FYI

The Union's Active Role

The NPMHU maintains a very effective legislative program that monitors legislation being considered by Congress that will have an impact on postal workers and/or their families. The NPMHU has a presence on Capitol Hill, and is often invited to testify before House and Senate Committees considering legislation affecting postal and federal employees.

Union Participation and Information

Participating in Union meetings and the activites of the local will ensure that you know what is happening and what issues and concerns are currently being discussed within the Union. In addition, you'll be kept informed with local and national union publications, such as the monthly "MAIL HANDLER UPDATE" and the quarterly "Mail Handler" magazine.

Organizations Working Together

The NPMHU is affiliated with a variety of other organizations, including the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), the AFL-CIO, Union Network International (UNI), and the Postal Employees Relief Fund (PERF). All of these organnizations work to promote the rights and interest of Mail Handlers. As a member or the NPMHU, you automatically become a member, at no additonal cost, of all of these organizations, and become eligible for all benefits that they offer.

How the Membership Works for You!

The most important benifit you gain from union membership is the power to be heard. You can determine your own future by participating in local meetings, voting for local and national officers, voting on the contract and running for office or petitioning for changes throughout the Union.

Your Grievances are Heard

If you feel that management has violated your rights, subjected you to harassment or discriminated against you, you should immediately discuss the problems with your steward. The steward, your Union representative on the workroom floor, will deterimine whether a violation has occurred and will try to reach a settlement with your immediate supervisor. If this effort fails, the Union can appeal management's action to a higher level. If all of these effort fail, the Union may request that an impartial arbitrator be called in to settle the grievance.

Local and National Roles

Mail Handlers members belong to a local union, with jurisdiction in their city town or area ( Local 306 juisdiction is Illinois and Wisconsin). They negotiate a local Memorandum of Understanding to suplement the National Agreement on certain local concerns.

What Dues and What For?

National dues pay for all the operating expenses of the Union. This includes contract negotiatios, grievance handling above the local level, and the cost associated with national level arbitration. Members' dues also cover the cost of publications, professional fees, legislative activities, education and training and community service programs.

Policing and Enforcing the Agreement

Once the National Agreement has been estabilished, the officers and representatives of the NPMHU - at the National, Regional, Local and Branch level - work to police and enforce the contract, and to protect the rights of Mail Handlers on the work room floor.

Establishing Our Collective Strength
Mail Handlers employeed by the USPS are covered by a National Agreement, which is our collective bargaining agreement covering a wide array of issues realating to wages, hours, benefits and working conditions. The NPMHU has a National Negotiating Team that meets with the Postal Service management several months before the contact expires. Based o­n suggestions submitted by rank-and-file Union members, the team proposes contract language to which the Postal Service responds, amd through a concentrated series of discussions, and with the give and take of negotiation, they attempt to reach an agreement that works for everone.

A UNION CONTROLLED BY ITS MEMBERS

YOU run the NPMHU. Every level of the NPMHU operates democratically o­n the principle of majority rule. As a member of the Union, you have a right to be heard and the right to vote to express your concerns. All local and national officers are elected by the members by secret mail ballot. Any member can become a candidate for elected office simply by being nominated in accordance with the requirements of the NPMHU Constitution. All members also vote o­n ratification of the National Agreement, and elect delegates to the National Convention. The National Convention convenes every four years and is the highest governing body in the Union. Between Conventions, the National Executive Board directs the Union's policy and programs.