Note: This story has been edited to clear up confusion between different NLRB cases.
Whether you find postal counters at retail chain stores to be convenient or ill-conceived, it’s not a sure thing they will continue. The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against the USPS related to its deal with Staples and will hold a hearing on the matter next month
The American Postal Workers Union explained the case as follows: “The Postal Service violated the law when management entered into the deal with Staples without first bargaining with the union, the complaint alleges. 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, the complaint says.”
A hearing on the complaint is scheduled for August 17. According to the union, “If the complaint is upheld, remedies include the return of all work that was transferred.”
Union members have been conducting informational picketing at Staples stores nationwide.
“This is a major step in the fight against privatization of our public postal service,” said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, in its press statement issued on Monday.
The NLRB complaint is available on the APWU website.
Update 7/9/15: The USPS issued the following statement on July 8th: The National Labor Relations Board complaint sets forth the APWU’s allegations, which will be heard by an impartial administrative law judge on Aug. 17. Since the matter is the subject of litigation, it would be inappropriate to discuss it further at this time.”
