U.S. postal strike of 1970
Encyclopedia
The U.S. postal strike of 1970 was a groundbreaking two-week strike
by federal postal workers in March 1970. President Richard Nixon
called out the United States armed forces
and the National Guard
in an attempt to distribute the mail and break the strike.
The strike led directly to passage of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which modernized the postal service and provided for collective bargaining
for postal workers.
workers were eventually involved, although initially the strike affected only workers in New York City
.
President Nixon appeared on national television and ordered the employees back to work, but his address only stiffened the resolve of the existing strikers and angered workers in another 671 locations in other cities into walking out as well. Workers in other government agencies also announced they would strike if Nixon pursued legal action against the postal employees.
The strike crippled the nation's mail system, disrupting delivery of pension and welfare checks, tax refunds, census forms, and draft notices. Businesses hired planes and trucks to deliver publications and letters.
Nixon spoke to the nation again on March 25 and ordered 24 000 military personnel forces to begin distributing the mail. Operation Graphic Hand had at its peak more than 18 500 military personnel assigned to 17 New York post offices, from regular Army, National Guard, Army Reserve, Air National Guard and Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps Reserve.
Negotiations, in which United States Secretary of Labor
William Usery, Jr.
played a key role, resolved the postal strike in just two weeks.
Under the act, postal unions also won the right to negotiate
on wages, benefits and working conditions.
On July 1, 1971, five federal postal unions merged to form the American Postal Workers Union
, the largest postal workers union in the world.
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
by federal postal workers in March 1970. President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
called out the United States armed forces
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
and the National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
in an attempt to distribute the mail and break the strike.
The strike led directly to passage of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which modernized the postal service and provided for collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
for postal workers.
Causes
At the time, postal workers were not permitted by law to engage in collective bargaining. Striking postal workers felt wages were very low, benefits poor and working conditions unhealthy and unsafe. The U.S. Post Office Department's management was outdated and, according to workers, haphazard. Informal attempts by workers to obtain higher pay and better working conditions had proven fruitless.The strike
The strike began on March 18, 1970. More than 210,000 United States Post Office DepartmentUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
workers were eventually involved, although initially the strike affected only workers in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
President Nixon appeared on national television and ordered the employees back to work, but his address only stiffened the resolve of the existing strikers and angered workers in another 671 locations in other cities into walking out as well. Workers in other government agencies also announced they would strike if Nixon pursued legal action against the postal employees.
The strike crippled the nation's mail system, disrupting delivery of pension and welfare checks, tax refunds, census forms, and draft notices. Businesses hired planes and trucks to deliver publications and letters.
Nixon spoke to the nation again on March 25 and ordered 24 000 military personnel forces to begin distributing the mail. Operation Graphic Hand had at its peak more than 18 500 military personnel assigned to 17 New York post offices, from regular Army, National Guard, Army Reserve, Air National Guard and Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps Reserve.
Negotiations, in which United States Secretary of Labor
United States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
William Usery, Jr.
William Usery, Jr.
Willie Julian Usery, Jr. was a labor union activist and U.S. government political appointee who served as United States Secretary of Labor in the Ford administration....
played a key role, resolved the postal strike in just two weeks.
Outcomes
Postal unions, Nixon administration officials and Congressional aides not only negotiated a contract which gave the unions most of what they wanted, but which also established a legislative framework which led to the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970.Under the act, postal unions also won the right to negotiate
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
on wages, benefits and working conditions.
On July 1, 1971, five federal postal unions merged to form the American Postal Workers Union
American Postal Workers Union
The American Postal Workers Union is a labor union in the United States. It represents employees of the United States Postal Service who are clerks, maintenance employees, and motor vehicle service workers...
, the largest postal workers union in the world.
External links
- Video of President Nixon announcing federal intervention in the postal strike
- "Chapter 7: Nixon and Ford Administrations, 1969-1977" Brief History of DOL, U.S. Dept. of Labor. Accessed December 5, 2006.