APWU Web News Article 058-2011, May 18, 2011

In the wake of the ratification of the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the APWU and USPS have agreed to a timeline for local negotiations, Director of Industrial Relations Mike Morris, has announced.

Local unions or management can open bargaining over changes to local agreements, in accordance with the schedule [PDF] below:

The interested party must provide a written Notice of Intent to Negotiate no later than Aug. 15, 2011. (Locals that wish to open negotiations on Aug. 1 should provide notification sooner.)

Negotiations occur for a 30-day consecutive period, commencing Aug. 1, 2011, and ending Sept. 30, 2011.

Initial proposals must be exchanged within the first 21 days of the 30-day period.

All local negotiations must end no later than Sept. 30, 2011.

Unresolved disputes must be appealed to Impasse Arbitration no later than Nov. 4, 2011.

* Items the APWU wishes to appeal must be sent to: Grievance/Arbitration Processing Center

* Items the USPS wishes to appeal must be sent to: APWU Regional Coordinator

Impasse discussions between the APWU Region/USPS Area representatives must end by Jan. 6, 2012, (98 days after the expiration of the 60-day timeframe for local negotiations.

Appeals to arbitration must be made no later than Jan. 27, 2012, (21 days after the end of the 98-day period).

source: APWU