All News

Fighting Privatization

Thu, 01/26/2017 - 2:05pm

Many on Wall Street and in Congress are eager to dismantle the Postal Service so they can turn over the profitable pieces to their cronies in private industry. And they are willing to undermine universal service to the American people to make it happen.

Unfortunately, the top leadership of the USPS has aided and abetted the privatization efforts. Examples abound:

 

  • USPS management has proposed wholesale subcontracting of Motor Vehicle Services;
  • Postal managers continually seek to outsource Maintenance Crafts duties and Support Services functions.
  • The USPS closed 140 mail processing centers in 2012. Although there is a moratorium on consolidations, they end very soon, in April 2017.
  • Postal management lowered service standards in 2012 and 2015 – virtually eliminating overnight delivery of first-class mail and periodicals and slowing down mail delivery on all classes of mail throughout the country. 
  • APWU activists and allies put an end to the deal between the Postal Service and Staples, but post offices are still constantly threatened by Approved Shipper Programs, which outsource postal work into private retailers.

Volunteer and Vote

Mon, 10/31/2016 - 2:33pm

We are 8 days away from the election. I highly encourage you to join your union brothers and sisters who are already volunteering to get out the vote. The more volunteers we have on the ground, the better chance Labor has to win.

Click here to learn more and sign up for different activities and events in your area.

Most importantly, make sure you get out and VOTE! Early voting has started in most states across the country. You might have to wait till November 8!

For more information, please visit APWU.org.

In Union Solidarity,

Mark Dimondstein, President

 

1300 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 | www.apwu.org

2016 APWU National Convention Notes (Final)‏

Mon, 08/29/2016 - 2:09pm

From: SWoodFla@aol.com
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:32:24 -0400
Subject: 2016 APWU National Convention Notes (Final)
To: swoodfla@aol.com
 

Thanks to all who have responded to my 2016 APWU Convention Update e-mails. I have tried to do the best job that I can in summarizing the 2016 APWU National Convention. While I do not claim that my notes are perfect or totally complete, I did work hard to make them as accurate and with as much information as I possibly could.
I hope this information helps both those who did/didn't attend the APWU National Convention and understand the important the delegates perform.
 
Thanks to my local delegates Dan Gray, Jamie Robertson, Danny Carinci and Dave Grant for assisting me. I am honored to be surrounded by a Southwest Florida Area Local APWU team that is both supportive and strong. Thanks again to all who have supported the SWFAL-APWU in the past on our local's fight in the Federal Court System. We will likely be headed back to Federal Court in the coming months to fight for our work back in Southwest Florida along with an additional 10+ years of back pay. Our Members Matter!
 
Please understand that no matter how small or large your local is, Everyone can make a difference. Don't just say your fighting back, DO IT! You can make a difference for your membership. We in Southwest Florida were told we "Could not Win", However, WE DID AND YOU CAN TOO!
 
 On a personal note thanks to Cincinnati Region NBA Randy Downard for supplying me with a much needed "Union Made" pens to take notes during this APWU National Convention, that also came with light that annoyed my local delegates. Haha
 
2016 APWU NATIONAL CONVENTION NOTES:
 
NOTE: I apologize in advance for any errors in spelling, content or any absence of debated items. 
 
Thanks to Brother Vince Tarducci out of Philadelphia for reminding me and sending the following information to put out on how APWU Members should act to address TPP.
No more anti-worker trade deals. 
Call the White House Hot Line and make our representatives accountable. 
The lame duck session should NOT address this TPP issue.
Send it to anyone who believes in our plight.
Call (202) 456-1111

 

Lates Contract Update !!!!!!

Thu, 06/30/2016 - 2:11pm

 

Update

Contract Arbitration Decision Expected Soon

WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
134-2016

06/30/2016 - The APWU expects a decision from Arbitrator Stephen B. Goldberg by mid-July, reports President Mark Dimondstein.

“We had hoped to have a ruling by now, but Arbitrator Goldberg has informed the union and management that he is still working on his decision,” Dimondstein said.

“I know that union members are eager to hear the outcome of our struggle for a good contract – as am I – but we will have to wait a little longer.”

More than three months of negotiations began in February 2015 and were followed by mediation and arbitration hearings.

During 18 days of hearings that focused primarily on the economic provisions on the new contract, the union and management presented their positions, called witnesses, submitted evidence, and offered rebuttals.

The three-member panel of arbitrators began its deliberations on May 4. The panel is comprised of a union-appointed arbitrator, a management-appointed arbitrator, and Neutral Arbitrator Stephen B. Goldberg, who will determine the outcome.

 

PSE Special Enrollment Deadline approaches

Fri, 06/24/2016 - 10:36am

Don’t Forget: 'Stamp Out Hunger' Food Drive is Saturday!‏

Thu, 05/12/2016 - 4:22pm

The 24th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers, is this Saturday, May 14.  

Participation couldn’t be easier. Before your regular mail delivery on Saturday, please leave bags of non-perishable food items by your mailboxes. Letter Carriers will pick up the bags and – with help from other postal employees, retirees and countless volunteers – deliver the bags to local food agencies.

I am urging every APWU member to make a donation, and I encourage those who want to do more to help out with organizational tasks necessary to make the drive a success.

To learn more, visit nalc.org/food and follow the drive on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to use the hashtag #StampOutHunger when talking about the food drive on social media.

In Solidarity,

Mark Dimondstein, President

1300 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 | www.apwu.org

Be Part of the Action!‏

Wed, 02/24/2016 - 7:29pm

Our fight for a good contract entered a new phase last week when the arbitration hearing got underway.

On the first day, I spoke on behalf of all APWU members when I told the panel of arbitrators: Postal workers earn the right to be justly compensated for our service and hard work. To read my full statement, click here.

On the second and third day, 19 workers from the Maintenance, Clerk and Motor Vehicle Crafts testified in vivid detail about the work they do, the responsibilities bestowed on them, and their unwavering commitment to serving postal customers. The testimony was designed to give the arbitration panel an understanding of the complexity of their duties. Click here to read more.

You, too, can be a part of the action, by wearing union gear tomorrow – and every Thursday. Management takes note of how many of us are wearing union T-shirts, stickers, and buttons – and sees it as a sign of our strength.

Please send pictures of you and your co-workers wearing union gear to nccc@apwu.org.

To stay on top of the latest developments, like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/APWUnational, follow us on Twitter @APWUNational, or sign up for text alerts at: www.apwu.org/stay-connected.

Stay strong, keep your heads up, and continue Fighting for Justice!

In Solidarity,

Mark Dimondstein, President 

1300 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 | www.apwu.org

News you need to take on payday lenders and Wall Street‏

Fri, 02/05/2016 - 6:42pm

 

Postal banking continues to be a hot topic! Here's some of the latest news:

Milwaukee Public Radio produced an interesting series on the payday loan industry in Milwaukee, which featured an interview with Katherine Isaac about the Campaign for Postal Banking. Listen to the entire show here.

Senator Bernie Sanders, in a noteworthy speech on Wall Street and the economy, raised postal banking as a viable alternative to big banks which would provide affordable banking options for millions.

Mehrsa Baradaran, author of How the Other Half Banks: Exclusion, Exploitation, and the Threat to Democracy (recently reviewed in The American Prospect), called for the USPS to bring back postal banking in The Nation.

An association of Hawaiian bankers has been warning consumers that if a postal bank were to fail "it will be the taxpayers who will have to bail them out." This warning sounds more than a bit disingenuous coming from the industry that put taxpayers on the hook for a bailout in the amount of over $600 billion.

The Alliance for a Just Society published a report examining debt collectors' abusive and aggressive tactics, and identifying the worst offenders in the industry.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA), a member of the Campaign for Postal Banking, launched a new campaign to "Take on Wall Street." In their inaugural townhall call, CWA President Chris Shelton and Senator Elizabeth Warren both spoke on the need for postal banking as part of a comprehensive plan to build an economy that works for the public, not Wall Street.

David Williams, the Inspector General of the USPS, oversaw two compelling reports on postal banking which had profound effects on our movement. He has just announced his retirement.

Our mailing address is:
PO Box 34492
Washington, DC 20043-4492
Phone: 202 842-8589
Email: info@campaignforpostalbanking.org
Follow us at @bankpostal

 

Contract Negotiations Update

Wed, 02/03/2016 - 11:43am
Contract Arbitration Begins Feb. 17
 
Message from APWU National President Mark Dimondstein

Attacks Continue... Enough is Enough!‏

Wed, 11/25/2015 - 5:42pm

Brothers and Sisters,

Our economy has swung out of balance because corporate CEOs and wealthy special interests are manipulating the rules in their own favor. Meanwhile, we work longer and longer hours and still struggle to support our families.

Now, these same special interests are attacking our freedom to join together in unions, which will make this out of balance economy even worse. This time, it's through a group called the Center for Individual Rights that is pushing a case through the Supreme Court which could make it harder for working people to speak up together for better wages and benefits.

Please Sign this petition to raise awareness about how wealthy special interests are continuing their attacks on working people.

Giving working people the ability to speak up together through their unions leads to a balanced economy and fair wages for all workers. When we speak up together with one voice we get better pay, better benefits, and ensure a better quality of life for all our families. 

Enough is enough! It’s time to stop attacking working people -- including teachers, librarians, nurses and other public service workers who work to make our communities better. 

Please Sign the petition now.

 Solidarity Works! 

Ted Parsons

Florida AFL-CIO Field Staff

at Palm Beach – Treasure Coast AFL-CIO

Cell: 561-324-6636

tparsons@flaflcio.org

 

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