Spreading the Word on the Street
November 1, 2015
(This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
with daughter Mackenzie on a float in the city’s Labor Day Parade.
APWU members have been out and about, spreading the message at parades, picnics, and other festivities: We want what the people want – Good Postal Service! Good Jobs! Good Contract!
Locals across the country attended conferences and community celebrations over the summer and early fall, collecting signatures on “I Stand with Postal Workers” postcards addressed to Postmaster General Megan Brennan. More than 59,000 have been mailed from the union’s national office so far.
Members also distributed brochures that dispel myths about the cause of the Postal Service’s manufactured financial crisis, the threat of privatization, and claims that FedEx and UPS could do what we do.
In addition, APWU members shared information about A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service and encouraged supporters to join.
Locals across the country participated in Labor Day celebrations, and took the opportunity to inform others in the labor movement, parade spectators and picnickers about our fight.
Linda O’Donnell, president of the Greater Oregon Local, staffed a table at the AFL-CIO Central Oregon Labor Chapter picnic, where she collected signatures on the “I Stand with Postal Workers” postcards.
The Seattle Area Local set up shop at the King County Labor Council annual Labor Day picnic, where David Yao, executive vice president of the local, got dozens of postcards signed.
in the city's parade.
The San Francisco Local had a booth at the city’s Labor Day Parade. Besides getting dozens of postcards signed, union members also distributed information about the Stop Staples campaign, said Alan Menjivar.
The Sacramento Area Local handed out flyers and collected signatures on postcards at a booth at the Labor Day Celebration at the River Cats Game, a Triple A baseball team, affiliated with the San Francisco Giants.
Further east, the Des Moines Area Local turned cars into parade floats in the city’s Labor Day Parade. As a sign of solidarity, other unions placed signs on APWU floats and vice versa, reported Local President Mike Bates.
“People along the parade route love postal workers!” he said.
The Omaha Area Local came out strong in the town's parade, hoisting a large balloon float and wearing matching APWU T-shirts.
The Akron Metro Area Local marched in the Barberton, OH, parade, holding Good Postal Service! Good Jobs! Good Contract! posters, as well as Stop Staples signs.
Down south, Mara-Lynn Kontrafouris, president of the North Central Florida Area Local, reported that she and the local’s editor, Phillip Breunig, collected signatures on nearly 200 postcards at a Labor Day Picnic.
In Philadelphia’s Labor Day Parade, members of the American Postal Workers Union, National Postal Mail Handlers Union and National Association of Letter Carriers marched in unison as a sign of solidarity.
The Pittsburgh Metro Area Local marched in the city's local parade, carrying banners, posters and even driving in a Stop Staples campaign-themed car.
In New England, members of the Boston Metro Area Local, attended the Greater Boston AFL-CIO Breakfast – along with President Obama, who addressed the attendees.
Regional Coordinator John Dirzius, National Business Agent Steve Lukosus, and Local President Scott Hoffman also met with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) where they“ had the opportunity to thank her for her continued support of postal banking and the APWU struggles," Dirzius reported.
Wear Union Gear on Thursday!
Union Gear Day is still going strong!
Remember to wear your union T-shirt, button, sticker or armband every Thursday to show management that you support Good Postal Service! Good Jobs! Good Contract!
Be sure to send photos of you and your co-workers to nccc@apwu.org, and be sure to share stories about your experiences with Gear Day.
Fun at 'Fighting Bob Fest'
Members of the Wisconsin State APWU and Madison and Milwaukee Locals hosted a booth at the Fighting Bob Fest on Sept. 19, where thousands gathered to support progressive causes. The festival is named for Robert LaFollette, a former governor and U.S. senator who fought political corruption.
San Jose Leads the Way!
Shown here with Gonzalez and CAT Coordinator Carol Federico.
The San Jose Area Local’s Contract Action Team (CAT) has been leading the way, with creative activities to spread the word about our fight for good contract. CAT members attended the Mexican Independence Day celebration on Sept. 13, where they collected signatures on “I Stand with Postal Workers” postcards.
Later that week, Lowell Elementary School students got a special treat: coloring books filled with fun facts about the Postal Service and how mail is delivered.
The visit was part of the Western Region’s School Community Outreach Program. The students wrote letters home, so they could see their post office in action.
“The letter they write home is short and sweet,” explained Regional Coordinator Omar Gonzalez. “They write a little about what they learned and ask their parent(s) to sign an ‘I Stand with Postal Workers’ postcard. This gives the children an opportunity to educate parents on the APWU’s effort to keep post offices open,” he said.