The Industrial Relations Department plays a major role in our organization's ongoing struggle for better wages and improved working conditions and benefits.
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.
Negotiations Still Ongoing As Clock is Stopped
(This article first appeared in the November/December issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
On September 20, 2021, the Collective Bargaining Agreement was set to expire at midnight. As the deadline approached, the Core Negotiating Committee (President, Executive Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Industrial Relations Director, and the four Craft Directors) met to discuss how to proceed. The Committee felt that there was sufficient progress in negotiations to “stop-the-clock” and continue negotiating. The Committee’s vote was unanimous.
‘Stopping the clock’ meant that all provisions and MOUs under the 2018-2021 contract continued in full force and effect. Your negotiators have continued to meet with their counterparts at the Postal Service. The APWU’s Chief Negotiator (President Dimondstein), Craft Directors, and I (Chief Spokesperson) are continuing to negotiate with our counterparts and progress continues to be made.
Latest News from the Industrial Relations Department
November 12, 2021
Negotiations Still Ongoing As Clock is Stopped
(This article first appeared in the November/December issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) On September 20,...
November 12, 2021
Afghanistan Veteran Resources
(This article first appeared in the November/December issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) Vantage Point, an...
November 4, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination Emergency Standard
In September, President Biden issued a directive to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue...
October 1, 2021
Latest COVID MOUs and Liberal Leave Policy Extensions until Dec. 31
President Dimondstein signed extensions on the COVID MOUs late last night (September 30), through December 31, 2021....
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