December 5, 2025
President Smith Congratulates Chicago Local on 119th Anniversary
APWU National President Jonathan Smith sent a message of solidarity to the members of Chicago Local 0001 on Dec. 4, marking the 119th anniversary of the local’s charter. In a letter to the local’s membership, President Smith commemorated the milestone, praising the local for its militant history and enduring role in the labor movement.
President Smith specifically noted the local’s leadership in the fight against postal privatization. He cited their history of holding demonstrations outside Sears Roebuck headquarters in the 1980s and their “enthusiastic” leadership of the Stop Staples protests during the 2015 Biennial Convention.
“Chicagoland says, ‘the U.S. Mail is not for sale,'” Smith wrote.
The letter also recognized the essential nature of the work performed by Chicago postal workers. Despite challenges including natural disasters and global pandemics, Chicago Local members remain an “integral part of our nation’s fabric” by keeping the mail moving from coast to coast.
Looking to the future, the president’s message emphasized the profound intergenerational solidarity the milestone signifies.
“United in a struggle for justice, you have demonstrated the power workers have when we come together, no matter the color of our skin or what we believe in,” Smith stated.
Read the full letter below.
