Mail handlers demand an end to privatisation and contracting out plans

UNI Post & Logistics affiliate, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) at its four yearly convention being held in Florida unanimously condemned contracting out of postal work and the privatisation of mail handlers jobs that is impacting so negatively on mail handlers jobs.

The convention was told that the US postal service continues to try and outsource work and that the union was bitterly opposed to subcontracting and attempts to take work away from collective bargaining protection. Neil Anderson, Head of UNI Post & Logistics Global Union speaking to the convention told the delegates that subcontracting and privatisation of postal workers work was a creeping scourge that was happening throughout the world and that globally workers should be demanding decent permanent jobs for postal workers. He also told the convention that they should congratulate themselves on their campaign to convince the US Government that a free market for letter mail was not the answer and that a quality universal service was dependent on a strong and well trained workforce. This would not continue if sub contracting was allowed to take place. The convention also passed resolutions to increase their political lobbying and to keep carrying the message for a universal postal service with a quality work force to the US Government.

The convention also re-elected unopposed John Hegarty as President and Mark Gardner as Secretary Treasurer as a vote of confidence in the direction the union was tackling in opposing subcontracting, lobbying the government to maintain a strong universal postal service and for their efforts to negotiate a better collective contract for postal workers.