Printer-Friendly Page
|
President's Viewpoint
A Tribute to APWU Members
(This article was first published in the July/August 2002 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
It is often said that one is not appreciated until it is too late, so on behalf of all the officers, I want to thank you for being an active member of the American Postal Workers Union.
Postal employees are not required to join the union, so your affiliation shows that you believe being an APWU member is important, and for that we are thankful. You could have benefited from the union's activities without joining the union, as some of your co-workers have done, but you chose to do your part to improve the lives of postal employees.
You recognize that all of the benefits of postal employment, including protection against layoffs and cost-of-living adjustments, are the result of our union's negotiating victories. These and many other benefits are the direct result of the union activities that make your workplace more responsive to your personal needs and expectations.
Through your continued involvement you have expressed a trust in the union's effectiveness and in the collective commitment of your union brothers and sisters. While many, many improvements in working conditions still need to be made, your decision to continue your membership shows you understand that none of our gains could have happened without each individual member's commitment. For that, we, your APWU brothers and sisters, thank you for doing your part by being a member.
When we survey the non-members in our bargaining unit, many of them express frustration over lingering problems at work. Many non-members mistakenly believe that officers and stewards, by virtue of their status as union officials, have the authority to right a wrong or to stop a management decision. When an officer or steward is unable to swiftly impose his or her will on management, the non-member sees ineffectiveness or even apathy, and they use that perception to justify dropping out.
The truth, of course, is that most officers and stewards are very dedicated to the union and constantly fight for employees' rights. Often their efforts are not recognized or appreciated. When they are unable to correct an injustice, their only recourse is to file a grievance, which may take years to resolve. Your continued membership gives some indication that you understand that management's intransigence is to blame for our dissatisfactions, not the union officials who represent you.
Your membership is a testament to your understanding that our strength is our unity and that without your support for the union, there would be no voice for postal workers.
As you know, our union has accomplished much. Though pay increases are normally less than 2 percent per year, postal workers' salaries have actually increased 4 percent to 5 percent each year as a result of union negotiated cost-of-living increases, and postal workers' incomes have doubled over the past 20 years. In addition to negotiating salary increases, the union has won many grievance decisions and reached many settlements that year after year result in employees receiving thousands of dollars in compensation that they would have otherwise been denied. I could site many other accomplishments, but the union's success in these areas alone are compelling enough reasons to join.
You understand the union and you have chosen to be a member. Whether you serve as an official or as a dues-paying supporter, your brothers and sisters and I thank you for your commitment. Without your participation in the union, all postal workers would be treated like casual employees, with minimum pay and no rights.
Though we may not say it often enough, we appreciate your commitment and support. Every member should know that our failure to say thank you more often is not a sign that we take your support for granted. We know that without you, the member, there is no American Postal Workers Union. Thank you for being you, and for making APWU the very best union in the world.
