I would like to start off by thanking the membership for sending me to the National APWU All-Craft conference in October. The time we get to spend with National Officers in training and meetings at this event is invaluable. It also always seems to reignite the unionism within me and reminds me why I have chosen to serve the membership locally for approximately 15 years now.
Our APWU National officers once again made it clear that Labor as a whole is under attack. Corporate America is going after bargaining unit rights in both the private sector and the public sector. Why you might ask, I say it is greed! As the old adage says, the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. We are seeing this in our own industry. We are currently in binding arbitration in an effort to obtain a fair contract for our members. Like many other corporations the Postal Service wants to slash bargaining unit benefits to include pay, leave, COLA’s and retirement. They also want to increase the complement of our non-career work force. Unfortunately the political climate currently is perfect for attacking unions and workers rights.
All of these burdens are placed solely on the backs of the working class. What has the Postmaster General given up in concessions over the last 10 years? I would say next to nothing. Management claims these changes are needed to make the Postal Service a viable efficient company again. The ironic thing is the more changes management makes the less efficient the operations seem to get. Overtime always seems to increase and the service to the public gets worse.
The one thing I can say with certainty is your Union is up for the fight! Our National officers will continue to use all their resources to fight on behalf of our members and organized labor. Labor has been under attack before and we know how to fight back. With the support of our membership we can overcome all attacks and continue to improve the rights of the working class.
In Solidarity,
Dave Cook
Vice President
