APWU President Jonathan Smith Hosts First Livestream

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, APWU President Jonathan Smith hosted his first livestream. Titled “Talk Is Cheap, Safety Matters,” President Smith spoke about the need for vigilance and action from individuals, local unions, and the national union to better protect postal workers’ health.

Postal workers work every day in a dangerous, highly industrialized environment filled with heavy machinery, vehicles, and repetitive tasks. The reality is sobering: the Postal Service consistently reports more workplace injuries than nearly all other federal agencies.

Historically, more deaths occur due to industrial accidents at the Postal Service than all other federal agencies combined. From extreme weather conditions and mechanical hazards to hostile work environments that take away our dignity and put our mental health on the line, we deserve more.

Guests included Mike Mize from the Michigan Postal Workers Union, Mitchell Taylor from the Atlanta Metro Area Local, Jamila Bush from the Reno Postal Workers Union, Jeff Lizardi from the New York Metro Area Postal Union, and Michelle Nadeau from the Long Island Area Local.

APWU National Safety and Health Representative Don Barron joined the stream to talk about safety checklists that APWU National is distributing to help individuals and locals make sure management is creating and keeping a safe working environment for postal workers.

You can watch the stream here: