Last night, APWU members tuned in to this month’s APWU Live “Open Mic: Ask Us Anything” to hear from APWU President Jonathan Smith, Industrial Relations Director Charlie Cash, and Craft Directors Lamont Brooks (Clerk), Idowu Balogun (Maintenance), Michael Foster (MVS), and Kimberly Mauer (Support Services). The APWU Leadership panel answered questions submitted via audio and video by the membership they represent.
After brief introductions, the panel jumped right into the first question from April Johnson, Philadelphia Area Local 89, who asked what the future of the Postal Service would look like for the younger generation.
“Young members, the union belongs to you as much as anybody else, but only if you go out there and protect it.” President Smith emphasized the importance of young member involvement in APWU at the union hall and at rallies, advocated for the Young Members Committee across all locals, and encouraged participation in APWU programs such as the Leadership Institute.
When asked how to build union unity amid individual concerns, President Smith highlighted past wins, such as the no-layoff clause and the 50-mile limit on excessing, which fostered team building and boosted morale. While members now seem to focus solely on money, he reiterated that job conditions, worker solidarity, and holding management accountable are just as important.
Many members were concerned about the future of the Postal Service, amid attacks from the current administration. Industrial Relations Director Cash assured the membership that fighting back is possible at the grassroots level. He encouraged the membership to spread the word about the Postal Service and its importance in our communities: the medications we deliver, our service to veterans, and fulfilling our universal service obligations to every address in the U.S. President Smith touched on the importance of donating to COPA, our Committee on Political Action fund. Funding COPA helps ensure APWU supports candidates who care about postal issues and can fight for us on Capitol Hill.
The Craft Directors spoke on issues relevant to their individual crafts, such as clerk position duty assignments, job opportunities for Maintenance Mechanics, and the MVS pilot program.
The stream concluded with a call for solidarity among our postal union siblings, NALC, Mailhandlers, and Rural Carriers.
The full stream is available to watch below.
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