The American Postal Workers Union has an update on the status of buyout talks, only to say that there’s really nothing to say.
“I understand that there is great interest in this topic among some members, but it is simply not feasible or smart to conduct negotiations in public,” APWU President Cliff Guffey says in this week’s release on the union’s web site.
“Great interest” may be an understatement, based on the feedback that FedLine’s been hearing. Among some union members, frustration is also running high that two months after mail handlers got a $15,000 buyout offer, clerks are still waiting. (One reader wrote to inquire whether there’s a store near the APWU’s Washington headquarters that sells torches and pitchforks.)
Discussions with U.S. Postal Service management are continuing, Guffey says, adding that the “needs of APWU members are uppermost in our mind.”
“We will not be pressured into accepting an offer that is not in the best interests of our members.”
As FedLine has previously reported, the buyout issue has gotten entangled in a dispute over whether the Postal Service is fully living up to the terms of the contract signed last year. With the Postal Service eager to shed workers, the APWU apparently believes that withholding agreement on a buyout is one means of getting leverage.
It’s a strategy that the union’s national executive board has endorsed, former APWU President William Burrus writes on his blog. That statement was challenged by AWPU spokeswoman Sally Davidow, who called it “not accurate.”
“The executive board has not endorsed any such alleged strategy,” Davidow said.
Last year, Burrus opposed ratification of the existing contract and makes clear that he disagrees with the union’s current leadership on this issue as well. If management can’t save money one way, he writes, it will find another.
“For each dollar of savings not generated through the replacement of retiring employee with a new hire under the reduced wage scale it will be recovered through additional consolidations, subcontracting or other means of management induced efficiencies.”
[This post was revised on Aug. 6 to include Davidow comment.]
26 Comments
ISC
Who’s jerking who around?
USPS does not has to answer to APWU on whether to call a buyout. Buyout money does not come from the Union. If the APWU thinks that they are holding USPS hostage over some measly negotiation, they need to think twice. The official contract has already been settled and this holdup only delay the exit of eligible employees.
USPS now has reasons to declare a bankruptcy and have the court review the contract in having it void and reorganize.
Even though Guffey is saying he is not negotiating in public, what is the “accepting the best offer that is not in the best interests of our members”? What can be improve of this buyout other than more money?
Will Guffey reveal what was his best interest offer for employees if USPS decides to go ahead with the buyout without the union’s approval?
Congress is going home and won’t return until the end of the month but USPS will continue to lose $2 Billion a month.
This $2 Billion is more than enough to complete the 100,000 employees exit. So far only 4,000 postmaster and 3,000 mailhandlers are leaving. This 7,000+ number is far short of expectation of USPS.
Are people forgetting USPS plans of 30,000 a year for the next 5 years? They’ve been short for the last 2 years.
Many union members will flip out when Guffey announces he will not do any more on Incentives until he gets that which will preserve his office and those of his executive board ,the plan is to keep as many APWU members until the National’s coffers are full and Guffey can afford to give himself and his cronies Golden Parachutes before the Union eventually goes under, and they bail out, the stalling plan has worked so far and the USPS has fallen for it.
ISC
Who’s jerking who around?
USPS does not has to answer to APWU on whether to call a buyout. Buyout money does not come from the Union. If the APWU thinks that they are holding USPS hostage over some measly negotiation, they need to think twice. The official contract has already been settled and this holdup only delay the exit of eligible employees.
USPS now has reasons to declare a bankruptcy and have the court review the contract in having it void and reorganize.
Even though Guffey is saying he is not negotiating in public, what is the “accepting the best offer that is not in the best interests of our members”? What can be improve of this buyout other than more money?
Will Guffey reveal what was his best interest offer for employees if USPS decides to go ahead with the buyout without the union’s approval?
Congress is going home and won’t return until the end of the month but USPS will continue to lose $2 Billion a month.
This $2 Billion is more than enough to complete the 100,000 employees exit. So far only 4,000 postmaster and 3,000 mailhandlers are leaving. This 7,000+ number is far short of expectation of USPS.
Are people forgetting USPS plans of 30,000 a year for the next 5 years? They’ve been short for the last 2 years.
Goofey!, stop the lies, you have lied again!
APWU needs to get with the program. Bill Burrus is correct in his assessment on what needs to be done. How come the current president can’t get it in his head. Offer early outs for clerks NOW!
While we older USPS clerks wait for our promised cash incentive to finally leave, younger workers who still need their jobs are being dumped with few reasonable options. If the old-timers left, that would open positions in each facility that the lower seniority people could move up to. In my Calif. P&DC, even though some Mailhandlers are ready to take their $15,000 and leave on Aug. 31, news just came out that even more Mailhandlers will be involuntarily reassigned up to 900 miles away. The future is grim. Let us hobble out now (with the IOUs in hand) and save as many youngsters as possible.
Typical Postal Employee always wanting something for nothing. Pay yo dues and sing da blues.
Where is the connection of the PS not living up to terms of contract and pushing for incentives to get the excess of clerks to be able to retire? The union should be representing all members, especially those who are senior and want to leave, you can worry about getting PSE’s their precious health coverage at a later date, and worry about grievances later, the troops are restless to say the least
Any postal employee that takes a small cash buyout now is trading 10, 20, or even 30 more years of good income and benefits. That will save the USPS millions (billions?) of dollars. They can keep their younger employees who are still strong and healthy and able to do better work than us “walking wounded”. After the 30 to 40+ years we’ve put in, it’s not too much to expect a small “thanks” for all the years of dedicated service to the American people.
Koo Koo- several years ago the USPS agreed to negotiate terms of any buyout offers with the APWU- since that time, the APWU HAS had a say in whether or not the USPS can offer incentives to its members.
Wake up and smell the coffee all union members. The National union stinks….Guffey is full of shit. I recommend all members to get out of the union and show support all other postal workeers (Mail handlers, letter carriers) received a nice cost of living in October of 990.00. What did the clerks union get? NOTHING why should we take fault of how the big guys run this business? I have been a postal clerk for 35 years and started at JFK and i am happy to be out of this union for the last 4 years that is my raise…. 25.00 per check $1000.00 per year in my pocket. If you are regular in attendance and never late why do you need a union? It SUCKS
so they offer you 15000 to leave after 30 years of service, comes to 2000 a year of service, but wait, we are only giving you half this year and the other half next year, so now your down to 7500, but wait we are taking taxes and all applicable withholdings from that amount also, so now your down to 5000(+/-). after the first six months all that money is gone, where are you now ? working at the local Walmart for 10.00 an hour ? Stay on the job if you are physically able to do so, make the 28.00 an hour till you cant go anymore, 5 weeks vacation, take it all you earned it. I for one (32 years as a Letter Carrier) am staying till i Cant anymore.
The early out oprtion (VER) should be offered regardless of what the union representing the clerks believes. Everyone whos eligible should have the chance to decide for themselves whats best, not be held hostage to a group of people who have a conflict of interest in this…….Thats right, the APWU. They’re doing their members no service in taking the stance they have. I was a member of the NALC and retired thankfully just over 3 years ago, and it has been the best thing I’ve ever done! Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to have had such a job as I did, but the writing was on the wall and life on the other side is good! All the members deserve to decide what their own ‘best’ interest is. The longer the struggle continues with USPS’S financial ill’s, the harder the unions will work to keep the membership they have, at any cost. Thats their best interest. I wish the members well, if you’re still a Civil Servant, you’re not losing much and in some cases, nothing at all. What you’ll gain is peace of mind, lowered blood pressure, and a new appreciation for life’s chapters, doing what you want, without having to answer to the ‘man’…………..
Mr. Guffey, you are not doing what is in my best interest. I can make my own decision to go when it is offered. Stop using the clerks for perceived leverage and let those who would like some monetary incentive to leave have that option. We are all grown and we are not your children. Make a deal for all members, both present and future.
‘Management induced deficiencies’ are the reason the USPS continues to fail. Three years ago the senior clerks could have been bought out to save wages, that the USPS says needs reducing. Do they really believe that lower paid employees will come to work nights and weekends for 25 plus years, stand on cement floors and sling 70 lb mail sacks for 8 hrs. ? Maybe that is why they are keeping clerks hostage ?
I’ve waiting to get out this suck suitation. Why APWU has a say what clerks wanted ? I do not need the Union to representing me since 1993. When I got injury at work ,my union did not do anything for me. I’ve been saving union due for $30.00 per paycheck for almost 20 years.
IMPEACH GUFFEY NOW!
Now I see why the goods are going to ORD.ha
They first have to pay off the Postmasters before the working peon gets anything if anything the great American way.
1-24-81.If the union hands out 40,000 to board members,im done with the union.
Mr Burris needs to just shut up. He is the reason why so many clerk jobs has gone to the other crafts. He was a lousy president. I would not be surprise if he was bribed into letting it happen. Once again Mr BUrris shut upand let Mr Guffey try and clean up the mess you made!
IMPEACH GUFFEY NOW!!!
IMPEACH GUFFEY AT THE CONVENTION!!!!
It’s time for Cliff Guffey to take a seat. As he can see, no one has faith in him anymore, not even Burrus. We as postal employees are able to make our own decisions, and we don’t need Cliff Burrus to continue to hold us hostage. It’s time for you to do something right and let our people go. Quit thinking about you and start thinking about the ailing members who have been loyal to APWU for a number of years. Stand up, and do what you should have done months ago.
It’s time for Cliff Guffey to take a seat. As he can see, no one has faith in him anymore, not even Burrus. We as employees are able to make our own decisions, and we don’t need Cliff Guffey to continue to hold us hostage. It’s time for you to do something right and let our people go. Quit thinking about you and start thinking about ailing members who have been loyal to APWU for a numberf of years. Stand up, and do what you should have done months ago.
Can anyone shed light on the proposed 40,000 dollar buyout that the union leaders are trying to get for themselves