Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Postmasters Equity
Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. POSTMASTERS AND POSTMASTERS’ ORGANIZA-
TIONS.
(a) 
PERCENTAGE
REPRESENTATION
REQUIRE-
MENT.—The second sentence of section 1004(b) of title
39, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘that an organization (other
than an organization representing supervisors) rep-
resents at least 20 percent of postmasters,’’ after
‘‘majority of supervisors,’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘supervisors)’’ and inserting
‘‘supervisors or postmasters)’’.
(b) CONSULTATION AND OTHER RIGHTS.—Section
1004 of title 39, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(h)(1) In order to ensure that postmasters and post-
masters’ organizations are afforded the same rights under
this section as are afforded to supervisors and the super-
visors’ organization, subsections (c) through (g) shall be
applied with respect to postmasters and postmasters’
organizations—
‘‘(A) by substituting ‘postmasters’ organization’
for ‘supervisors’ organization’ each place it appears;
and
‘‘(B) if 2 or more postmasters’ organizations
exist, by treating such organizations as if they con-
stituted a single organization, in accordance with
such arrangements as such organizations shall mu-
tually agree to.
‘‘(2) If 2 or more postmasters’ organizations exist,
such organizations shall, in the case of any factfinding
panel convened at the request of such organizations (in
accordance with paragraph (1)(B)), be jointly and sever-
ally liable for the cost of such panel, apart from the por-
tion to be borne by the Postal Service (as determined
under subsection (f)(4)).’’.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—Subsection (i) of section 1004 of
title 39, United States Code (as so redesignated by sub-
section (b)(1)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding after paragraph (2) the following:
‘‘(3) ‘postmaster’ means an individual who is
the manager in charge of the operations of a post
office, with or without the assistance of subordinate
managers or supervisors;
‘‘(4) ‘postmasters’ organization’ means an orga-
nization recognized by the Postal Service under sub-
section (b) as representing at least 20 percent of
postmasters; and
‘‘(5) ‘members of the postmasters’ organization’
shall be considered to mean employees of the Postal
Service who are recognized under an agreement—
‘‘(A) between the Postal Service and the
postmasters’ organization as represented by the
organization; or
‘‘(B) in the circumstance described in sub-
section (h)(1)(B), between the Postal Service
and the postmasters’ organizations (acting in
concert) as represented by either or any of the
postmasters’ organizations involved.’’.
(d) THRIFT ADVISORY COUNCIL NOT TO BE AF-
FECTED.—For purposes of section 8473(b)(4) of title 5,
United States Code—
(1) each of the 2 or more organizations referred
to in section 1004(h)(1)(B) of title 39, United
States Code (as amended by subsection (b)) shall be
treated as a separate organization; and
(2) any determination of the number of individ-
uals represented by each of those respective organi-
zations shall be made in a manner consistent with
the purposes of this subsection.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this section shall take ef-
fect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives July 21, 2003.
Attest:
Clerk.