On Opening Day, Wear a Solidarity Sticker
January 22, 2016
APWU members across the country will mark Feb. 17 – the opening day of arbitration for a new contract – with a show of solidarity.
Workers in every craft and every category will wear stickers specially made for the occasion. The stickers bear the slogan, “Opening Day – Fighting for Justice.”
Union members will receive two stickers in the mail – one for themselves and one to share with a co-worker. Local and state presidents will receive some extra stickers too.
stickers on the opening day of arbitration.
Stickers are being mailed to members’ homes.
In arbitration, the APWU seeks to:
- Win fair wage increases;
- Protect cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs);
- Defend the no-layoff clause;
- Win improvements for Postal Support Employees (PSEs) and Part-Time Flexibles;
- Secure more career jobs;
- Redefine “full-time” so that it once again guarantees a 40-hour work week;
- Limit subcontracting, and
- Win better service for our customers.
Management wants to gut the COLA for current workers and is seeking a new tier in the career workforce that would get lower pay; earn no COLAs; have virtually no protection against layoffs, and earn less annual leave and sick leave than current employees.
Because of the complex nature of the case, the hearings are expected to take numerous sessions, which will be scheduled based on the arbitrator’s availability.
Fighting for Justice
“We’ve been preparing for the possibility of arbitration for more than a year – even before negotiations got started,” said President Mark Dimondstein. “We’re ready for the challenge.”
“We’re fighting for justice – for a strong Postal Service for generations to come and economic justice for postal workers and retirees, today and in the future,” he said.
“As we enter the last stage of our contract battle, I urge all union members to show solidarity by wearing the ‘Fighting for Justice’ stickers.”
Telephone Town Hall - Feb. 9
Union members are invited to take part in a live Telephone Town Hall call on Feb. 9 with APWU President Mark Dimondstein for an update on our fight for a good contract.
Two time slots are available: 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. EST. Participants must register online at www.apwu.org/contract-town-hall-call-feb-9 by 6 p.m. EST on Feb. 8. The calls will last approximately 30 minutes.
At the appropriate time, participants will receive a phone call at the number provided during registration. All you have to do is answer your phone!