Every Conversation Counts!

(This article appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)

With over 30,000 postal facilities, and more than 200,000 APWU-represented workers, we have the resources to create a movement strong enough to push back against those who are trying to weaken and destroy the Postal Service, and with that, destroy our livelihoods.

Organizing isn’t a one-time event; it must be a continuous movement powered by our members who understand that our fight is never ending. Organizing is not reserved for some future moment either – every moment is the right moment to organize.

It is important we take the time to spotlight the individuals and locals who are doing the daily, and often unseen, work of building union power. Union organizing doesn’t always look the same. Sometimes it’s a conversation, a letter in the mail, or a powerful message on a bulletin board. No matter what, the mission is the same – building worker power!

The Greater Smokey Mountain Area Local has a new Organization Director, Brian Hodges, and he hit the ground running. Brian reached out to my office for assistance and wasted no time taking the tools and information that we provided, catering them to meet the needs of what he envisioned to build a stronger local. He took the first step to introduce himself to nonmembers and made that personal connection, writing “I am sending this letter to ask you to STAND WITH US and encourage you to join the APWU.” With the support of his Local President Aaron Ward, Brian will be visiting the facilities under the jurisdiction of the local to have conversations with nonmembers and giving them the opportunity to stand with us.

Even in challenging times, union organizing remains essential. Recently, when one local merged into the Central Florida Area Local, Local President Joe Paul made it a priority to reach out to both members and nonmembers, understanding that true strength comes from unity. President Paul recognized the members, expressed appreciation, and shared “why being a union member is not only important but also empowering.” He further stressed that having a strong membership “is not just about what we gain, it is also about what we protect.” He also provided members with resources to help them in the event they have an opportunity to speak with a nonmember.

Those who had yet to make the decision to join, or who may have been members in the past, were also welcomed under the locals’ umbrella. In addition to receiving information about why being a union member is so important, nonmembers were given the opportunity to be a part of something bigger. Each letter was accompanied by a membership application form highlighting the sections that needed to be completed, along with a stamped, pre-addressed envelope for easy return. President Paul stressed the importance of what solidarity means for a local: “With a larger and more unified membership, our voices grow stronger and our power to prevent future issues increases.”

Do you know an individual or a local who should be recognized or highlighted for their organizing efforts? If so, let the Organization Department know. Maybe you know someone (or a local) who is conducting an all-out organizing drive or is actively having one-on-one conversations. Maybe it is someone who helped bring people together or someone who stood up when management tried to silence union talk. Perhaps it is a new member who didn’t come in with experience, but showed up ready to learn, attended training sessions, or volunteered on committees, or it is simply someone who became a voice for coworkers who didn’t think they had one.

The forces that want to divide us are always working, so we must work harder. Keep having those conversations, keep organizing, and keep growing. Because the moment we stop organizing, we start giving up ground. ■