Get to Know the AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: American Postal Workers Union
Get to Know the AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: American Postal Workers Union
This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered all 63 of our affiliates. Next up is the American Postal Workers Union (APWU).
Name of Union: American Postal Workers UnionMission: Through collective bargaining, legislative action, and mobilization of members and the public, APWU fights for dignity and respect on the job for postal workers throughout the postal industry—for decent pay and benefits and safe working places, for defense of the right of the people to public postal services, and for solidarity with all workers, at home and abroad.Current Leadership of Union: Mark Dimondstein was elected president of APWU in 2013 and is serving his fourth three-year term. He began his postal career in 1983. In 1986, he was elected to the first of six consecutive terms as president of the Greater Greensboro (N.C.) Area Local. Beginning in 2000, he served as APWU’s national lead field organizer. He won AFL-CIO’s Southern Organizer of the Year Award in 2001. Debby Szeredy serves as APWU’s executive vice president, and Elizabeth “Liz” Powell serves as secretary-treasurer.Current Number of Members: 222,000Members Work As: Postal clerks with more than 170 different position descriptions and can be found performing work at retail windows, mail processing, call centers, bulk mail entry, sales retention, and administrative office environments; maintenance; motor vehicle service craft workers who transport mail and maintain postal vehicles; and support services members at information technology/ accounting service centers, operating services facilities, mail equipment shops and material distribution centers; professional nurses employed by the Postal Service; private sector workers including mail haul drivers and mail transport equipment service center employees.Industries Represented: Members are active and retired workers for the USPS, as well as private-sector workers employed in the mailing industry.History: The American Postal Workers Union was founded on July 1, 1971, when five postal unions merged after the Great Postal Strike in 1970. The two largest unions involved in the merger were the United Federation of Postal Clerks—which represented employees who “worked the windows” at post offices and workers who sorted and processed mail—and the National Postal Union—who represented postal workers in multiple crafts. The National Association of Post Office and General Service Maintenance Employees, the National Federation of Motor Vehicle Employees and the National Association of Special Delivery Messengers were the other three unions who merged to create the APWU.Before the Great Postal Strike, early postal unions essentially had no collective bargaining rights, with wage increases dependent on the whims of Congress, i.e. “collective begging.” As a result, postal workers were chronically underpaid, barely making enough to make ends meet.Workers grew increasingly frustrated with Congress’ inaction, and on March 18, 1970, thousands of New York City postal workers walked off the job in protest, starting the Great Postal Strike. During the strike, mail service ground to a halt, and the plight of postal workers was brought to the public’s attention. The strike was soon settled, with Congress approving a 6% wage increase and other gains for postal workers.The strike motivated the enactment of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which granted unions the right to negotiate with management over their wages, benefits, and working conditions.Since that first contract almost 50 years ago, the APWU has fought for dignity and respect on the job for the workers they represent, as well as decent pay and benefits and safe working conditions. As a result, the postal unions have achieved unprecedented job security provisions.Current Campaigns: APWU is a partner in U.S. Mail Not for Sale, a worker-led campaign that brings together labor unions, elected officials, member organizations of A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service, community supporters, and the public to fight plans to sell the public Postal Service to the highest bidder. APWU is also a partner in A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service that fights back against efforts to dismantle the USPS. APWU has many current campaigns to protect the workers and customers of the USPS, including fighting: against privatization, to build union power, for a fair and decent contract protecting their entire bargaining unit, to save the post office, and to promote safe postal jobs. APWU is also pushing for postal banking as a way to expand basic financial services to those whose needs are unmet by the corporate-dominated financial sector and protect them from the predatory payday loan and check-cashing industry.Community Efforts: The American Postal Workers Accident Benefit Association provides insurance and pays benefits to postal workers and their families in the case of accidental death or disability. The E.C. Hallbeck scholarship provides educational benefits for children of APWU members, while the vocational scholarship program helps the children of APWU members pursue trade, technical, vocational, or industrial occupations. The Postal Employees Relief Fund helps postal workers and their families recover from natural disasters and house fires. The APWU sells branded merchandise in their online store.Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 05/12/2025 – 13:02
History Segment:”Fire & Steel: The Story of the BMWED”
The Human Rights and Diversity Commission, in conjunction with the Teamsters History Project, welcomes the next segment of monthly history programs based on Teamsters, the labor movement, and the diversity within our union. These programs are designed to look at a wide variety of aspects in our shared past, including events in Black, Women’s, Indigenous, […]
Read More....Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States.
Here are the union members we’ve featured so far this month:Angie NguyenIli MeaoliKristy PhamKevin AncongDr. Amanda LoweryDoug FulpMabel WongCheck back throughout the month for more.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 05/12/2025 – 09:33
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Mabel Wong
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Mabel Wong
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today’s profile is Mabel Wong of OPEIU.
Mabel Wong, a member of Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 153, has worked at Seton Hall University’s library for 36 years, providing services to the university and global communities via the interlibrary loan program. “Being a union member provides a collective voice to fight against discrimination and harassment, for fair wages and benefits, and safe working conditions.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 05/12/2025 – 09:23
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Push Back Against Proposed Elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Push Back Against Proposed Elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition within the Department for Professional Employees (DPE) released a statement on Wednesday condemning the Trump administration’s budget proposal calling for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).The coalition is made up of 12 national unions that represent workers in the arts, entertainment, and media industries, and is led by DPE. Trump’s 2026 budget request calls for the wholesale elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB, as well as other federal and regional cultural agencies.“Unions are prepared to fight back again against efforts to eliminate the NEA, NEH, and CPB,” said the AEMI coalition. “Nonprofit arts, humanities, and public media enjoy broad, bipartisan public support because they power local economies in every state and expand access to quality artistic and educational content across communities….Private money cannot fully replace federal funding. Eliminating the NEA, NEH, or CPB will lead to the loss of good, middle-class jobs.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 05/12/2025 – 09:13
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Doug Fulp
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Doug Fulp
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today’s profile is Doug Fulp of HFIU.
Doug Fulp, business manager of Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU) Local 132 in Hawaii, has been a steadfast advocate for fair wages, solid pensions and dependable health care for all members. His unwavering commitment to standing up for the “small guys” across the islands has made a lasting impact for working families.
Kenneth Quinnell
Sun, 05/11/2025 – 09:46
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Dr. Amanda Lowrey
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Dr. Amanda Lowrey
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today’s profile is Dr. Amanda Lowrey of AFSCME.
Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA/AFSCME) member Dr. Amanda R.K. Lowrey has been working in food safety in Honolulu since December 2009. Dedicated to protecting the community from foodborne illnesses and conserving Hawaii’s fragile ecosystems, Lowrey’s work has helped to revive the state’s local shellfish industry.
Kenneth Quinnell
Sat, 05/10/2025 – 09:46
Protect Our Pensions: Fight Back Against Proposed Retirement Cuts Webinar
On Tuesday, May 13 at 7PM ET, join APWU for a Legislative webinar titled, Protect Our Pensions: Fight Back Against Proposed Retirement Cuts where we will explain the devastating impacts of these cuts and how we are fighting back.
May 13, 2025 – 7:00PM to 8:00PMVirtual via ZoomNationalNoNo2025-05-14 00:00:00https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TS54LXXqQHaMS0NDxN0-ZgProtect Our Pensions: Fight Back Against Proposed Retirement Cuts WebinarClick here to register.
For more ways you can take action, dial 844-402-1001 or visit apwu.org/call to urge your House Representative to oppose any cuts to postal and federal pensions.
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February Contract Negotiations Update
February 13, 2025The difficult battle for a new APWU contract covering the wages, benefits, and rights of 200,000 postal workers continues. This current round of bargaining has a new and complicated ingredient: during the APWU’s ongoing negotiations with the Postal Service, the NALC reached a tentative agreement for their new contract in November 2024.
Contract Negotiations
The difficult battle for a new APWU contract covering the wages, benefits, and rights of 200,000 postal workers continues. This current round of bargaining has a new and complicated ingredient: during the APWU’s ongoing negotiations with the Postal Service, the NALC reached a tentative agreement for their new contract in November 2024. In January, the NALC completed the contract ratifi cation process, and the members soundly rejected their negotiated tentative agreement. As of today, Feb. 13, 2025, it appears they will likely move to interest arbitration to determine the terms of their new contract. Postal workers are weakened by the fact that the four postal unions negotiate separately. We do not have one postal union dealing with one postal management, nor do we jointly bargain together during negotiations. The APWU is actively pursuing our two-pronged strategy: keep meeting at the negotiating table to reach a new voluntary agreement, while also moving forward towards interest arbitration. Interest arbitration means that a neutral, third-party arbitrator will make the fi nal and binding decision on a new contract, including our wages and benefi ts, after a series of hearings and presentations. “While we are doing everything in our power to reach a voluntary agreement that rewards our members for their dedication and hard work, given the progress of negotiations, it is likely we will soon declare an impasse and head into interest arbitration. Stay tuned!” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. We will continue to provide regular updates on the status of APWU negotiations on apwu.org, and through news bulletins, emails, text, social media, videos, and podcasts. In the meantime, stay union strong! Wear your union gear, join contract rallies, and build union power by signing up non-members. Send management, and any arbitrator, the message that we are indeed united in our demands for a good new contract. “Union Proud, Say it Loud!”
The difficult battle for a new APWU contract covering the wages, benefits, and rights of 200,000 postal workers continues. This current round of bargaining has a new and complicated ingredient: during the APWU’s ongoing negotiations with the Postal Service, the NALC reached a tentative agreement for their new contract in November 2024.0
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Teamsters Strike Keurig Dr Pepper
(VICTORVILLE, Calif.) – Members of Teamsters Local 896 at Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) in Victorville have been forced to strike over unfair labor practices (ULPs). Over 150 workers are fighting for better wages, a stronger pension, and to recoup an unpaid arbitration award. “KDP was ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars last year […]
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