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October 16, 2014
Stop Delaying America’s Mail!
The four postal unions are calling for a National Day of Action on Nov. 14 to send a message to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and the USPS Board of Governors: Stop Delaying America’s Mail! “The Postmaster General is...
October 15, 2014
Duluth Rallies Against Consolidation
A group of about 200 impassioned postal workers, elected officials, and community members rallied on Oct. 6, on the steps of the Federal Building in Duluth, MN, to save the city’s mail processing center.
October 14, 2014
Saugus MA Says, ‘Stop Staples’
Activists in Saugus, MA, staged a protest on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to shout “No!” to the USPS-Staples plan to privatize postal services.
October 14, 2014
One Year In: Looking Back, Looking Forward
It has been an exciting first year as your president. I am as honored today as I was the day I took office. I appreciate the help, insight and activism of so many members, local and state leaders, and national officers a...
October 14, 2014
To Win Consolidation Fight, We Must Build a Movement
If we are going to win the fight to stop consolidation of 82 mail processing plants, we must build a movement – a movement that unites postal workers with the people we serve: the neighbors we greet, the businesses we pa...
October 14, 2014
Managing the Grievance Backlog
It’s been just about a year since I took office. Wow, how time flies! Since taking office, I have instituted a very aggressive arbitration schedule based on my belief that disputes at the national level must be resolved...
October 14, 2014
Get the 1% Out of Our Dream
The American Dream. Anyone who works hard enough can climb the ladder and achieve success – a lovely home, cars in the garage, the kids off to a good college and a comfortable, secure retirement. Unfortunately, that drea...
October 14, 2014
What Opportunities Are Left?
Recently, I was asked the following questions by a brother unionist I highly respect: what opportunities are left in the legislative arena this year to put a stop to the plant consolidations that are scheduled to begin i...
October 14, 2014
Wanting Something vs. Getting It
It’s no secret that having more dues paying members makes locals stronger, but the benefits are more than financial. New members mean greater solidarity, more camaraderie and a larger talent pool. Our union provides fair...
October 14, 2014
APWU Retirees Rock
Many APWU members ask, “What do I do once I retire?” It is, of course, a personal choice. However, I have a suggestion: Become a union activist. Many of our members understand the importance of staying involved with the...
October 14, 2014
Is Walmart Destroying America?
Is Walmart ruining our country? That’s a question that most people never stop and ask. Most of us love shopping in big, clean stores that are packed with cheap merchandise, but the truth is that Walmart is destroying Ame...
October 14, 2014
The Postal Service’s Union-Busting Law Firm
With negotiations for a new contract set to begin on Feb. 19, 2015, it’s worth noting that in the past, when talks have ended in arbitration, the USPS has used the anti-union law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius to represent...
October 14, 2014
Maintenance Defeats Improper Excessing
Maintenance craft officers recently settled an important dispute, stipulating that the Postal Service cannot declare an installation “non-maintenance capable” and then use the designation to justify excessing Maintenance...
October 14, 2014
It’s Left Up to Us
Logic, common sense and the Postal Service’s irresponsible decisions tell us that management will not manage the USPS out of its manufactured financial crisis. The four postal unions – the APWU, the National Association...
October 14, 2014
212 Violations? That’s Not an ‘Isolated Incident’
212. That’s how many times the USPS failed to properly notify the APWU of management decisions to renew Highway Contract Routes (HCRs) in one year. Yet at a recent arbitration hearing, the Postal Service urged the arbitr...
October 14, 2014
Keep Them Open!
Filled with enthusiasm after the union’s national convention in July, APWU members in cities and towns across the country have been forming community alliances and organizing protests to fight plant consolidation.
October 14, 2014
New Zoning Rule Halts Post Office Sale
Management’s drive to sell historic post offices has met resistance in many communities, but none has been more creative – or relentless – than those of Berkeley, CA, where residents have fought the sale of the Main Post...
October 10, 2014
‘Don’t Buy’ Movement Grows
As the one-year anniversary of the Postal Service’s no-bid deal with Staples approaches, the ‘Don’t Buy Staples’ movement is continuing to grow. The USPS and Staples are upping the ante as well: On Oct. 7 management noti...
October 10, 2014
Astronomical Prices of Some Cancer Drugs Hit Vulnerable Patients Hard
60 Minutes reported last Sunday on the high price of cancer drugs in the U.S. Lesley Stahl’s piece shed light on the fact that Medicare has to pay the price determined by the drug companies, since under current law, Medi...
October 9, 2014
‘Pecking Order’ Set for Filling
The APWU and USPS have agreed on a “pecking order” for filling newly created positions in POStPlan Installations. A recent arbitration award will result in the creation of 9,000 new Clerk Craft jobs in six-hour and four-...
October 9, 2014
Conversions, Not Terminations!
October 8, 2014
In Memory
October 3, 2014
Thousands of Alliance Members Join Tele-Town Hall Calls with Candidates
More than 6,000 Alliance members dialed in Monday night on a tele-town hall conference call with Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), with several of the activists asking Sen. Hagan questions. Seniors advocate Jon “Bowzer” Bauman of t...
October 2, 2014
APWU Backs Retirees’ Demand to Re-Open Social Security Offices
APWU President Mark Dimondstein spoke at a rally sponsored by the Alliance for Retired Americans on Oct. 2, as the group delivered petitions with more than 700,000 signatures demanding that the Social Security Administr...
October 2, 2014
APWU President Appeared on Radio Oct. 3
October 1, 2014
Powell Addresses Black Women’s Round Table
APWU Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell discussed the important role postal banking could play in ending predatory lending in poor and minority communities, where many residents don’t have bank accounts.
September 30, 2014
The ‘Strike for Better Schools’
Almost 70 years after a strike by St. Paul teachers, their battle holds lessons for today’s postal workers and other public employees: The educators didn’t strike only on their own behalf – they walked a picket line for...
September 25, 2014
Michigan Democratic Party Endorses Staples Boycott
The Michigan Democratic Party voted to support the Staples boycott at a special meeting of the Executive Committee on Sept. 23 and urged all candidates for public office to avoid patronizing the office-supply chain. The...
September 24, 2014
Teachers Union to Staples CEO: We’re Not Buying
The president of the American Federation of Teachers has a message for Staples CEO Ron Sargent: We're not buying!
September 22, 2014
APWU Wins Major Victory on Staffing in ‘POStPlan’ Offices
The APWU has won a major victory on staffing in post offices affected by the “POStPlan” – a victory that will result in the creation of at least 9,000 new Clerk Craft jobs within 90 days. In a ruling dated Sept. 5, Arbit...