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June 11, 2014
National Education Association, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Join ‘Stop Staples’ Movement
The Stop Staples movement is continuing to gain momentum, with several important organizations showing support for the cause.
June 6, 2014
e-Team Report, June 6, 2014
The Federal Highway Trust Fund, which provides for construction and maintenance of the nation’s roads, rail lines, and bridges, is expected to run out of money this summer. Should the fund run dry, important work on the...
June 6, 2014
GOP Calls for Repeal of Affordable Care Act Are Fading Fast
In a sign that the harshest opposition to the Affordable Care Act may be softening, GOP candidates across the country are dropping calls to repeal the health care reform law and are instead spending this year’s election...
June 5, 2014
The USPS is Not a Piggy Bank!
In a “Dear Colleagues” letter dated June 3, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) urged his fellow members of the House of Representatives to oppose a proposal to use Postal Service funds to help replenish the Highway Trust Fund (H...
June 4, 2014
Today! National Strike Day and Action on Inequality Against Walmart
Fighting for Walmart workers’ rights, the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) has called for a national week of action June 2 through June 7 to coincide with the retail giant’s annual shareholder mee...
June 3, 2014
‘Don’t Buy Staples’ Sample Resolution
The APWU has prepared a 'Don't Buy Staples' sample resolution for use by APWU leaders and union allies to help spread the word to boycott the office-supply chain. The deal between the USPS and Staples has resulted in pos...
June 3, 2014
New Code on Form 50 Reflects Bigger Deduction for Retirement
Several people have inquired about the designation “FERS-RAE” on the Form 50s of employees who were recently converted from Postal Support Employee to career. The new designation reflects that the employees were hired...
June 2, 2014
APWU Condemns GOP Plan to Loot USPS to Save Highway Fund
APWU President Mark Dimondstein issued a statement June 2 condemning a proposal by House Republican leaders to raid the Postal Service treasury to shore up the Highway Trust Fund. “The proposal by House Republican leader...
June 2, 2014
Staples Execs Get an Earful at Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
Staples’ board of directors got an earful on June 2, when they attended the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in upscale Palo Alto, CA. Fifty APWU members and supporters – including students from nearby Stanford Uni...
May 30, 2014
AFL-CIO Endorses Staples Boycott
The ‘Don’t Buy Staples’ campaign got a significant boost on May 30, when the AFL-CIO notified the APWU it would support the boycott of the office-supply chain. The labor federation is comprised of 56 unions representing...
May 29, 2014
How Do You Spell ‘Smart Kid?’
Congratulations to USPS Ft. Myers P&DC Clerk Craft employee and APWU Member Dan Williamson and his wife Kara! Their son Jacob is one of 12 finalists in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The finals air May 29 at 8 p.m. o...
May 28, 2014
Mail Handlers Make It Official: Don’t Buy Staples
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union continues to demonstrate outstanding support for the Stop Staples campaign, with its National Executive Board voting unanimously to endorse the APWU’s ‘Don’t Buy’ call.
May 28, 2014
Clerk Craft Negotiates New Customer Care Center
A May 28 agreement between the APWU and USPS [PDF] establishes a new Customer Care Center (CCC) in Wichita KS. The new CCC will be located at the Remote Encoding Center (REC) site, which is scheduled to close no later th...
May 27, 2014
New Hampshire Teachers Union Joins ‘Don’t Buy Staples’ Campaign
The New Hampshire chapter of the American Federation of Teachers has joined the movement to Stop Staples, with the Board of Directors voting on May 23 to endorse the ‘Don’t Buy Staples’ campaign. The AFT-New Hampshire re...
May 21, 2014
APWU Urges ‘No’ Vote on Issa’s Latest Postal Bill
The APWU is urging House Oversight and Government Reform Committee members to vote ‘no’ on the latest postal bill offered by Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA), which would end “door delivery” for 15 million postal customers....
May 21, 2014
Committee Passes Controversial Issa Bill
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee members passed the latest postal bill offered by Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA), which would end “door delivery” for 15 million postal customers. The vote, which passed a...
May 20, 2014
Dimondstein to Appear on the ‘Ed Show’ This Evening
APWU President Mark Dimondstein will appear this evening on The Ed Show, which airs on MSNBC at 5 p.m. He will discuss postal finances – and how Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe seems determined to use the ginned-up cr...
May 20, 2014
MVS Craft Questions & Answers on Filling Residual Vacancies
The APWU and USPS have agreed to a set of Questions & Answers [PDF] regarding the May 15 Step 4 settlement and March 20 agreement on the conversion of Motor Vehicle Craft Postal Support Employees (PSEs) into residual vac...
May 20, 2014
Dimondstein Discusses Postal Finances on Radio, TV with Ed Schultz
APWU President Mark Dimondstein appeared on The Ed Schultz Radio Show and The Ed Show on MSNBC to will discuss postal finances – and how Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe seems determined to use the ginned-up crisis to...
May 19, 2014
‘Stop Staples’ Campaign Gathers Momentum
In the wake of the APWU’s National Day of Action on April 24, the Stop Staples campaign is gathering momentum. After months of stonewalling by USPS management and Staples executives, the APWU National Executive Board vot...
May 15, 2014
The Sign on the Door Says It All
Hours have been cut at 16 post offices within a five-mile radius of the San Francisco Staples store that has a postal counter, according to information obtained by the APWU. A sign on the post office door directs custome...
May 15, 2014
Grievance Time Limits Extended During National Convention
The APWU has reached an agreement with the Postal Service to extend the time limits for grievances and appeals to arbitration during the weeks surrounding the APWU National Convention, Industrial Relations Director Tony...
May 15, 2014
Settlement Reached on Conversions in MVS
The APWU and USPS have reached a Step 4 settlement [PDF] that resolves a discrepancy between the Collective Bargaining Agreement [PDF] and Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM) [PDF] regarding the conversion of MVS...
May 14, 2014
Questions & Answers about May 23 Retirement Incentive Payment
The APWU-negotiated Retirement Incentive Agreement signed on Sept. 28, 2012, awarded eligible employees two lump-sum payments totaling $15,000. The first installment of $10,000 (minus applicable taxes) was distributed on...
May 12, 2014
Video Highlights: ‘Stop Staples’ National Day of Action
Thousands of APWU members, joined by labor and community activists, protested at Staples stores across the country on April 24, a 'Stop Staples' National Day of Action. Events were held in 56 locations in 27 states to pr...
May 12, 2014
Unauthorized Tractor Log Form Circulating
An unauthorized Tractor Log Form is being utilized in some locations, Motor Vehicle Craft officers are reporting.
May 9, 2014
Letter Carriers’ Food Drive
On Saturday, May 10, be sure to leave a contribution of non-perishable food at your mailbox for the 22nd Letter Carriers’ food drive. Letter Carriers will collect donations as they deliver mail. The contributions will b...
May 9, 2014
Look Who Dropped In!
Danny Glover, the star of "Lethal Weapon" and "The Color Purple," stopped by the union office on May 9 for an informal conversation with APWU officers about the building of a Grand Alliance to save the U.S. Postal Servic...
May 9, 2014
USPS Reports $1 Billion Operating Profit in First Half of Fiscal Year
Midway through the fiscal year, the USPS is reporting a $1 billion profit from operations, with $261 million of that amount from the second quarter. But you won’t read that in the mainstream media. Instead, you’ll hear –...
May 8, 2014
NLRB Issues Complaint Over USPS Failure to Provide Info to APWU
In response to two charges filed by the APWU, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint against the Postal Service on April 30, asserting that the USPS “has been failing and refusing to bargain collect...