National negotiations ended on May 27, 2015 without an agreement on a new contract for APWU represented employees.  The dispute will now go through the mediation process and then to interest arbitration if needed.   Mediation is expected to last 60 days and if the arbitration process happens it could be up to a year before there is a new collective bargaining agreement.  All of the protections afforded under the 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement will remain in full force and effect until a new contract is reached.

Postal management attempted to introduce reduced pay and benefits that would have included:

1. Eliminate cost-of-living adjustments

2. Increase employees' contribution to healthcare coverage

3. Create a new and permanent lower pay scale for future career employees with reduced benefits

4. Increase the percentage of non-career employees

5. Weaken protection against layoffs

President Mark Dimondstein said: "Management's economic demands and proposed changes to the workforce structure were completely unacceptable".  Brother Dimondstein asks all members to stay involved in our continuing fight for a fair and equitable contract.

Terry Grant, President OPWU AFL-CIO