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January 27, 2015
e-Team Report, Jan. 27, 2015
New House Resolution Takes Aim at Delayed Mail Just weeks into the 114th Congress, a new bipartisan coalition of a dozen U.S. representatives is taking a stand for prompt, reliable mail service.
January 27, 2015
Residual Vacancies, PSE Conversions in MVS
According to USPS statistics, approximately 320 Motor Vehicle Craft employees have been converted to career status as a result of residual vacancies since a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Filling Residual Vacancies...
January 26, 2015
With a ‘Golden Parachute’ in Hand, Donahoe Opposes Retirement for Young Workers
When Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe retires at the end of the week, he’ll get a retirement package of more than $4 million. Not bad for a “civil servant.” But in his controversial farewell address to reporters at...
January 23, 2015
e-Team Report, Jan. 23, 2015
New Postal Amendment to Pipeline Bill Whether or not to approve construction of the Keystone tar sands pipeline is one of the first pieces of legislation that the Senate has taken up since the 114th Congress came into se...
January 22, 2015
APWU Members Take Part in King Day Activities
APWU member David Yao and NALC retiree Jack Hayes participated in events before a Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally in Seattle on Jan. 19.
January 22, 2015
Contract Campaign Training Session: Ready to Get Started!
APWU members from the Northeast Region participate in a CAT Team training Training for the union’s campaign to win a good contract moved to the Northeast Region on Jan. 21 and 22, and participants left the two-day ses...
January 21, 2015
Protests Mark Fifth Anniversary of Citizens United
On Wednesday Jan. 21, dozens braved the snow to protest the fifth anniversary of Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruling that opened the floodgates to allow a tidal wave of corporate money...
January 19, 2015
Postal Unions, Allies Launch ‘Campaign for Postal Banking’
A coalition of consumer organizations, financial reform groups, faith-based organizations and workers' representative – including the APWU and the other postal unions – announced the formation of the Campaign for Postal...
January 16, 2015
Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price Has Social Security in his Crosshairs
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), the new House Budget Committee chairman, hinted to the Heritage Foundation on Monday that he has big plans for Social Security “reform” in the next two years, according to the Atlanta Journal-Const...
January 16, 2015
Donahoe: ‘Stop Staples’ Campaign is Taking a Toll
Outgoing Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe made headlines when he blamed postal unions and big mailers for the Postal Service’s problems in a recent farewell address, but he made a few other surprising comments as well....
January 16, 2015
Occupational Groups in the MVS Craft
January 16, 2015
TV News: A Good Example
The video linked below is a good example of how to spread the message that service standard changes and the closure of mail processing facilities will create hardships for individual customers and small businesses.
January 15, 2015
Celebrating the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The APWU joins the nation in celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was one of the greatest civil rights leaders of all time and a true champion of labor.
January 13, 2015
Service Cuts Disrupt Workers’ Lives
When postal officials lowered “service standards” on Jan. 5, they didn’t just slow down America’s mail: They set in motion a process that is causing serious disruption in the lives of thousands of hard-working postal emp...
January 12, 2015
e-Team Report, Jan. 12, 2015
New Congress Convenes The 114th Congress convened last week, with Republicans assuming full control of the body for the first time in 8 years. Republicans captured control of the Senate and Senate Majority Leader Mitch M...
January 12, 2015
Mitch McConnell Raises the Possibility of a Grand Bargain with President Obama
In his first major speech since becoming the new Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) challenged President Obama to work with him, hinting that he is interested in a “Grand Bargain.” McConnell outlined an ambit...
January 12, 2015
New MOU to Create Hundreds of Career Jobs in Level 4 POStPlan Offices
An addendum to the Sept. 22, 2013, POStPLAN Memorandum of Understanding will place a number of career jobs into Level 4 post offices, which otherwise would have been staffed exclusively with Postal Support Employees (PSE...
January 10, 2015
Who Qualifies as a ‘Medical Officer’ with Authority to Sign CDL Health Cards?
The APWU has received clarification from the Postal Service regarding who qualifies as a “medical officer” with authority to sign Department of Transportation health cards for postal employees with Commercial Driver’s Li...
January 9, 2015
2015 Dues Disbursement Schedule
The table below indicates the date and corresponding pay period in which locals and state organizations can expect headquarters to deposit the Dues Check Off (DCO) rebate monies via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).
January 9, 2015
Contract Campaign Training Sparks Great Enthusiasm
Training for the union’s campaign to win a good contract got underway for locals in the APWU’s Western Region on Jan. 6, and participants left the two-day session downright excited about the possibilities.
January 9, 2015
Dimondstein on Joe Madison’s Radio Show
APWU President Mark Dimondstein was interviewed on Joe Madison’s Urban View radio show on Jan. 9.
January 8, 2015
OIG: Postal Service, Customers Would Suffer if Mail Processing Were Eliminated
A little-noticed OIG report bolsters the union’s position that mail processing plants are crucial to Postal Service operations and should not be privatized.
January 5, 2015
Gearing Up and Gettin’ Down (to Business)
Negotiations for the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA) are scheduled to begin in mid-February, and the Industrial Relations Department has been busy researching material and developing strategies for contract ta...
December 31, 2014
A Look Back: The Charleston Five
Soon after dockworkers formed a picket line at the Port of Charleston, SC, in January 2000, five among them became the focus of worldwide protests and international solidarity – symbols of the fight for justice. And afte...
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
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
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
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
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
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...