Vote Delayed on Bill To Undermine Pay and Benefits
Grassroots Action Campaign Extended
August 10, 2009
The Senate adjourned for its August recess without voting on a bill that would be devastating for postal workers. As a result, union members have several more weeks to voice opposition to legislation that would undermine our wages and benefits in future contract negotiations.
The bill, which was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee July 29, contains an amendment that would require arbitrators ruling on contract disputes to “take the financial health of the Postal Service into account.”
“If this bill passes as written it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers, jeopardizing our cost- of-living increases, raises, and protection against layoffs," APWU President William Burrus told union members July 30.
The Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Funding Reform Act of 2009 (S. 1507) was intended to provide temporary financial relief to the cash-strapped Postal Service. Although the financial health of the USPS has always been a consideration during arbitration, the union president noted, “the amendment is intended to elevate this factor above all others. It would leave workers at a severe disadvantage,” he said in testimony at an Aug. 6 hearing.
“Clearly, the authors of the amendment hope it will constrain wages and benefits.” The amendment is thus a “mean-spirited attempt to shift the payment of the employer’s share of retiree healthcare liabilities to employees,” he said.
The bill had been slated for a vote by the full Senate prior to the recess, but action on the measure was delayed until after Sept. 8, when Congress returns from its annual summer recess.
Write to U.S. Senators
“I urge every APWU member to make our voice heard by sending letters to their U.S. Senators,” Burrus said.
APWU Legislative and Political Director Myke Reid also called on local and state union leaders to try to arrange meetings with senators or their staffs while they are in their states this month, and to continue their efforts to encourage union members to act. To help spread the word, an updated APWU Action Alert about S. 1507 can be downloaded and shared with workers in break rooms, at union meetings, etc.
A sample letter [ PDF | MS Word] is available on the union’s Web site.
Click here and follow the links to get your senators’ Washington and state office addresses, or simply mail the letters to:
Senator _________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
S. 1507 Action Alert