Printer-Friendly Page
 |
AFL-CIO News |
 |
Listen to Labor News |
An Open Letter to the Union Membership
Burrus Update #01-07, Jan. 12, 2007
The membership of the American Postal Workers Union has decided the outcome of the 2006 contract negotiations and has resoundingly approved the tentative agreement.
A total of 96,502 votes were cast by the members, which included 727 postal employees who joined the APWU to participate in the referendum voting. Unfortunately, a majority of the members did not exercise their right to express their approval or disapproval of the negotiated provisions that will affect their lives over the four-year term of the agreement.
This will be the 12th collective bargaining agreement representing Clerk, Maintenance, and Motor Vehicle Service Craft employees working for the United States Postal Service, which was created in 1971. The 2006 negotiations initiated fundamental changes in wages, benefits, and conditions of employment, and these have now been endorsed by the membership.
I extend my appreciation and that of the negotiating team for the expression of confidence in our efforts. But because of the significant changes negotiated in this agreement, it is disappointing that a higher percentage of the membership chose not to participate in the ratification process.
It is understood, of course, that the individual focus of working people is spread among many personal responsibilities, and that voting on a contractual agreement cannot result in instant positive change. I believe the impact of the contractual changes are of such significance, however, that it is difficult to accept that so many members would fail to place a mark on a piece of paper and take it to with them to work. Although it is generally understood that those who do not vote are casting a silent vote in the affirmative, I would have preferred an actual response.
APWU-represented non-members were provided their first opportunity to take part in union activities by being given the opportunity to ratify the tentative agreement — as long as they joined the union. The decision of more than 700 non-members to join their union represents the most successful short-term organizing drive in our history. Each new member is welcomed, and we thank them for their participation.
The next stage in the process is the finalization of the specific contractual language necessary to reflect the newly negotiated provisions. Upon completion of that process, the postmaster general and I will affix our signatures to the official document.
The dates of the retroactive pay and the identification of the 200 work-year offices are expected to be available within the next 14 days and will be published as soon as they are known.
Thank you for being a member of the APWU. And whether you expressed your support or your opposition, thank you for voting on the tentative contract.
William Burrus
President
