Jonathan Smith

Jonathan Smith is President of the American Postal Workers Union, which represents more than 200,000 employees of the U.S. Postal Service and workers in the private-sector mailing industry. He began his three-year term in November 2025.

Smith began his postal career in 1988 and immediately joined the APWU. Jonathan has served as an APWU representative since 1998, including as president of the APWU’s largest local, the New York Metro Area Postal Union, from 2012 until he was elected APWU national president in 2025.

A lifelong advocate for workers and progressive causes, under his leadership as President of NY Metro, they endorsed labor-friendly candidates, reflecting his deep commitment to progressive politics and the broader labor movement.

Jonathan was a member of the NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO Executive Board, which represents 1.2 million members, deepening ties between postal workers and the broader labor movement.

Jonathan’s conviction for the labor movement led him to turn the NY Metro Area Postal Union’s building into the House of Labor, where only labor organizations in NYC are located.

Jonathan believes an educated membership is a strong membership. Again, under his leadership at NY Metro, they created the Josie McMillian Training and Conference Center, a state-of-the-art training center named in honor of the former president of NY Metro.

Smith’s leadership has been forged through defining moments in New York City history. He worked through the September 11 attacks, helping locate members and assisting in recovery efforts. He fought to keep mail moving during Superstorm Sandy. When COVID-19 hit — striking New York City harder than anywhere else in the nation — he led the fight to win critical workplace protections for the members.

His tenure as local president produced lasting gains: increased staffing in postal facilities, the piloting of postal banking at select New York City postal installations, and a successful effort to block the appointment of Ron Bloom to the USPS Board of Governors.

As national president, Smith has pledged an assertive stance against privatization, post office closures, and other threats to the public Postal Service, with collective action and solidarity at the center of the union’s strategy.