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Union Secures Third Historic Staffing Agreement
On June 21st, the American Postal Workers Union and postal management signed a major new agreement to address longstanding understaffing issues in mail processing functions at the Postal Service.
Under the terms of the new agreement the “Function” 1 mail processing staffing will be increased with 3,741 new career positions. The agreement also establishes the additional conversion of at least 3,641 PSEs to career. In total the agreement will result in the 7,400 PSE conversions. These conversions will take place no later than August 14, 2021 and will be applied to 245 installations throughout the country as determined by management.
As part of this agreement, and in an effort to improve service provided to the public during the holidays, the APWU has agreed to extend by two pay periods (four weeks) the 2021 “Holiday Peak Season” in Function 1.
“This agreement is another milestone in our priorities of securing career positions for postal workers and providing top-class service to the public,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “We’ve been relentless in urging management to address staffing issues. This agreement is another big step in the right direction and will undoubtedly better the lives of thousands of PSEs and help us better serve the people of the country.”
This new agreement is the third in a series that increased total clerk craft career staffing by approximately 10,000 jobs and created the conversion of 14,000 PSEs to career.
The Union remains committed to addressing similar ongoing staffing issues in Function 4 (retail) and will continue to press management to address the problems of understaffing.
APWU LIVE WITH PRESIDENT DIMONDSTEIN - JUNE 1, 7 PM ET
President Dimondstein was joined by Secretary-Treasurer Powell for June's Livestream. They covered the upcoming kick off of our contract campaign, the new bipartisan postal reform legislation, and more on the 10 year plan and our fight to stop the delays. They took questions from members on organizing non-members in the USPS, EFEL leave, proposals for retiree health care under the Postal Service Reform Act and the threat to small post offices.
Local News and Information
PSEs to See Pay Raise
On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Postal Support Employees (PSEs) will receive a pay increase of 20 cents per hour. The additional pay will be reflected in pay checks dated June 11, 2021. The new hourly rates for PSEs can be found here. This is will be the fifth and final pay increase PSEs will receive under the 2018-2021 National Agreement. The five pay increases the PSEs receive included three general increases of 2.3%, 2.1%, 2.0%, and two additional increases of 20 cents each (PSEs do not receive COLA). Overall, a Level 6 PSE received a total of $2.07 per hour during the current contract. Any future pay increases will be based on the next contract. Contract negotiations are set to begin on June 22, 2021.
Our union contract, plant closures & consolidation, delayed mail and our hope for bipartisan legislation to fix postal finances
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Contract negotiations open in less than one month. Our next APWU Live with President Dimondstein is coming up on June 1 and we hope to see you there. Sign up here to get a reminder and to ask your question. There is a lot happening for postal workers right now and we have a packed livestream this month. This is your chance to get updates on postal workers’ campaign to restore speedy mail service and stop management’s attempt to permanently delay the mail. We will discuss management’s plans for plant closures and consolidations. And we’ll address the new bipartisan legislation that will finally get rid of the unfair prefunding mandate that has drained USPS finances. We will also let you know how you can get involved in our fight for a fair contract. Because our strength at the bargaining table comes from our members standing together and mobilizing, to get a Good Contract Now, we need you to make it happen. Together with answers for your questions, the June 1 live is a key opportunity for you find out what is going on and to get involved. Sign up for the July 1 APWU Live here. In union solidarity, The American Postal Workers Union 1300 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 | www.apwu.org |
National News
House Committee on Oversight and Reform Introduces Bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act
May 12, 2021
The bipartisan bill is an important step on the road to saving our public Postal Service. The bill will place USPS on the path toward financial stability by taking the critical step of repealing the unfair prefunding mandate, adding much-needed transparency to the Postal Service, and enacting prospective Medicare integration. The prefunding mandate requires USPS to fully prefund retirement health benefits for future postal workers who have not even been born yet. This burden—which no other organization is forced to bear—is responsible for 84 percent of the Postal Service’s net losses since 2007.
“I applaud Chairwoman Maloney and Ranking Member Comer for their leadership and for coming together on a bipartisan basis to help to preserve America’s Postal Service,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “Their efforts reflect the broad support across the country – regardless of party affiliation – for the essential and dependable public postal services the people rely upon. We look forward to continuing to work with the committee to build support for this bill and ensure that USPS is better able to serve the American public.”