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By now most APWU members know about the USPS agreement with Staples that puts a retail sales unit into 80 stores as a pilot project. If deemed successful this pilot would be expanded into the 1600 Staples stores nationwide. When the agreement was announced the Union requested (per our national agreement) the information used to develop this pilot. The USPS refused and the APWU filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.
Through this process the Union was able to obtain a copy of the 58 page agreement between the Postal Service and Staples. While quite a lot of it was redacted and unreadable, we learned that the Staples employees who will man the retail units will receive only 4 hours of classroom training for their duties. Compare that to a retail associate in the USPS who has to take 32 hours of classroom training, then 40 hours of on-the-job training with a experienced window clerk. Top that off with having to pass a test prior to being certified to work in retail sales. Who would you say is better equiped to handle the duties???
The Postal Service's position when entering into this agreement was that it wanted to provide easier access to postal servcies. Postmaster General Donahoe said it (the agreement) had nothing to do with privatization and that he is "not interested" in privatizing the USPS. Really? Then why not man the Staples retail units with actual postal employees who are far better trained and able to offer postal services?
The APWU has chosen April 24th as a national day of action to protest this agreement in front of Staples stores. Our other union brothers & sisters with the National Letters Carriers Association, the Mailhandlers and Rural Carriers are supposed to join with us as part of the new - Grand Alliance. I certainly hope so.
If you want to voice your opinion and cannot attend a rally on the 24th, you could write a letter to the CEO of Staples. His name is Ronald Sargent, Staples Office Supply, 500 Staples Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702.
Terry Grant, President OPWU AFL-CIO
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