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Information Regarding Missing USPS Laptops Containing Personal Data of Employees

(09/19/07) The APWU is disseminating information related to a series of notifications the union has received from the USPS concerning missing laptop computers containing personal and confidential information on APWU bargaining unit employees. The personal data included such things as names, social security numbers, home addresses and other personal information. The APWU takes these incidents very seriously and as been meeting and discussing this issue with management at the headquarters level in an attempt to address the serious concerns we have regarding the missing personal information of some of our members.

Affected employees should already be aware of these incidents, since the Postal Service informs us that each employee whose personal information was contained on any of these laptop computers has been notified. The Postal Service further assures us that they have no indication that information stored on any missing laptops has been compromised. Notwithstanding notification to employees and management assurances, the Union believes that the Postal Service’s response to these incidents, particularly the time it has taken to notify the Union and employees, is unsatisfactory. In addition, we are not satisfied to date that management has taken adequate steps to prevent future incidents, as evidenced by the ongoing nature of these occurrences.

It is the Union’s intention to exert every influence on management to move as expeditiously as possible to remove social security numbers from any USPS system that does not absolutely require it, consistent with the letter and spirit of the MOU “Re: Removal of Social Security Number References” negotiated in the 2006 National Agreement.

In addition, we will continue to push for a general prohibition on the storage of social security numbers and other personal information on any removable or portable storage device, including laptops. If there are extenuating circumstances where there is a demonstrable business need for this data to be stored on such devices, the Postal Service must take every precaution available, including, but not limited to, encryption, biometric password protection, and wiping clean the data after it is no longer needed to accomplish the task which required its use.

The Union believes that no personal, sensitive or confidential information of a bargaining unit employee should ever be stored on any portable storage media. We believe that when there is a breach of data security, employees should be notified immediately so that they can take proper steps to safeguard their identity and their credit. We also believe that the Postal Service has an obligation to provide its employees with Identity Theft Insurance in the event that identity theft related to a lost or stolen Postal Service information resource should occur.

We will continue to meet with management to push for a satisfactory resolution of this issue, and we will continue to keep you apprised of our progress.

Click here to read an exchange of correspondence on the issue of missing laptops.

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