Bill Introduced Affecting Large-Scale Subcontracting

Bill Affecting Large-Scale Subcontracts Introduced

Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA) has introduced H.R. 4236, a bill that would require the Postal Service to bargain with the Union before it signs
certain contracts with private companies. Such contracts also would be subject to arbitration if management and union representatives could not reach agreement.

The bill would apply to any contract providing for mail processing, mail handling, or surface transportation of mail. Contracts affected would be those that, for any 12-month period, involve the equivalent of 50 or more workyears of work that would otherwise be performed by career postal employees, or cost the Postal Service 5,000,000 or more. It would not affect already existing contracts.

The NPMHU has opposed privatization of mail handler work. National President John F. Hegarty has testified before both Senate and House Committees that Congress should not tolerate USPS subcontracting of work to low-paid, no-benefit workers, especially when the jobs being contracted could have an impact on security issues. The NPMHU's 2007 Legislative Conference, with more than one hundred mail handler activists in attendance, lobbied Capitol Hill in opposition to privatization.

At one recent hearing during which President Hegarty testified against "outsourcing" of military and other mail, Representative Lynch used the NPMHU testimony to ask tough questions of USPS witnesses. Lynch unequivocally stated that privatization is the wrong solution, and his current bill attempts to implement that view.

President Hegarty praised the bill, saying that Lynch has been a friend of the NPMHU since his first days in Congress. The NPMHU worked closely with
Rep. Lynch's staff in developing the bill. Also, Rep. Lynch was a featured speaker at our 2004 National Convention, and has participated at each of the last three NPMHU National Legislative Conferences.

"This act demonstrates that privatization of postal jobs is gaining opposition from the highest levels of government," said President
Hegarty. "The NPMHU will work with Representative Lynch to gather support for the bill."

The future is not clear. Cosponsors must be added, hearings have to be set, votes taken, and a similar process followed in the Senate. This bill is
a significant first step in a lengthy, complicated process.

Please watch your bulletin boards for the latest information, and write your Members of Congress to urge their support for H.R. 4236. A full copy of
this story is on the www.NPMHU.org web site.