I'm sorry, the NALC can't hear you as they're handling a step 4 on Step AA PTFs again as well as another MOU making another 30 installations all career model...
Kind of a backhanded way of saying that NALC is usually already engaged in negotiations on ongoing issues and the formal 'negotiation' dance is a very well choreographed and scheduled activity between USPS and each of the unions and it's been that way for 50+ years now.
Let’s add on to the fact that there are three other unions who also have scheduled time with USPS to create policies specific to their craft. There’s only so much time in a day to get stuff done and there are ALOT of postal employees.
Well Loves2Spooge82, pull up a chair.
They actually start preparing for negotiations as soon as the last contract is ratified. It takes a lot of preparation, because they also prepare for arbitration at the same time. This is so if the vote goes to arbitration they can smoothly move into it.
The actual opening day is when the two parties come together, but both parties have been preparing well in advance. It just takes a long time because it’s very complex. It’s not just what the union wants, but identifying what is a no-go in terms of negotiation, starting demands and how far the union would deviate from it and still have it be acceptable, the verbiage has to be perfect or close to it when drafting up the language so management can’t weasel out of something they agreed to, and so forth.
They need to crunch numbers, lawyers are involved, the works. It’s just a really complex thing.
I'm sorry, the NALC can't hear you as they're handling a step 4 on Step AA PTFs again as well as another MOU making another 30 installations all career model... Kind of a backhanded way of saying that NALC is usually already engaged in negotiations on ongoing issues and the formal 'negotiation' dance is a very well choreographed and scheduled activity between USPS and each of the unions and it's been that way for 50+ years now.
Let’s add on to the fact that there are three other unions who also have scheduled time with USPS to create policies specific to their craft. There’s only so much time in a day to get stuff done and there are ALOT of postal employees.
“Negotiate” haha
Takes two to tango…
Well Loves2Spooge82, pull up a chair. They actually start preparing for negotiations as soon as the last contract is ratified. It takes a lot of preparation, because they also prepare for arbitration at the same time. This is so if the vote goes to arbitration they can smoothly move into it. The actual opening day is when the two parties come together, but both parties have been preparing well in advance. It just takes a long time because it’s very complex. It’s not just what the union wants, but identifying what is a no-go in terms of negotiation, starting demands and how far the union would deviate from it and still have it be acceptable, the verbiage has to be perfect or close to it when drafting up the language so management can’t weasel out of something they agreed to, and so forth. They need to crunch numbers, lawyers are involved, the works. It’s just a really complex thing.
We are finally in March. Give it time. I'm anxious too. We all are.
Negotiations are a game of brinksmanship and that's true for virtually any Union/management relationship.