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Financial Issues for Local and State Union Officers:
Only Action Brings Change
(This article first appeared in the July/August 2008 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
June 3, 2008: Barack Obama wins enough delegates to become the first African-American presidential candidate of either major political party. America changes…
June 4, 2008: The final stage of the race for president begins. People from different age groups, genders, ethnicities, creeds — from all walks of life — unite in an effort to ensure that Barack Obama is elected. They begin working toward this goal, and will continue to do so until Nov. 4. America takes action…
Nov. 4, 2008: Barack Obama is elected, bringing to a close the anti-union, anti-worker, anti-family era of George W. Bush. Obama was the only candidate who refused to accept money from Washington lobbyists. He proposed real solutions to problems facing working families, and has separated himself from the divisive politics that have harmed America in the past. He makes it possible to hope for a brighter future: America changes…
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History of the Moment
What I have just described to you is a history of America. It is a history that has yet to be fulfilled, and it is a history we are a part of.
Each of us has a choice – to either stand on the sidelines and let history write the story for us, or to take action in the name of something and someone we believe in and make history for ourselves. It is clear that, if we take action now, we will improve our lives and the lives of our families. What is also clear, however, is that the changes we seek as union brothers and sisters, cannot happen unless we all work between now and Nov. 4, 2008, to help make them happen.
The opportunity to start solving the many problems that have troubled our society for so long — poor education, inequality, poverty, crime, and sickness — is at our fingertips. It comes only with a leader who has the vision to unite instead of divide, to compromise instead of coerce, and to engage instead of ignore. It will come only if citizens are ready to shape one of the most significant chapters in American history.
That leader is Barack Obama. And we are those citizens.
History of Now
Now is not the time to watch history being made. Now is the time to make history. There are no more excuses about whether we have enough legislators in Congress to beat George W. Bush, or about whether some people in America are better able to change things because they are “better connected.” We have a candidate who, with our support, can help solve our nation’s problems. The only question now is: “Are we going to give him the chance to do so?”
Americans, by an overwhelming majority, believe that this country is headed in the wrong direction. We can continue blaming the Bush Administration for the poor economy or for the war in Iraq, and we can continue to complain about corporate greed and unfair labor practices. This is all well and good, but finger-pointing does not bring about change.
Only action brings change. That is how we will build a future that uplifts rather than ignores hard-working Americans. That is how we will make history.
It is time for union members like you and me to do what we do best: Organize and take action. Only action brings change, and we all can help bring about a change that will make America better by volunteering and working to ensure that Barack Obama is our next president.
When Barack Obama becomes president, many things will change. Troops will begin to come home from Iraq, and valuable resources will be spent on more effective ways to fight terrorism. Healthcare will be available to all individuals and families who choose it. The Bush tax cuts for the richest 5 percent of Americans will be cancelled in order to balance the budget, while tax cuts will be given to the rest of us. The Employee Free Choice Act will have a real chance of becoming law, thereby providing labor amore even footing with Big Business.
Trust in the office of the president will be restored, and fear-mongering for political gain will be replaced by songs of hope. America will change...
Living History
Working people have to make a choice about what is best for their families, their co-workers, and the country. Which candidate offers hope and positive change? Which candidate supports tax cuts for working people, and not just for the wealthy? Which candidate believes that government can be instrumental in improving the lives of working people? Which candidate wants to stop the loss of life and the waste of resources for a war that Americans were manipulated into supporting?
Barack Obama is the candidate of working men and women and their families: But he cannot become president without your direct action. In this election, voting won’t be enough. Union members will have to get others to vote, too.
The last election has taught union activists that the most effective way to get out the union vote is for members to talk to other members. The AFL-CIO is continuing to sponsor Labor 2008 “Member-to-Member Walks,” which bring working men and women face-to-face with their union brothers and sisters to discuss the issues that matter. The “walks” are usually two hours long and take place on a weekend. APWU members are urged to contact their APWU regional grassroots coordinator to get the time and date of their local labor walks (The grassroots reps’ contact info is available on this Web site's the Legislative Department pages, or by calling 202-842-4211.)
What I have described here is a history, and it is alive. Let us keep it alive.
The time to talk about change was yesterday. The time for action is now!
(To find out more about how you can help working people win the historic presidential election on Nov. 4, visit www.afl-cio.org/issues/politics.)
2008 National Convention Committees APWU convention committees are responsible for recommending the adoption or rejection of resolutions that the delegates will be considering at the Biennial National Convention. The 2008 committees and their chairpersons: Appeals, Richard Gallo (Kenosha) Clerk Craft, Dawn Ecker (St. Paul) Constitution, Kevin Gallagher (Scranton) Credentials, Geneva Greenlee (Indiana APWU) Finance, Desmond Neurohr (Pittsburgh Metro Formal Resolutions , Tara Woods (Houston) Health Plan, George Hayes (MD State & DC APWU) Human Relations, Mike Long (Michigan APWU) Labor-Management, Tony McKinnon (Fayetteville) Legislative, Bruce Clark (Dubuque) Maintenance Craft, Ed Devey (Pittsburgh Metro) Motor Vehicle Craft, Javier Pineres (San Jose) Organization, Pam Nessen (Fort Wayne) Rules, Gary Fox (Kentucky APWU) Safety-and-Health, Patricia Sartain (San Fernando Valley) Screening, Rachel Walthall (Baltimore Francis “Stu” Filbey) Sergeant-at-Arms/Tellers, Kenny Sevier (Greater Cincinnati) |
ABOUT THE SECRETARY-TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT
Terry R. Stapleton
Secretary-Treasurer
202-842-4215
202-842-8530
The Secretary-Treasurer acts as the union's chief financial officer and serves local unions, state affiliates, officers, and members in many ways.
The Secretary-Treasurer seeks to increase union revenue by encouraging non-members to join, and is responsible for the collection and proper disbursement of union funds. The Secretary-Treasurer's Department offers in-depth training to local and state union officers who have financial responsibilities for their organizations.
