NLRB strikes blow to Postal Service-Staples deal

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/articles/nlrb-strikes-blow-postal-service-staples-deal

This video, produced by the University of Minnesota Labor Education Service for the American Postal Workers Union, explores the issues behind the Postal Service deal with Staples.

July 8, 2015

In a major blow to the U.S. Postal Service’s deal with Staples retail stores, Region 5 of the National Labor Relations Board (link is external) has issued a complaint charging violations of federal labor law.

The NLRB said the Postal Service violated the law when management entered into the deal with Staples without first bargaining with the American Postal Workers Union (link is external). The Postal Service also engaged in “bad faith bargaining” by refusing to provide the APWU with information and violated the subcontracting provisions of Article 32 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, according to the complaint issued by the NLRB.

The Postal Service was ordered to return the work that existed on July 31, 2014, to the APWU bargaining unit. A hearing is scheduled before an NLRB Administrative Law Judge on Aug. 17.

If the NLRB sustains the allegations in the complaint, it could effectively end Staples’ foray into the mail business.

FULL story at link.

[yeoman6987]

1. London has post offices in stores

I used them to send gifts back to the states. Very convenient for gift buying. The workers are still government employees. I do more online buying in the states since many places offer free shipping and Amazon prime has all shipping free.

[eridani]

2. The magic words are "still government employees"

The workers at Staples are strictly minimum wage retail. I think it would be great for USPO to hire more employees and base them in stores.