Despite Mounting Frustration, Contract Talks Continue

Although the union is “increasingly frustrated” at the slow pace of contract negotiations, bargaining is continuing, APWU President Cliff Guffey has announced. After briefing the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee on Jan. 4 and 5, members of the union’s negotiating team held discussions with their management counterparts on Jan. 6 and 7.

“It remains to be seen whether management negotiators are willing to make the commitment necessary to reach a negotiated settlement,” Guffey said. 

“As we have said many times, we are determined to safeguard jobs and to lessen the pain of excessing for our members.” In December, the APWU and the Postal Service agreed to a moratorium on excessing. The moratorium applies to excessing outside of a craft or installation, and will remain in effect as long as bargaining continues.

“We are seeking an agreement that will benefit postal workers and the Postal Service,” the union president said. “One of our top priorities is to restore work that has been contracted out or assigned to supervisory personnel. This would restore a sense of stability to APWU members who have endured severe hardships due to the long-distance reassignments caused by excessing,” he said.

“The proposals we have submitted to achieve our objectives also would benefit the Postal Service,” Guffey said. “They would save the USPS money, because our members can perform these duties more efficiently and at a lower cost.”

In addition to job security and excessing, the parties are discussing wages, benefits, and issues related to workforce structure.

For the latest developments on contract negotiations, please visit www.apwu.org. Members are also encouraged to follow the union on Twitter  and Facebook to receive up-to-the-minute alerts by e-mail or text message.