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| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Members | 50,000 |
Key people | Paul V. Hogrogian, President.Kevin P. Tabarus, Secretary/Treasurer.Katie Maddocks, Legislative & Political Director. |
Parent organization | LIUNA |
| Affiliations | AFL–CIO |
| Website | npmhu |
TheNational Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) is a progressivelabor union representing more than 50,000 Mail Handler craft members inUnited States Postal Service facilities across theUnited States.
The union was founded inNew Jersey on August 7, 1912, as theNational Association of Postal Mail Laborers of the United States, representing guards and messengers in addition to laborers. By 1925, the union had 1,023 members.[1] In 1937, it was chartered by theAmerican Federation of Labor, as theNational Association of Post Office and Railway Mail Laborers.[2]
The union renamed itself as theNational Association of Postal Mail Handlers in 1947. It transferred to the newAFL–CIO in 1955, and by 1957 had grown to 9,000 members. Also in 1955, it lengthened its name, to become theNational Association of Post Office and Postal Transportation Service Mail Handlers, Watchmen and Messengers.[3][4] On May 14, 1968, with 32,800 members, it merged into theLaborers' International Union of North America.[4]
The NPMHU is a national organization of employees dedicated to advancing the interests of its members and their families. The primary purpose of the Union is to negotiate and enforce a National Agreement with theU.S. Postal Service, a contract that establishes wages, cost-of-living adjustments and other pay increases, working conditions, and fringe benefits for all workers within itsjurisdiction. The Union also protects workers’ rights by representing them in day-to-day problems on the job, like discipline, violations ofseniority,discrimination, or other management abuse, and addresses such work-place concerns as safety, health, and the impact of technological change.
Mail Handler members belong to a local union, with jurisdiction in their city, town, or area. Locals elect their own officers and conduct their own day-to-day business. They negotiate a Local Memorandum of Understanding to supplement the National Agreement on certain local concerns.
Nationally, NPMHU has its headquarters inWashington, D.C., to administer the Union and to implement programs and policies mandated by the Constitution and the National Executive Board. The national resident officers include the National President and the National Secretary-Treasurer.
The NPMHU is a division of theLaborers' International Union of North America, both of which are members of theAFL-CIO federation. The Mail Handlers are also affiliated with theCommunications International Union and the Postal Employees Relief Fund.
On Thursday, July 30, 2009, theSenate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 12–1 in favor of S. 1507 (Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Funding Reform Act of 2009), which would provide financial relief to the Postal Service. An amendment, offered by Sen.Tom Coburn (R-OK), requiring the arbitrator to take into consideration the financial health of the Postal Service when deciding Postal Union contracts, was added prior to its passage. Sen.Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Sen.Tom Carper (D-DE), chairman of the subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government information, Federal Services and International Security, supported the amendment, and voted with committeeRepublicans for its adoption. TheAmerican Postal Workers Union, theNational Association of Letter Carriers, theNational Rural Letter Carriers' Association and the NPMHU have all voiced opposition to S. 1507 with the inclusion of the arbitrator amendment.
