{"id":11177,"date":"2015-06-03T07:37:19","date_gmt":"2015-06-03T12:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=11177"},"modified":"2015-06-03T07:37:19","modified_gmt":"2015-06-03T12:37:19","slug":"apwu-sister-postal-unions-win-right-to-bargain-over-cyber-intrusions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2015\/06\/03\/apwu-sister-postal-unions-win-right-to-bargain-over-cyber-intrusions\/","title":{"rendered":"APWU, Sister Postal Unions Win Right to Bargain Over Cyber Intrusions"},"content":{"rendered":"

06\/02\/2015<\/span> – <\/span>In a precedent-setting agreement<\/a> approved by the National Labor Relations Board, the APWU and its sister postal unions won the right to bargain with the Postal Service over a massive data security breach that took place in 2014.<\/p>\n

The historic May 19 settlement marks a win for unions in a new area of labor-management contention: Management\u2019s responsibilities to protect employees\u2019 personal information in the digital age. The recent rash of data security breaches at government agencies and large private-sector companies makes the victory significant for workers far beyond those employed by the USPS.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe settlement affirms the union\u2019s right to bargain on behalf of our members to ensure that management takes appropriate steps to protect their privacy,\u201d said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.<\/p>\n

The APWU filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the Postal Service on Nov. 10, just days after learning of the cyber intrusion, citing the Postal Service\u2019s refusal to bargain over management\u2019s response to the breach and failure to respond to the union\u2018s request for information.<\/p>\n

As a result of the intrusion into postal records, many employees\u2019 Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, and injury claim information were accessed over a period of months.\u00a0The Postal Service decided unilaterally to offer employees one year of free credit reporting.<\/p>\n

Upon learning of the breach from then-Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, the APWU demanded that the Postal Service bargain over the issue. The APWU also sought information from management about the extent of the breach; what postal officials knew; when they knew it, and what they did or failed to do to protect employee information.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe APWU is committed to protecting the rights of our members, including the right to have their personal information protected,\u201d Dimondstein said.<\/p>\n

The settlement agreement stipulates that:<\/p>\n