Interest Arbitration Update

The final days of the Interest Arbitration are here.  The union has
presented testimony rebutting the USPS testimony this week.

The union has presented approximately 627 exhibits for the arbitration.
All convention mandated issues were addressed by the union.  There is 
no
doubt the economic proposal has taken up the greatest part of the 
Interest
Arbitration.  The membership sent this message loud and clear.

The APWU Law Firm of O’Donnell, Schwartz & Anderson is presenting the 
APWU
case.   

The union’s expert witnesses were:  

Dr. Joel Popkins
Dr. Rocky Kochhar
Kathryn Kobe
Dr. Letitia Chambers
Dr. Lorel Wisniewski
Dr. Stan Wisniewski
Dr. Frank Gomer
Mr. Paul Douglas.

In addition many APWU Officers and Rank and File Members testified in
support of APWU proposals such as Subcontracting, Uniforms, Travel, 
Article
19 issues, Article 30 LMOU’s, Upgrades, and in Maintenance - Senior
Qualified Promotions & Level 5, 7. 9 disputes.

The union is scheduled to conclude its rebuttal case with President 
Bill
Burrus making the closing remarks.  This should occur around noon 
today.

The USPS will then present its sur-rebuttal.  This will be followed by 
each
party providing a closing brief and then the Three Member Panel will go
into Executive Session in order to issue an Interest Arbitration 
Decision.
Yours in Union Solidarity,
Bobby Donelson, Maintenance Assistant Director "A"
1300 "L" Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202 842-4213 Phone
202 289-3746 Fax

Washington, D.C. Maintenance Officers
Steve Raymer, Director
Bobby Donelson, Maintenance Assistant Director "A"
Jake Jackson, Maintenance Assistant Director "B"
Gary Kloepfer, National Representative at Large

P.S.
Added on Nov.17/18:
The Interest Arbitration hearing portion ended at 545 P.M. today, 
November
17, 2001.

The Arbitration panel stated they did not see a need for a closing 
brief.
Therefore, there is no need for the five-day delay to submit closing
briefs.  The three arbitrators have a full transcript of the hearing.

Therefore, their decision process begins.

The APWU has 25 items on the table at the conclusion of the Interest
Arbitration.

The Interest Arbitration Decision process means the three arbitrators 
will
try to reach an agreement they all like.  However, if unable to agree
Arbitrator Goldberg will seek agreement with either the APWU Arbitrator 
or
the USPS Arbitrator.

The arbitrators  will review all items submitted the to them.  The
arbitrators have the right to agree, reject, or modify they requests 
from
either party.