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Support Services Unit Ratifies Pact
(This article first appeared in the September/October 2002 American Postal Worker magazine)
APWU members in the Support Services Division's biggest bargaining unit again are working under a contract.
The Information Systems/Accounting Services Center contract was ratified Aug. 23, with 90 percent of the APWU members who took part in the balloting voting in favor of the four-year agreement.
The IS/ASC contract covers approximately 1100 workers, who are not covered by the national Collective Bargaining Agreement. The four-year deal is retroactive to Jan. 19, 2001.
Contracts for workers in the APWU's smallest division tend to mirror the National Agreement in wages, benefits, and working conditions. According to Greg Poferl, Support Services National Business Agent, because the new pact expires in January 2005, 14 months after the National Agreement, there should be less time without a contract during the next round of bargaining.
The Support Services Division comprises several diverse bargaining units. Covered APWU members work in many specializations and job classifications, including programming and computer operations, telecommunications, payroll processing, accounting, customer support, and private sector mail haulers and equipment repair workers.