NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT

CONTRACT TALKS STALL: Impasse Declared

(January 20, 2012) National negotiations between the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the U.S. Postal Service over the terms of their 2011 National Agreement have stalled, and the parties have been unable to agree to another extension of the deadline for their bargaining. (Two prior extensions previously had changed the original November 20, 2011 expiration of the National Agreement to December 16, 2011 and January 20, 2012, respectively.)

The parties at the National level are still discussing how they will proceed from this point forward, pursuant to their joint authority to establish dispute resolution procedures; the terms of the 2011 National Agreement will remain in effect until the completion of those procedures. Under the statute that governs postal negotiations, if both sides agree, the parties may first engage in mediation and, if unsuccessful, go to binding interest arbitration. As noted, the parties currently are discussing how they will proceed.

The National Office of the NPMHU appreciates the patience and support of the membership. More information will be shared with the Local Unions next week.

USPS Agrees to Moratorium on Plant Closures and Consolidations
USPS Agrees to Moratorium on Plant Closures and Consolidations
(December 13, 2011) In response to growing concern among a coalition of United States Senators, the United States Postal Service announced today that it will delay the closing or consolidation of any post offices or mail processing facilities until May 15, 2012.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) initiated this proposal late last week, and with the help of the NPMHU e-activist network and countless other concerned postal stakeholders, has succeeded in slowing down the USPS closure and consolidation process. Nearly two dozen of his colleagues in the Senate signed on to Senator Sanders’ letter requesting this moratorium – which will essentially allow additional time for the Congress to fashion and enact legislation which might possibly limit the scope and extent of the targeted closings and consolidations.
National President John Hegarty praised this effort by Senator Sanders and his colleagues, and for the tremendous response from Mail Handler activists, saying that “this moratorium might allow the key players in the Congress the time to step back for a moment, to reassess the various proposals that have been bandied about, and to possibly fashion a legislative solution that will obviate the need for full-scale facility closures, and the resulting disruption to USPS workers and the mailing public.”
Mail Handlers are encouraged to monitor their bulletin boards and the NPMHU website for additional details, as they become available.

New members are provided with a denim apron or smock when they join the Union. Current members can receive replacement aprons or smocks when theirs becomes unusable. Being dirty does not constitute unusable. Members are required to turn-in their old apron in order to receive a new one.

Extra aprons can be purchased for $10.00 eaach. Please pay by personal check or money order made payable to NPMHU Local 297.