The Senate confirmed three appointees to the Board of Governors on Thursday, August 1, before adjourning for the summer recess. Ron Bloom, Roman Martinez IV, and John Barger will join current Governors David Williams and Robert Duncan.

Bloom previously served in the Department of Treasury and was an advisor in the Obama White House. Additionally, he worked in the labor movement as a Special Assistant to the President of the United Steelworkers. Martinez comes from the private sector as an investment banker for Lehman Brothers, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, and corporate restructuring. Barger also comes from a financial background, and also served as the Director on the Investment and Retirement Boards of the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association, the largest county pension fund in the United States.

With the confirmation of these individuals combined with the currently sitting governors, the Postal Board of Governors has finally reached a quorum for the first time since December 2014. The Board of Governors has the responsibility to direct and control expenditures; review USPS practices; and, ensure USPS meets its statutory obligations.

Additionally, the Senate approved the nominations of Ann Fisher and Ashley Poling to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). They are replacing Tony Hammond and Nanci Langley, respectively, whose terms expired in late 2018. The PRC is an independent agency that provides regulatory oversight to the Postal Service. Fisher worked as staff to the PRC, having been the chief of staff to former Chairman Dan Blair and the Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations. Poling has a legislative background as the Director of Governmental Affairs and Senior Counsel to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC). Prior, she served as Senior Policy Counsel to the HSGAC Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management.

“The APWU looks forward to working with these new members of the Board of Governors and the PRC in defense of the public Postal Service and its workers,” said APWU National President Mark Dimondstein. “We will forthrightly promote the issues vital to our members and the postal public, oppose the management 10-year business plan targeting workers’ benefits and service, and continue advocating for expanded and enhanced postal services.”