U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins (R-Maine), chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Postal Service, have introduced S. 678, the Postmasters Equity Act of 2003. The bill would extend to our nation's postmasters the option of fact finding that is currently enjoyed by postal supervisors in negotiating with the United States Postal Service.
In 1970 the Postal Reorganization Act created a consultative process for postmasters and other non-union postal employees to negotiate pay and benefits. However, in addition to this process, postal supervisors also have fact finding, a process that allows for an unbiased review of the issues in dispute and the issuance of non-binding recommendations. Without this right, postmasters lack any form of recourse when consultation fails. The Postmasters Equity Act will give the nation's postmasters the option of fact finding which provides them with greater ability to negotiate with USPS management.
"Adding the option of fact finding to the consultation process will strengthen the role of postmasters in improving the quality of mail services to their postal patrons and managing their local post offices," Senator Akaka said. "There has been an erosion in this role over the years, especially for postmasters at small and medium sized post offices where they serve as front line managers." The two postmasters organizations, the National League of Postmasters and the National Association of Postmasters of the United States, cite this problem as a factor contributing to the decline in the number of postmasters since the reorganization of the Postal Service.
"I am proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Akaka," Senator Collins said. "An improved consultation process for postmasters is long overdue. Postmasters are often the heart and soul of a community -- its community center and its identity. It is important that we do what we can to support the work they do in the 38,000 post offices across the country. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, I will do everything I can to see that this bill moves through Congress as quickly as possible."
The Postal Service estimates that each day seven million customers conduct business at post offices. "Americans expect timely delivery of the mail, six days a week, and the Postal Service does not disappoint us," Senator Akaka said. "Given the regularity of mail delivery and the number of post office visits per day, it is no wonder that we have come to view our neighborhood post offices as cornerstones of our communities. In fact, many of our towns and cities have developed around a post office where the postmaster served as the town's only link to the federal government."
The Postmasters Equity Act is also cosponsored by Senators Daschle, Jeffords, Inouye, Mikulski, and Sarbanes. It modifies legislation introduced by Senator Akaka in the 107th Congress. That bill, S. 177, the Postmasters Fairness Act, had the bipartisan support of 49 members of the U.S. Senate. Its House companion bill, H.R. 250, had 291 cosponsors. Representative John McHugh, chairman of the Government Reform Committee's Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight, has announced that a House companion bill to S. 678 will be introduced shortly.
