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On Thursday, October 25, Eastern Region APWU leaders were at it again, flexing their legislative muscles. Eastern Montgomery County Pa Area Local (EMCAL) President AJ Jones, EMCAL Vice President Charlie Kukulski, Philadelphia BMC Local President Chuck Camp, and Philadelphia PA Area Local President Nick Casselli met with Congressional candidate for the Pennsylvania 4^th District Madeleine Dean and presented her with a COPA contribution.

Federal authorities announced that an arrest was made in connection with the explosive devices being sent through the mail. However, an arrest does not mean the danger is over. There is still a possibility that additional pieces remain in the mail stream. APWU leadership again reminds you to be vigilant and continue to be on the lookout for any suspicious devices. Alert and observant postal employees have already helped to intercept some of the devices in the mail stream...

The Postal Service recently released an additional Stand-up Talk in regards to both the arrest and suspicious packages.

Following nearly a year of negotiations with Canada Post, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) began rotating strikes across the country on Monday, Oct. 22...CUPW’s membership of 50,000 overwhelmingly authorized a strike action following a vote in September. Over the last two years, massive increases in parcel volumes contributed to workplace injuries increasing by 43 percent. What can you do?

APWU members are encouraged to print off one of the CUPW’s signs, take a pictures of you – and your co-workers if possible – holding the sign(s). Post the image to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with a  message of support and tagging CUPW and #negos2018.

Breaking news: It has just been reported that explosive devices have been sent through the mail addressed to a number of high-profile individuals and corporate entities...

We urge all our members to be alert and vigilant to protect your safety and well-being and that of your co-workers and the public.

The APWU leadership is in constant touch with top postal management as these disturbing events unfold. As more information comes to light we will keep you updated.

On October 16, APWU members and retirees, our sister postal unions, community leaders and allies filled the Hunts Point Post Office in the Bronx, NY to deliver a petition of more than 5,300 signatures to Bronx Postmaster Scott Farrar, calling for expanded financial services at the Bronx post office and nationwide. “Postal Banking brings a service to the people that’s not only important to the community of the Bronx,” said Jonathan Smith, New York Metro Postal Union President, “but it’s important to this nation”.

An astounding 52.3 percent of Bronx households are underserved by traditional Wall Street banks. These residents either have no bank account or have an account and use “alternative” financial services including paycheck cashing and pawn shops.

The Campaign for Postal Banking invited Postmaster Farrar to accept the petitions. He declined to attend the event. Rep. Serrano agreed to deliver the petitions and the letter of Congressional support to Postmaster Megan Brennan.

Click here to sign the petition! 

Yesterday, Oct. 8, thousands of postal workers and supporters participated in over a hundred rallies across the country to proclaim that the U.S. Mail Is Not For Sale! This National Day of Action was sponsored jointly by the four postal unions.

Click here to see the images the APWU National has received of postal workers out in the streets on Oct. 8. 

The APWU proudly presents the winners of three scholarship programs: The E.C.Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship, Vocational Scholarship, and Best Essay Award for 2018. 

Before members of the House of Representatives left for the October recess, a majority of them signed on as cosponsors of H. Res. 993, which expresses the need to keep the United States Postal Service an independent establishment of the federal government and should not be subject to privatization. 

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

During the 24th Biennial National Convention and pre-convention meetings, The American Postal Worker spoke with some of the dozens of young members in attendance. We asked the new APWU leaders about their experiences as postal employees, APWU members and, if applicable, local representatives.

“Being a young worker, and holding the title PSE [Postal Support Employee], management tries to treat us as ‘second rate’. They tend to assume we aren’t knowledgeable and that we aren’t aware of our contractual rights,” said Eveyana Cortez, New York Metro Area

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Retirees Department Director Nancy Olumekor

Use your voice to let the candidates running for the U.S. House and the Senate know that you and your family will only vote for those candidates that are committed to protecting your hard-earned benefits. This includes your federal pension, i.e., CSRS or FERS; Social Security; Medicare; health insurance and life insurance.

Tell those candidates running for Congress in your area that you will only support candidates who are opposed to privatizing the Postal Service and the federal agencies such as OPM, Social Security and Veterans Administration. Let the candidates know that you are only voting for candidates who will fight to protect and preserve the Postal Service and federal agencies.

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Health Plan Director John Marcotte

As an advocate for workers and quality health care, I am disturbed by recent media reports about health insurance companies using data collected from non-medical sources. The implication is that this could be used to set rates for health insurance premiums.

First let me assure you that the APWU Health Plan does not do business this way. I personally find this practice discriminatory and reprehensible; it defies the entire construct of health insurance. The APWU Health Plan was created by postal workers banding together to share the financial burden of health conditions should any one of us be unfortunate enough to have or contract one of these conditions. This is a proud heritage and one I believe is worth fighting to defend.

 (This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Research & Education Department Director Joyce B. Robinson 

Pregnancy discrimination exists in many agencies nationwide, including the Postal Service. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978 amends Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and prohibits sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Pregnancy is considered a temporary disability in the eyes of the law, meaning the treatment of pregnant employees falls under the same jurisdiction as disabled employees.

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Human Relations Director Sue Carney

Your donations are needed to sustain the Postal Employees’ Relief Fund (PERF). PERF is a nonprofit charitable organization.

When disaster strikes and all is lost, PERF provides tax-free relief grants to postal employees and retirees to help them reestablish a home and replace necessities. PERF has provided more than $19 million in assistance to postal families during its 28-year history, but meeting its mission has become increasingly difficult over the last decade.

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Organization Director Anna Smith

We all have heard of human rights and we all have those rights. But, did you know that labor rights are human rights?

What do I mean by that? Well, let me give an example and begin with the “right to an education.” Public education is far too often taken for granted by Americans. Sadly, only in the last century is it normal for children go to school and learn reading, writing and basic mathematics. This is all because of the work of worker unions in the late 1800s and early 1900s to end child labor. Once young children were no longer going to work in places like the clothing mills or mines, the need for elementary and high schools emerged. Unions then fought for those schools to be public, and not owned by a religious group or a company (in the cases of “company towns”).

Workers fought for free public education. We succeeded in helping secure the right of every American to have a K-12 education. We still are fighting for that same right to a free collegiate education. Labor unions fought for human rights to be protected by law. We constantly fight to give true meaning to the phrase “dignity and respect.” We fought for, and continue to fight, to maintain basic freedoms like thought, speech, press, religion, assembly and especially our right to petition our government to correct the wrongs we face.

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Legislative & Political Department Director Judy Beard 

The 2018 Midterm elections are quickly approaching! On Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, one-third of the U.S. Senate, every U.S. House Representative, dozens of governorships, and countless local and state positions are in play. These candidates want our vote. Before you head to the polls, find out where these candidates stand on preventing the privatization, in part or in full, of the United States Postal Service.

Privatization means ending our publicly owned and operated Postal Service to be replaced by private corporate interests. It means ending our jobs that pay a living wage and jeopardizing our hard-earned retirement and healthcare.

To see if your representative supports House Resolution 993, (which calls for Congress to ensure that the USPS is “not subject to privatization,” go to tiny.cc/993. We have more than 190 sponsors so far, both Democrats and Republicans.

**Editors Note: Click Here to Pledge to Fight for the People’s Post Office!**

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Central Region Coordinator Sharyn M. Stone 

This is a tough article to write because by the time you read it, we could either have a contract or be headed for binding interest arbitration. Our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires on September 20, 2018. Hopefully we have achieved a fair and just contract and maintained the hard-fought protections we have achieved. Our negotiations’ team, headed up by President Dimondstein, serves us well.

Even if all is complete with the CBA, we have miles to go before we sleep. The constant threat of Article 12 excessing, reorganizing, mismanagement, harassment, coupled with the President’s threat to privatize the Postal Service into oblivion is still in play.

Have you called your member of Congress? Nothing should be more inspiring and more motivating than a threat to our livelihood and the continued existence of the Postal Service committed to serving every community...

Twenty-one hundred APWU members departed from the union’s 24th Biennial National Convention in August uplifted, united and ready to continue Fighting Today for a Better Tomorrow!

Four days of rousing speeches, an enthusiastic rally against the privatization of the public Postal Service, as well as vigorous debate over resolutions on work floor topics and social issues reflected the APWU’s spirit of activism and a commitment to strengthen the union.

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman 

“It is the responsibility of management to provide safe working conditions in all present and future installations and to develop a safe working force.”

This is how Article 14 of our Collective Bargaining agreement with the Postal Service begins. That one sentence is very powerful and tells all of us that the highest-ranking postal manager – the Postmaster General – recognizes that ultimately it is their responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work environment.

You may hear supervisors and managers say that safety is “everyone’s responsibility” or that every accident is “preventable.” But how often do you hear that safety is every worker’s right?

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell 

It starts with the process for nominations. One of the ways to alleviate and hopefully prevent complaints, Local Election Committee (LEC) and National Election Appeals Committee (NEAC) appeals, and Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) investigations, is for local affiliates to ensure elections are conducted in accordance with Department of Labor (DOL) guidelines.

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By Vice President Debby Szeredy 

My dream would be to help make APWU truly a movement of members fighting to save the USPS from privatization. Everyone needs to take responsibility and get involved. There is plenty of work to do. It will only get better when everyone joins in making it happen. We all want a safe, non-hostile, good paying, enjoyable workplace! We all are under attack and without all of us in this fight we could lose everything.

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

By President Mark Dimondstein 

I was honored to have led the just concluded APWU’s 24th Biennial National Convention – the grand union meeting that sets our union's future direction. It was inspirational with dynamic speakers, democratic with much lively debate and votes taken, included a spirited rally to save the service, and helped prepare us for the challenges ahead. Some excerpts from my keynote address follow:

On this 50th anniversary of the historic 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike when 1,300 courageous African-American workers in the segregated south took on city hall and won, we gain courage and inspiration. Fifty years later the education workers’ rebellions uplift us…

After decades of jurisdictional disputes, the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) reached agreement with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) and the Postal Service on an updated RI-399 procedure for jurisdictional work assignments to Clerks and Mail Handlers.

APWU President Mark Dimondstein has announced that the union and the Postal Service have agreed to extend negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement for 30 days.

Our current union contract between the American Postal Workers Union and the United States Postal Service covers the wages, hours and working conditions of 200,000 postal workers. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement expired Thursday, September 20, 2018... 

All the rights, benefits and provisions of our existing union contract remain in place, and are fully enforceable during the 30-day extension of negotiations.