The American Postal Workers Union has said it is increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of collective bargaining negotiations with the Postal Service, raising the likelihood of mediation or possibly binding arbitration.
Union negotiators and postal management met on January 6 and 7. However, "It remains to be seen whether management negotiators are willing to make the commitment necessary to reach a negotiated settlement," said the union’s president Cliff Guffey.
APWU said one of its priorities is to restore work that has been contracted out or assigned to supervisory personnel. Other items on the agenda are wages, benefits and workforce structure issues.
The current collective bargaining agreement was set to expire on November 20 but has been extended indefinitely. In December USPS agreed to put a hold on the practice of "excessing" employees – forcing them to change work schedules and locations – while talks continue.
If negotiations fail the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service could appoint a mediator, and if that does not result in settlement in 60 days the parties would then enter into binding arbitration.
