members:
the national postal handlers union (npmhu) is recognized as the exclusive collective bargaining agent for 47,000 mail handlers employed by the united states postal service. npmhu membership is open to anyone who handles mail for usps, regardless of race, color, sex, age, or national origin. any other person employed by the federal government or the postal service, who does not otherwise qualify for regular union membership, may join as an associate member.
In 2012, the npmhu reached its centenary, celebrating 100 years of service as a key union within the postal community. Mail handlers are an essential part of the mail processing and distribution network used by the Postal Service to move more than 165 billion pieces of mail each year. We work in every major postal facility in the country, in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, where mail handlers are responsible for loading and unloading trucks, transporting mail within the facility (both manually and using powered industrial equipment such as forklifts), prepare, sort, and containerize mail for distribution and delivery, and operate a large amount of automated machinery and equipment.
purpose:
npmhu is a national employee organization dedicated to advancing the interests of its members and their families. The main objective of the union is to negotiate and enforce a national agreement with the United States. postal service, a contract that establishes wages, cost-of-living adjustments and other salary increases, working conditions and fringe benefits for all workers within its jurisdiction. The union also protects the rights of workers by representing them in everyday workplace issues such as discipline, seniority violations, discrimination or other management abuses, and addresses workplace concerns such as safety, health and the impact of technological change.
democracy:
The npmhu is run by its members. all levels of the npmhu function democratically on the principle of majority rule. As a member of the npmhu, you have the right to be heard and to vote to voice your concerns. all local and national officials are elected by members by secret ballot by mail. any member can become a candidate for elected office simply by being nominated in accordance with the requirements of the npmhu constitution. all members also vote on ratification of the national agreement and elect delegates to the national convention. The convention meets every four years and is the union’s highest governing body. between conventions, the national executive board directs union policy and programs.
national contract negotiations:
Mail Handlers employed by the USPS are covered by a National Agreement, which is its collective bargaining agreement covering a wide array of issues relating to wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions. The NPMHU has a National Negotiating Team that meets with the Postal Service management several months before the contract expires. Based on suggestions submitted by rank-and-file Union members, the 
team proposes contact language to which the Postal Service responds, and through a concentrated series of discussions, and with the give and take of negotiation, they attempt to reach an agreement that works for everyone.
if a tentative agreement is reached, each and every mail handler who is a member of the union is sent a packet containing the details of the tentative agreement, along with a ballot of ratification which provides members the opportunity to accept or reject the agreement. terms of the proposed agreement. Although the NPHU believes that the right to strike is an inalienable right of all American workers, federal law prohibits strikes by postal employees and requires that contract negotiations that do not result in an agreement be submitted to an impartial third party for adjudication. binding arbitration. if this occurs, all union resources are used to get the best possible contract for all mail handlers.
contract administration:
once the national agreement is in place, npmhu officials and representatives, at the national, regional, local, and branch levels, work to monitor and enforce the contract, and to protect the rights of data handlers. mail at work. bedroom floor article 15 of the national agreement allows mail handlers to file complaints with the postal address, through their union delegate, when their contractual rights have been violated. The National Mail Handlers Union is here to protect and represent each and every mail handler.
membership fees:
National dues cover all operating expenses of the union. this includes contract negotiations, handling of complaints above the local level, and the costs associated with arbitration at the national level. Member dues also cover the cost of publications, professional fees, legislative activities, education and training, and community service programs. fees are very reasonable and can vary from local to local. Mail handlers wishing to join the npmhu should contact their local union steward or official, who can advise the amount that will be automatically deducted from payroll once Form 1187 – Dues Deduction Authorization has been completed.
governance:
mail members belong to a local union, with jurisdiction in their city, town or area. locals elect their own officials and conduct their own day-to-day business. they negotiate a local memorandum of understanding to supplement the national agreement on certain local concerns. Nationally, npmhu is headquartered in washington d.c. manage the union and implement programs and policies mandated by the constitution and the national executive board. resident national officers include the national president and the national secretary-treasurer.
problems:
If a member feels management has violated their rights, harassed them, or discriminated against them, that member should immediately discuss the issues with their delegate. The steward, who is the front-line union representative in the workroom, will determine if a violation has occurred and try to reach an agreement with the member’s immediate supervisor. if this effort fails, the union can appeal the management action to a higher level. If all these efforts fail, the union can request that an impartial arbitrator be called to resolve the grievance.
The most important benefit you get from union membership is the power to be heard. npmhu members can determine their own future by participating in local meetings, voting for local and national officials, voting on the contract and running for office, or calling for union-wide changes.
affiliations:
the npmhu is affiliated with a variety of other organizations, including the labor union international of north america, afl-cio, uni global union, and the postal employees relief fund. All of these organizations work to promote the rights and interests of mail handlers. npmhu members automatically become members, at no additional cost, of all these organizations and become eligible for all the benefits they offer.
KEEPING CURRENT: 
participating in local union meetings and activities will ensure that npmhu members know what is happening and what issues and concerns are currently being discussed within the union. In addition, our members stay informed through the National Union NPMHU website and with local and national union publications such as the Postmaster Monthly Update and the Postmaster Quarterly Magazine.
legislative efforts:
the npmhu maintains a very effective legislative agenda that oversees legislation being considered by congress that will impact postal workers and/or their families. the npmhu has an active presence on capitol hill and is often invited to testify before house and senate committees that discuss legislation affecting postal and federal employees.