The latest version of "postal reform" legislation is moving ahead in Congress, rejecting Bush administration plans to curb collective bargaining and cut benefits, the National Association of Letter Carriers said.

But despite many positive signs in the two bills (H.R. 22, S. 662), NALC President William Young says his 210,000-member union will sign off on the Senate version "on condition that NALC have a seat at the table" as lawmakers draft it and that "the nature of any amendments" will determine the union?s final position.

"The union's ultimate support depends on whether the finished product serves the needs of Letter Carriers," Young said.

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee began working through the text of its bill on May 25, while the House Government Operations Committee approved its version, 39-0, on April 13. A House floor vote may occur in early June.

Neither bill contains Bush-backed plans to eliminate collective bargaining between the Postal Service and its unions, or to throw every benefit for workers -- even health care benefits and pensions that were written into law --onto the bargaining table, both the Letter Carriers and the Postal Workers say.

"Our goal from the outset has been to preserve our collective bargaining rights and secure the financial stability of the Postal Service in any postal bills, as did the legislation approved by two key committees in 2004. The Bush administration signaled its displeasure with those measures and the legislation was never brought to the floor of either chamber," APWU added.

Both NALC and the 225,000-member APWU warn the legislation could be derailed by another Bush-backed provision. That would dump $27 billion in pension liabilities for USPS workers who also served in the military onto the Postal Service, rather than the Pentagon through the Treasury. Such a hit would cripple USPS' finances and cut service, the unions say.

Lobbying by Letter Carriers, who descended on Congress in mid-April, was responsible for deep-sixing Bush's anti-worker provisions, Young told them. "You delivered the message...and defended our bargaining rights and benefits," he said.

Key provisions of the latest "reform" legislation include:

* Preservation of universal service and uniform postal rates.

* A House provision banning USPS from using foreign airlines to transport international mail. There was no ban in last year's legislation.

* Greater flexibility for the USPS in rate-making and rate adjustment decisions and replacement of the present system for determining rates with one based on the Consumer Price Index.

* A 3-day waiting period before workers' comp benefits start after a claim is approved.

* Protection of collective bargaining rights -- Bush wanted to dump them -- and changing the impasse resolution process from fact-finding to mandatory mediation.

* Increasing financial transparency of the USPS by subjecting it to federal securities law and rules for publicly traded stocks (as if it were UPS).

* Release of $70 billion over the next 60 years -- money now being funneled into an escrow account -- in overpayments into the old Civil Service Retirement System, which coveredd thousands of USPS personnel.

"With key representatives and senators repeatedly stating resolution of the escrow and military retirement issues are vital components, a cloud of uncertainty now looms over both bills," APWU warns.

"The Senate bill may still be subject to amendment in committee, and both measures could be changed by activities in the full House and Senate. Even if the bills as they stand now are approved in their respective chambers, a House‑Senate conference committee would need to be established to reconcile differences.

"Throughout this process, mailers and others will continue to lobby for their views, and we must continue to fight for ours," it declared.

This article was written by Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.