Administrative Law Judge Finds that United States Postal Service Violated the National Labor Relations Act

On August 13, 2014, Administrative Law Judge Eric M. Fine issued a decision in Case 05-CA-119507 finding that the United States Postal Service violated the National Labor Relations Act by withholding certain information from the American Postal Workers  Union, which the Union had requested in connection with bargaining over the Postal Service’s pilot program making some Postal services available at Staples retail stores.  The judge found the requested information was relevant to bargaining over the pilot program because of the impact it would have on employment of represented employees at Postal facilities and that the Postal Service had not established the requests were unduly burdensome, or that it had made sufficient good-faith attempts to accommodate any confidentiality concerns.  The judge also found that some information the Postal Service did furnish to the Union was not timely furnished.  Exceptions may be filed with the Board by September 10, 2014, or the decision will become final.  The Union filed the charge on December 19, 2013.  After investigation, the Acting Regional Director issued a Complaint and Notice of Hearing on February 25, 2014, and the trial occurred April 1, 2014.