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March 16, 2026
Rosina Tucker — A Force Behind the Pullman Porters
This month in labor history and Women’s History Month, we take a look back at Rosina Tucker, a civil rights activist who played a pivotal role in the foundation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first Afric...
March 11, 2026
APWU Livestream Celebrates the Great Postal Strike, Unveils Digital History Center
On Tuesday, March 11, APWU President Jonathan Smith hosted a livestream that celebrated the Great Postal Strike, a week-long work stoppage in March of 1970 that secured collective bargaining rights, vastly improved wages...
March 11, 2026
The American Postal Workers Union Launches Interactive Online History Center
The APWU has launched an interactive website designed to expand access to the APWU History Center, which opened in 2023 at the APWU Headquarters Building, allowing members and the public to virtually explore the union’s...
February 1, 2026
Honoring the Past, Building the Future: Celebrating Black History Month with APWU
February marks Black History Month, a time to reflect on the significant contributions African Americans have made to our country and our company. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words continue to resonate with us: "No work...
January 16, 2026
Labor History: First National Union Formed for Black Workers; Akron Rubber Workers Innovate Strike Tactics
This month in Labor History, we take a look back at Colored National Labor Union (CNLU), the first national union established in 1869 to address black workers’ needs, and the Akron Rubber Workers Strike od 1936 that intr...
December 5, 2025
President Smith Congratulates Chicago Local on 119th Anniversary
APWU National President Jonathan Smith sent a message of solidarity to the members of the Chicago Local on Dec. 4, marking the 119th anniversary of the local’s charter. In a letter to the local’s membership, President Sm...
August 14, 2025
Labor History: Three Unions Successfully Strike AT&T; Solidarity Wins Newspaper Strike
(This article appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine) August 7, 1983 – After negotiations broke down in a set of expiring union contracts, three unions representing 675,000 workers...
May 19, 2025
Looking Back: Black Workers Organize ‘Revolutionary Union Movement’
This month in Labor History, we look back at the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement of 1968 - when over 4,000 Black workers who were fed up with racist policies organized a two-day strike at Chrysler’s Hamtracmck plant...
January 17, 2025
Our Labor History: National Strike Against GE and New York Transit Strike
This month in Labor History, we look back at two major strikes that shifted their industries: the General Electric and Westinghouse nationwide strike of over 800,000 auto and steelworkers, and the New York City Transit S...
November 18, 2024
Looking Back: This Time in Our Labor History – Malbone Street Subway Wreck and The New Orleans General Strike
Malbone Street subway wreck shows importance of skilled, union labor. New Orelans General Strike shows the power of cross-racial, cross-trade solidarity.
July 31, 2024
Our Labor History: Cesar Chavez Leads “1,000 Mile March” for Farm-Worker Rights in California
This month in Labor History, we look back at the “1,000 mile march” lead by Cesar Chavez for farm-workers rights in California.
May 23, 2024
A Notorious Part of History: May 1933: The Dissolution of Labor Unions in Nazi/Fascist Germany
This month in Labor History, we look back at the dissolution of labor unions in Nazi/Fascist Germany in May of 1933. As authoritarianism takes a dangerous hold in the United States, this is a lesson from Nazi Germany tha...
March 19, 2024
Labor History: APWU Helped Usher in the End of Apartheid in South Africa
This month in Labor History, we look back at Apartheid in South Africa and the role APWU played in helping South Africans cast their first-ever votes in the 1994 elections:
March 8, 2024
The History of International Working Women’s Day
International Working Women’s Day (IWD) is a day of collective global activism and celebration that belongs to all those committed to progressing women’s equality. Celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and politica...
February 23, 2024
APWU Announces Dedication of Headquarters Boardroom to President William H. Burrus
APWU has honored the legacy of former President William H. Burrus by renaming the National Executive Boardroom at APWU Headquarters in his memory.
January 17, 2024
APWU Celebrates Dedication of the History Center
On the evening of Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, officers, staff, and guests of the APWU gathered for the dedication of the APWU History Center. Built around the theme “The Struggle Continues,” the History Center celebrates the c...
January 8, 2024
Looking Back on Labor History: Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike & the Battle of the Bulk
This month in Labor History, we take a look back at the Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike and the Battle of the Bulk.
July 24, 2023
Our Labor History: War on the Waterfront; Save the Post Office National Day of Action; Newport News Shipyard Strike
For the July-August 2023 issue of the American Postal Worker, we take a look back on labor history during the War on the Waterfront, the Save the Post Office Day of Action, and the Newport News Shipyard Strike,
June 7, 2023
Looking Back on Labor History: Postal Banking, Operation Dixie, & the Eight-Hour Work Day
Looking Back on Labor History: Postal Banking, Operation Dixie, & the Eight-Hour Work Day
March 8, 2023
Resolution: Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories
The APWU National Executive Board adopted a resolution to honor the women of the APWU throughout March, in honor of Women's History Month, recognizing the critical role women have played in the labor movement.
January 13, 2023
Looking Back: This Time in Our Labor History – Martin Luther King Jr.
On Monday, we observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day federal holiday, honoring one of our nation's all-time great civil and workers’ rights leaders. But winning the holiday to recognize King’s legacy was a struggle in i...
November 19, 2019
The Real “Norma Rae” Still Lives!
(This article first appeared in the November/December 2019 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
April 30, 2017
Fighting for Workplace Safety
(This article first appeared in the May-June 2017 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) Before passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in December 1970, millions of Americans risked their lives every t...
February 28, 2017
The Great 1970 Mail Strike that Stunned the Country
(This article first appeared in the March-April 2017 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) In March of 1970, the United States had been in a financial and commerce standstill for two weeks. Tired of poor workin...
December 31, 2016
January-February Labor History Milestones
Strikers marching during the 1912 “Bread and Roses” textile strike. Photo courtesy of the Lawrence History Center (This article first appeared in the January-February 2017 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) ...
October 31, 2016
Labor History Milestones
(This article first appeared in the November-December 2016 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) A letter carrier delivers a live baby, which became outlawed in 1916 when post office management set a weight limi...
October 31, 2016
Labor History Milestones
(This article first appeared in the November-December 2016 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) A letter carrier delivers a live baby, which became outlawed in 1916 when post office management set a weight limi...
August 31, 2016
Labor History Milestones
St. Paul public school students join teachers on the picket line. (This article first appeared in the September-October 2016 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine) Let's take a Look Back at Labor History mileston...
August 31, 2016
Labor History Milestones
St. Paul public school students join teachers on the picket line. (This article first appeared in the September-October 2016 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine) Let's take a Look Back at Labor History mileston...
June 30, 2016
With Help from Women’s Movement, Canadian Postal Workers Score Big Win for Families
A little solidarity can go a long way. Thirty-five years ago, Canadian postal workers launched a 42-day strike for paid maternity leave – and won. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) was the first federal union i...