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July 9, 2008
Universal Service Still of Critical Importance
The APWU has filed written testimony with the Postal Regulatory Commission emphasizing that universal postal service is still extremely important to a significant number of citizens. The union urged the PRC to “view the...
July 9, 2008
Management Issues Draft ‘Request for Proposals’ To Subcontract Some Work at Bulk Mail Centers
The Postal Service has posted a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for a “Time-Definite Surface Network,” seeking comments from private companies that are interested in subcontracting work currently done at Bulk Mail Cent...
July 9, 2008
APWU Meets with USPS, Seeks Bargaining Over Early-Outs
APWU President William Burrus met with postal officials July 8 regarding USPS plans to offer early-retirement opportunities to 40,000 employees. “I conveyed our strongly-held belief that the Postal Service is required to...
July 7, 2008
APWU, USPS to Meet July 8 Over Possible ‘Early Out’ Offer
APWU President William Burrus will meet with USPS officials on Tuesday, July 8, to address the union’s demand for bargaining over possible management plans to offer Voluntary Early Retirement to APWU-represented employee...
July 2, 2008
Support Keeps Growing For Mail Network Protection Act
As Congress broke for its July 4 recess, a total of 119 members of the U.S. House of Representatives had become co-sponsors of the Mail Network Protection Act (H.R. 4236) to help preserve inexpensive, trustworthy mail se...
June 30, 2008
APWU Health Plan Alters Benefits To Aid Midwest Flood Victims
The APWU Health Plan is offering proactive support to members of the plan who are being impacted by severe flooding in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The adjustments are for healthcare coverage from June 13 to...
June 30, 2008
Setting the Stage For the ‘Talent’ Unions
Among the catchphrases associated with the theatrical arts, “The Show Must Go On” is the most familiar. To workers, the phrase is more than a cliche: The longer-running the show, the more money to be earned. Nowadays, al...
June 27, 2008
Labor Federation Endorses Obama
As expected, the AFL-CIO has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama’s bid for the presidency, announcing in a June 26 teleconference that the General Board’s endorsement was without opposition.
June 25, 2008
AFL-CIO to Endorse Obama for President
The AFL-CIO is poised to endorse Sen. Barack Obama’s bid for the presidency, with the results of a poll of the federation’s executive council expected on Thursday, June 26. Leaders of the 10-million member organization b...
June 23, 2008
Six More U.S. Representatives Co-Sponsor Mail Network Protection Act
APWU efforts to build support in Congress for the Mail Network Protection Act (H.R. 4236) continued to gain ground over the last two weeks, as six more members of the U.S. House of Representatives endorsed the measure to...
June 20, 2008
Union to Re-Run Two NBA Races
The APWU will conduct new elections for two National Business Agent (NBA) positions to resolve an investigation by the Department of Labor, union President William Burrus has announced. The two elections to be re-run are...
June 19, 2008
Postal Relief Fund Available to Flood Victims
Hundreds of volunteers place sandbags along the levee in Cedar Falls, IA, June 10, 2008. (Photo: FEMA) Postal employees whose property was damaged or destroyed due to recent flooding in Iowa and other parts of the Midwes...
June 18, 2008
Constitution Committee Reviews Convention Resolutions
The union’s Constitution Committee convened at APWU headquarters in Washington, DC, on June 16 to begin reviewing resolutions submitted by APWU state and local unions to amend the APWU Constitution and Bylaws. The resolu...
June 12, 2008
Convention Screening Committee Begins Review
Preparations for the union’s National Convention ramped up this week, as the Screening Committee met in Washington, DC, to begin the process of sorting through hundreds of resolutions that will be considered by conventio...
June 12, 2008
Union Campaign Against Violent Stereotype Greeted with Silence by Postal Management
When the APWU objected to an E! Entertainment Television series titled Going Postal: 15 Shocking Acts of Violence last month, APWU President William Burrus expected support from the Postal Service, he said recently. “The...
June 6, 2008
Mail Network Protection Act Gains Six More Co-Sponsors
Six more members of the U.S. House of Representatives have become co-sponsors of the Mail Network Protection Act (H.R. 4236). Thanks to continuing grassroots action by APWU locals across the country, a total of 110 repr...
June 4, 2008
Union Pauses for Impromptu Celebration of Obama’s Win
APWU officers and staff paused briefly Wednesday afternoon to celebrate Barack Obama’s apparent nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for president. “We want to acknowledge the historic nature of June 3, 2008,” sa...
June 3, 2008
Time Running Short For ‘Creativity Contest’ Entries
APWU members are reminded that entries for the union’s creativity contest for their children and grandchildren are due by June 30. Sponsored by the American Postal Workers Union, the contest is designed to promote among...
June 2, 2008
APWU Testimony Kicks Off Controversy
Recent APWU testimony on Capitol Hill about the Postal Service’s obligation to provide “universal service” to all Americans seems to have stirred up a controversy. Addressing a House subcommittee on May 8, APWU Legislati...
May 28, 2008
Postal Workers Protected from Retaliation for Age-Discrimination Complaints
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled May 27 that the law that prohibits age discrimination protects federal and postal employees from retaliation when they file age-discrimination complaints. The ruling is noteworthy because the...
May 23, 2008
Onsite Children’s Activities Violate Local Regulations
While delegates to the last several APWU national conventions have had childcare services available to them, a recently-passed local ordinance means that the union will be unable to coordinate activities for children at...
May 21, 2008
Support for Mail Network Protection Act Tops 100
Thanks to continuing legislative outreach efforts by APWU locals, 10 additional members of the U.S. House of Representatives have become co-sponsors of the Mail Network Protection Act (H.R. 4236). To date, a total of 104...
May 19, 2008
‘Ask a Working Woman’ Survey
Working women understand the difficulties of balancing work and family, the pressure of making ends meet, and the challenges of getting ahead. That’s why the union urges APWU members to make their voices heard by taking...
May 16, 2008
APWU Wins in Private-Sector Campaigns
The APWU reached a tentative agreement May 15 on a “first contract” for approximately 120 workers at the Cincinnati Mail Transportation Equipment Service Center (MTESC). If they ratify the contract in a vote on May 28, w...
May 14, 2008
E! Television Series Is Offensive to Postal Workers
In a crass display of sensationalism, E! Entertainment Television is broadcasting a series titled Going Postal: 15 Shocking Acts of Violence. “The title of the series is an affront to more than 700,000 hard-working posta...
May 13, 2008
Another Dozen U.S. Reps. Sign On to Mail Network Protection Act
APWU efforts to build support in Congress for the Mail Network Protection Act have gotten a big boost in the last two weeks, as 12 more members of the U.S. House of Representatives became co-sponsors. The bill (H.R. 4236...
May 8, 2008
Postal Reform Act Is No Endorsement of Privatization
The passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act in December 2006 did not change the fundamental mission of the Postal Service, an APWU leader testified on Capitol Hill, and should not be perceived as justifi...
May 7, 2008
Online Registration of Convention Delegates To Replace Paper Process
For the first time, APWU locals and state organizations will register delegates to the APWU National Convention online, through the union’s Web site, www.apwu.org. “This is another important step on the road to moderniza...
May 5, 2008
Court Upholds Unfair Labor Charge Against USPS
A federal appeals court has upheld an unfair labor practice charge against the Postal Service in a case involving a supervisor who threatened to retaliate against an employee who had filed a complaint with the National L...
April 30, 2008
Ralph Fasanella: Self-Taught Artist Chronicled Workers’ Lives
By the time he started painting pictures at age 31, Ralph Fasanella had developed a strong disdain for the social and economic injustices he witnessed every day in the streets of New York City. Over the rest of his life,...