From APWU:

We have been battling the creation of contract postal units for many years, and we recently reached an important pre-arbitration settlement. While the May 17 Memorandum of Understanding does not eliminate CPUs, it does spell out three restrictions.

The issue was whether the creation of a Contract Postal Unit (CPU) violates the National Agreement if a contract is let to a contractor who does not own the property or facility where the CPU is being established. This subject is addressed in Articles 1, 7, and 19 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Each local should be aware of the particulars of the agreement:

The Postal Service will comply with the requirements of Handbook AS- 707F (Section 1.5.1), which defines a CPU as “a contractor-owned and operated facility, under contract to the Postal Service and under the jurisdiction of an administrative Post Office.”

A contract postal unit may not be located on property that is owned or leased by the Postal Service.

As of May 17, 2007 , branded products and services of competitors such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL may not be sold at any newly-established CPU. Exceptions to this exclusivity requirement may be approved by Headquarters Retail Access Channels, but this is likely to occur only in isolated areas where the CPU is quite literally the only place in town at which a consumer can process package deliveries.

Locals should request copies of new and existing contracts for Contract Postal Units in their jurisdiction. They should also review CPU contracts on military bases and in national parks. Training on this issue will be offered at the APWU Multi-Craft Conference in Las Vegas in early November.

source: The American Postal Worker magazine,  July/August 2007