A Woman’s Place is in Her Union.

(This article first appeared in the November/December 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

APWU members from across the country cheered the theme of the 17th Biennial Convention of POWER (Post Office Women for Equal Rights) in Atlanta in August: A Woman’s Place is in Her Union.

The convention’s keynote speaker, Executive Vice President Debby Szeredy, said, “In 1979, approximately 200 APWU women came together in St. Louis, Missouri, with a vision of what women could do within this union. We knew we needed to be seen as equals. We knew we had the abilities to take on leadership positions, but we were limited to secretarial work or being put on the hospitality committee.

“It’s been 36 years of hard work and with all of us standing strong and supporting each other throughout this country, we have made a difference. … Now is the time for each of us to reach out our hand and realize our infinite power in collective action.”

Szeredy urged delegates to mentor other women and build community coalitions to help save the people’s post office. Following her address, Szeredy was presented with the “Glass Ceiling Award” for her election as the first woman Executive Vice President of the APWU, and Aug. 29 was proclaimed “Debby Szeredy Day.”

President Mark Dimondstein told delegates there is a war on workers and women. “Sen. Ted Cruz is leading the fight against Planned Parenthood. This is an attack on working women who do not have access to affordable health care, including cancer screening and family planning,” he said.

He also pointed out that six members of the Walton family, which owns Walmart, have the combined wealth of 40 percent of the people in this country, “yet the minimum wage is at a criminal $7.25 an hour.”

“Justice is not just the four walls we work in,” he said, urging delegates to build unity between the labor movement and the civil rights movement, to fight for women’s rights, and to continue to fight for good postal jobs and benefits.

Workshop instructors shared an abundance of information that participants will be able to put into action in their locals and state organizations on: Dealing with Difficult People; Dressing for Success; Empowering Women; Following the Rules of Order; Heart Disease and Healthy Eating, and Violence Against Women and Girls.  

Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell presented three APWU Awards: The Elizabeth “Liz” Powell Executive Award was presented to Sharyn M. Stone (Central Region Coordinator), the Joyce B. Robinson Leadership Award went to Annette August-Taylor (President, Virginia Postal Workers Union), and the Nilda Chock Pioneer Award was given to Maryann Medina (San Francisco Retiree Chapter). In addition, tribute was paid to Research and Education Director Joyce B. Robinson for her outstanding work and dedication to POWER; the Coordinator’s Award was presented to former Eastern Region POWER Coordinator Alice Lee, and the outgoing POWER Coordinators received awards. Omar M. Gonzalez (Western Region Coordinator) received a plaque in recognition of his many years of outstanding support of the organization.

The newly elected APWU POWER Coordinators are:

Central Region: Charlotte Hiatt, PO Box 18373, 
Indianapolis, IN 46218; Email: chachak@sbcglobal.net

Eastern Region: Michelle Boulware, 12503 Tove Rd., Clinton, MD 20735; Email: michelleh715@hotmail.com

Northeast Region:  Linda Terry, PO Box 10472, Newburgh, NY 12552; Email: Lterry1@hvc.rr.com

Southern Region: Betty James-Leaks, 2928 Trotter Rd., Hopkins, SC 29061; Email: bettywhyaskwhy@aol.com

Western Region: Tracy Blakely, 321 Vintage Glen Ct., Santa Rosa, CA 95403; Email: real1291secretary@att.net

The traditional POWER Convention COPA challenge was on again this year, and the Northeast Region was determined to take home the award. The region contributed a whopping $8,260, leaving the Eastern Region, which had won the four previous awards, in the dust. Other region totals were: Eastern: $5,325; Western: $2,911; Southern, $2,675 and Central: $2,456. Contributions from the sale of T-shirts and other items pushed POWER’s donation to a grand total of $27,140.