The Industrial Relations Department plays a major role in our organization's ongoing struggle for better wages and improved working conditions and benefits.
About the Industrial Relations Department
The Director of Industrial Relations is charged with responsibility for labor management, national negotiations, mechanization, safety and health for all divisions of the union, and the administration of the collective bargaining agreement.
The Industrial Relations Department's responsibilities and duties include the following activities:
- Administration of the contract negotiation process
- Interpretation and application of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (specifically Articles 1 through 36)
- Appointment and payment of arbitrators
- National-level grievances and disputes
- Compliance with arbitration awards
- Safety and Health
- Appeals to the "Administrative Dispute Resolution Process" (e.g., Step Promotion, Lump Sum, National Level Settlement)
- Family Medical Leave Act appeals and related issues
- Unfair Labor Practice charges
- Legal issues such as Privacy Act, Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) law and procedure, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Veterans Preference Act
- Collective Bargaining Reports (CBRs)
- Administration of computerized systems concerning the grievance-arbitration process and other provisions of the National Agreement through APWU Search, the Arbitration Payment and Scheduling System (APSS), the Step 3 Case Administration System (Step 3 CAS) and the Step 4 Case Administration System (Step 4 CAS)
- Tracking and reporting on the Consumer Price Index
- Research of arbitration, court and administrative decisions
President Dimondstein Signs Annual Leave Exchange and Annual Leave Carryover MOUs
In addition to the extension of the COVID-19 MOUs, President Dimondstein signed off on the two additional MOUs: one that allows for the increased annual leave carry over from leave year 2022 to leave year 2023 and one that allows for additional annual leave exchange prior to leave year 2023. Click to view the MOUs
Latest News from the Industrial Relations Department
June 6, 2025
Big News!! APWU, USPS Reach Tentative Agreement on New Union Contract!
The American Postal Workers Union and the U.S. Postal Service have reached a tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement...
May 15, 2025
Due Process, Your Union Right
Industrial Relations Director Charlie Cash explains due process, “one of our most important union rights. In the...
April 21, 2025
Workers' Memorial Day: Keep Fighting for Workplace Safety
On April 28, we encourage all postal workers to identify workplace hazards and submit a PS Form 1767 to make sure...
March 12, 2025
Stand Up for Safe Jobs on Workers' Memorial Day!
On April 28, Workers Memorial Day, I challenge all of you to be willing to Stand Up for Safe Jobs and take action on...
Resources from the Industrial Relations Department
Coronavirus disease 2019 Resources
Previously Adopted Labor Management Resolutions 1968-2022
The previously adopted labor management resolutions passed the delegates to the national conventions up through 2022 has been posted. This resource should be used by state and local organizations when preparing convention resolutions for submission.
Protecting LiteBlue from Cyber Criminals: Multifactor Authentication Required After January 15
APWU national officers are continuing to advocate for members who have had had their wages stolen in the recent online fraud attack on USPS systems. Below is an update on management’s introduction of multifactor authentication (MFA) for LiteBlue log ins.