{
  "id": "R42549",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R42549",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 410703,
      "date": "2012-08-01",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T00:00:11.522761",
      "title": "The U.S. Postal Service\u2019s Use of Contractors to Deliver Mail: Background and Recent Developments",
      "summary": "Recently, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has been in negotiations with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA). One issue that may or may not be settled is the Postal Service\u2019s use of non-USPS employees (i.e., contractors) to deliver mail. If the parties cannot come to a satisfactory arrangement, Congress may be approached to consider the matter. \nContractors have delivered mail to homes and businesses since 1900. Controversy over this practice arose in 2007 when the NALC alleged that the USPS had expanded the use of contractors into city areas at the expense of unionized membership. Congress held hearings on the matter, and legislation was introduced in both houses. The USPS and NALC came to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in October 2008 to govern the practice, which appeared to quell the controversy. \nHowever, the issue was reopened when USPS\u2019s collective bargaining agreements with the NRLCA and the NALC expired in 2010 and 2011, respectively. At present, it is unclear whether the parties have come to mutually agreeable arrangements concerning the use of contactors to deliver mail. \nBy law, the USPS is obliged to provide for an \u201cefficient\u201d system of mail delivery. Federal statute provides the USPS with considerable freedom to enter into contracts with private parties. Wage-earning contractors cost less to employ than wage- and benefits-earning USPS employees. However, federal law also requires the USPS to collectively bargain its employees\u2019 compensation. Thus, a conflict arises between these competing legal imperatives when the USPS employs a contractor to perform work that was or could be performed by a postal employee. \nThe USPS has increased its use of contractors in recent years, but USPS employees continue to serve 98% of all U.S. homes and businesses. \nThis report will be updated as developments warrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc87234/",
      "id": "R42549_2012May29",
      "date": "2012-05-29",
      "retrieved": "2012-07-03T07:51:21",
      "title": "The U.S. Postal Service's Use of Contractors to Deliver Mail: Background and Recent Developments",
      "summary": "Currently, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is collectively bargaining with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA). One issue that may or may not be settled is the Postal Service's use of non-USPS employees (i.e., \r\ncontractors) to deliver mail. If the parties cannot come to a satisfactory arrangement, Congress may be approached to consider the matter.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
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          "format": "PDF",
          "filename": "files/20120529_R42549_188f95626bdc4f6979ef90a5cfac751233385fe6.pdf"
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          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20120529_R42549_188f95626bdc4f6979ef90a5cfac751233385fe6.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Postal service",
          "name": "Postal service"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Communications",
          "name": "Communications"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Postal employees",
          "name": "Postal employees"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Postal law and legislation",
          "name": "Postal law and legislation"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Government contractors",
          "name": "Government contractors"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Intelligence and National Security"
  ]
}