Postal contract negotiations begin as USPS wants congress to break contracts

Will the Postal Service negotiate labor contracts in 'Good Faith'?

Contract negotiations are set to begin with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union on August 30, 2011, and on Thursday with the National Association of Letter Carriers. The USPS and the unions are not required to reach agreement but must bargain in Good Faith over mandatory subjects of bargaining until they reach an impasse. Good faith bargaining, in essence, requires a sincere intention to deal fairly with others. Unfortunately, the climate appears strained, as the Postal Service is asking Congress to step in and pass a law removing those layoff protections, as reported by the Federal Times. The layoffs would be achieved in part by breaking labor agreements, according to the Washington Post. This has outraged postal unions, yet "Despite the Postal Service's outrageous show of bad faith at the start of these negotiations, we are prepared to negotiate a fair, responsible, and innovative labor agreement to reward our members and to position the Postal Service for a stronger and better future," Rolando of NALC has said.

Source: various article referenced sources

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