerk Craft officers report. "I am happy to announce this dispute has been resolved," said Assistant Clerk Director Lamont Brooks. "All available work hours, including those worked by PSEs, can be used to create desirable duty assignments."  Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:50:00 EDT http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-047-psesdesirableduty-140310.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-045-il_cpuprotest-140308.htm (03/08/14) Approximately 70 APWU members and supporters lined the streets in Belleville, IL on March 7 to ask passersby not to patronize a newly opened postal retail operation at Ben Franklin's Crafts and Floral store. The store began offering postal services as a Contract Postal Unit in February.  Sat, 08 Mar 2014 11:00:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-045-il_cpuprotest-140308.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-044-whbudget-140306.htm (03/06/14) The administration's budget proposal for 2015 misses the mark on postal issues, APWU President Mark Dimondstein said. "The White House budget echoes the misguided policies of Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. It calls for severe cutbacks that will harm service, drive away business, and eliminate jobs," he said. The proposal calls for the immediate end of Saturday delivery and would allow the Postal Service to begin to shift from door delivery to centralized delivery. Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:00:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-044-whbudget-140306.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-043-staples-closures-140306.htm (03/06/14) Staples announced today that its sales are declining, its earnings are less than expectations, and it will close 225 stores in North America by the end of 2015. "This proves, more than ever," said APWU President Mark Dimondstein, "that it's a bad idea to turn public services over to a private company that can close stores at will, with no public input and no public comment." Thu, 06 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-043-staples-closures-140306.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-041-staples-atlanta-140304.htm (03/04/14) Seventy-five APWU members and supporters braved cold weather and high winds on March 4 to protest outside a Staples store in Atlanta and demand that the company staff "postal counters" in its stores with postal employees. Atlanta is one of four test sites of a USPS program that outsources postal retail operations. Tue, 04 Mar 2014 15:00:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-041-staples-atlanta-140304.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-040-nlrb-staplesinfo-140303.htm (03/03/14) In a complaint issued Feb. 25, Region 5 of the National Labor Relations Board found merit in APWU charges that the Postal Service has improperly refused to provide the union with information about its agreement with Staples.  Mon, 03 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-040-nlrb-staplesinfo-140303.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-039-prc-servicestds-140303.htm (03/03/14) The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has dismissed an APWU complaint which charges that the Postal Service is failing to meet its own service standards regarding the delivery of first-class mail. The union brought the complaint in its capacity as a large mailer. The union's complaint alleges that the USPS regularly fails to meet its service, including the first-class mail of the APWU.  Mon, 03 Mar 2014 11:00:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-039-prc-servicestds-140303.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-038-ntftexcessing-130228.htm (02/28/14) Arbitrator Dennis R. Nolan has ruled that APWU members holding Non-Traditional Full-Time (NTFT) assignments may not be excessed into full-time positions in the Letter Carrier Craft if they don't meet the definition of full-time employees specified in the Postal Service's contract with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Fri, 28 Feb 2014 17:30:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-038-ntftexcessing-130228.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-036-ms47handbook-130227.htm (02/27/14) The USPS has declared war on custodial staffing -- again -- reports Maintenance Craft Director Steve Raymer. Management notified the APWU on Jan. 22 of an attempt to modify the MS-47 Handbook, which establishes guidelines for housekeeping and determines the number of custodians that will be assigned to facilities. Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:30:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-036-ms47handbook-130227.htm http://www.apwu.org/issues-staples/magart-mar2014.htm (02/27/14) The 'Stop Staples' campaign got off to a strong start in January and February, and preparations are underway to keep the pressure on. In mid-January, hundreds of locals and retiree chapters sent delegations to Staples stores across the country to deliver letters of protest to store managers. The visits were intended to put Staples management on notice that postal workers are serious about the campaign to win the jobs for postal employees. Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:45:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/issues-staples/magart-mar2014.htm http://www.apwu.org/issues-staples/magart-mar2014-different.htm (02/27/14) Many APWU members have asked, "What makes the Staples program so important? How is it different from the other programs that outsource postal retail functions -- the grocery stores that sell stamps and the Village Post Offices in hardware stores and gas stations in small towns?" Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:40:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/issues-staples/magart-mar2014-different.htm http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-033-excessingonhold-130220.htm (02/20/14) Union members are sure to breathe a sigh of relief following a recent notice from the Postal Service to the APWU. Excessing related to Area Mail Processing events has been placed on "indefinite hold," according to a Feb. 14 letter from Postal Service to the APWU. As a result, the Postal Service is now releasing "residual vacancies" that were being withheld. Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:30:00 EST http://www.apwu.org/news/webart/2014/14-033-excessingonhold-130220.htm