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November 8, 2025
Postal Service Default: A Congressionally-Manufactured Crisis
The Postal Service’s default on a $5.5 billion payment to the U.S. Treasury on Aug. 1 — and an expected default on Sept. 30 — is the result of a congressionally-manufactured crisis that could have been avoided, the APWU...
November 8, 2025
Rehab Act Expanded
The Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits workplace discrimination against employees with disabilities, has been significantly expanded with the recent passage of amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Th...
November 8, 2025
For Employees Covered by the Information Technology/Accounting Services Agreement:
There will not be any additional COLA under the 2007-2011 IT/AS Agreement . Future increases are dependent on the outcome of current negotiations for a successor contract to the 2007-2011 IT/AS Agreement. Under the 2007-...
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, Sept. 6, 2013
August Action Recap: Have You Reported Back? APWU Files Charges With Postal Regulatory Commission over Facility Closures, Service Standards Late Mail Spreads to Southeast Missouri Postal Retirement Benefits Remain Under...
November 8, 2025
APWU Members Ratify New Contract
APWU members approved a new contract may 11, with more than 75 percent of those casting ballots in favor of ratification. The final tally was 69,451 to 22,351 in voting that ended May 10. The agreement will expire May 20...
November 8, 2025
Contract Negotiations Underway
Contract negotiations began on Sept. 1, and bargaining sessions are scheduled every week during the months of September, October, and November. The current contract expires at midnight on Nov. 20, 2010, and a lot of hard...
November 8, 2025
Dispute Over VER and Severance Pay Appealed to Arbitration
The APWU has appealed to national-level arbitration a dispute over bargaining unit employees' entitlement to severance pay when they accept voluntary early retirement (VER) benefits.
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, Sept. 20, 2013
Guffey Testifies at Senate Committee Hearing on Postal Reform, Senators Question Service Standards Second Postal Hearing Scheduled Postal Service to Default on Pre-Funding Payment for 2013 Conservative Lawmakers Threaten...
November 8, 2025
Stand Up for Your Rights
The lyrics from the famous tune by Bob Marley sum it all up: Get up, Stand up, Stand up for your rights! We must adopt these words as our marching orders if we are going to save the USPS from postal managers, members of...
November 8, 2025
Support APWU Members Serving in the Military
The APWU is coordinating an effort to show support for union members and their loved ones who are serving in the military. We plan to send them care packages and acknowledge their sacrifice by posting their name, address...
November 8, 2025
USPS Misrepresentations Lead to Barrage of Criticism
The Postal Service’s top management, including Postmaster General Donahoe, has been drawing fire from all sides in recent months, after a series of disturbing and embarrassing revelations. Criticism of postal management...
November 8, 2025
Draft Staffing and Grade Criteria Handbook Settlement
This settlement (case # Q00C4QC05027011) provides that the draft Staffing and Grade Criteria Handbook is not a handbook, manual or published regulation with the force and effect pursuant to Article 19.
November 8, 2025
Advance Directives Speak for You When You Can’t Speak for Yourself
Less than 25 percent of Americans have expressed their thoughts in writing about how they want to be cared for at the end of their lives. Although most people avoid the subject, it's important to have an "Advance Directi...
November 8, 2025
Doc Fix Prevents Cuts to Medicare Providers for a Year
On Thursday, the House approved a so-called “doc fix” bill that serves as a temporary solution to an ongoing structural problem in the formula used to determine Medicare funding levels. After hours of uncertainty over wh...
November 8, 2025
Health Coverage When Injured at Work
Employees who are injured on duty and placed on the rolls of the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) remain eligible for health benefits, provided they are enrolled in one of the Federal Employee Health Benefi...
November 8, 2025
Award on Inspection of Vehicles in Non-Public Areas of Postal Property
Arbitrator Linda Byars denied the APWU's grievance challenging the Postal Service's regulations and implementing instructions for the administrative inspection of vehicles entering non-public areas of postal property.
November 8, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
In the March-April edition, I addressed a number of questions asked by APWU retirees. Here are several more.
November 8, 2025
OSHA Releases Ergonomic Strategic Partnership Report for Denver P&DC
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Strategic Partnership Program has released their Ergonomic Verification Report for the Denver P&DC's Ergonomic Risk Reduction Process.
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, March 23, 2012
Postal Reform Bill on Senate Floor Next Week Sen. Mikulski Puts Hold on Postal Reform Bill Sen. Collins Criticizes USPS Proposed Cuts USPS Market Research on Consolidations: Revenue Losses Could Wipe Out Savings
November 8, 2025
Building a Successful Coalition
A coalition is an alliance of individuals or groups that join forces for a common purpose. Forming a coalition allows participants to combine their resources and become more powerful than if the individuals or groups act...
November 8, 2025
USPS Must Maintain All Factory Equipment, Including Air Conditioning
An e-mail from USPS headquarters dated Oct. 3, 2001, instructs managers in the field that former Emery vehicles incorporated into the postal fleet are now considered postal vehicles and must be maintained in a manner con...
November 8, 2025
Legislative Matters
In recent months, two congressional subcommittees held hearings on an issue of utmost concern to retirees — legislation that would repeal provisions of the Social Security laws that deny earned benefits to Civil Service...
November 8, 2025
Preference-Eligible Employees Should Look to the CBA
Federal law grants preference-eligible employees specific protection from Reductions in Force (RIFs), and gives them the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) if they believe their rights under Cha...
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, Sept. 9, 2011
Sept. 27 Day of Action President Guffey Testifies Before Senate Committee Proposed Postal Service Layoffs Would Significantly Impact Minorities, Veterans Governor Lynch’s Veto Sustained in New Hampshire / Ohio to Mail A...
November 8, 2025
The Long and Winding Road to Real Reform
Are you ready for a busy summer? I hope so, because it looks like APWU members will need to spend much of the season persuading members of Congress that enacting customer-friendly, worker-friendly postal reform legislati...
November 8, 2025
Sexual Harassment (Part 2)
Employees who are victims of sexual harassment often fail to report it because they are embarrassed and think nothing will be done to stop it. They fear reprisals, being labeled a troublemaker or prude, or being ridicule...
November 8, 2025
For FECA Employees:
The percentage increase in the December CPI-W index from year to year determines the FECA COLA increase. The 2014 FECA COLA will be 1.5% effective March 2014.
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, May 3, 2013
APWU encourages continued support for S. 316/ H.R. 630 Sign the ‘We The People’ petition for a White House response on saving the Postal Service Federal retirees targeted by high interest pension-‘advance’ lenders USPS B...
November 8, 2025
Can Level 4 Post Office Clerks Work in Your Office?
The position description for the Level 4 Post Office Clerk [PDF] limits its use to Post Offices with fewer than 190 revenue units annually. The Level 4 Post Office Clerk qualification standard [PDF] repeats that same lim...
November 8, 2025
Fighting to Protect Our Future
I would like to thank the members of the APWU for electing me the Executive Vice President of the American Postal Workers Union. It is truly an honor. Thank you to every member who cast a ballot.