Originally from Dispute Resolution Journal

The National Association of Letter Carriers, representing about 200,000 postal employees, has used grievance arbitration in a large number of cases, and as of July 1972 it had a caseload of 228 requests for arbitration. The largest number of cases, thirty-three, were from New York City, plus nineteen from the rest of New York State. Only thirty-three regions, four of which were single cities, had requested arbitration. The NALC regards arbitration as the "most significant right which the NALC now has accomplished." This section will deal with the union's attitude toward arbitration.

It is easy to understand the NALC's desire to have binding arbitration of grievances over contract terms and employee discipline. In fiscal 1968 and fiscal 1969, management was sustained in adverse action and grievance procedure actions under Executive Order 11491 about 69% of the time. The union won only 13% of the cases, and the initial discipline was modified in 18% of the cases.