The Industrial Relations Department plays a major role in our organization's ongoing struggle for better wages and improved working conditions and benefits.
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
November 7, 2022
Retro Pay and Our Union Contract
Finally! The retroactive payments owed under the 2021-2022 National Agreement (union contract) have been processed. The...
September 10, 2022
“Amazing” Convention Sets our Priorities
The 2022 Biennial National Convention has just concluded and it was amazing! Due to COVID-19, the APWU had been unable...
August 10, 2022
Second COLA Increase Announced
In accordance with the 2021-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement, career employees represented by the APWU will...
August 5, 2022
After Pressure, Management Sets Retroactive Pay Date!
Last week we announced the APWU was preparing collective actions in response to the unacceptable delay in retroactive...
Resources from the Industrial Relations Department
Coronavirus disease 2019 Resources
Previously Adopted Labor Management Resolutions 2012-2018
The previously adopted labor management resolutions passed the delegates to the national conventions up through 2018 has been posted. This resource should be used by state and local organizations when preparing convention resolutions for submission.
Retro Pay and Our Union Contract
(This article first appeared in the November/December 2022 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
Finally! The retroactive payments owed under the 2021-2022 National Agreement (union contract) have been processed. The payment, commonly known as “retro pay” or “backpay” was included in paychecks dated Oct. 28, 2022 - eight months after the 2021-2024 National Agreement was ratified.
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