[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 678 Reported in Senate (RS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 235
108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 678

                          [Report No. 108-112]

    To amend chapter 10 of title 39, United States Code, to include 
   postmasters and postmasters organizations in the process for the 
development and planning of certain policies, schedules, and programs, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 2003

  Mr. Akaka (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. 
   Inouye, Ms. Mikulski,  Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
  Carper, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Hatch, 
  Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Biden, Mr. Levin, Mr. 
   Feingold, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Bunning, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. 
    Murray, Mr. Burns, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Pryor, Mr. 
Bennett, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, 
    Mr. Reid, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Kohl, and Mr. Crapo) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                          Governmental Affairs

                July 25 (legislative day, July 21), 2003

               Reported by Ms. Collins, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend chapter 10 of title 39, United States Code, to include 
   postmasters and postmasters organizations in the process for the 
development and planning of certain policies, schedules, and programs, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Postmaster Equity Act of 
2003''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. POSTMASTERS AND POSTMASTERS ORGANIZATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 1004 of title 39, United States 
Code, is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, 
        postmaster,'' after ``supervisory'' both places it 
        appears;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in the first sentence, by inserting 
                ``, postmaster,'' after ``supervisory''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in the second sentence--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) by striking ``or that a 
                        managerial organization (other than an 
                        organization representing supervisors)'' and 
                        insert ``that a postmaster organization 
                        represents a substantial percentage of 
                        postmasters (as defined under subsection 
                        (j)(3)), or that a managerial organization 
                        (other than an organization representing 
                        supervisors or postmasters)''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) by striking ``relating to 
                        supervisory'' and inserting ``relating to 
                        supervisory, postmasters,'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ``, and the 
        Postal Service and the postmasters organization (or 
        organizations),'' after ``supervisors' 
        organization'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in subsection (d)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in the matter preceding 
                        subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and the 
                        postmasters organization (or organizations)'' 
                        after ``the supervisors' organization'' both 
                        places it appears;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in subparagraph (B), by 
                        striking ``organization'' and inserting 
                        ``organizations''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) in subparagraph (C), by 
                        striking ``organization'' and inserting 
                        ``organizations'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in subparagraph (A), by 
                        inserting ``and the postmasters organization 
                        (or organizations)'' after ``supervisors' 
                        organization''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in subparagraph (B), by 
                        striking ``organization'' and inserting 
                        ``organizations'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in subparagraph (A), by 
                        inserting ``and the postmasters organization 
                        (or organizations)'' after ``supervisors' 
                        organization''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in subparagraph (B), by 
                        striking ``organization'' and inserting 
                        ``organizations''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, and 
                the Postal Service and the postmasters organization (or 
                organizations),'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) in subsections (e)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and 
                the postmasters organization (or organizations)'' after 
                ``supervisors' organization'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, the 
                postmasters organization (or organizations),'' after 
                ``The Postal Service''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and 
                the postmasters organization (or organizations)'' after 
                ``supervisors' organizations'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) in subsection (h)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' 
                after the semicolon;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the 
                period and inserting a semicolon; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
                following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) `postmasters organization' means, with 
        respect to a calendar year, any organization whose membership 
        on June 30th of the preceding year included not less than 20 
        percent of all individuals employed as postmasters on that 
        date; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) `postmaster' means an individual who is the 
        manager-in-charge, with or without the assistance of 
        subordinate managers or supervisors, the operations of a post 
        office.''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection 
        (j), and inserting after subsection (g) the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h)(1) If, notwithstanding the mutual efforts required 
by subsection (e) of this section, the postmasters organization (or 
organizations), believes that the decision of the Postal Service is not 
in accordance with the provisions of this title, the organization may, 
within 10 days following its receipt of such decision, request the 
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to convene a factfinding 
panel (in this subsection referred to as the `panel') concerning such 
matter.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) Within 15 days after receiving a request under 
paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Federal Mediation and 
Conciliation Service shall provide a list of 7 individuals recognized 
as experts in supervisory and managerial pay policies. The postmasters 
organization (or organizations) and the Postal Service shall each 
designate 1 individual from the list to serve on the panel. If, within 
10 days after the list is provided, either of the parties has not 
designated an individual from the list, the Director of the Federal 
Mediation and Conciliation Service shall make the designation. The 
first 2 individuals designated from the list shall meet within 5 days 
and shall designate a third individual from the list. The third 
individual shall chair the panel. If the 2 individuals designated from 
the list are unable to designate a third individual within 5 days after 
their first meeting, the Director shall designate the third 
individual.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3)(A) The panel shall recommend standards for pay 
policies and schedules and fringe benefit programs affecting the 
members of the postmasters organization (or organizations) for the 
period covered by the collective bargaining agreement specified in 
subsection (e)(1) of this section. The standards shall be consistent 
with the policies of this title, including sections 1003(a) and 1004(a) 
of this title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(B) The panel shall, consistent with such standards, 
make appropriate recommendations concerning the differences between the 
parties on such policies, schedules, and programs.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(4) The panel shall make its recommendation no more than 
30 days after its appointment, unless the Postal Service and the 
postmasters organization (or organizations) agree to a longer period. 
The panel shall hear from the Postal Service and the postmasters 
organization (or organizations) in such a manner as it shall direct. 
The cost of the panel shall be borne equally by the Postal Service and 
the postmasters organization (or organizations), with the Service to be 
responsible for one-half the costs and the postmasters organization (or 
organizations) to be responsible for the remainder.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(5) Not more than 15 days after the panel has made its 
recommendation, the Postal Service shall provide the postmasters 
organization (or organizations) its final decision on the matters 
covered by factfinding under this subsection. The Postal Service shall 
give full and fair consideration to the panel's recommendation and 
shall explain in writing any differences between its final decision and 
the panel's recommendation.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(i) Not earlier than 3 years after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, and from time to time thereafter, the 
Postal Service or the postmasters organization (or organizations) may 
request, by written notice to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation 
Service and to the other party, the creation of a panel to review the 
effectiveness of the procedures and the other provisions of this 
section and the provisions of section 1003 of this title. The panel 
shall be designated in accordance with the procedure established in 
subsection (h)(2) of this section. The panel shall make recommendations 
to Congress for changes in this title as it finds 
appropriate.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Section heading.--The section heading for 
        section 1004 of title 39, United States Code, is amended to 
        read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 1004. Supervisory, postmaster, and other managerial 
              organizations''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections for 
        chapter 10 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by 
        striking the item relating to section 1004 and inserting the 
        following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``1004. Supervisory, postmaster, and other managerial 
                            organizations.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Postmasters Equity Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. POSTMASTERS AND POSTMASTERS' ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) Percentage Representation Requirement.--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) represents 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 subsection (i); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
    ``(h)(1) In order to ensure that postmasters and postmasters' 
organizations are afforded the same rights under this section as are 
afforded to supervisors and the supervisors' 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 constituted a single 
        organization, in accordance with such arrangements as such 
        organizations shall mutually 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 severally liable for the cost of such panel, 
apart from the portion 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 subsection (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 organization 
        recognized by the Postal Service under subsection (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 subsection 
                (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 Affected.--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 individuals 
        represented by each of those respective organizations 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 effect 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.




                                                       Calendar No. 235

108th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 678

                          [Report No. 108-112]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To amend chapter 10 of title 39, United States Code, to include 
   postmasters and postmasters organizations in the process for the 
development and planning of certain policies, schedules, and programs, 
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                July 25 (legislative day, July 21), 2003

                       Reported with an amendment