“Dang Union, I’m Getting Out!”

(This article appears in the November-December 2013 edition of The American Postal Worker.)

Omar M. Gonzalez, Western Region Coordinator

“Dang union, I’m getting out!” This phrase, unfortunately uttered far too often, reflects how little success union officers have in earning the understanding of members. The large number of members who “elected” not to participate in our recent union elections is a symptom of this failure.

Another measure of disconnect is how few members bother to picket to save their own jobs. Far too many members actually dislike their union. Why?

Officers are elected representatives of union members. Officers are not the union! The members are the real union. And we are an industrial union, which means we come from diverse crafts and divisions and believe “in unity there is strength.” Members have certain basic rights within our union and to be secure in those rights.

What It Means to Be ‘Rank-And-File’

While every member pays dues, it is the rank-and-file (i.e., the members apart from the leaders, officers and stewards) who must make the union’s objectives reality. Having a healthy work environment, better working conditions and a better standard of living is up to the members, not just the officers.

You elect the officers! You have the power to direct the officers within your local, state and national union. But if you don’t use that power, you lose it!

These are your rights:

• To be respected as a human being and brother or sister of this union.
• To have freedom of speech and to be heard and listen.
• To have freedom of press and to participate in this union.
• To seek office and vote in union elections, regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, handicap, political affiliation, age or religion. 
• To be secure in your basic rights without fear of political, economic, physical or psychological intimidation.

These rights are for all members, career and PSEs! We have been fighting for these rights since 1885 and must make sure they are relevant today!

What It Means to Be Union

While the post office has been around since 1775, postal unions didn’t exist until the late 1800s and we weren’t allowed to engage in “collective bargaining” (the right to negotiate over wages, hours and working conditions) until 1971.

The rest of the country was legally allowed to “unionize” in 1935. Postal workers were denied that right for another 35 years. To be union is to have “workers representing the interest of workers!” The union works for you! But you must make it work; otherwise it can become stale or even worse — corrupt.

Without your active participation, your union can fall and become devoid of ideals, lack integrity, be unfaithful, become a double dealer or unprincipled. Getting out of the union does not ensure a stronger union — it’s the opposite. You must stay in it, be involved, stand up and fight so that the union represents your general interests and your welfare.

Demanding Fair Representation

For the most part, members don’t represent themselves. Members select representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining over wages, hours of work or other conditions of employment. Powerful entities within and outside the Postal Service are trying to kill our rights and destroy the service. While officers are heavily involved in fighting this attack, they are simultaneously obligated to:

• Enforce the contract
• Properly investigate potential grievances and fully present grievances
• Attempt to fully adjust the grievance or appeal the grievance in a non-perfunctory manner.

Unfortunately, officers and stewards cannot change water into wine. To win a grievance, there must be a violation of the contract. We live in corporate America! The union does not direct employees in the performance of their duties, nor do we hire, transfer, or assign workers. We don’t determine the method, means or personnel by which postal operations are conducted.

But you have the right to expect the union to follow and enforce clear, unquestionable contract language and to have your case decided on its merits with reasonable care and diligence. However, not all complaints rise to the level of contract violations.

Instead of saying you are getting out, GET IN! Become a steward or officer. There are only 81 national officers to serve 250,000 members. There are shortages of stewards in almost every local. We need you to step up, not out! Management spends $400 million annually, if not more, fighting its own employees. The union depends on your dues and involvement to fight back! You can’t spell UNION without “U” and “I”!

Another Term

Those who exercised their right to vote have elected representatives for another three-year term. My fellow Regional Coordinators, Sharyn Stone, Mike Gallagher, John Dirzius and Princella Vogel, and I congratulate all of the newly elected and re-elected officers. And we thank those members who cared enough for their union to vote.

Now, help us fight back against privatization and downsizing! Help us be a stronger more responsive union! Help Us Help You — Step Up, Not Out!