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December 23, 2014
Medicare Enrollment
This article appeared in the January-February 2015 edition of The American Postal Worker. General enrollment in Medicare is open from Jan. 1 through March 31, but don’t confuse the general enrollment period with your eli...
December 23, 2014
The 411 on 211
Every hour, thousands of Americans require some type of essential human service. However, trying to determine what service is available or how to qualify for a service can be a challenge even for the most resourceful and...
December 23, 2014
A Step-by-Step Guide to Signing-Up New Members
Happy New Year! In 2015 the Organization Department will expand our training efforts by reaching out to locals and conducting regional training seminars on how to sign-up non-members. “The union” isn’t a third party. It’...
December 23, 2014
Standing Up and Fighting Back
On behalf of the union officers of the Northeast region, I wish you a happy New Year, filled with peace and fulfillment. Our current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on May 20, 2015, and in recent months we have b...
December 23, 2014
Our Plans for 2015
As a difficult year ends and a new year begins, it is a good time to think about areas we need to concentrate on in the new year. Our work to coordinate relationship-building between members of Congress, our local and st...
December 23, 2014
APWU Payroll Experts Issue a Warning
When management declared an Information Technology (IT) emergency due to a breach of USPS data systems recently, more than 150 systems that USPS programmers develop and administer were taken offline so they could be patc...
December 23, 2014
We Must Make Our ‘Cause’ the People’s Cause!
The APWU is gearing up for a major battle: The fight to win a good contract for our members, while we fight for a vibrant, public Postal Service for the people of the country.
December 23, 2014
Is Sub-Contracting Cheaper? Really?
As we prepare to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, one of the most important issues to resolve is what constitutes a “fair cost comparison of all reasonable costs.” It’s fair to say that this is a key issu...
December 23, 2014
Winning ‘Automatic’ Remedies for Staffing Violations
Hopefully, every local applied the procedures outlined in the July 9, 2014, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding implementation of the MS-47 - TL-5 Handbook at the conclusion of fiscal year 2014. The agreement inc...
December 23, 2014
Privatization, Walmart and Goin’ Postal
An agreement between Walmart and the private shipping company Goin’ Postal threatens to further privatize postal services. Under the arrangement, announced on Sept. 29, 2014, Goin’ Postal is lining up franchisees to esta...
December 22, 2014
Despite Huge Earnings, Walmart is Notorious for Low Pay
According to the Fortune Global 500 list, based on revenue, Walmart is the world’s biggest company. With more than 2 million workers, it is also the largest employer. But despite its...
December 22, 2014
The Impact of Plant Closures: Beyond the Postal Sphere
How can we stop the USPS from lowering service standards and closing or consolidating mail processing plants? How can we reach our communities? How can we motivate our legislators and neighborhood organizations? How can...
December 22, 2014
Much is at Stake, Much is Possible
New Year's Greeting to One and All! Your membership in the American Postal Workers Union is the foundation of our strength as we fight for workplace and social justice. I salute you, the thousands of union members and ac...
December 22, 2014
Season’s Greetings!
December 21, 2014
USPS Tells Customers: Get Postal Discounts at Staples
Postal management has launched a new offensive – one that clearly reveals the sinister goals of its no-bid deal with Staples. The Postal Service has sent a mass mailing to “postal customers” advertising 20 percent discou...
December 20, 2014
Dimondstein Appears on Washington Journal
APWU President Mark Dimondstein appeared on Washington Journal on Dec. 20, where he discussed the future of the USPS and the union's opposition to changes in service standards that will affect postal customers across the...
December 19, 2014
Senate Passes $1.1 Trillion Federal Budget Agreement, Obama Signs it into Law
After a day of drama and partisan wrangling, the Senate voted 56-40 on Saturday to send a government funding bill to President Barack Obama for his signature. Obama then signed the bill into law on Tuesday. The $1.1 tril...
December 19, 2014
Dimondstein to Appear on Washington Journal on Saturday
APWU President Mark Dimondstein will appear on Washington Journal on Saturday, Dec. 20, beginning at about 9 a.m. Dimondstein will discuss issues of concern to postal customers and postal workers, as well as the importan...
December 18, 2014
Protests Build Support for Staples Boycott
In cities and towns around the country, postal workers and supporters continue to bring the Don’t Buy Staples message to the people. Protests are ongoing in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and the Sa...
December 18, 2014
Christmas Seasons Will Never Be the Same
APWU President Mark Dimondstein sounded the alarm on The Ed Show on Dec. 17, telling viewers, “Our Christmas seasons will never be the same,” if service standards are lowered on Jan. 5 and 82 mail processing centers ar...
December 17, 2014
Congress Fails to Act – Again
Before Congress adjourned on Dec. 16, senators and representatives approved a government spending bill that also weakens restrictions on the big banks that crashed the economy in 2008, allows mega-donors to make substant...
December 17, 2014
Dimondstein to Appear on the ‘Ed Show’ Today, Dec. 17
APWU President Mark Dimondstein will appear this evening on The Ed Show, which airs on MSNBC at 5 p.m. He will discuss Congress’ failure to address urgent postal issues before adjourning yesterday and he will talk about...
December 17, 2014
Custodian TL 5 Implementation Schedule (As of Nov. 22, 2014)
The USPS and APWU agreed to implement the MS-47 TL-5 dated June 27, 2014, and its cleaning procedures at no more than 15 facilities during Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 (for purposes of this MOU only, a "facility" is a single si...
December 16, 2014
The Case for Postal Banking
APWU President Mark Dimondstein spells out the case for postal banking in response to “The Case Against Postal Banking," a post on the Mother Jones website by blogger Kevin Drum. “Kevin Drum should do his homework,” Dimo...
December 14, 2014
Maintenance Craft Wins $8.64 Million Remedy for Improper Subcontracting
Arbitrator Shyam Das has ordered the Postal Service to pay Maintenance Craft employees $8.64 million for improperly subcontracting work that could have been performed by bargaining unit employees, Maintenance Craft Direc...
December 13, 2014
APWU Joins Protests: Justice for All!
APWU members joined rallies protesting police killings of unarmed black men on Saturday, Dec. 13. Shown here, at the rally in Washington, DC, President Mark Dimondstein marches alongside Randi Weingarten, president of...
December 12, 2014
Sherrod Brown to Introduce Harkin Bill to Expand Social Security in 114th Congress
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has announced plans to reintroduce Sen. Tom Harkin’s (D-IA) Strengthening Social Security Act in the next Congress. The bill would change the Social Security benefit formula, ensuring that cost...
December 12, 2014
NLRB Charges Postal Service with Illegal Surveillance of Staples Protests
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has charged the USPS with illegally spying on postal employees while they protested outside a Staples store in Atlanta on March 4 and 9, 2014.
December 12, 2014
Philadelphia City Council Adopts ‘Stop Staples’ Resolution
APWU member Cindy Heyward addressing the Philadelphia City Council. The Philadelphia City Council voted unanimously on Dec. 11 to adopt a resolution to support the APWU’s efforts. During the meeting, APWU members Cindy H...
December 9, 2014
Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee Convenes
Members of the union’s Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee held their first meeting in Washington, DC, on Dec. 8 and 9, where they heard presentations from union officers about negotiations, and engaged in lively...