Postmasters Equity Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-678
Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2003-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Collective bargaining
Employee-management relations in government
Federal employees
Fringe benefits
Government employee unions
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Postal service
Salaries
United States Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Postmaster Equity Act of 2003 - Amends Federal law to declare that the Postal Service's employment policy shall provide for compensation, working conditions, and career opportunities that will assure the attraction and attention of qualified and capable postmaster personnel.
Grants postmaster organizations the right to participate in program planning and development pertaining to pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefits and other postmaster programs.
Authorizes, under specified conditions, a postmasters organization to request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to convene a fact-finding panel if the organization disagrees with the decision of the Service's proposal to change pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefit programs affecting postmasters that shall be in effect during the period covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Service and certain recognized bargaining representatives. Prescribes guidelines for establishing the panel.
Requires the panel to recommend standards for pay policies and schedules and fringe benefit programs affecting the members of the postmasters organizations for the period covered by the collective bargaining agreement and, consistent with such standards, make appropriate recommendations concerning the differences between the parties on such policies, schedules, and programs within 30 days after its appointment, unless the Service and the postmasters organization agree to a longer period.
Authorizes the Service or the postmasters organization, three years after enactment of this Act, to request FMCS and the other party to create a panel to review the effectiveness of the procedures and other provisions of this Act and the Postal Service's employment policy.
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: 
Postmasters Equity Act of 2003 - Amends Federal law to authorize an organization (other than an organization representing supervisors) that represents at least 20 percent of certain postmasters to participate directly in the planning and development of pay policies and schedules, and fringe benefit programs, and other programs relating to supervisory and other managerial employees.
 
Grants the postmasters and postmasters' organizations the same consultation and other rights afforded to supervisors and supervisors' organizations.
 
Provides that if two or more postmasters' organizations exist such organizations shall: (1) be treated as if they constituted a single organization and in accordance with such arrangements as the organizations shall mutually agree to; and (2) in the case of any fact-finding panel convened by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service at the organizations' request, be jointly and severally liable for the cost of such panel, apart from the portion to be borne by the Service.
 
States that for purposes of the Employee Thrift Advisory Council's membership: (1) each of such two or more postmasters' organizations shall be treated as a separate organization; and (2) any determination of the number of individuals represented by each of those respective organizations shall be made in a manner consistent with this Act's purposes.

action_date: 2003-09-16
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on July 29, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Postmasters Equity Act of 2003 - Amends Federal law to authorize an organization (other than an organization representing supervisors) that represents at least 20 percent of certain postmasters to participate directly in the planning and development of pay policies and schedules, and fringe benefit programs, and other programs relating to supervisory and other managerial employees.
 
Grants the postmasters and postmasters' organizations the same consultation and other rights afforded to supervisors and supervisors' organizations.
 
Provides that if two or more postmasters' organizations exist such organizations shall: (1) be treated as if they constituted a single organization and in accordance with such arrangements as the organizations shall mutually agree to; and (2) in the case of any fact-finding panel convened by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service at the organizations' request, be jointly and severally liable for the cost of such panel, apart from the portion to be borne by the Service.
 
States that for purposes of the Employee Thrift Advisory Council's membership: (1) each of such two or more postmasters' organizations shall be treated as a separate organization; and (2) any determination of the number of individuals represented by each of those respective organizations shall be made in a manner consistent with this Act's purposes.

action_date: 2003-09-30
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on July 29, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Postmasters Equity Act of 2003 - Amends Federal law to authorize an organization (other than an organization representing supervisors) that represents at least 20 percent of certain postmasters to participate directly in the planning and development of pay policies and schedules, and fringe benefit programs, and other programs relating to supervisory and other managerial employees.
 
Grants the postmasters and postmasters' organizations the same consultation and other rights afforded to supervisors and supervisors' organizations.
 
Provides that if two or more postmasters' organizations exist such organizations shall: (1) be treated as if they constituted a single organization and in accordance with such arrangements as the organizations shall mutually agree to; and (2) in the case of any fact-finding panel convened by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service at the organizations' request, be jointly and severally liable for the cost of such panel, apart from the portion to be borne by the Service.
 
States that for purposes of the Employee Thrift Advisory Council's membership: (1) each of such two or more postmasters' organizations shall be treated as a separate organization; and (2) any determination of the number of individuals represented by each of those respective organizations shall be made in a manner consistent with this Act's purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-30
text: Became Public Law No: 108-86.
action_date: 2003-09-30
text: Became Public Law No: 108-86.
action_date: 2003-09-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-09-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-09-18
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-09-18
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 426 - 0 (Roll no. 505). (text: CR H8239)
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 426 - 0 (Roll no. 505).(text: CR H8239)
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8256-8257)
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 678.
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8239-8240)
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: Mr. Burton (IN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2003-09-03
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2003-09-03
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2003-09-03
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10167-10168; text as reported in Senate: CR S10167-10168; text as passed Senate: CR S10168)
action_date: 2003-07-29
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S10167-10168; text as reported in Senate: CR S10167-10168; text as passed Senate: CR S10168)
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 235.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-112.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-112.
action_date: 2003-06-17
text: Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4176-4177)
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4175-4176)
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 108-86