APWU news – 01/22/2016 – APWU members across the country will mark Feb. 17 – the opening day of arbitration for a new contract – with a show of solidarity.
Workers in every craft and every category will wear stickers specially made for the occasion. The stickers bear the slogan, “Opening Day – Fighting for Justice.”
Union members will receive two stickers in the mail – one for themselves and one to share with a co-worker. Local and state presidents will receive some extra stickers too.
To show solidarity, union members will wear
stickers on the opening day of arbitration.
Stickers are being mailed to members’ homes.
In arbitration, the APWU seeks to:
- Win fair wage increases;
- Protect cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs);
- Defend the no-layoff clause;
- Win improvements for Postal Support Employees (PSEs) and Part-Time Flexibles;
- Secure more career jobs;
- Redefine “full-time” so that it once again guarantees a 40-hour work week;
- Limit subcontracting, and
- Win better service for our customers.
Management wants to gut the COLA for current workers and is seeking a new tier in the career workforce that would earn no COLAs; have virtually no protection against layoffs, and earn less annual leave and sick leave than current employees.
Because of the complex nature of the case, the hearings are expected to take numerous sessions, which will be scheduled based on the arbitrator’s availability.
Fighting for Justice
“We’ve been preparing for the possibility of arbitration for more than a year – even before negotiations got started,” said President Mark Dimondstein. “We’re ready for the challenge.”
“We’re fighting for justice – for a strong Postal Service for generations to come and economic justice for postal workers and retirees, today and in the future,” he said.
“As we enter the last stage of our contract battle, I urge all union members to show solidarity by wearing the ‘Fighting for Justice’ stickers.”
One last thing. Let us not be fooled, the real union agenda is self preservation. Their goal is more union membership to maintain their position within the union. More membership means more money, more union dues.How is this archived? Limiting sub-contracting, improving PSE’s, securing more career jobs, getting a no layoff clause.
It’s clear the main goal for the union is more union membership, which equates to more money to protect their union jobs. Self preservation of the union. What do we get? COLA’s, %1 wage increase, and an increase in union dues.
Considering we haven’t had any substantial COLA’s we should be asking for %10-12 wage increase over the life of the new contract.
Amen to that brother
People are not forgetting the over $1k COLA that was deferred during our last contract either. Money we will never see and would have compounded over our lifetime with the USPS. How bout getting us a %5 wage increase, to really boost morale.
What is the union definition of “A fair wage increase”? Please tell. My guess is .5 percent. Why is the exact percentage not outlined? Oh, I know! It’s because the union is in bed with management and really isn’t asking for a substantial wage increase. BROTHERS AND SISTERS FEAR NOT, the union is ready to fight the good fight. LMFAO.
I think everyone can see through this ploy. COLA’s will remain status quo, the union will claim a victory, stating b/c of this victory we will only be getting our usual %1 pay raise. HOWEVER the union WAS ABLE TO SAVE THE COLA’s…GOD BLESS THE UNION! BROTHERS AND SISTERS REJOICE!!! It’s so transparent, and this is why union membership has declined. Pathetic.