The United States Senate last night passed the Postmasters Equity Act of 2003, S. 678, sponsored by U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), which would extend to the nation's postmasters the option of fact finding in negotiating over pay and benefits with the United States Postal Service. The bill also defines the term postmaster for the first time.

"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.

Senator Akaka explained that the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 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.

"Passage of the Postmasters Equity Act is welcome news for our nation's 27,000 postmasters who are accountable for postal operations and services, including retail postal operations and community relations in individual post offices," said Akaka. "We have worked for over four years to provide postmasters with a more constructive consultation process with the Postal Service. The Senate's action takes them closer to a process that is currently enjoyed by postal supervisors."

The Postmasters Equity Act is cosponsored by 39 Senators. The House companion measure, H.R. 2249, introduced by Representative John McHugh (R-NY), chairman of the Government Reform Committee's Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight, passed the House on July 21, 2003.