Standing Up and Fighting Back

On behalf of the union officers of the Northeast region, I wish you a happy New Year, filled with peace and fulfillment.

Our current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on May 20, 2015, and in recent months we have been busy preparing for negotiations for the next contract. Negotiations have been difficult since the inception of collective bargaining between the USPS and its postal unions in 1971.

Throughout the 1970s, the APWU bargained with the National Association of Letter Carriers, National Postal Mail Handler’s Union, and National Rural Letter Carriers Association. In 1981 the APWU and NALC formed the Joint Bargaining Committee (JBC) and negotiated together. The JBC negotiated three-year contracts with the USPS in 1981, 1984, and 1987, and a four-year agreement in 1990. Since 1994, however, the APWU has bargained alone.

The APWU has been successful over the years in improving the standard of living of our members and providing real job security. The union has negotiated work rules that bring justice to the postal workplace and a process to resolve our disputes.

There are pros and cons to bargaining with the other postal unions. However, with the recent solidarity that is reflected in the creation of the Postal Union Alliance, joint bargaining would benefit all postal workers. There is little doubt that a united front representing 500,000 postal workers would improve the odds of reaching a negotiated contract. The old management game of playing one union against the other or one union piggybacking on the efforts of another union would be eliminated. We are all postal workers and we all work for the same employer – the USPS.

Unfortunately, with the postal union contracts ending at different times, joint bargaining is not possible. Nevertheless, sharing information and building a united front against management-proposed concessions will no doubt improve negotiations for all the unions. APWU will lead the way, as our bargaining will begin on Feb. 19, 2015.

In accordance with the union constitution, each member of the National Executive Board selects a member to serve on the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee. The union’s National Negotiating Team has full authority to negotiate the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement, but this prestigious committee provides input and must approve any tentative agreement before it can be sent to APWU members for a ratification vote.

This year, the committee includes several outstanding representatives from the Northeast Region. I know them personally and can assure you that they have the best interests of our members at heart. I’m confident they will perform their work above and beyond the call of duty. Serving on the committee from the Northeast Region are: Bob Johnson, president, Greater CT Area Local; Jonathan Smith, president, New York Metro Area Postal Union; Ron Suslak, president, Queens NY Area Local, and Bill Weaver, Motor Vehicle Craft president, Boston MA Metro Area Local.

If the parties fail to reach agreement on a new contract the Postal Reorganization Act provides a process to resolve the dispute in “interest arbitration.” The award of the arbitrator is binding on the parties.

Mobilizing Our Members To Win a Contract

Boycotting Staples - Fighting Privatization - Achieving Postal Banking - Stopping the Consolidations - Saving Service Standards - Fighting For America’s Postal Service - Enacting Postal Reform - Enforcing our Contract - Building the Grand Alliance - and Negotiating a Fair Contract for our members all require one very important element: the active support and involvement of our members.

The strength of any labor union can be measured by the involvement of its members. Letting someone else do it has never been acceptable, and with today’s serious challenges this attitude can no longer be tolerated.

Your involvement in your union must be more than just paying dues and asking your elected officers to resolve your grievance, negotiate your contract, protect your standard of living, and provide you lifetime job security.

Your involvement begins with educating yourself and understanding the important issues that confront us as postal workers. It includes attending union meetings and special events.

It can also include becoming a union steward or a rank-and-file activist. Take on the task of educating your co-workers about our issues, as well as asking them to get involved. Your participation and that of your co-workers makes the real difference in our struggles. Organize around your next union meeting, union rally, or demonstration by attending and taking a few co-workers with you. Ask your co-workers to do the same. Talk with your local union leadership about getting everyone to proudly wear a union T-shirt one day per week. That small gesture sends a message to management that we are union strong and united.

My fellow Regional Coordinators, Sharyn Stone, Omar Gonzalez, Mike Gallagher, and Kennith Beasley, and I ask you to make a New Year’s resolution to Stand up and Fight Back against the forces that seek to destroy the USPS; Stand up and Fight Back against those who attack our standard of living, and demand the elimination of our right to bargain collectively. These forces, whether from within the USPS, corporate America, or Capitol Hill are very real and very dangerous.

The Struggle Continues...but together we can make a real difference.