USPS, APWU-Represented Nurses Implement April Arbitration Award

Two retroactive raises that were reflected in APWU-represented nurses’ paychecks last month are among the features of an April arbitration award, with a third salary increase to take effect later this month.

The interest-arbitration award, issued April 28, granted five raises in the contract, which concludes on Aug. 10, 2012. Two raises were implemented retroactively, with a 3.3 percent increase effective Aug. 18, 2007, and a 3.1 percent raise effective since Aug. 16, 2008. As part of the implementation of the award, these two raises were reflected in the nurses’ paychecks July 24.

This was the first salary increase of any type for this group of APWU members since Aug. 5, 2006. The third raise under the contract will take effect Aug. 15. The 1.6 percent increase will be reflected in paychecks on Sept. 4 (Pay Period 18-09).

The APWU and the Postal Service have met three times to discuss implementation of other aspects of the interest arbitration, including staffing transitions under the Reassignment of Occupational Health Nurses MOU. (See page 56 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.)

As part of the ground rules for these negotiations, the parties agreed to keep the gist of the proposals confidential while the parties went back and forth with proposals. “This is a slow process,” NPPN-APWU President Idell Mitchell acknowledged, “and it pains me to be unable to keep our membership informed of the details of these discussions.”

NPPN-APWU Vice President Jane Freeman said that discussions on staffing issues have been productive. “During our Aug. 4 meeting, the parties made definite progress to come to a negotiated solution on staffing,” Freeman said. “Both sides are working in good faith, and the union is looking forward to our next meeting,” which has been set for Aug. 18.