Better Staffing, Better Service

For decades, postal workers have faced a hostile management culture that is made worse by chronic short staffing in our facilities. The APWU leadership has been working hard to get management to address this issue. We connected with the public as short staffing negatively affects the services that we provide and creates a more stressful workplace for our members and all postal workers. To that end we have engaged an “ad hoc” staffing committee that has advised the national leadership and helped propel our “Better Staffing, Better Service” campaign forward. All local and state organizations have now received packets of brochures and public petitions. We are prepared to assist locals and states in this important fight, whether with communications assistance, campaign materials, media help, or advice on appropriate grievances, and other tactics.

While there was considerable progress with a series of Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) regarding Function 1 mail processing staffing, we have not convinced management to increase the complement in retail. Too often this results in temporarily closed post offices due to a lack of proper staffing. Along with all other avenues, we must win the staffing battles in the streets with the support of the public. If you are ready to get more involved in this fight, go to apwu.org/better-postal-staffing. You can also reach out to campaign lead Sam Wood or email staffing@apwu.org. ■