APWU Bargaining Update - Stop the Clock

Negotiations aren't over yet - the APWU and USPS have agreed to "Stop the Clock" on the expiration of our current contract (set to expire at midnight on September 20). The APWU will continue to keep the members updated as we continue to bargain for a new union contract, including regular messages on the negotiation “hotline” at [phone], our website (apwu.org), and on our social media channels.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Greetings APWU family.
This is President and Lead Negotiator MarkDimenstein with the latest update on the
status of national negotiations beforethe contract that determines our wages,
benefits, and working conditions is dueto expire midnight Friday, September 20th.
We opened bargaining with thePostal Service on June 25th and

(00:24):
since then we have met frequentlyto exchange proposals, by the way,
over a hundred from the union side.
And to make the kind of progresstoward a good new union contract
that postal workers deserve.
And as I previously reported to you, theAPWU Postal Management this week were
locked down, engaged in round the clocknegotiating sessions at the main table,

(00:44):
the craft tables, and in other committees.
During this lockdown, there's beensome modest progress on a number of
issues affecting all of our crafts,including job security, protecting
bargaining unit work, and narrowingdifferences on other important items.
As well as on the economic package.
However, the APWU management werenot able, we were not able to secure

(01:05):
a negotiated agreement by midnight,September 20th, your national
negotiating committee, the NNC facedtwo options, either begin the process
of mediation with the expectation thatwe would head to interest arbitration
to get a new contract or seek mutualagreement with the postal management
and what we call stop the clock.

(01:25):
Meaning the contract does not expireon September 20th and we continue
negotiations for a reasonableperiod of time going forward.
It was the unanimous decision of the NNCto stop the clock and continue bargaining.
We have secured an agreement frommanagement that negotiators will meet
at least once a week going forward.
It is also the position of the NNC thatwe will re evaluate progress on a regular

(01:48):
basis and invoke mediation if furthernegotiations prove not to be productive.
Plain and simple, your leadershipbelieves that continuing negotiations
is in the best interest of allour members as we continue to make
progress towards our bargaining goals.
By the way, this approach is similarto our previous round of bargaining
in 2021, when we stopped the clock,continued negotiations, and in 2021,

(02:13):
we reached a tentative agreementby early December, which was later
ratified by you, the membership,with a strong 94 percent yes vote.
Now that we have entered this newstage, I want to emphasize that all
the provisions of the current unioncontract remain in full force and effect,
such as our no layoff protections,50 mile limit on accessing seniority

(02:37):
and bidding grievance procedures,convergence to career workplace
safety and all our lead benefits.
Members will continue toreceive their step increases
as per the existing agreement.
You, the members of thefoundation of our union.
And it's crucial to keepletting your voice be heard.
As we continue to negotiate, stay engaged.
Wear your union gear with pride.
Join events on October 1st as wedemand the good new union contract that

(03:02):
postal workers have earned and deserve.
Before I sign off, I want to salute Theentire national negotiating team, your
assistant craft directors, a number ofthe NBAs working on craft committees,
the rank and file bargaining advisorycommittee, and our headquarters staff.
Everyone has worked hard and stayedunited through the summer and especially

(03:25):
this past week to put us in a goodposition to win the kind of contract,
a fair contract that you all deserve.
The APWU will continue tokeep the members updated.
including regular message on thenegotiation hotline, our website, APW.
org and on our social media channels.
APW family, stay strong, stay engaged,stay involved, union proud, say it loud.