With formal negotiations between the NPMHU and the Postal Service over the terms of the 2016 National Agreement scheduled to begin in February 2016, preparations for bargaining are moving forward in the National Office.  One critical aspect of those preparations is now completed, as the Field Negotiating Committee met during the third full week of October at the NPMHU's National Headquarters.  During those meetings, hundreds of potential bargaining proposals — previously submitted by members, stewards, officers, and Local Unions across the country — were reviewed and analyzed by the Committee.

The proposals submitted from the field not only contained many useful ideas, but also provided the National Office with important information on the priorities and concerns of 43,000 mail handlers from across the country.  And in the course of studying these proposals, members of the Committee also had the opportunity to generate many of their own ideas for new proposals that may be submitted to the Postal Service at the onset of this year's bargaining.

On behalf of the entire membership, National President Paul Hogrogian met with the Field Negotiating Committee to express the Union's appreciation for the invaluable work performed by all of its members.