All News
The Latest from your Union—All in One Place
fighting for justice
Filters
Filter By
December 4, 2015
Important Arbitration Win in Fight Against Plant Closures and Consolidations
Arbitrator Shyam Das ruled on Dec. 3, 2015, that the American Postal Workers Union and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union may now go forward with their Step 4 grievances challenging the Postal Service’s decision to...
December 3, 2015
2016 Arbitration Advocacy Training
The Research and Education Department will provide Arbitration Advocacy training to APWU arbitration advocates Feb. 28 to March 6, 2016. The program is designed to provide an in-depth knowledge of the techniques needed t...
December 3, 2015
84% Give Postal Service a Thumbs Up
According to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center, while only 19 percent of Americans trust the federal government, an overwhelming 84 percent view the Postal Service favorably – making it the most well-liked federal...
November 30, 2015
Western PA Staples Campaign Takes it to the Top
Members of the Western PA Postal Workers Solidarity Committee met with Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald on Nov. 20 to discuss the dirty deal between the U.S. Postal Service and Staples. “Fitzgerald listened to...
November 30, 2015
2015 Penalty Overtime Exclusion, New Leave Year
In accordance with Article 8 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, penalty overtime rules are not applicable for a four-week period each year during December. This year, the period starts with Week 2 of Pay Period 26-1...
November 30, 2015
‘Stand Up for Safe Jobs’ Campaign Gains Momentum
The APWU’s Stand Up for Safe Jobs campaign is gaining momentum! Across the country locals have been placing a renewed emphasis on workers’ right to a safe workplace and have been distributing fact sheets outlining those...
November 24, 2015
Peak Season Exception Period
The reporting period for the 2015 Peak Season Exception Period began on Nov. 14, 2015, and ends Jan. 8, 2016. The three consecutive pay periods will be the weeks of Nov. 14, 2015, to Dec. 25, 2015, or Nov. 28, 2015, to...
November 24, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving !
The officers and staff of the APWU wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.
November 19, 2015
Tell the Postmaster General: Make Postal Banking a Reality Now
Did you know that nearly 28% of U.S. households are underserved by traditional banks? They turn instead to payday lenders, check cashers and other financial predators, spending on average nearly 10 percent of their inco...
November 18, 2015
Gear Day is Still Red Hot!
Members of the Greater Seattle Area Local in union gear on Nov.12 Days are getting shorter and temps may be dropping, but our fight for a good contract is still red hot! Show management that you are part of the fight f...
November 16, 2015
Disbursement Schedule for $56 Million Settlement for Small Offices
The Postal Service has notified APWU Clerk Craft officers that employees who are eligible for a portion of a $56 million monetary settlement are expected to receive payment prior to Christmas. However, our message is: Do...
November 16, 2015
Postal Service’s Financial Report Brings Good News
The Postal Service’s latest financial report, which showed an operating profit of $1.2 billion, is good news, said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “The report shows there is absolutely no justification for cuts in servi...
November 13, 2015
Donald Trump’s “Wages are Too High” Mentality is an Attack on Social Security
During Tuesday night’s Republican presidential debate, Donald Trump answered a question about raising the minimum wage by saying that wages are too high. Rather than taking on Trump, Marco Rubio and Ben Carson helped rei...
November 13, 2015
Sanders Endorsement Garners Many Headlines
The APWU Executive Board’s endorsement of Bernie Sanders for President generated extensive media coverage on Nov. 12. Virtually every major news outlet reported the endorsement, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, MSNBC,...
November 6, 2015
APWU Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge in Response to ‘Stay Survey’
The American Postal Workers Union has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in response to the “Stay Survey,” in which the Postal Service asks newly hired non-career employe...
November 6, 2015
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Introduces Bill Providing One-time Payment of $581 to Social Security Beneficiaries, Veterans
On Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced S. 2251, the Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act. The bill would provide a one-time payment in 2016 to Social Security beneficiaries, veterans, and other...
November 4, 2015
NLRB Calls Interference on Staples
The APWU won an important legal victory on Nov. 4 when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled unanimously that Staples cannot intervene in hearings on charges that the USPS illegally subcontracted work to the of...
November 3, 2015
Long Island Area Local Rallies for Good Postal Service! Good Jobs! Good Contract!
Members of the Long Island Area Local outside the Mid-Island general mail facility Photo credit: James Carbone More than 150 members of the Long Island Area Local and their supporters rallied for Good Postal Service! Goo...
November 3, 2015
Hartford Area Local, Allies Rally to Save America’s Postal Service
Hartford Area Local members rally with allies, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal (center). Members of the Hartford Area Local were joined by labor allies for a rally to Save American’s Postal Service on Oct. 24. Lori Pe...
November 2, 2015
USPS, Staples Produce a Mound of Documents
The mound of documents produced by USPS and Staples After months of refusing to provide documents subpoenaed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the APWU, the USPS and Staples produced a mound of paperwork o...
November 1, 2015
Workers Comp Fraud Investigations
(This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) Special agents of the Postal Service Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are contracted to “safeguard postal rev...
November 1, 2015
Spreading the Word on the Street
Des Moines Area Local steward Julie Kestel with daughter Mackenzie on a float in the city’s Labor Day Parade. (This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) APW...
November 1, 2015
Rallying to Restore Voting Rights Act
The APWU had a strong showing at the rally to restore the Voting Rights Act. (This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) The APWU joined the NAACP, Democracy...
November 1, 2015
Members Speak Out During ‘Town Hall’ Tour
Dimondstein chats with a member on the workfloor of the Orlando Processing & Distribution Center. (This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) I am a firm beli...
November 1, 2015
Members Speak Out During ‘Town Hall’ Tour
Dimondstein chats with a member on the workfloor of the Orlando Processing & Distribution Center. (This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) I am a firm beli...
November 1, 2015
Stop Staples Campaign Forges Ahead
(This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) Philadelphia City Commissioner Stephanie Singer joined Stop Staples protesters in front of the 1500 Chestnut St. ...
November 1, 2015
Health & Safety Campaign Takes Off
One of the broken outlets found at the New Mexico facilty. Photo courtesy of OIG (This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) Declaring that “there are far too...
November 1, 2015
Historic First Meeting with Postmaster General
From left: John Hatton, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association; Eva Dominguez, Alliance for Retired Americans; Melanie Campbell, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation/Black Women’s Roundtable...
November 1, 2015
Young Workers Play Big Role In Seattle Teachers’ Victory
(This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) Seattle teachers picketed at every school in the district . Photo courtesy of Seattle Education Association Seattl...
November 1, 2015
OIG Recommends Putting a Hold on Plant Closures
(This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.) APWU predictions that lower service standards would wreak havoc on mail delivery were substantiated in a “Manageme...