Not long after reporting a third-quarter net loss of $3.5 billion the Postal Service announced that it has started contract negotiations with the American Postal Workers Union over a wide range of issues – many affected by the agency’s fiscal problems.
APWU members include clerks, mechanics, vehicle drivers, custodians and administrative positions covered under a contract set to expire on November 21.
USPS will soon begin negotiations with three other unions that together represent the majority of postal employees – the National Association of Letter Carriers, which covers employees that deliver in metropolitan areas, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association and employees represented by the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, that mainly work in mail processing plants and post offices.
USPS has been carrying out an initiative that includes plant closings, mail processing consolidations, and reductions in work hours. It is also trying to move to a five-day delivery schedule.
"Our goal is to negotiate a contract that’s fair to our customers, fair to our employees and meets our financial and operational needs," said Anthony Vegliante, chief HR officer and executive vice president.
APWU president William Burrus – who has asked members to boycott USPS employee surveys fearing management seeks to use the results as pretext for its plans — noted that mail volume and revenue are down and acknowledged that USPS is likely to offer some "unpleasant" proposals. He also added that the union would explore "every opportunity to achieve agreement."
