Long Island Postal Workers Organize Spirited Response to Attempted Assault by Manager

Members of the Long Island Area Local led a spirited protest on July 12 after management failed to take action against a USPS Labor Relations Specialist who attempted to physically assault the local’s vice president.

Around 250 attendees braved the 95-degree heat, including many from other APWU locals, the New York Labor Federation, sister unions, and allied organizations. The loud, animated rally received extensive press coverage, reflecting the seriousness of the incident.

Video: ABC News Video of the APWU Protest on Long Island

More than 100 members of the Long Island Area Local were joined by members of the New York Metro Area Postal Union, the Brooklyn Local, the Southern NY Area Local, the Western Nassau Area Local, the Rockville Centre Local, and the Flushing Local, challenged the management abuse at the rally. They held signs in front of the Long Island P&DC, in Melville, NY that read “zero tolerance means all employees” and “Postal Workers Demand Dignity and Respect”. Tiffany Foster, the Northeast Regional Coordinator, and National Business Agents, Peter Coradi, Liz Swigert, and Rick White, also participated in the rally.

It comes as APWU state and local organizations continue the campaign for Dignity & Respect, launched on the April 28 National Day of Action, that calls on management to put an end to their hostile work environments once and for all!

“On May 5, 2023, a Labor Relations Specialist from the New York-2 District physically lunged at me with her hand raised to hit me," said Long Island Area Local Vice President Michelle Nadeau. "The United States Postal Service has a zero-tolerance policy. They do not treat managers the same way as they do postal employees."

The Postal Service has failed to take any disciplinary action at either the Area or the District level in the two months that have passed since the incident occurred.

"We are here to send management in the New York Postal District Number 2, here on Long Island, a clear message that the zero-tolerance policy throughout the postal service not only pertains to craft union members, it pertains to management too," said Long Island NY Area Local President Peter Furgiuele.

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Northeast Regional Coordinator, Tiffany Foster, who attended Wednesday’s protest on Long Island, said "We are dedicated essential workers. We deliver the mail every day. We work the windows; we want to provide a service. And all we want is dignity and respect in doing that."

The incident on Long Island continues to highlight the widespread issue of toxic work environments, and a lack of dignity and respect for postal workers, at the Postal Service. Managers continue to engage in a confrontational approach that not only creates these hostile environments, but also creates high turnover rates across the country, especially among new hires.

Peter Coradi, National Business Agent, New York Region, who helped organize the action, said:

"We want our workers to be treated fairly, with respect and dignity. Nobody should have to come to work and get screamed at, cursed at."

“Hats-off to the Long Island Area Local and the many area, national, and local leaders, activists and members who stood tall in defense of their union leaders and the physical targeting of their elected local vice president,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “The APWU will keep pressing forward to end the far-too-prevalent hostile work environment and the outrageous double standard where the USPS top brass refuses to discipline out-of-line managers, even when they engage in physical threats.”

For more information on the APWU’s campaign for Dignity & Respect, visit: apwu.org/respect