(This article first appeared in the May/June 2019 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

APWU POWER, Post Office Women for Equal Rights, the women’s committee within the American Postal Workers Union, was founded in St. Louis, Missouri on April 28, 1979 and incorporated in APWU’s National Constitution in Detroit, Michigan in August 1980. APWU POWER’s Steering Committee consists of five APWU POWER Coordinators, one from each region, who are elected at a Biennial National Convention and assist POWER Committees at the local and state levels.

Why is APWU POWER Still Necessary?

In the United States, women make up nearly 50 percent of the workforce and approximately 48 percent in the USPS. Although women pay a large percentage of dues in APWU, they hold fewer elected offices at the local, state, and national levels. APWU POWER assists women in obtaining the knowledge and skills needed to level the playing field and has opened doors of opportunities for women from across the country through educational seminars, workshops, and regional conferences. As a result, POWER sisters have become actively involved in their local and state unions and the political process. APWU POWER has donated over $200,000 to COPA, the union’s Political Action Fund, and is one of APWU’s largest contributors.

What about Community Involvement?

APWU POWER’s involvement in community activities includes:

• Adopting postal union families left homeless due to natural disasters;
• Making yearly monetary contributions to domestic violence agencies;
• Contributing Christmas gift bags to female troops who are unable to travel home for the holidays;
• Providing coats and clothing to the homeless;
• Donating books, toiletries, etc., to schools, homeless shelters, and senior citizens’ homes, and
• Giving money to the Postal Relief Fund to aid postal families who are victims of natural disasters.

What is APWU POWER’S “Sisters Helping Sisters” Fund?

APWU POWER’S “Sisters Helping Sisters Fund” was established in 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, to help women and children who were left homeless due to the disaster. It was expanded in 2006 to give hope and encouragement to women and children in homeless shelters, fleeing domestic violence. The program is funded from donations received from postal workers. Since its inception, the fund has donated over $75,000 to families, charities, and domestic violence agencies, including $25,000 to the Postal Relief Fund.

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, make checks payable to “Sisters Helping Sisters” and mail to Joyce B. Robinson, Director Research and Education, 1300 L. St., NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Attend APWU POWER 19th Biennial National Convention

WHEN: Thursday, August 8 through Sunday, August, 11, 2019. Delegates should arrive on Wednesday, August 7 and depart on Sunday, August 11. Workshops will be held on Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30p.m. Regional Caucuses are on Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel & Conference Center, 5440 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018. Contact the hotel at 1 (877) 337-5793 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Reservations must be made on or before the cut-off date. To secure the negotiated rate of $109.00 per night (single/ double occupancy), plus 14% taxes, identify yourself as attending the POWER Convention and register by the Monday, July 8, 2019 deadline.

REGISTER ONLINE: Delegates must register themselves online by going to www.apwu.org and clicking on APWU POWER 19th Biennial National Convention. The registration fee is $125.00 for delegates and $125.00 for each guest, which includes an Installation Dinner and a Reception. To register a guest, contact Joyce B. Robinson at (202) 842- 4225 prior to the Monday, July 8, 2019 deadline. The guest must attend with an APWU member.

To obtain additional information about APWU POWER, contact the Research and Education Department at (202) 842-4225 or the APWU POWER coordinator in your region:
Darcy A. Wood, Central Region, Dwood@gkcmal.org
Michelle T. Boulware, Eastern Region, michelleh715@hotmail.com
Tanya D. Jackson, Northeast Region, tanyaapwu251@gmail.com
Bernadette Baker, Southern Region, bbdett44@aol.com
Erica Cole, Western Region, ecole@apwuslc6.org