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January 18, 2007
Two Consolidation Studies Scrapped
The U.S. Postal Service announced in early January that it was calling off the only Area Mail Processing studies in the states of Montana and North Carolina. In a written statement on Jan. 5, the Postal Service said tha...
January 12, 2007
Membership Ratifies Four-Year Contract
Rank-and-File Advisory Bargaining Committee members Thomasine Derricks, Princella Vogel, and Jack Dougherty observe the vote count in Washington on Jan. 12. Vogel chairs the committee. APWU members ratified a four-year C...
January 5, 2007
APWU Files Suit on Jurisdictional Disputes
The APWU has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, charging that the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and U.S. Postal Service have violated a national-level three-party agreement that establishes procedures for reso...
January 5, 2007
Contract Ratification Balloting Extended to Jan. 12
Balloting in the ratification of the tentative agreement will be extended until Jan. 12, the Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee has announced. “We want to ensure that every interested APWU member has an opportunity to pa...
December 31, 2006
Frederick Douglass: Activist, Orator, Publisher, Statesman
Unquestionably, the single greatest leap forward in the quest for social and economic justice is the abolition of slavery. In the United States, after decades of struggle and a bloody civil war, slavery was formally abol...
December 29, 2006
Day of Mourning to Be Observed Jan. 2
The Postal Service has notified the APWU that postal workers will observe a Day of Mourning on Jan. 2, in honor of former President Gerald R. Ford, who passed away on Dec. 26. Two national-level agreements between the A...
December 28, 2006
If You Didn’t Get a Ballot…
Ballots for the contract ratification vote must be received in the New York office of the American Arbitration Association by 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007. If you have not received a ballot, contact the American Arbit...
December 28, 2006
Postal Workers to Observe ‘Day of Mourning’
APWU-represented employees will be granted a day of observance in honor of former President Gerald R. Ford, who passed away on Dec. 26. At this time, the USPS has not announced the date for the Day of Mourning. As soon a...
December 28, 2006
VOTE On The Contract
Ballots for the referendum on a tentative National Agreement must be received in the New York offices of the American Arbitration Association by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12. The vote-count will begin immediately and resul...
December 22, 2006
Rate Commission Assails USPS Consolidation Plan
In a blistering criticism of the Postal Service’s Evolutionary Network Development strategy, the Postal Rate Commission concluded that the “record does not provide assurance that the proposed realignment program will mee...
December 15, 2006
Non-Members to Receive Ballot Mailing
As part of an unprecedented organizing campaign, the APWU will send a “ratification packet” to workers represented by the union who are not members. The mailing will include a summary of new contractual provisions and in...
December 12, 2006
APWU Members to Vote on Tentative 4-Year Agreement
December 8, 2006
APWU to Conduct Teleconference on Tentative Agreement
APWU President William Burrus will discuss provisions of the tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement with APWU members via teleconference on Dec. 14, beginning at 11 a.m. EST. Burrus and other members of the union’s ne...
December 7, 2006
Rank-and-File Bargaining Committee Approves Tentative Contract Agreement
The APWU Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee voted unanimously to approve the union’s tentative 2006 Collective Bargaining Agreement on Dec. 7 at a meeting in Washington, DC. The agreement will be sent to union m...
December 7, 2006
Rank-and-File Committee Approves Tentative Contract
The APWU Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee voted unanimously on Dec. 7 to approve the union’s tentative 2006 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The agreement will be sent to union members for a ratification vote,...
December 6, 2006
APWU, USPS Reach Tentative Agreement
Negotiators for the APWU and U.S. Postal Service have reached a tentative four-year contract agreement, APWU President William Burrus has announced. “This is an outstanding agreement that protects the rights and interes...
December 4, 2006
‘Substantial Progress’ Made in Contract Talks
APWU President William Burrus has told union members that “substantial progress” was made in contract talks held over the weekend, but specific details are still being negotiated.
December 1, 2006
Headquarters Seeks Local Presidents’ E-Mail Addresses
Do we have your local’s e-mail address? As the union updates its mailing list technology, we are making a concerted effort to obtain the most current and accurate e-mail addresses for APWU’s local and state presidents s...
November 29, 2006
OPM Opens Up Enrollment for Advanced Dental/Vision Benefits
Working with a private company, the Office of Personnel Managment has set up online enrollment procedures for enhanced vision- and dental-care benefits. The Web site, www.Benefeds.com, was launched on Nov. 13. The Benef...
November 29, 2006
Talks Continue, But Union Instructs Lawyers to Prepare for Arbitration
Although a voluntary agreement is still possible, APWU President William Burrus has instructed the union’s attorneys to make initial preparations for arbitration. In a telephone message to union members on Nov. 29, the u...
November 21, 2006
As Deadline Passes, Parties Agree to Continue Talks
APWU President William Burrus has told union members that progress toward an agreement had been made, but that “important issues remain that have not been finalized.” The parties will continue discussions on Nov. 21. “Th...
November 21, 2006
Contract Talks to Resume After Thanksgiving Weekend
APWU has proposed bold steps to address important issues for postal employees, union President William Burrus told APWU members in a telephone message. “Because we are attempting to break new ground, the final pieces of...
November 20, 2006
APWU Wins Major Maintenance Arbitration Case
The APWU won a major victory last week when Arbitrator Shyam Das sustained a grievance protesting USPS custodial staffing policies. “This landmark award will help the APWU protect the custodial workforce,” said Maintenan...
November 19, 2006
Burrus: Contract Agreement ‘Possible’
In a telephone message on the eve of the expiration of the contract, APWU President William Burrus told union members that although final agreement is beyond reach at this time, "I am convinced that agreement is possible...
November 17, 2006
Contract Deadline Looms
Although he characterized the pace of talks as “agonizingly slow,” APWU President William Burrus noted in a Nov. 17 telephone message that negotiations over a national agreement have almost always gone to the final hours...
November 15, 2006
Talks Continue at Discouraging Pace
In a telephone message Nov. 15, APWU President William Burrus told union members that wages and health benefit premiums continue to dominate contract talks. “Overall,” he said, negotiations are “continuing at a pace that...
November 13, 2006
An Opportunity to Do Better
The overwhelming wave of victories by Democrats on Nov. 7 presents an opportunity for the U.S. Congress to do a better job of representing the interests of American workers and their families, said APWU Legislative Direc...
November 13, 2006
Burrus: Little Progress Made on Union’s Priorities
APWU President William Burrus updated union members about the status of contract negotiations in a recorded telephone message Nov. 13, telling them little progress has been made on the union’s priorities. The union is fu...
November 13, 2006
Union Announces Negotiations Hotline
The APWU has established a Negotiations Hotline, which will help union members stay abreast of late-breaking developments regarding bargaining. The toll-free number is 800-992-APWU (or 800-992-2798). Union President Will...
November 9, 2006
Portland APWU Rains on Potter’s Parade
Union members braved rain and cold to protest management's staffing plan for the new mail processing center in Scarborough, ME. When the Postal Service announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 2 to celebrate the grand o...