From the Field

(This article first appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

Below are quotes from various APWU local and state publications throughout the country. All the publications listed are part of the Postal Press Association (PPA). For more information on the PPA, visit apwupostalpress.org or email ppa@apwupostalpress.org.

“I’ve said this before; don’t sit around complaining about what your local isn’t doing. Get involved and attend your local monthly membership meeting. Be a part of the process. That is the only way we are going to grow and indeed be a union united in one accord. Together we are strong, divided we are weak, and management knows it. That is why they try to keep us at odds with one another. It should never be a member against another member, but members against management always. APWU members should always have each others’ backs, always. Let’s go into 2020 with a new attitude: an attitude of teamwork and camaraderie; an attitude of love and compassion for one another and a goal to make the APWU the best union ever. And together WE CAN DO IT.” – James Parker Jr., North Carolina Council APWU Motor Vehicle Craft Director, The Tarheel Postal Worker

“Collectively, each of us who pay dues ARE the union. When I hear or read about people saying things like ‘the union this or the union that’ – it hurts. It makes me feel anything but united. And that is what management wants. If we are not working together, they are winning. When they violate the contract and we pretend that we don’t notice, they are winning. If they have you afraid to write a statement or request a steward, they are winning. Right about now you’re thinking I am one person. What can I do? Well the first thing is changing that way of thinking. You are not one person; you are the union…Brothers and sisters, now is the time. Don’t lie down and get walked on – stand and fight!” — Travis West, Washington APWU District One Representative, Evergreen State Postal Worker

“With all of the bad publicity that we hear and read concerning our USPS, there is some good news to report. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center asked over 2,000 adults what their favorite federal agency was and the United States Postal Service came out on top, with 90% of respondents rating us favorable. That’s right…90%. That is an achievement to get 90% of people to agree on anything but there’s no dispute that we offer the best delivery service in the world. As USPS employees, our problem is we can’t get management to acknowledge how great a job we do. When 90% of people say they love the Postal Service, they’re saying they love the job we do.” – Paul McKenna, APWU of Wisconsin President, The Badger Bulletin

“Drug companies claim they need to raise prices in order to conduct research, etc.; however, the CEOs of drug companies keep getting higher and higher salaries and bonuses, and very little research is done. Insulin has the same formula as when it was initially created, however the price has increased a thousand-fold. People, including children, die every day because they cannot afford prescription drugs. Many states are taking action to lower drug prices but the federal government must take steps to make it possible for Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription drugs. Controls must be put into place to stop the greed and profiteering of drug companies.” – Lola Reed Langford, St. Paul (MN) Area Local Retirees Chapter President, Postmark

“Sticking together will help everyone stay employed and hopefully allow others to benefit from working at the Postal Service in the future. We are lucky to have the jobs we have and a great union to assist us in keeping them. I think it is our duty to help ensure that future generations have the same opportunities we have been given to make a decent wage, have good health care benefits for ourselves and families, and good retirement benefits. Our union is the driving force for all of this so the more we stick together as a united front the better it will be for all.” — Kimberly Sauceda, Manasota (FL) Local Maintenance Steward, Manasota 342 Review