We continue waiting for news on the scheduling of the arbitration hearing which will decide the terms of our next contract, the 2025 National Agreement. I say hearing; but really, there will be many days of hearings which may occur over a month or more. The most important thing at this point is to make sure that we present the best possible case.
The announcement that we’ll be heading to arbitration came earlier this month, but it did not come as a surprise. The road to our next contract has been long; although, it appears that the path to a resolution is now clear. So, what does the arbitration process look like; and how long will it take?
This year, the month of July marks an ending point. This is the result of the Local Union holding its Local Election of Officers every three years. July represents the end of the last term of office and August represents the beginning of a new three-year term. I’ve often referred to this cycle as the Local Union “going around the block.”
The 2026 Matt Lopez Local 323 Scholarship has been awarded to Riley Wold. Riley is the son of NDC Branch Member April Sagendorf. The Local Union Council offers its congratulations to Riley and wishes him the best in the pursuit of his education.
We are reaching the mid-point of 2026. Mail volume in the facilities is noticeably lower, and the temperature is noticeably higher. After almost a year of negotiations over the terms of the 2025 National Agreement, the National Union has declared a bargaining impasse and invoked the dispute resolution procedures contained in the Postal Reorganization Act. The Union and the Postal Service will now meet to determine the process to resolve the dispute. What does that mean exactly? I have some thoughts.
We may be starting to see the Postal Service changing course from the path taken by former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to the direction envision by current Postmaster General David Steiner. While PMG DeJoy’s 10-year Delivering for America plan continues to be implemented, at least in mail processing facilities, PMG Steiner appears to be reassessing the role the Postal Service should play as an American institution. This can only be considered a result of the financial constraints currently faced by the USPS; and, that is impacting on our ability to secure our next contract.
The retirement of Dean Abatte created vacancies in the positions of Vice President and Minneapolis Branch President. Aaron Kobes relinquished the position of Recording Secretary and was unanimously selected by the Local Executive Board to fill the position of Vice President. Similarly, Delicia Johnson was unanimously selected to fill the position of Recording Secretary and Jarred Hoover was unanimously selected to fill the position of Minneapolis Branch President. These appointments will remain in place solely through the unexpired period of the current term.
Local President Jeff Larsen administered the oath of office on May 4th. The Local Executive Board is confident that the people chosen are committed to serving the best interests of the Local 323 Membership.
