Support Services Negotiations Updates

As the holiday season is upon us, the Support Services Division wishes you, your family, and friends a happy holiday season filled with joy. As you celebrate the holidays, please share with others what your union means to you. Having a casual conversation about the “union difference” in your life with someone who you know in a non-unionized workplace could be what it takes to encourage them to organize. If that happens, the APWU will support those organizing efforts in any way we can, and you can reach out to my office for advice. Whether it be unionizing with the APWU or another union, we believe all workers deserve the gains, protections, and voice that a union provides.

As the industrial division of the APWU, the Support Services Division negotiates on behalf of organized workers in the postal industry and is their voice to pursue the gains and protections that they deserve. We are proud to give an update about the United Drivers of Peoria who, after long and intense negotiations, ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with 10 Roads Express on Aug. 30, 2024.

These negotiations were tough. The relationship between the APWU Peoria unit and 10 Roads Express began in 2022 with a strike against the company for terminating the lead union organizer soon after the drivers voted in favor of unionizing. Soon after, the drivers held an informational picket protesting the company’s proposed changes. These events occurred prior to the first round of negotiations. The workers’ actions let the company know the union was willing to stand up and stand together to improve their working conditions.

The bargaining unit remained committed through the negotiations process. Their dedication helped achieve a contract, meeting demands that included seniority for bidding, “just-cause” protections, and protection from attendance-related discipline when they call out of work sick, among other improvements. While we never get everything we propose in negotiations, these achievements create a monumentally better work environment for the United Drivers of Peoria.

In other current negotiations, we continue to negotiate for the Support Services Division under the main agreement. Although the contract expired on Sept. 20, the National Negotiating Committee (NNC) unanimously decided to continue bargaining with the Postal Service to achieve a mutually decided contract between the two parties. Although progress has been slow, the NNC has made progress worth building upon to avoid interest arbitration.

We have also begun negotiating the second contract for the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC). Management has been receptive to our proposals, and we look forward to continuing negotiations for a new HRSSC contract that reflects the improvements that our members are demanding.

Our negotiations with Albuquerque Mail Service (AMS), on behalf of the private-sector drivers from Albuquerque Local 380, continue as they seek their first collective bargaining agreement. It has been very productive. In May, the union submitted our full proposal to AMS and the Jackson Lewis law firm, which represents them. We have made significant progress towards an agreement in our follow-up bargaining sessions.

As we continue negotiations, we encourage all our members to continue your support for a good contract. The process can be slow, but the successes and improvements are always worth the efforts to improve our wages, benefits, and working conditions. ■