APWU POWER: The Women’s Committee Within Our Union

APWU Post Office Women for Equal Rights (POWER) is the women’s committee within our union. POWER was founded in St. Louis, MO on April 28, 1979 and incorporated into the APWU National Constitution, (Article 13, Section 7), in Detroit, MI in August 1980. The APWU POWER Steering Committee consists of five coordinators, one from each region, who are elected during the Biennial National Convention and assist POWER committees at the local and state levels.

Why APWU POWER Is Still Necessary

In the United States, women make up nearly 47% of the workforce and hold approximately 45% of jobs at the USPS. Although women make up a larger percentage of the APWU membership, and thus pay more dues than men, they hold fewer elected offices at the local, state, and national levels. There are only 28 national officers that are women, compared to 55 that are men.

APWU POWER has assisted women in obtaining the knowledge and skills needed to level the playing field in our union and has opened doors to opportunities for women 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, contributing over $200,000 to the APWU’s non-partisan Committee on Political Action (COPA) fund to assist in protecting employment benefits, improving working conditions, and ensuring job security.

What About Community Involvement?

APWU POWER’s involvement in community activities includes:

• Adopting postal union families left unhoused due to natural disasters.
• Making annual monetary contributions to domestic violence agencies.
• Contributing gift bags to the female troops, unable to travel home for the holidays.
• Providing coats and clothing to the unhoused.
• Donating books, toiletries, and more to schools, homeless shelters, and senior citizens.
• Contributing to the Postal Employees Relief Fund (PERF) to aid postal families who are victims of natural disasters.

APWU POWER ‘Sisters Helping Sisters’ Fund

APWU POWER’s “Sisters Helping Sisters Fund” was established in 2005 to help women and children who were left unhoused following Hurricane Katrina. It was expanded in 2006 to give hope and encouragement to women and children fleeing domestic violence. Since its inception, the fund has donated over $100,000 to families, charities, and domestic violence agencies, including $25,000 to PERF. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, make checks payable to “Sisters Helping Sisters” and mail them to Joyce B. Robinson, Director Research and Education, 1300 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.

Attend APWU POWER 22nd Biennial National Convention

When: Arrive at the hotel on Wednesday, August 6. Workshops begin on Thursday, August 7. There is no convention on Sunday.

Where: Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, 811 7th Ave. 53rd St., New York, NY.

Call 1-888-627-7067 before the cut-off date of Friday, July 11, 2025, to secure the negotiated rate of $237 per night (single/double occupancy), plus 14.75% room tax, plus $3.50 per room night occupancy tax. Identify yourself as attending the POWER Convention.

Register Online: Delegates must register online at APWU POWER 22nd Biennial National Convention. The registration fee is $150.00 for delegates and guests and includes an Installation Dinner ticket and a T-shirt. To register a guest, contact Joyce B. Robinson at (202) 842-4225, prior to the Friday, July 25, 2025 deadline. The guest must attend with an APWU member.

For additional information, contact the Research and Education Department at (202) 842-4225.