(source: redbanklocal.com)

(May 13, 2004) By a vote of 40-0, the House Committee on Government Reform, yesterday, approved the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (HR 4341).  That Bill will now be referred to the full House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee has released a Discussion Draft of their proposed Postal Reform legislation.

In approving the House Bill, legislators received widespread praise for their efforts from Private Mailers.  Noting that the Bill is far from perfect, mailing groups nonetheless applauded this "first step" toward comprehensive Postal Reform.  One key provision, reform of Civil Service Retirement funding, was added to the original Draft version.

APWU President William Burrus also reacted favorably.  “We are pleased that while approving a bill that will improve USPS efficiency, the House Committee rejected many of the anti-consumer and anti-worker proposals made last summer by the President’s Commission on the Postal Service,” Burrus said in a Press Release last night. “We are also pleased that Committee members voted to prohibit excessive ‘worksharing’ discounts that subsidize the mailing industry."

At the same time, Burrus expressed reservations and concern over the Senate's Discussion Draft and urged Senators to follow the lead of the House.

The Senate Draft appears to be more permissive in allowing "worksharing" discounts that exceed costs avoided and contains at least one very strong anti-worker provision--limiting the pay and benefits employees injured at work may receive.  In essence the Senate would exclude Postal Workers from FECA, inserting separate (and lesser) provisions for them.

House Committee Adopts Postal Reform Bill; Rejects Recommendations of President’s Commission

(source: William Burrus update, APWU.ORG)

 The House Government Reform Committee voted unanimously May 12 to approve the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2004.  In doing so, it resoundingly rejected the anti-worker and anti-consumer recommendations of the President’s Commission on the U.S. Postal Service. 

None of the Bush Commission’s proposals to cut workers wages and benefits were adopted by the House Committee, and a Commission recommendation to authorize large-scale post office closings was also discarded.

In addition, the committee members voted to prohibit excessive ‘worksharing’ discounts that subsidize the mailing industry; granted the USPS greater flexibility in rate-setting; approved the transfer of military retirement costs of postal veterans to the Treasury Department; approved the release of retirement funds from escrow; and embraced the principle of uniform rates.  These were all issues the APWU had identified as crucial to meaningful postal reform.

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee released a “discussion draft” of its postal reform bill on May 12 as well.  Although the union is withholding judgment on the Senate bill until we have analyzed it further, we have serious concerns about several provisions.  We are especially concerned by proposals that would gut OWCP, and those that would continue excessive postage discounts.   

Our fight is far from over, and we must remain vigilant.  Please continue to monitor the APWU Web site for updates, and be prepared to contact your elected representatives.