The continuation of pay provision drew heavy criticism from employee unions and tested their support for the legislation.
William H. Young president of the National Association of Letter Carriers said the bill, while not perfect, would enable USPS to “fight another day,” but that he would work to erase the new continuation of pay rule.
Young said in a statement he was accused by a senior lawmaker of trying to kill the bill by withholding support over the COP provision, and that he reluctantly let it go for now.
President of the American Postal Workers Union, William Burrus, criticized other unions for backing the bill, calling the COP waiting period “inhumane and wrong.”
Burrus said APWU also did not support the bill because of other provisions, including one placing limits on rate increases that he said ignored actual costs and could amount to a cap on postal worker wages. Under the reform bill, the postal service will remain one of the few places in the government where unions can negotiate over pay and benefits.
