Now the whining begins that the 2011 national agreement was a choice between arbitration and the worst negotiated agreement in the history of bargaining. The revised story is that they held a gun to our heads and the wise choice was to maximize contractual gains rather than facing an arbitrator more sinister than Jack Clarke in the rural case. This was not the spin during ratification, but as the horror stories multiply the fall back position is that they held us hostage.
Over the course of 41 years of bargaining, APWU has completed 16 contract negotiations sessions, including two extensions and a special negotiations over the division of health care payment. The results have been 10 voluntary agreements and six arbitration decisions. On each occasion the union negotiators had the choice of voluntary agreement or arbitration. In those negotiations where it became apparent that the union negotiators could not achieve their objectives, the decision was arbitration and we lived with the 
results. When voluntary agreements were reached, we did not justify them with the threat of arbitration. Each was evaluated on the merits and we did not give excuses. We did not whine that “the Postal Service is broke,” mail volume is depressed” or “the times are bad.” We used negotiations to achieve the objectives of the employees and we were determined to use every tool available. Invariably, we came up short and did not achieve all of our objectives, but we did not whine that we had no choice.
Any comparison to the Rural Carriers’ award or the pending NALC and Mail Handlers’ arbitrations are misplaced. In each of those negotiations they failed to reach agreement on a basket of contractual provisions so as a last resort their contracts will be decided in arbitration. This was a conscious decision.
Negotiators have choices and they were exercised in the recent APWU negotiations. Deliberate decisions were made to exchange the wages of future generations to achieve what was considered to be breathtaking changes. Over a period of six months, the union and management exchanged packages of proposals that finally led to an agreement that will dramatically change postal employment and the lives of millions of postal employees. The union got the agreement that it bargained for. Any efforts to mitigate the judgment applied by blaming it on the threat of arbitration are to rewrite history; it will not fly. A decision was made and future generations of postal employees will pay the price. Whining is not an excuse for judgment.
I see that Mr. Burrus and his “ditto-head” followers are still commenting in a vacuum. Mr. Burrus writes about all these CBA’s that have been negotiated or arbitrated that had a lot better outcomes than this current one. However, Mr Burrus and his “ditto- heads” seen to forget some current and important factors that persuaded Mr. Guffey and his negotiating team to accept this current APWU contract. In other APWU contracts, including the ones Mr. Burrus overlooked, none of them had to deal with the PAEA that makes the Postal Service pay the US Treasury $5.5 billion dollars annually and any profits that the Postal Service has made in a quarter goes directory into Treasury. Mail volume has been much higher in past contracts. The Post Office before the Postal Accountibity and Enhancement Act was then fat, dumb and happy. We never had such a deep economic rescession as we do now. The last economic recession this country had was back in the 1980′s. Remember, back then there were no internets, no emails, no smart phones, no fax machines, etc. that competed with the mail service.
Many other labor unions have seen drastic cuts in wages and benefits in recent contracts. Public sector unions as in Wisconsin are no more. The political climate that our current APWU CBA was adopted was very much against unions. One last point, the rural carriers union had a arbitrated settlement. Their pay and benefits have been cut and their mail routes are a third longer. In other words; more work for less pay. Mr. Burrus, I’ll eat my words if the Mailhandlers and the NALC come out better in their arbitrated contract than our current APWU contract. If they do not; will you and your ditto-heads eat your words?
The arbitrated contracts are destined to be better because unless I am mistaken, PSE’s cannot be created in binding arbitration. New classes of employees cannot be created in arbitration. I’m also interested in the percentage of temporary employees like casuals. The APWU contract went from 6.7% casuals to 20% casuals in our office. The NALC and NPMHU will get ‘me too’s’ for pay which the APWU paved unfortunately although their last contract was better than the APWU.
Guffy wants a say in eaRLy outs because he knows more people leave less in dues coming in. This contract like everything else about money. scare the lower seniority , single moms to vote contract in. I AM READY TO GET OUT OF THIS CHICKEN SHIT OUTFIT.
Recently retired and the fear was running rampant. Union reps were literally in bed with management. Union brothers and sisters stabbing each other in the back. I Could not wait to get the hell out.
Big T
I do not know everything and am under no misconception that I do but some things are self evident like the 2010 contract turning back the clock 40 years. What would be your reaction if your salary was reduced by 40%? Your reaction is that since it was not your salary, why should I care? My committment to postal employees was lifelong and did not end with my retirement. Your union dues pays the annuity and the least I can do is care.
Bill
Thk u Mr. Burrus for ur yrs of committment an caring. We would not b making 50k or more a yr without u. Nor would we have the benefits we have. I feel sry for new employees . Pls ignore the negative an unappreciative comments of selfish an unhappy people. Again thks.
Bill Burrus should shut up stay retired and let the elected national officers lead the union. Easy to throw stones from the sideline when your not in the game or even on the team
Waiting on an incentive offer and I’m gone. Why is our president holding this thing up? Why is he involved in an incentive package?
Our South Jersey Local recommended that we vote no. Shouldn’t we place blame on area leaders who do not do the necessary work to look out for our best interests instead of just being a mouthpiece for the national? The vote was our choice. Maybe we don’t deserve a voice in vote if we don’t use it properly.
Past Presidents always seem to know everything after they retire. Amazing isn’t it? Times are not the same, just look at the WI teachers. Who would ever think they would go after our educators. I haven’t lost any money as many of my friends have. Ya we should get 10% raises and let’s tell our public and watch our public support go down the drain. Have you noticed public and gov’t employees are on the hit list lately. I know it’s easy to judge from the retirement chair with no knowledge of what’s going on and thinking back when the river was flowing strong, but the damn thing has been blocked up and the water is at a trickle now. Wake up.
I am up tonight walking the floor in disbelief.Mr. Burrus is correct about the so call contract. Iam so very sad to see how management is violating it right in their faces. Our local has been hit with excessing outside of the facility. this week.
There is an ignorate president,” someone new, differant, someone black because the members booted the past president because he was white and smart”.
Mr. Burrus you are so very right, and good that you are sharing your observation about the contract.Slowing ,it and the members will disappear.Little by little management is replacing the carrer workers with PSE’s and excessing our members over 100 miles from their home.
The only thing said by the Southern Reginal Coordinator and others is,oh, they should get rid of the PSE’S. Management looked theme in their faces and laughed. I don’t feel like laughing,I feel like throwing up because I see clearly what is going on in the APWU ,and is very sad because at this rate of loss of carrer jobs and families being displaced,there is No way Guffie and his people can undo what is occurring.
I thank God that I am a recent retiree. One day some of you APWU mebers will grow up,remember those who died and lost jobs so we could have a strong and united union. I hope all of you rest well tonight and continue this winless struggle of support.
Thank you Mr. Burrus.I know this will be a one time National E-Board.
PS, I know you’ve been asked the Question (-:
I agree with Tammy Yorysh on this contract. I call it the unanswerable question. Where would we be with arbitration? I lobbied my local eboard to point out the pro and con of supporting the contract to the general membership. Instead the eboard voted by unanimous consent to support the contract. The contract language is confusing to most, so the guidance of higher levels carry greater weight. The way NEB 216 revision C is ratified at the National Convention makes the think that backroom negociation is used instead of open debate.
GIve me a break. All of the people jumping on the “Bill is great” bandwagon just makes me chuckle. I’ll admit this contract is the worst of the worst, but most of the trash Mr. Bill negotiated was thrown down our throats by the big boys too. Oh, by the way, some of us never even got to vote on this last contract. Whole groups of locals were left out of getting our ballots on time…..go figure.
. . . and Burrus is responsible?
I’m not that other Jeff. I often post comments on Mr. Burrus’ site but have never mocked the man. He has often answered me back showing that he does in fact read the comments being made. I’m sorry to the other “Jeff” that you didn’t get to vote but it was already a done deal so don’t feel bad. Our union and management (and I’m sure certain United States government political types); along with the Bilderberg Group (look them up folks) already had approved the contract before the ballots were mailed to the workers. Just seeing the serge of PSE use in our office, and the treatment of “our product”, meaning the mail, which is our source of revenue shows that it was already planned to go in this direction.
I work in the distribution plant in Harrisburg, PA; so we are looking at a major hub for mail volume; yet it’s all being treated like 3rd Class mail. The union needs reformed. Kick out the JAMS. When a union steward can get his fiance a job as a PSE then I’d say, “There is corruption.” I am doing my job the best that I can and am not relying on union help even though I am a dues paying member. REFORM REFORM REFORM!!!!!!!
Mr. Burrus thanks so much for the past efforts you made for the once APWU, but, sigh, it ain’t the same anymore. See you in the trenches Mr. Burrus.
we miss bill!
Well said, and all true Tammy.
I agree with Michael. I always belived brother Burrus was a good man. He was a union warrior and did the best he could for all APWU members. When he speaks, I listen. The facility where I work, everyone has adminaration for him.
waiting for a vera.
I attended two of the National APWU’s q & a sessions during their cross-country campaign to get local unions to embrace their outrageous and destructive contract and to vote yes on it. I am not the most intelligent person in the union, but it quickly became apparent as they answered (or didn’t answer) our questions, that the contract would be impossible to apply.
When I got to the mike to ask a question on how to get management to comply with a portion of it, I was told to call Ghostbusters. We were told that this contract was our best chance to ensure that the APWU would be around 20 years from now. And that was a quote. I believe this contract will achieve the opposite.
Business Agents also jumped into the fray, telling all in attendance that we needed to vote for this thing. I previously had respected these people for their experience and knowledge, and seeing them at the mike speaking of the potential contract in that way at first made my doubt my own intelligence. Then I realized that everyone up there was basically ordered to take the company line, not too much unlike Postal Management, who forces their bad ideas on lower level management. Its hard to maintain respect for people who won’t speak the truth.
I for one would have preferred taking my chances with an arbitrator, and that is what I told anyone who asked me when the ballets were sent out to the members. But the insert with glowing reviews of the potential contract was mailed along with the ballot, and that is really the only thing the majority of our members read. And now we all will pay the price forever, or at least for the 20 years that we were promised at the Las Vegas snake oil salesmen session in 2011.