🗞️ USPS Labor Relations Strain Under Mounting Pressure

The United States Postal Service faced 28 unfair labor practice charges during the first week of December 2025, reflecting mounting tensions in labor relations as the nation's largest civilian employer navigates leadership transition, financial pressures, and workforce restructuring.

The charges, filed with the National Labor Relations Board across multiple states and territories, reveal widespread concerns about information sharing, representation rights, and bargaining processes. Six cases allege management withheld information needed for workplace issue resolution, seven cite bargaining disputes, and four involve questions about employee representation during workplace investigations.

An additional 19 charges were filed against postal worker unions during the same period, with employees alleging inadequate representation—suggesting workers feel caught between management actions and union responses.

Geographic Scope Indicates Systemic Challenges

The December 1-8 filings span facilities from Birmingham, Alabama to Denver, Colorado to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Major facilities affected include:

Birmingham, AL – Seven allegations including questions about recognition procedures, employee reinstatement, and bargaining practices
Cleveland, OH & Baltimore, MD – Concerns over employee discipline procedures and representation rights
Nashville, TN, Bayamon, PR & Lecanto, FL – Information access disputes
Kansas City, KS & Denver, CO – Questions about workplace rule changes and bargaining processes
New Orleans, LA & San Juan, PR – Bargaining procedure concerns

The Birmingham case presents the most complex situation, with allegations touching multiple aspects of labor-management relations including how employees are reinstated and how bargaining units are recognized.

Cases were filed consistently throughout the week. The sustained filing pattern across multiple days and regions suggests systematic rather than isolated concerns.

Leadership and Workforce Transitions

These workplace disputes emerge during significant organizational change. David Steiner became Postmaster General in July 2025 after serving on FedEx's board, bringing private sector logistics experience to USPS leadership. Steiner stated he opposes privatization and supports USPS's current independent structure.

The workforce is adjusting to voluntary changes. Nearly 10,500 employees accepted early retirement offers in 2025, receiving $15,000 separation incentives as part of strategic staffing adjustments. Current staffing stands at 528,500 career employees and 94,500 pre-career positions.

Information Access and Communication Gaps

Six cases alleging "refusal to furnish information" point to breakdowns in workplace communication. These cases span Bayamon (Puerto Rico), Nashville (Tennessee), Wichita (Kansas), Lecanto (Florida), Vero Beach (Florida), and Fort Walton Beach (Florida). When either party lacks access to relevant information during dispute resolution, efforts toward resolving disputes are hampered.

Regional variations are notable. In South Carolina, more than 50 workplace dispute cases remain under review. At the North Charleston facility, concerns arose over time record adjustments and subsequent information requests during the investigation process.

The seven cases involving bargaining procedures suggest differing interpretations of when and how workplace changes should be discussed between management and employee representatives. These cases include Birmingham, two in San Juan (Puerto Rico), New Orleans, Kansas City, Denver, and Vero Beach. Clear, consistent communication processes benefit both operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Representation Rights Questions

Four cases cite concerns about employee representation during workplace investigations—situations where having an advocate present can help ensure fair, consistent processes. These cases, filed in Opa-locka (Florida), Wichita (Kansas), Cleveland (Ohio), and Baltimore (Maryland), involve questions about when employees may have union representation during investigative interviews.

A March 2025 NLRB decision found certain USPS handbook policies were overly broad, recommending clarification to better align with representation rights. The continued filing of Weingarten-related charges suggests ongoing need for clearer procedures around employee representation during investigations.

Union Representation Concerns

The 19 charges filed against postal worker unions during the same period—ranging from Baltimore to Jacksonville to Montgomery—indicate employees feel inadequately represented by their labor organizations. Most allege failure to provide fair representation, suggesting workers perceive themselves as caught between management actions and union responses.

This pattern warrants attention from union leadership, as effective representation requires maintaining member trust and confidence in the grievance and dispute resolution processes.

Contract Negotiations and Agreements

Labor agreements are in various stages. The American Postal Workers Union reached a new three-year contract including wage increases and cost-of-living adjustments through September 2027. This agreement covers over 190,000 clerks, mechanics, vehicle drivers, and administrative employees.

The National Association of Letter Carriers' contract for city carriers is proceeding to binding arbitration after members voted against the proposed agreement. This process involves a neutral third party reviewing both positions to determine fair terms.

APWU filed workplace disputes in December regarding changes to Tour 2 work assignments, seeking resolution through established grievance procedures.

The Organization

USPS operates as an independent establishment of the executive branch, serving approximately 167 million delivery points nationwide. The organization employs over 600,000 workers with approximately 91% represented by labor organizations including APWU, NALC, National Rural Letter Carriers Association, and National Postal Mail Handlers Union.

The agency faces ongoing financial challenges, projecting a $6.9 billion net loss for fiscal 2025, while working to modernize operations and maintain universal service standards.

What's Next

The 28 unfair labor practice charges against USPS will proceed through NLRB regional review processes. Both parties will have opportunities to present information and work toward resolution, either through settlement discussions or formal proceedings if needed.

The 19 charges against unions will similarly proceed through review, with unions having the opportunity to respond to allegations and demonstrate their representation efforts.

Separately, contract negotiations continue between USPS and its various labor organizations. The arbitration process for NALC will produce binding results that both parties must implement.

Improving labor-management communication and establishing clear, consistent processes for information sharing and workplace issue resolution would benefit both operational effectiveness and employee satisfaction. When both sides understand procedures and maintain open dialogue, workplace disputes often decrease while productivity and service quality improve. The volume of cases filed in a single week suggests significant room for improvement in these areas.

Key Facts

Organization: United States Postal Service (USPS)
Workforce: 528,500 career employees + 94,500 pre-career positions
Union Representation: ~91% of workforce

December 1-8, 2025 NLRB Filings (Against USPS):

• 28 CA cases total
• 6 cases: Information furnishing disputes
• 7 cases: Bargaining procedure questions
• 4 cases: Representation rights concerns (Weingarten)
• Multiple cases: Various other workplace matters

December 1-8, 2025 NLRB Filings (Against Unions):

• 19 CB cases alleging inadequate representation

Recent Developments:

• July 2025: David Steiner begins as Postmaster General
• 10,500 employees accepted voluntary early retirement
• APWU ratified new three-year contract
• NALC contract proceeding to binding arbitration

Key Challenges: Financial sustainability, service reliability, information sharing processes, consistent application of workplace procedures, union-member relations

Based on NLRB filing data from December 1-8, 2025, and relevant coverage from NPR, Federal News Network, USPS Employee News, ABC News 4, NLRB Edge, and APWU.