APWU Victory! USPS Ends Attempt to Change Union LWOP Rules for Political Activity

(This article first appeared in the September-October issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)

On July 9, postal management informed President Dimondstein that they are ending their attempt to change Union Leave Without Pay (LWOP) rules relating to APWU members taking leave to engage in political activity. The Postal Service initially changed Union LWOP rules in 2017. Their change required APWU members to certify they would not be conducting partisan political activity while taking Union LWOP. The APWU initiated a grievance against these changes in Nov. 2017. After an arbitrator ruled in our favor, the USPS attempted to overturn the decision in federal court, and their case was voluntarily dismissed earlier this year. Management’s notice to President Dimondstein certifies that their attempt to change Union LWOP rules has ended.

“This is a great win for the APWU,” said Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman. “Even after an arbitrator overturned their changes, the Postal Service insisted on carrying out a lawsuit in an attempt to force their way. We are glad this lawsuit was dismissed and APWU members can continue engaging in partisan political activity while on leave without pay, a right we have earned.”

“It is the right of everyone to participate in the political process if they wish,” said President Dimondstein. “There was no question the union was going to stand up and fight back against this rule change. I want to thank Director Zimmerman, Legislative & Political Director Judy Beard, our attorneys and staff whose hard work led to this victory.”