Postmaster General Attacks Collective Bargaining

On August 11, 2011 the Postal Service announced they would be asking congress to have the ability to lay off 120,000 employees, take employees out the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) and take its employees out of the Federal Employee Retirement System. The Postal Service wants to manage its employee’s health and retirement benefits. (Note: The NALC does not support any of these proposals to congress)

The Postal Service is essentially going to be asking congress to change/modify the terms of our collective bargaining agreements. Article 6 of our National Agreement gives Letter Carriers with 6 or more years of continuous service a no-lay off clause that provides Letter Carriers with a lifetime of job security. Article 21 of the National Agreement provides Health Benefits in the FEHBP and the CSRS and FERS retirement programs.

The tactics of Postmaster General Donahue mirror the efforts of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to strip Unionized employees of his state of their collective bargaining agreements.

The NALC will not stand by and let the Postal Service attempt to strip our members of our collective bargaining rights. Letter Carriers in 1970 risked their jobs and jail time by walking off the job to obtain collective bargaining rights. We need to protect the heroic efforts of the 1970 strike to preserve our collective bargaining rights.

We need your help in the following way:

1. Be ready and prepared to serve your Union when called upon

2. Contact your congressman and ask them to support H.R. 1351        Find you elected officials

3. Sign up to be an E-activist. The NALC e-activist network quickly informs members of important issues.

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