Category: APWU News

08/25/2017 – The APWU and the USPS recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), RE: Peak Season Exception Periods – 2017 Date Changes, modifying the Peak Season (Holiday Season) Exception period for 2017 to “ensure adequate coverage” and “accommodate customer service.”Peak Season DatesThe start of the Peak Season Exception Period will be from Nov. 11, 2017 (Pay Period 24), and will go through Jan. 5, 2018 (Pay Period 1).Holiday Clerk AssistantsAll Holiday Clerk Assistants (HCAs) […]

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Arbitrator Goldberg found USPS violated ‘POStPlan’ MOU 06/07/2017 – The APWU scores another victory today, defending postal employees in the union’s bargaining unit. Arbitrator Goldberg issued an award in a national-level case over what remedy was due for the Postal Service’s failure to staff ‘POStPlan’ offices following an original award on September 5, 2014 and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiated afterward.The APWU and the Postal Service agreed that after December 22, 2014, the ‘POStPlan’ Remotely-Managed […]

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Starting May 13, Postal Support Employess (PSEs) will get a pay raise of 20 cents an hour. The increase will be reflected in the June 2 paychecks. Click here for updated payscales.PSEs are not eligible for COLA increases, including the most recent increase of 16 cents per hour all career employees received in March, but they have five general wage increases under the 2015-2018 contractSource: PSEs Getting a Pay Raise | APWU

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Protest Barre, VT Post Office Management Members of the Barre Local [VT] were joined by their APWU brothers and sisters from across New England – including National President Mark Dimondstein and Northeast Regional Coordinator John H. Dirzius – for an informational picket outside the South Main Street post office on Friday, April 28. Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO President Jill Charboneau joined the picket with other Vermont State Labor Council leaders. Local representatives of the National Association […]

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04/24/2017 – The labor movement will observe Workers Memorial Day on April 28, to commemorate those who have been killed or injured on the job and to revitalize the fight for workplace safety.Each year, thousands of workers die and millions more are injured or sickened from dangerous working conditions. Many employers routinely cut corners and violate the law.According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), between Oct. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2016, nearly […]

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04/28/2017 – May Day, the annual holiday recognizing the international working class, will be celebrated around the world on May 1.This year hundreds of thousands are expected to participate in demonstrations, strikes, and shows of solidarity. Coast to coast, workers and allies will join together and fight for respect, dignity, equal rights, and opportunity for working people of all backgrounds – whether they be immigrants, coal and steel workers, services employees or day laborers.APWU encourages […]

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03/09/2017 – The Postal Service is distributing the final payment of the 1.6.b Global Settlement to over 13,000 active employees and retirees this week. The payment is part of the remedy agreed upon in the Global Settlement reached between the APWU and the USPS on December 5, 2014. The terms of the settlement include a monetary remedy of $56 million to be distributed to eligible individuals. The bulk of the payment was distributed in the first […]

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The National Executive Board Adopt Proclamation to Honor the Women of the APWU Web News Article #: 23-2017 03/01/2017 On Feb 27, 2017, The APWU National Executive Board adopted a proclaimation to honor the women of the APWU throughout March, in celebration of Women’s History Month. The proclamation read: Whereas, the great contributions of American women in shaping our nation are observed in March, during Women’s History Month;      Whereas, March 8th is International Working Women’s […]

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By Secretary-Treasurer Liz PowellPresently, there is an arbitration backlog and the reason is simple. The grievances appealed to arbitration are usually caused by management, resulting in the issues and problems being grieved by the union. With this system, management generally does not care if arbitration cases are heard and unless there is specific language to require the arbitration cases are heard, as per the negotiated time limits, there will continue to be a backlog.Unfortunately, each one […]

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Web News Article #: 19-2017 Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Powell with former AFL-CIO President John Sweeney with the delegation from the World Peace Prize Awarding Council. On February 14, Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Powell was awarded the 2016 World Peace Prize, “Roving Ambassador for Peace,” presented by the World Peace Prize Awarding Council (WPPAC), headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Secretary-Treasurer Powell was honored alongside former AFL-CIO President John Sweeney at the award ceremony at the AFL-CIO Headquarter building in […]

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Web News Article #: 11-2017 02/01/2017 – The U.S. Offices of Personnel Management (OPM) and Management & Budget (OMB) published a joint memorandum on Tuesday, January 31 providing guidance regarding the Federal Employee hiring freeze on January 23, 2017. The hiring freeze does not include the U.S. Postal Service. Attachments PDF (2.41 MB) Source: USPS Exempt from Federal Hiring Freeze | APWU

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The APWU is fighting efforts by USPS management to dismantle the nation’s mail processing network, which would severely degrade service to the people.The USPS announced plans to close or consolidate 82 mail processing facilities in 2015 and 2016 – in addition to 140 mail processing plants that were closed or consolidated in 2012. The closure of mail processing facilities is tied to a second reduction in service standards, which the USPS implemented on Jan. 5, […]

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(This article first appeared in the January-February 2017 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) Missed opportunities to strengthen the APWU are happening every day. Each orientation for new hires, new career employees and PSE enrollment into Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), is a chance for organizers and local union leaders to reach out to possible new members. Each of you can make a big impact by simply taking advantage of the language in the […]

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