Excitement Builds as National Convention Nears

As the start of the APWU 22^nd Biennial Convention nears, anticipation for the big event is building. As of the second week in July, more than 2,000 delegates representing more than 300 locals and state organizations had registered. The convention will take place July 21-25 in Chicago.

This year’s theme, Standing Up – Fighting Back! reflects the union’s new activism and the convention will as well. In addition to the traditional convention events, featured guest speakers scheduled to address delegates include:

Danny Glover, the star of Lethal Weapon and The Color Purple. In addition to his film roles, Glover is well-known for his political activism and humanitarian endeavors. As the son of postal workers, he has a deep appreciation for the important role the Postal Service plays in serving the country and offering good, living-wage jobs to people of many different backgrounds.

Ed Schultz, the MSNBC broadcaster whose speech thrilled delegates when he appeared at the 2012 convention. Schultz is a rarity: an outspoken, consistent advocate for workers on television. He is a true champion of postal workers and the public Postal Service.

Rev. William Barber, the eloquent leader of the Moral Monday movement in North Carolina.  Barber leads protests of thousands and engages in acts of civil disobedience against the state’s Jim Crow-style voter suppression laws, budgets that cuts education, unemployment benefits and other programs that help poor and working-class North Carolinians while granting huge new tax breaks for the wealthy, and more.

Jim Hightower, the national radio commentator, writer, and author of Thieves in High Places: They've Stolen Our Country and It's Time to Take It Back. Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought to Be –working families, consumers, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, whose 56 affiliated unions represent more than 12 million workers. The AFL-CIO's endorsement of the 'Don't Buy Staples' campaign has given a major boost to the boycott campaign.

Others who will address the convention include:

• Fast food workers active in the Fight for 15 and the right to unionize
• Organization United for Respect (OUR) at Walmart
• Workers at New Era Windows and Doors (former Republic Windows and Doors) who took over their plant when they learned it was secretly planning to close
• Chicago Teachers Union, who united with parents to fight cuts in education and for a decent contract
• Leaders of the international and U.S. labor movement, including our sister postal unions
• Elected officials, including Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Of course, there will be plenty of resolutions to consider, as well as pre-convention workshops and conferences.

And the convention wouldn’t be complete without a Stop Staples rally! If you have a Stop Staples T-shirt, be sure to bring it to wear at the convention.