e-Team Report, Dec. 13, 2013

Dear APWU e-Team Activists:

Two days ago you received an email from me about the congressional budget deal that was announced on Dec. 11. The email asked you to contact your local AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and veterans groups to organize protests against the proposed deal. After discussion with President Dimondstein my call for protests was premature.

The APWU is already on record vigorously opposing aspects of the deal: Future postal and federal workers will be forced to pay more toward their retirement, cost-of-living adjustments for retired military veterans will be limited, and unemployment insurance won’t be extended.  We also condemn Congress’ failure to make corporations and wealthy individuals pay their fair share while they cut workers’ wages and benefits. These are things we will work to fix.

Next week, on Dec. 18, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider S. 1486, a bill that threatens to destroy our healthcare and retirement benefits while  allowing the USPS to reduce delivery standards, close hundreds of mail processing facilities, and shut thousands of post offices.

We will keep you informed of developments and focus our calls for action, if necessary, on defeating this disastrous bill.

John Marcotte
Legislative/Political Director