Contract Negotiations (Support Services)

The Support Services Division will participate in several different sets of contract negotiations throughout the summer and fall. Each round of negotiations is an opportunity to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for our APWU sisters and brothers. We look forward to successful negotiations for the Operating and Facility Services and the Material Support Crafts of the main agreement, as well as a successful overall main agreement, a new contract for Human Relations Shared Services (HRSSC), and the first contract for private sector mail haul drivers employed by Albuquerque Mail Service (AMS).

The Operating and Facility Services and Material Support Crafts are smaller crafts within the main agreement that the Support Services Division negotiates on their behalf. A common issue between these crafts, which we will introduce proposals to resolve during negotiations, is the Postal Support Employee (PSE) language that exists in the Operating Services contract and Material Support Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Operating Services Craft currently has language that allows management to utilize PSEs if they do not exceed 10 percent of the career Operating and Facility Services employees. Historically management has never utilized PSEs for the Operating and Facility Services Craft. The Material Support Craft has an MOU that allows PSEs to comprise 20 percent of the workforce. The APWU prioritizes career employees, and the PSE position is not career. Our goal is to eliminate the language that allows the use of PSEs in Operating and Facility Services, which has not been utilized, and decrease the percentage of PSEs allowed under the Material Support MOU. In recent negotiations, the reduction of PSEs has been mutually agreed upon by both the APWU and the Postal Service, and we look to continue that trend with Operating and Facility Services and Material Support Craft negotiations.

The HRSSC contract expires Oct. 22, 2024. We will begin negotiations in either late summer or early fall for this contract. Although we have not yet solicited negotiation dates, we have met with local leaders and discussed key issues they would like to improve upon. To initiate negotiations, the union must send our intent to bargain notice to Postal Service management between 120 and 90 days prior to contract expiration. When we notify the Postal Service, we will solicit dates to bargain from management. This will be the second contract negotiation for HRSSC, and our goal is to expand upon their very successful inaugural contract that they ratified in 2021.

The newest members to organize with the APWU are the private sector mail-haul drivers of the Albuquerque Mail Service (AMS) based in Albuquerque, NM. These drivers won a successful union campaign in January 2024, and have been building union power and solidarity since day one. We held our first negotiations session with the company, which is being represented by the Jackson Lewis law firm, on May 20, 2024.

Prior to our negotiation session, a team of AMS drivers and fellow Albuquerque Local 380 members marched on the company's office to demand a good, fair contract. The drivers demand transparency and respect. We rallied in front of the gates of the company's yard while AMS drivers and local APWU leaders provided words or encouragement. The message to the company was loud and clear: we demand a good, fair contract for the hard work and dedication AMS drivers provide. We look forward to continuing negotiations and tentatively agreeing to terms that the drivers can support and ratify.

For all contracts, the APWU will fight diligently for the advancements that our members deserve. We will communicate with our members to understand their demands, and work to make those demands a reality. ■