Wilkes-Barre Area Local 175

Senate to Vote on Postal Bill; APWU Members Must Take Action NOW!
(01/27/12) The APWU has learned that the Senate will consider postal legislation very soon, and President Cliff Guffey is asking union members to contact their senators immediately and tell them that the 21st Century Postal Service Act (S. 1789) is unacceptable in its current form. "The stakes couldnn't be higher," Guffey said. As currently written, the bill would give the USPS some short-term financial relief, but also would inflict long-term damage to the nation's mail system, he said.

APWU Discourages Members from Participating in 'Align Networks'
(01/26/12) The APWU "strongly discourages" union members from participating in physical therapy through Align Networks, Human Relations Director Sue Carney says. "As a contract provider, Align Networks can share information with the Postal Service that would otherwise be protected by doctor-patient confidentiality, including information that is unrelated to workplace injuries," she warned.

Postal Workers Have The Right To Speak Out Against Facility Closures
(01/18/12) Recent notices posted by management have generated questions about APWU members' right to participate in activities opposing the closure of postal facilities. Off-the-clock, postal employees have the right to: circulate petitions, participate in public meetings, encourage others to attend public meetings, encourage local merchants and business organizations to speak out against postal closings, and to contact elected officials to urge them to oppose postal closings.

APWU Warns Members: Beware of Risks in USPS Campaign for Voluntary Transfers to Letter Carrier
(01/13/12) The APWU is warning union members of risks associated with a management campaign to encourage career Clerk, Maintenance and Motor Vehicle Craft employees to volunteer for reassignments to the Letter Carrier Craft. In a letter dated Jan. 3, management notified the union that it will mail a letter to all career employees in the three APWU-represented crafts (and employees in the Mail Handler Craft) touting the benefits of voluntary reassignments to the Letter Carrier Craft.

PRC Blasts USPS Retail Closure Plan
(12/30/11) The Postal Service plans to close a many as 3,600 retail facilities is based on questionable data, Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) recently concluded. In a Dec. 23 advisory opinion, the PRC challenged the methods with which the Postal Service developed its "Retail Access Optimization Initiative," charging that the USPS lacked sufficient data for determining which closures would reduce costs the most and that it lacked sufficient data and analysis to make the best decisions.

Funding Bill Postpones Pre-Funding Due Date
(12/20/11) The government funding bill Congress approved over the weekend included a reprieve for the Postal Service: It delays until August he due date for the USPS to make a $5.5 billion payment to pre-fund healthcare benefits for future retirees. "We are pleased by the postponement, but we recognize the urgency of passing legislation that will correct the underlying cause of the Postal Service's financial difficulties," said APWU President Cliff Guffey.

Sen. Akaka, Rep. DeFazio Introduce Postal Bills
(12/20/11) Several bills were introduced in Congress this month that would help resolve the Postal Service's financial crisis and improve service to the American people, APWU Legislative and Political Director Myke Reid reports. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) introduced the Postal Investment Act of 2011 (S. 2014) on Dec. 16, which is intended to strengthen the USPS and provide the agency short- and long-term financial relief.