Via John P. Richards, President – Pittsburgh Area Retiree Chapter of the APWU:

JUDGE DEALS STAPLES A KNOCKOUT BODY BLOW
On Wednesday, May 11, Federal Circuit Court Judge Emmett Sullivan upheld the Federal Trade Commission decision to block the Staples/Office Depot proposed merger! Pending appeals by Staples, this ruling sets to rest once and for all Staples attempt to create a monopoly in the retail office supplies market. The victory is especially sweet to those loyal and dedicated rank and file union members and retirees and others that have participated in Staples demonstrations in this area going on three years.

The APWU battle with Staples over installation of quasi-postal services in their stores now moves back to the National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB, where litigation has been ongoing over the use of untrained part time Staples employees rather than dedicated Postal Service workers to conduct these operations. The Union has maintained since day one that wherever Postal services may be provided to our customers outside of traditional postal settings, the Union is entitled to have that work done by Postal Service employees. What is at stake in the NLRB litigation is significant damages, meaning $$$$, to the Union and it’s members, if the desired outcome is achieved. According to reports, the NLRB Hearing will resume later this month. We will be keeping our eye on that litigation with the hopeful anticipation that the Union will prevail there too.