Contract talks extended for some postal workers (apx 300,000 total)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - Negotiators for the United States Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union agreed early Sunday to extend contract talks until noon Tuesday.

However talks with a second union, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, ended in an impasse at midnight Saturday. The next step will likely be sending the matter to a third party arbitrator to hammer out contract terms and work rules.

The employees of both unions will continue to work under the terms their expired contracts. Federal law prohibits postal workers from striking when negotiations stall.

APWU President Cliff Guffey said he believes "there is still potential to negotiate an agreement."

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20101121/D9JKCCG80.html