NAPS: Postal Reform Hinges on a Potentially Cooperative Lame Duck Session
From the NAPS Legislative Update:
Although Democratic control of the House, and possibly also the Senate, begins in January, Republican control of both chambers in the meantime continues, as members of the House and Senate return next Monday for the final days of the 109th Congress, scheduled to reconvene in an unusual “lame duck” session.
The lame duck session could last for several days, or continue for several weeks, depending on whether Republicans and Democrats pursue a course of bipartisan cooperation and get legislation passed or fall once again into continued partisan and unproductive rancor. During the lame duck, Congress at the very least needs to take final action on eleven funding bills for numerous government operations, but it could ultimately decide only to punt those budget decisions over to next year’s Congress.
For NAPS and its members, whether a final postal reform bill is passed during the lame duck session will depend largely on the outcome of anticipated talks early next week between two Senate and two House leaders — Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D) — to attempt to close the gap on several remaining issues, including the rate-cap regulatory framework, workers’ comp reform and work sharing.
November 9th, 2006 03:56
Again, the workers comp issue was justly opposed by NALC president Young. The Employer and the “big boys” in the Senate were more than willing to “put it to” the average postal worker and make them use their own “leave” when injured on the job. Of course; who cares about injured workers rights? And, let us not forget if the bill passed as is, postal workers would be the ONLY federal workers to be harnessed by the workers comp clause. Hooray for Bill Young. Oh yeah, I don’t give a lick about negative comments accusing Bill of not objecting to the the comp portion of the bill before now. As an advocate I know how discussions take place “behind the scenes.” And I also know how the Employer puts its “spin” on things. I’ll say it again. Hooray for Bill Young standing firm on the workers comp issue.
November 9th, 2006 04:35
Bill Burrus objected to the workmans comp language long before the NALC National Pres did but the NALC WAS ALL FOR Postal Reform and accused the APWU of many things because we found fault way back in the beginning of the reform issue and proposals so yea jump on board at the end – only when Young realized what it would mean for letter carriers injured on the job who always come over to the clerk craft – oh yea the craft who has objected from the start!!!!
November 13th, 2006 10:52
Management still can not manage! While we are out there sick and injured making sure the mail is delivered, management is out of the office picking up their kids from school, enjoying a 2 hour lunch, or making sure their kids get to their child care provider, and all on the USPS clock. And they want to take away something craft has earned? Do not let them take away something craft has so rightfully earned. All management has to worry about is a paper cut!!!!