National Day of Action
July 1, 2015
(This article first appeared in the July-August 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
APWU members turned up the heat on the May 14 National Day of Action, holding 136 events in 118 cities across 45 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The rallies, marches, protests and press conferences were organized around the theme, “I Stand with Postal Workers.”
In Washington, DC, actor-activist Danny Glover and 17 member organizations of A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service joined APWU President Mark Dimondstein, and others for a press event in front of a downtown post office.
“Are you fired up? Are you ready to go?” Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell asked dozens of supporters at the kick-off event. “On this day, May 14, 2015, across the country we are sending a message to Postmaster General Megan Brennan: Not only do you have the postal workers to deal with, you’ve got the rest of the country to deal with. We’re in this together. It takes all of us.”
APWU President Mark Dimondstein added, “The American Postal Workers Union and all of you are fighting for the people of this country, for a vibrant public Postal Service for generations to come. That’s what the people deserve and that’s what the people should have.”
Glover, the son of postal workers, said, “The public has to have a voice in this. We have to say that this belongs to us – this is something we are entitled to.” Expanding postal services is possible, he said, including postal banking.
Melanie Campbell, convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, talked about how important the post office was to her mother, 85 years young, living in Mims, FL. “I am here in solidarity,” Campbell said. “I may have on this dress and heels, but don’t get it twisted. I am here to fight for our postal workers and our Postal Service.”
Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America, said, “The shareholders of this country and CEOs have had their turn. The economic recovery has been great to them. But now it’s our turn. Postal worker jobs are good for our communities and good for our kids. No more benefit cuts. No more contracting out. Whatever union we are in, we are standing up, we are fighting back and we are with postal workers.”
Clayola Brown, president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, concluded the event by declaring, “Our folks are absolutely proud to stand with postal workers, today, tomorrow, until we get a contract. We stand with you one thousand percent. Keep pushing!”
in Brentwood DC.
Grand Alliance Members Pitch In
Grand Alliance members took to social media to spread the word for Good Service! Good Jobs! Contract Now!
The Ms. Foundation, A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Alliance for Retired Americans used the #0514Action hashtag and tweeted messages saying they were “proud to stand with postal workers” during contract negotiations.
Melanie Campbell of the Black Women’s Roundtable live tweeted the DC event, writing that Glover was “speaking truth to power” and said, “stop the unfair attacks on the U.S. Postal Service!”
Pennsylvania Packs a Punch
Members of the Philadelphia BMC Local and the Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union purchased a digital billboard that displayed the union’s message for a week, beginning on May 11. “Hundreds of cars go by every hour,” said local President Vince Tarducci.
The National Day of Action event took place at the entrance to the Bulk Mail Center truck yard, where the billboard was located. Dozens chanted slogans, passed out flyers and collected postcards to be sent to Postmaster General Megan Brennan.
Joe Zelenenki, president of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Philadelphia NDC Branch, participated, along with elected officials, including Rep. John Sabatina and Rep. Steve Santarsiero.
“We spread the word that we intend to keep the USPS as-is, for the benefit of the American people, without the use of a single tax dollar, and operating efficiently in both good and bad economic times,” Tarducci said.
“This is not the end,” he added. “It is more like the beginning of a long road to ensure that the USPS continues to serve the people of this great country, while providing family-sustaining jobs, long into the future!”
Many in Michigan, Massachusetts
More than 50 people passed out flyers and got postcards signed at the Royal Oak Post Office in Michigan, including members of Communication Workers of America, Detroit Federation of Teachers, United Auto Workers, United Steelworkers, International Union of Operating Engineers, Making Change at Walmart, Detroit Eviction Defense, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Postal Mail Handlers Union, AFL-CIO and the Fight for 15.
In Boston, members and supporters passed out leaflets, got postcards signed, and spoke with the public in front of the main post office for 10 continuous hours. “The public was very supportive,” reported lead organizer Bill Thomas.
Members All-A-Twitter
APWU members tweeted messages of support in unprecedented numbers on May 14th.
Sonya Kirsch, a 15-year member of the Fayetteville, AR, Local, attended an event at the Craft Station, spreading the word about service cuts, and tweeting to local news stations, asking them to cover it.
Sure enough, two stations came.
“It’s kind of hard tweeting while holding a sign, but I managed,” she said. “It’s heartening to know that people were actually reading the tweets, they were not just floating out in the atmosphere.”
Kirsch’s husband pulled their two kids out of school to walk the informational picket.
“He wanted them to see what I went through, so they didn’t take it for granted,” she explained.
We Are Fighting for a Just Future
The APWU is fighting for a just future – for a strong Postal Service for generations to come and for “economic justice” for the workers and retirees of today and tomorrow.
Across the country, today’s young workers are being consigned to second- and third-class jobs. The Postal Service’s contract proposals would perpetuate the downward spiral, with lower wages and fewer benefits for future career employees, including today’s PSEs.
In management’s plan, older, career workers would lose cost-of-living raises and be forced to worry about layoffs, plant closings and higher healthcare costs.
The public would be left to wonder whether there will be a public postal system or whether they will, once again, be ripped off by private companies that have no concern for the public good.
The APWU’s contract proposals include fair and reasonable wage increases, limits on subcontracting, more career jobs, improvements for Postal Support Employees (PSEs), limits on excessing, and better service for our customers.
The APWU’s contract battle is a fight for the entire nation. That’s what a union is all about!
Join the fight and help build momentum for the battle ahead.
Get Postcards Signed
President Mark Dimondstein is urging members to continue collecting signatures on the “I Stand with Postal Workers” postcards. Locals can send signed postcards to the national office to be mailed in bulk, or send them themselves.
“The postcards are an excellent way to let the Postmaster General know that the people of the country want what we want: Good Postal Service! Good Jobs! Good Contract!” he said.
To sign online, click here. The APWU will print and mail postcards that are completed online.
Wear Your Union Gear
Dimondstein is also calling on members to wear APWU shirts, buttons and other union gear every Thursday.
“Make sure postal management sees our union strength,” he said.
“This is a simple way that we can continue to demonstrate solidarity and build momentum for our campaign for a good contract.”
Postcard Pros!
Post Office on the National Day of Action.
A quick-thinking APWU Auxiliary member got 85 postcards signed on the May 14 Day of Action – with a little help from her granddaughter.
Joyce Tanguay, District 7’s coordinator from Portland, ME, said she had a couple of hours to spare that day and asked her son – APWU Maine President Scott Adam – what was the best time to get postcards signed.
“I didn’t know who I should go with, so I called my granddaughter, who is home from college,” Tanguay said.
She and 19-year-old Jaci Adams took a snack table, the postcards, and “I Stand with Postal Workers” posters to the South Portland Post Office. They set up shop in front, taping the signs around the table. Working as a team, the elder got postcards signed while the younger lured passersby with APWU wristbands and pins.
“People were wonderful. It was quite easy,” Tanguay said. “I think the postcards are a very, very good idea. They read well and are self-explanatory. All the info is right there,” she added.
“Even if you have an hour, stand in front of the post office and just do it!”
What Happens When Contract Talks Break Down?
When negotiations between the APWU and USPS reached a stalemate on May 27, our fight for a good contract entered a new stage. And until postal workers have reclaimed our inherent right to withhold our labor to win our demands, the next steps will be dictated by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA).
Mediation is the first step outlined in the PAEA, to be followed by arbitration if mediation fails to result in a new collective bargaining agreement.
“The union has been preparing for the possibility that negotiations would end in mediation and/or arbitration from the beginning,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.
“But I want our members to understand: Those proceedings don’t take place in a vacuum. Workers can affect the process. Arbitrators and mediators – like judges – are influenced by the political climate. That is why it is so important that our members remain active and continue to show solidarity.”
What is Mediation?
Mediation occurs when a neutral third party is brought in to help resolve a dispute.
A mediator doesn’t have authority to determine the outcome of the contract; the mediator’s role is to help the parties reach agreement. Unlike arbitrators, who are not permitted to have “ex parte” conversations, mediators often meet privately with each side.
Mediation is often voluntary – as it was with the APWU and USPS until the passage of the PAEA in 2006. The PAEA requires the union and management to engage in mediation under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and to cooperate with the mediator.
The law establishes a 60-day period for mediation before moving to the next step – interest arbitration. The parties may extend the 60-day period or agree upon other procedures before entering interest arbitration.
What is Interest Arbitration?
If there is no agreement between the APWU and the USPS to extend the time limits or establish another process, “interest arbitration” begins immediately after expiration of the 60-day mediation period.
In interest arbitration, an arbitrator sets the terms of the new contract.
Consistent with previous regulations, the PAEA requires the establishment of a three-member arbitration board, including an APWU-appointed advocate, a USPS-appointed advocate, and a neutral chairman. The party-appointed advocates are often referred to as arbitrators, but they act as partisan advocates.
Under the law, the two party-appointed advocates have five days to select a neutral arbitration board chair. If they cannot agree, the FMCS will provide a list of nine arbitrators and one will be chosen by alternately striking names from the list.
Once the chair is appointed, the law requires him or her to issue a decision within 45 days.
The Timeline
Given the time limits outlined above, the entire process shouldn’t take much more than 120 days. However, the parties are free to negotiate other procedures and time limits as long as they result in a binding collective bargaining agreement – and often do.
The time limits outlined in the law have rarely proven adequate and frequently have been waived. After talks broke down in November 2000, the arbitrator’s ruling was not rendered until December 2001 – 13 months later!
A Major Undertaking
Interest arbitration is a major undertaking, much like a trial. Both sides present testimony, evidence and arguments on items in the current contract they wish to change, which are subject to cross-examination and rebuttal.
The economic issues in dispute would involve extremely complicated presentations, including on wages, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), job comparisons, wage trends and pay structures, as well as pay and benefits for future career employees. They would also include healthcare, the amount of leave employees earn, uniforms and life insurance. Both sides also raised numerous work-floor topics during negotiations.
Once the parties finish presenting evidence and arguments, the arbitration board goes into “executive session.” Ultimately, the neutral chair decides the terms of the contract, but the party advocates meet with the chair as decisions are made. They continue to argue their case and try to persuade the neutral to rule in their favor.
Where We Stand
Arbitration results in a binding award, so if the contract is settled through arbitration, union members won’t get the opportunity to vote on it.
The APWU will continue to make every effort to reach a voluntary agreement. We want to retain members’ right to vote to ratify or reject any agreement that will impact their work lives.
We also want to retain the control that a voluntary agreement provides. With an arbitration award, an outsider sets the terms of the deal. No matter how strong our case, a neutral arbitrator can surprise and disappoint us.
Informal negotiations may continue throughout the arbitration process.