Arbitrator Goldberg Announces Interest Arbitration to Begin On August 27

Interest arbitration hearings to decide the terms of a new collective bargaining 
agreement between the APWU and the USPS will begin on August 27, 2001. 
In a letter dated July 2, 2001, neutral arbitrator Stephen B. Goldberg 
notified the parties that he would be unable to grant our request to begin the hearings in July. 

The APWU had requested that the hearings begin as soon as possible and continue 
in the evenings and on weekends in order to complete the process as quickly as possible. 
However, Arbitrator Goldberg informed the parties that his first available 
date for beginning the hearings is August 27. 
In order to begin on that date, the first three days of hearings will have to be held in Chicago. 
Subsequent hearings will be held in Washington, DC.

"As we discussed in our telephone conference with the party-appointed arbitrators," 
Arbitrator Goldberg wrote, "we will work hard at completing these hearings efficiently, 
including working long days and scheduling some Saturday hearings. 
Once hearings have begun, the request of the APWU that hearings also be held after 
dinner and on Sundays will be considered by the panel if a specific need should make it necessary to do so."

Briefs outlining the positions of the parties will be presented to the arbitration 
panel seven working days before the hearings begin.

Burris Bulletin #40