More than 60 National Groups Launch ‘A Grand Alliance’ to Save Our Public Postal Service

On Feb. 12, 2015, more than 60 national organizations joined forces to launch A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service. The debut of the Alliance included the premiere of a video featuring actor-activist Danny Glover, the creation of a new website, a press conference, and many messages on social media.

Included among the 64 national organizations are the National Council of Churches, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Alliance for Retired Americans, Greenpeace USA, Vote Vets Action Fund, and the AFL-CIO.

In the Works
The formation of the alliance has been in the works for months, and has been the vision of APWU President Mark Dimondstein from the beginning of his term in office. At his installation speech before more than 1,000 union members in November 2013, Dimondstein called for a grand alliance to save the public Postal Service and protect postal jobs. “Writing to Congress is important,” he said, “but it’s not enough. Lobbying for legislation is important, but it’s not enough.” To succeed, he said, postal workers must build a movement. 

In his July 2014 State of the Union address at the 22nd APWU National Convention, Dimondstein urged delegates to unite with postal workers’ allies – seniors, retirees, veterans, students, civil rights organizations, faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations and the labor movement. 

“It’s hard to kill a service the people support,” he said. “Building the grand alliance is the only way we will ensure that a vibrant, public Postal Service exists for many years to come.” 

The Members Speak
The convention delegates responded by adopting Resolution 219, “Build A Grand Alliance Between The People of the Country and Postal Workers,” which was submitted by the Dallas Area Local. It said, “Resolved: That the APWU build a Grand Alliance between the people of this country and postal workers, and that the APWU commit to mobilize our allies and their organizations in defense of Americans’ rights to vibrant public postal services.” 

Beginning soon after the convention, union officers contacted dozens of organizations to make the case that their participation was essential to ensure that a public postal service would survive and thrive. Dimondstein and other top officers of the APWU, the labor movement, and other groups met face-to-face with the heads of many national organizations and through those combined efforts the Alliance was born.

What Next?
“Now the work begins,” Dimondstein said. “Each of us should do what we can to get our co-workers, friends, neighbors and family members to support these efforts. Please share the Danny Glover video, visit the Alliance website, sign the pledge, and to get ready to do all that is necessary to realize our goal of protecting and enhancing vibrant public postal services now – and for many generations to come.”

The video can be seen  on the Alliance website at www.AGrandAlliance.org or at http://bit.ly/1KMXROw.