The APWU has announced that it prevailed in an arbitration where they challenged the Postal Service's decision to close or consolidate 82 mail processing facilities starting in January 2015.  Most of those proposed closings now have been put on indefinite hold.

This case started when the APWU and the Mailhandlers filed Step 4 grievances challenging the USPS's decision to close plants. Actually the Mailhandler case was scheduled and the APWU intervened.  The Postal Service claimed that Article 19 (Handbooks & Manuals) of the CBA did not include Handbook PO-408.  PO-408 is the handbook covering consolidations and closures.

Arbitrator Das eventually ruled that Handbook PO-408 is incorporated under Article 19 of the CBA and the parties should go forward on the merits of the case.  So, it appears that the union will have the opportunity to challenge the USPS's ability to close or consolidate mail processing facilities.

Do not expect an arbitration and/or decision anytime in the near future.  That process (as most of you know) takes a long time to complete.  Does this decision on PO-408 provide another opportunity to challenege plant closures/consolidations?  Yes it does.  However, noone knows to what extent this will help our cause.

Terry Grant, President OPWU AFL-CIO