Today I am introducing a bill to clarify certain provisions relating to pay and benefits consultation between the United States Postal Service and supervisors' and postmasters' organizations.

     The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 created a process for postmasters and other non-union postal employees to negotiate pay and benefits through consultation.  In the 108th Congress, I sponsored the Postmaster Equity Act which extended additional protections for postmasters to provide for fact-finding in the event that consultation reached an impasse.  The same protections already applied to supervisors.  However, it has come to my attention that there may be ambiguity in the interpretation of these provisions. 

     The legislation I am introducing, along with Representative Rep. Gerald Connolly in the House of Representatives, should eliminate any ambiguity in existing law regarding consultation with management organizations.  It reiterates that any changes to pay policies or benefits for postmasters, supervisors, and other managerial positions be done in conjunction with consultation process required under title 39 section 1004 (e).  The bill also requires the Postal Service to ensure policies to provide for reasonable and sustainable workloads and schedules for supervisory and management employees.

     In light of the unprecedented challenges faced by the Postal Service today, fostering close cooperation and consultation on pay and benefits between the Postal Service and management organizations is essential.  It is my hope that the Postal Service and all of its employee organizations will continue to work cooperatively to keep the Postal Service an employer of choice, and to promote advancement across the organization.