Over the years, the owners of large corporations in the mailing industry influenced Congress and the USPS to make changes benefiting themselves at the expense of postal workers and the communities we serve.  The large mailers pushed the harmful 2006 legislation that created the false financial crisis at the USPS.

Prior to contract negotiations, the union’s position was that a false crisis existed because of the pre-funding requirement in the 2006 legislation.  During contract negotiations, we had an opportunity to expose corporate influence undermining the USPS and gather public support.  Instead, national officers agreed to real concessions to help the USPS survive the false crisis.

Our current contract has the most substantial givebacks and concessions of any negotiated contract in the history of the APWU.  For example, the USPS can convert full-time jobs to 30-hour NTFT assignments in up to 50% of all Clerk jobs at the plants and in 100% of all Clerk jobs at the stations.  The USPS can have up to 20% of Clerk Craft employees district-wide be non-career employees instead of the previous 6% limit for all crafts.  These and many other concessions are devastating.

Misleadingly, national officers sold the contract as a “win-win” agreement.  Shamefully, not one national officer spoke publicly against the tentative agreement.  The worst negotiated contract in the history of the APWU was not the best we could get.

I have almost 30 years experience as a steward and local president.  I believe our strategy for success is to increase democracy in our union, fight corporate influence on the USPS, gather community support, and coordinate our actions to maximize the power of our great union.  There is strength through democracy.  I request your support and your vote for the Members First Team.   Please visit www.apwumembersfirst.org and www.clintburelson.org for more information.