Hartford Area Local, Allies Rally to Save America’s Postal Service

Members of the Hartford Area Local were joined by labor allies for a rally to Save American’s Postal Service on Oct. 24. 

Lori Pelletier, executive secretary-treasurer of the Connecticut State AFL-CIO; Rene Morissette, president of National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 301; John Olesen, Branch President of LiUNA Local 301; members of the Greater Hartford Labor Council, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) were on hand to help distribute APWU informational flyers to the public, as well as to collect 75 “I Stand with Postal Workers” postcards.

“It was great to have other craft union representatives from within the USPS and different representatives from various labor organizations join in our effort to educate customers on the union’s fight to keep post offices open, expand window hours, shorter wait times in line, prompt mail delivery, enhanced services, such as postal banking, and to keep good union jobs!” said Hartford Area Local President Jan White.

“We are looking forward to rounding up the troops next spring for another customer informational rally,” she added.

In a related development, delegates of the Connecticut State AFL-CIO unanimously adopted the resolution: Supporting the APWU and Its Struggles, Standing Up and Fighting Back at its convention Oct. 29 – 30.

Northeast Regional Coordinator John Dirzius updated attendees on the APWU’s fight for Good Postal Service! Good Jobs! Good Contract!, as well as collecting signatures on “I Stand with Postal Workers” postcards.

“The response from the Sisters and Brothers from labor was outstanding,” Dirzius said.

He also thanked Joan Levy, director of the Connecticut State APWU and Steve Newberg, secretary-treasurer of the Greater Connecticut Area Local “for their hard work and effort in having this important resolution drafted, submitted and adopted as well as for their effort in our postcard campaign.”