Federal ‘Day-After’ Holiday
Doesn’t Extend to Postal Workers

Burrus Update #16-08, Dec. 16, 2008

When the White House announced that President Bush had signed an Executive Order excusing federal employees from duty on Dec. 26, I wrote to Postmaster General John E. Potter [PDF], requesting that the Postal Service follow the spirit of holiday cheer and grant postal employees the day off as well.

Regrettably, the Postal Service has announced that, “The day is to be treated as a normal business day for USPS.” The statement noted that the president’s Executive Order does not apply to postal employees.

Employee holidays are governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the 2006-2010 agreement, which was ratified by APWU members early in 2007, does not include provisions granting APWU-represented employees holidays simply because they have been granted to federal employees.

Postal employees who desire to be off will be required to use leave.

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family happy holidays from the officers and staff of the APWU.

William Burrus
President

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