Opposition by the American Postal Workers Union could delay the USPS rate case settlement proposal, though most participants think the plan still will be approved on schedule.
The APWU is the only one of the 62 industry groups in the proceedings to object to the rate case settlement proposal, which would raise rates an average of 8.7 percent June 30.
In testimony before the Postal Rate Commission, Michael J. Riley, former chief financial officer of the U.S. Postal Service and now a financial consultant, said the settlement would grant unfair discounts to large-volume mailers at the expense of the general mailing public. The union, the largest representing postal workers, consists of 355,000 postal clerks, maintenance employees and motor vehicle operators.
The USPS asked in January for an expedited schedule, which could lead to a PRC ruling on the proposal by the end of March. The USPS Board of Governors then would vote on the proposal.
The APWU has filed an objection to the USPS request for an expedited schedule and wants to push the timetable back at least one month. The PRC was expected to decide today on the expedited schedule and the APWU objections to it.
