The House of Representatives passed a bill on July 31 that could cost federal and postal workers their jobs if they are behind in paying their federal taxes. The Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act (H.R. 828), introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and approved by the chamber by a vote of 263 to 114, stipulates […]
A recent highway funding law contains a provision of special interest to postal and federal employees: The legislation authorizes federal agencies to allow full-time retirement-eligible employees to opt for “phased retirement.” The phased retirement provision will take effect when the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issues regulations for implementing the new law. Phased retirement will […]
As we reported in June, the APWU has been engaged in informal conversations with management on financial incentives to encourage employees to leave the Postal Service. Although no official offers have been made, discussions are continuing, APWU President Cliff Guffey has reported. “I understand that there is great interest in this topic among some members, […]
An Awkward Place The APWU National Executive Board has endorsed the decision to withhold agreement on a monetary incentive for retiree eligibles in response to management’s refusal to implement newly negotiated contractual provisions. It is apparent that the union’s interpretation differs from that of management on key provisions and the traditional negotiated means of resolving […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the APWU are investigating the death of APWU member Steny Wing Hoi Yu, who died July 27 from injuries sustained in work-related accident at the Detroit NDC on July 23. Although the investigation of the accident is still underway, reports indicate that Yu’s injuries were the result […]
The APWU and a retired union member have resolved a lawsuit against the Postal Service and an Accounting Services manager for violations of the Debt Collection Act, Industrial Relations Director Mike Morris has announced. The suit charged that the USPS and the manager routinely violated the rights of retired employees by instructing the Office of […]
From 21st Century Postal Worker USPS has decided to subcontract Postal Vehicle Services in all Pacific Area mail processing and network distribution facilities in California. As a result more than 700 California postal employee jobs will be eliminated. As their reasoning, USPS states that it does not have the equipment to comply with recent vehicle […]
The failure of House Republican leaders to take action to resolve the congressionally-manufactured USPS financial crisis has brought the Postal Service to the brink of default, APWU President Cliff Guffey is warning union members. A $5.5 billion payment is due to the U.S. Treasury on Aug. 1, but the Postal Service cannot make the payment. […]
The APWU and USPS have reached agreement [PDF] on implementation of an arbitration award on retreat rights for Clerk Craft and Motor Vehicle Craft employees, Industrial Relations Director Mike Morris has announced. In an award issued June 29 [PDF], Arbitrator Shyam Das sustained the APWU’s grievance protesting the Postal Service’s refusal to allow excessed employees […]
The National Executive Board (NEB) has amended the APWU Constitution [PDF] and the APWU Health Plan Constitution [PDF] to comply with provisions of the Affordable Care Act. In making the change, the NEB exercised its authority under Article 22.2 of the union’s constitution, which permits the board to act between conventions to remove conflicts between […]