NPPN/APWU, Postal Service Begin Negotiations for New USPS Nurses Contract

The National Postal Professional Nurses/American Postal Workers Union met with the Postal Service on July 11 in the opening round of contract negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The current agreement, the result of the Goldberg Interest Arbitration panel, is due to expire on Aug. 10, 2012.

Both sides made opening statements concerning the Postal Service’s current economic climate and the need for Congress to help resolve the economic issues that Congress created.

The NPPN-APWU submitted nine proposals at this first session. Two of the proposals pertain to the job security issues of incumbent nurses. The union submitted several proposals concerning 10-hour, four-day workweeks and flexible reporting times. The union also submitted two proposals that if accepted would enhance the due process requirements under the Discipline procedure of Article 16.

The session lasted approximately two hours. The parties scheduled the next bargaining sessions for July 31 and Aug. 1, when both sides will be able to submit proposals to change wages, hours, and working conditions for the nurses. The union was represented at the first round of negotiations by NPPN-APWU President Idell Mitchell, NPPN-APWU Secretary-Treasurer Suzanne Deweese, and by Bill Manley, APWU Support Services Director.

In closing remarks, Mitchell reminded the Postal Service that “the Nurses were well trained before joining the Postal Service. If the Postal Service is serious about cost containment, you will let the nurses use their knowledge to help the Postal Service achieve cost savings that currently are being missed.”