The challenges continue in 2014

Recently the Senate committee with oversight over the Postal Service met and debated amendants to a postal bill that all four postal unions oppose. This bill S. 1486 would destroy the Postal Service and there would no longer be a vibrant postal service for the American people.  Many postal facilities across the country have merged causing disruption in the lives of many postal employees and the American people.  Recently the postal service announced that there is a company that has agreed to sell postal products with non-union/non-postal employees.  This is just the beginning of the postal service trying to do away with union employees and become privatized.  The postal service is a huge undertaking for any company to privatize and it will be a slow process.  We have witnessed so many changes now that are leading in that direction. As a union, our national officers are making every attempt to keep the postal service a great institution for the American people.  The union does not want to see the public loose the door to door delivery which many Americans depend on.  To receive your mail daily is a great pleasure when you are waiting for your monthly check, medicine or special item you ordered through the mail.  Our military who are away from family and friends proudly wait for that package from loved ones. Congressional members want the Postal Service to be privatized for the benefit of private companies not for the benefit of the American people.  The average American who depends on their medication, their monthly retirement check to be delivered to their door will suffer if this privatization process becomes reality.  The door to door service in many rural areas will come to an end because it would not be profitable for the company.  The six day delivery may be a thing of the past.  These are just a few examples of what could happen if the postal service were privatized and if bill S. 1486 were passed. APWU is doing everything possible to keep the Postal Service as it is meant to be - a public service to the American people. I ask that you go to the Congressional Information Center in the left-hand column, click Issues & Legislation,  a letter has been prepared for you to ask your senator to oppose bill S. 1486. Just a few minutes of your time can help save the Postal Service.

APWU will continue the fight not only at the national and state level but here at the local level as well.  Management continues to violate the contract and we will continue to file the grievances when we are made aware of such violations.  The union has fought over the years for postal employees to have rights in the workplace and you have to exercise your rights, do not sit and be silent when you see violations take place.  Contact your union steward as soon as possible so an investigation can take place to see if there has been a contractual violation.  APWU will continue to take a stand and fight for your rights in 2014.