Printer-Friendly Page
 |
AFL-CIO News |
 |
Listen to Labor News |
APWU, USPS Sign Memo
On Grievance Reviews, Scheduling
APWU Web News Article #25-05, June 14, 2005
The APWU and USPS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on June 13, updating procedures for reviewing grievances and scheduling arbitration hearings. The MOU requires management and the union to review all pending Step 3 grievances and appeals to arbitration, including cases that have been appealed directly from Step 2 to arbitration. The goal of the memo is to “improve the grievance/arbitration process” and reduce the backlog of grievances.
The MOU extends and supersedes an agreement signed two years ago, but the earlier agreement did not provide for a review of cases that were appealed to arbitration from Step 2. The memo, signed by APWU President William Burrus and the USPS Vice President for Labor Relations, takes effect immediately.
When the original agreement was signed Feb. 21, 2003, more than 98,000 grievances were awaiting hearings in arbitration or at Step 3 of the grievance procedure. There are now approximately 36,000 — a reduction of 62,000 over the past two-and-a-half years.
“We are making significant progress,” Burrus said, “but I will not be satisfied until the procedure provides a final response to employee grievances in a timely fashion.
