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Worker Wins: A Great Win for Us and Our Members

Worker Wins: A Great Win for Us and Our Members Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. University System of Maryland Workers Ratify First Systemwide Contract: AFSCME Maryland Council 3 and the University System of Maryland (USM) officially signed the first systemwide union contract Friday after a nearly two-year-long negotiating process. Members voted overwhelmingly to ratify the historic contract in late July and, soon after, the USM Board of Regents also ratified the deal on their end. Highlights of the agreement include an increase to the minimum wage, upward of 5% or more in pay bumps, improved annual leave accrual, workplace privacy protections, new health and safety protocols, and more. This victory also marks a major shift from negotiating individual union contracts for each campus in the USM to having one unified deal that more effectively addresses disparities in pay and working conditions between schools. “This historic accomplishment is many years in the making,” said Patrick Moran, president of Council 3. “And now for the first time, the hardworking staff at these University System of Maryland schools will have a strong union contract that raises the bar across the board when it comes to pay, benefits, and working conditions. Gone are the days of each university trying to divide us because they know we’re stronger when we advocate together.”UFCW Members Reach Agreement with Hanover Foods, Avoid Strike: United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776 avoided a strike last week after ratifying a new contract by a 2-to-1 margin on a new three-year contract with food processing corporation Hanover Foods. The union reached an agreement on Wednesday, after an extended period of negotiations. Since the prior contract expired at the beginning of the year, workers have remained steadfast in their fight for a fair deal, voting twice to unanimously reject proposals from the company that included cuts to benefits and salaries. Because of their unity, members are now celebrating wins like 3%-5% wage increases in the first year of the contract—with up to 5% in the second and third years—additional vacation time for long-term workers and retention of the union’s health care plan. “UFCW 1776 stood together with our members to bring Hanover Foods to the table to negotiate a settlement,” said Wendell Young, president of Local 1776. “This significant achievement wouldn't have been possible without the outstanding dedication and hard work of our member bargaining committee.”Nurse Case Managers at St. Charles’ Four Hospitals Vote to Join Union: Nurse case managers at St. Charles’ hospitals in Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond overwhelmingly voted to join the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)—an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)—last week. The 19 registered nurse (RN) case managers are joining ONA’s bargaining unit at St. Charles Bend, which already represents more than 1,100 front-line nurses at the private, nonprofit health care company's flagship hospital. These workers serve a critical role in their hospitals and in central Oregon’s broader community health. RN case managers partner with patients, family members and caregivers to help them navigate the health care system, coordinate different medical services, take lead in patient education about health management, and provide assistance with follow-up care after discharge. By joining ONA, these new members are aiming to raise health care standards and secure better wages, benefits and working conditions. “We are so happy to have the nurses in case management join the Bend ONA! They are hard-working and dedicated nurses who deserve fair treatment, better wages, benefits, and working conditions,” said Rosa Lasso, chair of ONA’s St. Charles Bend bargaining unit. “We support them completely, and with them, the Bend ONA becomes even better.”Under New Law, Illinois Employers Can’t Force Workers to Sit Through Anti-Union Meetings: This week, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law the Worker Freedom of Speech Act, a bill aimed at curtailing the practice of captive-audience meetings, during the Illinois AFL-CIO’s biennial convention. When the law goes into effect on Jan. 1, it will make the state the eighth to ban mandatory workplace meetings where managers discuss political and religious topics, including union membership. The bill also creates a right of action for individual workers to sue employers if they are punished for refusing to attend these meetings. Staff also can report their employer to the state Department of Labor, which can levy fines of $1,000 per violation. Importantly, the legislation additionally prohibits both state and local governments from ever enacting “right to work” laws, a critical protection for working people. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea, local lawmakers and workers joined Pritzker at the signing to celebrate this milestone. “People go to work to work, not to be indoctrinated,” Drea said in a statement. “Now, workers will not have to choose between their livelihood and personal values when employers use mandatory meetings to advance their political and religious interests.”Prism Reports Staff Organize with Pacific Media Workers Guild: Workers in the nonprofit newsroom Prism Reports announced on Wednesday they are forming a union with Pacific Media Workers Guild, Local 39521 of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA). After 100% of bargaining unit members signed cards in support of joining Prism Workers United, management voluntarily recognized the union. Prism Reports writers, editors, copy editors and social media editors are organizing in order to have a seat at the table and a voice in the conversation at the independent news outlet so they can play a role in shaping what a fair, equitable workplace can look like. “I am unionizing to make sure that Prism continues to be a leader in our industry,” said senior climate features reporter Ray Levy Uyeda. “In a professional field where our jobs are treated like our identities, Prism has always shown that journalism is what we do; people—in all expressions of humanity—are who we are. I’m also excited to unionize to demonstrate solidarity with workers everywhere who know that organizing is how we build toward a liberated future.”TWU Wins Largest Wage Increase for On-Board Workers in Amtrak History: Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 1460 secured the largest wage increase Tuesday for Amtrak workers in the rail service’s 53-year history after on-board service workers overwhelmingly voted to ratify their new contract. The seven-year agreement covers critical Amtrak staff like train attendants and café car workers, the vast majority working on Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor, and was approved with more than 85% of TWU members voting favorably. Wins in the contract include a 34% compounded wage increase over the life of the deal, retroactive back pay, an industry-leading paid parental leave provision, no increases to health care costs, improved bereavement leave and more. When all the wage increases, bonuses and other forms of compensation are calculated together, workers will have received an additional $80,000 at the end of the contract compared to what they were making before the new agreement was ratified. “I think this was a great win for us and our members at Amtrak on-board service,” said Local 1460 President Amy Griffin, who has worked for Amtrak since 1988. “It’s been a long, hard-fought battle, but I know we came out on top. The paid parental leave is phenomenal, and we got a few work rules changed that haven’t been touched in 30-plus years.”Bronx Defenders Union Ratifies Historic Contract: Members of The Bronx Defenders Union–UAW Local 2325 (BxD Union) last week voted to ratify a historic two-year contract with their public defender nonprofit employer, one month and a day after workers voted for strike authorization. There were 92% of BxD Union members who participated in the ratification vote, with a resounding 91% of those members voting to approve the new contract. The old agreement expired at the beginning of July after months of management stonewalling negotiations with staff. This new contract victory agreement was secured just days before a strike deadline, in which BxD Union’s Collective Bargaining Committee had authorized an unlimited strike based on a number of unfair labor practices, including retaliation, unilaterally changing employment terms and more. Wins include 8%–10% salary increases for Bronx Defenders workers—formerly the lowest-paid public defenders in New York City—and other hard-fought provisions like free speech protections. Additionally, the deal includes a one-year salary reopener with a right to strike and an expiration date that aligns with Association of Legal Aid Attorneys–UAW Local 2325 contracts at Brooklyn Defender Services and Neighborhood Defender Services, queuing up some 800 workers to strike in 2026. “It took each and every worker to make this contract possible, and we salute the BxD Union membership for their tireless advocacy in defense of the Bronx,” said Babatunde Aremu, chapter chair of BxD Union. “We look forward to joining sectoral bargaining negotiations with our fellow New York City legal services workers in both 2025 and 2026 as we aim to make the City more equitable and just for all New Yorkers.”South Florida Sun Sentinel Workers Win Union Election by Unanimous Landslide: A supermajority of workers at the South Florida Sun Sentinel voted to form a union Monday with The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA). Journalists announced their intention to organize earlier this month so that they can better protect their own rights and ensure their community’s access to quality local journalism. The news outlet is owned by hedge fund Alden Global Capital, which purchased parent company Tribune Publishing in 2021. Alden has an established reputation for decimating small newsrooms, slashing jobs and cutting costs to increase returns for its stockholders. Over the past several years, staff at the South Florida Sun Sentinel have continued to deliver powerful, award-winning journalism despite attacks on their wages and benefits. Now that members of the Sun Sentinel Guild have proved their solidarity with one another, they’re ready to join together to secure workplace transparency, better pay and benefits, job security, better work-life balance and more. “This is a historic day at the Sun Sentinel,” said veteran education reporter Scott Travis. “For years, we have suffered layoffs, the loss of a 401K match and even pay cuts during the pandemic. Before, we just had to accept it without a fight. Now our hard-working journalists will finally have a seat at the table to negotiate a better future.”ATU Members in Lewiston–Auburn Reach Tentative Agreement on New Contract: Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 714 members who work as drivers for the Citylink transit service in Maine reached a tentative agreement (TA) late Friday after they held a powerful rally that morning outside a Western Maine Transportation Services (WMTS) facility. Citylink, which is operated by WMTS, is a bus line that connects the towns of Auburn and Lewiston. Drivers for this service formed a union with ATU in November 2023, but reported that since then, management had refused to budge on worker wages, which are below those of drivers in similarly sized communities. So, the union organized a rally Friday morning to put pressure on WMTS to settle a fair contract with better wages, improved benefits and a more reliable transit system for our riders. That same day, Local 714 announced it had reached a strong deal with management that included an increase of more than $3 per hour over the next three years.Maryland Apple Retail Store Workers Reach Historic Tentative Agreement: The International Association of Machinists’ (IAM’s) Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) made history on Friday as it reached a tentative agreement (TA) with Apple. In 2022, retail workers at the Towson, Maryland, Apple location were the first in the country to form a union, and IAM CORE has been negotiating with the tech giant since January 2023. The new three-year contract includes wins like an average raise of 10% over the life of the contract, increases in starting pay for 80% of job classifications, a fair and clear disciplinary process, better work-life balance and more. “From the beginning, IAM CORE’s mission has been to improve Apple for our employees, customers and communities,” said the IAM CORE Negotiating Committee. “By reaching a tentative agreement with Apple, we are giving our members a voice in their futures and a strong first step toward further gains. Together, we can build on this success in store after store and grow the power IAM CORE has started here in Maryland.”Saint Louis University Hospital Nurses Ratify New Contract: After more than a year of negotiations and two strikes, Saint Louis University Hospital (SLUH) nurses overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract on Saturday. SLUH nurses have been represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) since 2012. Members have proved their commitment to securing a fair contract for more than a year, staging informational pickets as well as work stoppages. And that unity has paid off in this new agreement. Contract victories include critical safe staffing provisions that protect both nurses and patients, retention of their current health care plan, wage increases that average 17%, provisions that address workplace violence and more. “This new contract is a huge win for patients and nurses,” said Earline Shepard, an RN in the cardiac catheterization lab. “It was a long time coming but we finally won an agreement that will let us recruit and retain experienced nurses. With improved staffing, we can give our patients the care they deserve.”Gate Gourmet’s Airline Catering Workers Reach TA, Averting Strike: More than 8,000 airline catering workers employed by catering subcontractor Gate Gourmet at 30 airports have a new tentative agreement (TA) that was reached late Friday night, averting a potential strike that could have kicked off as soon as July 30. These workers are represented by a coalition of labor unions—including UNITE HERE; the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM); the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW); and the Teamsters—called the Employee Representatives’ Council. They prepare, pack, and deliver food and beverages to aircraft departing airports across mainland U.S. and Hawaii, an essential role in commercial air travel that requires skill in provisions to keep flights running smoothly. Despite the fact that Gate Gourmet is the world’s largest independent provider of airline catering services, members reported struggling with low wages and lack of access to quality, affordable health care. After more than six years in bargaining sessions, and intervention by the National Mediation Board, workers now have a tentative contract. However, the unions report there are several details that still need to be hammered out before the deal can be finalized.LIUNA, Minneapolis Park Board Reach Tentative Agreement: Laborers (LIUNA) Local 363 announced Friday that after more than three weeks on strike, members have secured a tentative agreement (TA) with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB). Earlier last week, park workers shut down a scheduled park board meeting after an effort to discuss a resolution that would have pushed MPRB negotiators to drop proposed anti-worker contract language was rejected by commissioners. The contract language put forth by the MPRB—which has remained a sticking point for LIUNA members—would erode workers’ rights through making automatic step increases discretionary and limiting the number of stewards who can be paid to do union work. Workers later delivered a no-confidence petition to the board before returning to the bargaining table. “I think it was our collective action and voice. I think it was the workers that pushed through,” said Local 363 Business Manager A.J. Lang. “...I think we put in more work on this contract than probably any other contract, in terms of negotiating, but the members on the picket line, at the board meetings, with petitions in the community gathering signatures...that’s what pushed this over the top.”Workers at Bernheimer Architecture Ratify Contract: Workers at Bernheimer Architecture made history last week when they unanimously ratified the first-ever collective bargaining agreement at a private-sector architecture firm. Staff first announced their decision to form a union with the Machinists (IAM)—aided by IAM’s architectural industry campaign, Architectural Workers United (AWU)—in 2022 and were soon voluntarily recognized by Andrew Bernheimer, the firm’s founder. Members said they wanted to organize in part to draw attention to labor issues across their industry and beyond so all workers can see the power of collective bargaining. Their landmark contract establishes important standards for issues like respect in the workplace, health and safety, performance reviews, wages, layoff protections, and more. “We’re excited to share what the collective bargaining process can do for workers, and not just in our industry,” said members of the Bernheimer Architecture staff union’s bargaining unit. “Over the past two years, we’ve seen a new sense of democracy at our workplace, with everyone having a real avenue for having their voices heard on the issues that are most important to them.” “This is a historic moment for this industry,” said Andrew Daley, an organizer with AWU. “One that will set the benchmark for what’s possible, and it’s all because of these brave and dedicated workers who put in all the effort to make this contract a reality.”Microsoft’s World of Warcraft Workers Vote to Form Union: Workers on the team behind World of Warcraft—one of the most popular video games in the world—have voted to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA), creating the first wall-to-wall union at Activision Blizzard and the largest wall-to-wall union at a Microsoft-owned studio. On Wednesday, a neutral arbitrator confirmed that a majority of staff had either signed a union authorization card or indicated via an online portal that they wanted union representation. The bargaining unit, World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild-CWA (WoWGG-CWA), organized under the labor neutrality agreement forged in 2022 between CWA and Microsoft, which took effect upon the completion of the company’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Members work as designers, engineers, producers, artists, quality assurance testers and other game developers for the multiplayer role-playing game that was originally released in 2004. “What we’ve accomplished at World of Warcraft is just the beginning,” said Eric Lanham, a test analyst and member of WoWGG-CWA. “My colleagues and I are embarking on a quest to secure better pay, benefits and job security through a strong union contract. We know that when workers have a protected voice, it’s a win-win for employee standards, the studio and World of Warcraft fans looking for the best gaming experience.…Like the legendary heroes of Azeroth, our union is forged in the fires of perseverance and resilience, and together, we will stand strong as the Alliance and the Horde to ensure a bright future for all.” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/09/2024 - 12:23Continue reading→

2024 Scholarship Winners

August 9, 2024The APWU proudly presents the winners of three scholarship programs: The E.C. Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship, Vocational Scholarship, and Best Essay Award for 2024! The APWU proudly presents the winners of three scholarship programs: The E.C. Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship, Vocational Scholarship, and Best Essay Award for 2024! 2024 E.C. Hallbeck Winners Western Region Daniel Brown          Wyoming Postal Workers Union ( Deanna Patrick-Grandmother) Melat Werdoffa     Las Vegas Area Local    ( Mekennon Werdoffa -Father) Eastern Region Sarah Will                Baltimore “Stu Filbey” Area Local   ( Lori Will- Mother) Colin Williams        Johnstown Local   (Hope Williams- Mother) Central Region Anthony Swift            Louisville Local       ( Robert Swift II-Father) Bryanna Stine            Western Michigan Area Local   ( Theresa Stewart-Mother) Northeast Region Kona Chamberlin     Manchester Area Local  ( Richard Chamberlin-Father) Joana Gjini                 Boston Metro Area Local  ( Mirela Profka- Mother) Southern Region Amaya Moore      Greater Greensboro SCF Area Local   ( Jennifer Moore-Mother) David Brisc            Dothan Area Local   ( Florica Brisc – Mother)         2024 Vocational Scholarship Winners Central Region  Ariel Loveless            Columbus Local              ( Stacey  Loveless -Mother) Eastern Region  Michael Sundo         Pittsburgh Metro Area Local   (Paul Sundo – Father) Southern Region  Madeline Hammock            Alabama Area Local  (Thomas Hammock -Father) Northeastern Region  Mikayla Reed       Bangor Area Local  ( Jamie Dobson- Mother)        Adam  Piotrowski  Greater Hicksville Mid-Island Local ( Dariusz Piotrowski- Father)   2024 Best Essay Winner Ethan Deang   Tampa Area Local   ( Ferdinand Deang  -Father) 2024 Scholarship Winners0Continue reading→

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Meet with UAW Members, Leaders, at UAW Local 900 in Wayne, Michigan

WAYNE, MI – Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz joined UAW members and leaders at UAW Local 900’s union hall in Wayne, Michigan, to discuss the issues that matter to working class people in this election.  Local 900 represents thousands of members at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant, one of the three original Stand Up […] The post Kamala Harris and Tim Walz Meet with UAW Members, Leaders, at UAW Local 900 in Wayne, Michigan appeared first on UAW | United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America.Continue reading→

IAM Union Outraged at Harley-Davidson’s Plans to Move Production to Thailand

Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement on Harley-Davidson’s decision to move production of Sport Series and Pan America bikes to Thailand: “Harley-Davidson’s recent announcement to ship our work and jobs to Thailand is a kick in the teeth to American workers and The post IAM Union Outraged at Harley-Davidson’s Plans to Move Production to Thailand appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

APWU Retiree’s Department Presents Sept. 7, 2024 “FERS, CSRS and CSRS Offset Retirement Planning Seminar on ZOOM”

APWU Retiree’s Department Presents “CSRS, FERS, CSRS Offset Retirement Planning Seminar on ZOOM” Saturday,  September 7, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. September 7, 2024 - 12:00PMVirtual via ZoomNationalNoNo2024-09-07 00:00:00https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtc-6hrj8uE9VtzGm3EnEACRwr5Skp0aFFAPWU Retiree’s Department Presents Sept. 7, 2024 “FERS, CSRS, and CSRS Offset Retirement Planning Seminar on ZOOM"Hosted by APWU Retirees Department  SPECIAL NOTES:  Participants must be an active APWU member.  Participants cannot register with a USPS email address, i.e. @usps.gov.  Each participant must register individually and not as a group.  Participants should not attend this training on the Postal Service time clock. Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtc-6hrj8uE9VtzGm3EnEACRwr5Skp0aFF After registering, you will recieve a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 00Continue reading→

IAM Local 4 Members at Naval Air Station Patuxent River Serve Military Through Good Union Jobs

Of any union, the IAM represents the largest number of Service Contract Act workers in the U.S. government. Many of those workers are former military members who find a great way to use their military skills to build civilian careers. IAM Local 4 members in Hollywood, Md., are a prime example of those IAM union The post IAM Local 4 Members at Naval Air Station Patuxent River Serve Military Through Good Union Jobs appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

2024 APWU Scholarship Winners Announced!

August 7, 2024The APWU proudly presents the winners of three scholarship programs: The E.C. Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship, Vocational Scholarship, and Best Essay Award for 2024!  ScholarshipsSecretary-Treasurer The APWU proudly presents the winners of three scholarship programs: The E.C. Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship, Vocational Scholarship, and Best Essay Award for 2024! When the five predecessor craft unions merged to form the APWU in 1971, the new union decided to maintain an academic scholarship program created in 1969 by the United Federation of Postal Clerks (UFPC) as a tribute to UFPC president E.C. “Roy” Hallbeck. The APWU Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship program provides financial assistance to children of APWU union members. It awards $2,000 per year for four consecutive years of college to one male and one female high school student from each of the five postal regions. The APWU Vocational Scholarship was established by the National Executive Board to help students interested in programs of study leading to trade, technical, industrial, or vocational occupations. Five recipients, one from each of the five postal regions, will receive up to $3,000 to be used for up to three years of study in a specific trade, technical, industrial, or vocational school. The Best Essay winner receives an additional one-time award of $2,000. This year’s Best Essay winner is Ethan Deang, of the Tampa Area Florida local. The scholarships are funded by donations, and the APWU is extremely grateful for contributions by union members. To contribute, please send a check or a money order to: APWU Scholarship Fund, 1300 L Street NW, Washington DC 20005. Your tax-deductible donation may specify "Hallbeck," "Vocational," or "Best Essay."  Continue reading→

Union Plus – Mortgage Program

Active and retired union members may be eligible for home financing benefits through the Union Plus® Mortgage program, with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Parents and children of union members may also be eligible. Equal Housing Lender. https://unionplus.click/ezj The post Union Plus – Mortgage Program appeared first on UAW | United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America.Continue reading→

We Won’t Be Silenced Oct 1 Day of Action

APWU We Won't Be Silenced Oct 1 Day of Action At the November 2023 Postal Board of Governors meeting, it was announced that remote public comments would no longer be taken, and no public comments would be accepted in the first three Board of Governors meetings. In response, the APWU is calling upon APWU members and allies to come together on Oct 1 to send a powerful message across the country that "We Won't Be Silenced." As APWU continues negotiations for a fair contract, and postal public deserve to have their voices heard, we must fight to achieve Better Staffing, Better Service for every postal customer. More to come.Continue reading→

“Everything the Working Class Has Ever Won, We’ve Had to Fight for”: UAW Releases New Video Endorsing Kamala Harris for President

DETROIT – The UAW released a new video today endorsing Kamala Harris for President of the United States. The video highlights the stark contrast between the candidates: Donald Trump, who is a scab and a lapdog for the billionaires, and Kamala Harris, who has stood with working people and walked a picket line. The media is invited to […] The post “Everything the Working Class Has Ever Won, We’ve Had to Fight for”: UAW Releases New Video Endorsing Kamala Harris for President appeared first on UAW | United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America.Continue reading→

Better Staffing, Better Service

August 2, 2024A Grassroots Campaign to Improve Our Public Postal Service StaffingBetter Postal Staffing For decades, postal workers have faced a hostile management culture that is made worse by chronic short staffing in our facilities. The APWU leadership has been working hard to get management to address this issue. We connected with the public as short staffing negatively affects the services that we provide and creates a more stressful workplace for our members and all postal workers. To that end we have engaged an “ad hoc” staffing committee that has advised the national leadership and helped propel our “Better Staffing, Better Service” campaign forward. All local and state organizations have now received packets of brochures and public petitions. We are prepared to assist locals and states in this important fight, whether with communications assistance, campaign materials, media help, or advice on appropriate grievances, and other tactics. While there was considerable progress with a series of Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) regarding Function 1 mail processing staffing, we have not convinced management to increase the complement in retail. Too often this results in temporarily closed post offices due to a lack of proper staffing. Along with all other avenues, we must win the staffing battles in the streets with the support of the public. If you are ready to get more involved in this fight, go to apwu.org/better-postal-staffing. You can also reach out to campaign lead Sam Wood or email staffing@apwu.org. ■ A Grassroots Campaign to Improve Our Public Postal Service0Continue reading→

President Dimondstein Delivers State of the Union Address at the APWU 27th Biennial National Convention

July 20, 2024President Dimondstein delivers his State of the Union Address at the 27th Biennial National Convention in Detroit, MI. National ConventionAPWU National ConventionPresident APWU 27th Biennial National Convention: President Dimondstein Delivers State of the Union Address APWU President Dimondstein Delivers State of the Union Address at the APWU 27th Biennial National Convention in Detroit, MI. Share this video Facebook Outline Twitter_Outline Mail_Outline On Opening Day of the APWU 27th Biennial National Convention, President Dimondstein delivered his State of the Union address. See belwo for the full transcript: Union Greetings APWU Family! Welcome delegates to the 27th Biennial Convention, our grand union meeting under our theme, “Energize, Organize, Mobilize!” as we gather in the great labor city of Detroit. I salute all of you – frontline fighters! Be proud of your passionate work for safer workplaces, better staffing and service, defending co-workers against injustice, organizing the unorganized, enforcing the contract and standing in solidarity with all workers. Without activists like you, there would not be an APWU! Look all around and you see a rainbow of delegates from all walks of life, united in a common struggle for justice -- give yourselves and each other a standing ovation for we are “Union Strong, All Day Long!” I am honored to come before you to share the “State of Our Union” and highlights of our work over the last two years. But first some observations about the times we are in: Our times are both dangerous and promising. On one hand there is rising bigotry and a torrent of white supremacist race hatred, deepening attacks on workers’, women’s and democratic rights, coordinated voter suppression tactics largely directed at undermining Vote-by-Mail being pushed behind the “big lie” that the 2020 election was stolen, a reactionary and deeply corrupt Supreme Court  and a profit driven climate crisis threatening life on earth. Our tax dollars and weapons are shamefully being used to unleash war crimes against innocent men, women and children of Gaza. The current threat of fascist dictatorship, and with it the crushing of the labor movement, is very real is witnessed by the despicable coup attempt of January 6th. Corporate power consistently tilts the scales to favor billionaires at the expense of the working class. Obscene income inequality shockingly results in the three  wealthiest U.S. individuals having a combined wealth exceeding the bottom 50% of the population, some 160 million people! The bloated military industrial complex enriches Wall Street and multi-national defense corporations at the expense of the peoples’ needs. Any of you who were at our last Convention, or have heard me speak since, have heard me raise those concerns before. The truth is that those threats are not just still with us two years on, they continue to grow in their seriousness and the danger they pose to working people, our democratic rights, and the very future of human life on this planet. But while we have much work ahead of us workers are on the march and rising in the face of these crises -- drawing on lessons of the pandemic and life experience – that it is we the workers versus the bosses, Wall Street vs. Main Street and Labor vs Capital. Support for unions is at its highest point in decades, and highest among young workers. We have witnessed significant union organizing successes and many workers – delivery, auto, warehouse, hotel, railroad, actors, retail, grocery, and education -- ready and willing to withhold their labor to get what they have earned and deserve as the workers who create all wealth. These struggles remind us of our militant history of the 1970 historic postal strike. Those who came before us engaged in an unlawful victorious strike and won a much better life for themselves and those postal workers who followed. (Strikers in the room stand up!!!) So how are we doing in these times full of challenges but also opportunity? The state of our APWU is indeed “Union Strong All Day Long!” Since our last convention postal workers have benefited from the implementation of the strong union contract ratified with a 94% vote in early 2022. With our strong COLAs, we have weathered this period of high inflation, aptly called “greedflation” as corporate profits soar as life is harder on working people. COLA gains amount to a phenomenal $5,325 a year for full-time career workers and $2.67/hour for PTFs, in addition to annual wage and regular step increases. While our hard-working PSEs do not receive COLAs, once converted they will pick up the COLA in the career pay scale. And with the great advance in the last contract of automatic career conversion after two years for most PSEs, we have secured the conversion of over 25,000 PSEs since our last convention added to the stunning total of 131,000 union won conversions since 2014!  “Union Strong All Day Long!” With the current contract due to expire on September 20th we just opened negotiations for a new main collective bargaining agreement covering the wages, hours and working conditions of approximately 200,000 postal workers, the largest union negotiations in the country this year. Negotiations are never easy. Two sides enter the battlefield with different priorities and perspectives. I am once again honored to be your lead negotiator and to be working with a strong negotiating committee. Industrial Relations Director and chief spokesperson Charlie Cash has been skillfully leading the preparations including meetings with economists, attorneys, union staff, and the negotiating committee. We have reviewed resolutions from previous conventions, as well as the recent contract survey. The Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee has been appointed and met.   Our general goals I am sure you agree with: Protect the many gains of the past, including our incredible career “no-layoff” job security protection, the 50-mile limit on excessing, and our full COLAs. Then enhance our solid foundation to include good annual wage increases, continuing to bridge the gaps between the divisive wage tiers established in the 2010 concessionary contract, and striving for an all-career workforce. Building maximum power and leverage is a key to success in negotiations as we proclaim, “Good Contract Now, Union Proud, Say it Loud!” Our inspiring  kick off rally underscores we are not alone with labor and community allies standing with us.  Our building union power organizing campaign under the solid guidance of Organizing Director Anna Smith and your hard work yielded over 87,000 new members as we opened negotiations – A powerful message to management. “Union Strong All Day Long!” Winning the best contract possible is the single most important goal for postal workers this year and I urge the delegates to ensure this  convention does not take any actions that unnecessarily put our COLA and job security at risk, or undermine the ability of your leadership to negotiate a voluntary, good and fair contract. There is no doubt that we are being challenged by the doubled edged sword of management’s “network modernization” plan. As union leaders, we should never replace facts with wishful thinking. As such we must recognize that the mail mix has profoundly and permanently changed due to the rapid advance of a computerized, internet-based revolution. Online bill paying, email, docusign , text messages and online advertising have resulted in a deep reduction of letter and flat volume. Last year first-class letter mail, the main revenue driver for USPS, fell to 46 billion pieces, from a peak of 103 billion in 2001. But due to ecommerce, packages are rising, representing the main opportunity for more revenue, job protection, and growth. So we recognize that changes in technology and the mail will result in needed changes in machinery, buildings, transportation, and jobs. We’ve seen this before – Remote Encoding Centers, LSM and now the FSS – all gone. And there are parts of the “modernization” plan that the APWU absolutely opposes.  The moving of locally- generated mail destined for the local service area to be processed hundreds of miles away and eliminating afternoon truck runs – both result in mail delays. Management’s incompetence in implementing the plan thus far has been outrageous, causing severe delays and breaking the bond with the people of the country. Poor service also becomes fuel for those who aim to privatize the Postal Service. The service must be fixed, the plan slowed down, and some of the management decisions reversed. PMG DeJoy may have inherited a dysfunctional and declining Postal Service, but he is now the “captain of the ship” and the problems are his to fix, rather than make worse. APWU activists like you throughout the country have done a commendable job raising the alarm bells and demanding that no matter who we are or where we live, the people deserve “first-class” service. We continue to meet  with management, the Office of Inspector General, the Board of Governors , and Congressional representatives, advocating for good and improved service and pushing for a moratorium on the network changes. We successfully negotiated a critical agreement that protects retail operations and jobs when carriers are moved to the S & DC larger units.   Through it all, we will stick to the issues, support what we support and fight what we oppose. But simply maintaining the status quo and refusing to change with the times, places our jobs and future at risk. Over many decades, postal workers have faced a hostile management culture that has proven difficult to fix. In 2023 we moved the issue of the toxic work environment front and center. We will continue to do so in negotiations and in the streets. It is long overdue that abusive managers are held accountable by upper management! Don’t you agree!!?? We connected with the public as short staffing negatively affects service and creates a more stressful workplace. We have launched our “Better Staffing, Better Service” campaign. As much of our future depends on enhanced and expanded services   we welcome the new opportunities of the 2022 Postal Service Reform Act (PSRA) which allows the USPS to perform non-postal services for local, state, and tribal government agencies. What better ambassadors than us postal workersto  identify new opportunities such as fishing and hunting licenses, notary services, internet access, EV charging stations, metro passes, car registration and licensing, and basic financial services leading to postal banking. In the legislative arena the APWU works both to stop bad legislation and promote positive legislation that helps postal and all workers. With the terrific leadership of Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard, we have accomplished more in Congress recently than in many previous decades including $10 billion in COVID relief funds, Emergency Federal Employee Leave, and the historic Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 which eliminated the draconian prefunding mandate of future retiree health care costs that was strangling the USPS and monies for the needed transition to an EV delivery fleet. We have helped build strong bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate to  correct the unfair bipartisan 1984 legislation that drastically reduced Civil Service retirees earned Social Security benefits. We owe it to those who came before us to right this wrong. In addition, we are deeply involved in the early stages of promoting legislation that would allow former PSEs, once converted to career, to “buy back” their time for retirement benefits. While the APWU is on record recognizing the limitations of the two-party corporate-dominated political system, we remain committed to electing pro-worker candidates who support us and a strong public Postal Service. With an election this Fall, we we should weigh the ramifications of the dangerous march toward dictatorship – and what it would mean to the rights of the people, workers, our unions, the public Post Office, and the well-being of society. History has taken us down this road before, and it was called Nazi Germany. We continue to push and, where possible, cooperate with postal management, as we did in 2020 and 2022, to ensure that election mail moves through the system and arrives on time so every vote counts. The people deserve nothing less. I am pleased to report that since our last convention we have made significant gains in winning back  subcontracted work. Starting with a pilot program in Oklahoma, and now spread to six other cities, driving work has been brought “in house” with the potential of thousands of new APWU represented jobs.  In addition, management is ending  the subcontracting of the Surface Transfer Centers (STCs) and Terminal Handling Services (THS) work, which will now be performed by unionized postal workers. After years of planning, we are thrilled that the APWU Leadership Institute is up and running with the first inaugural class “graduating” in May. Hats off to the 32 participants, the staff who planned and facilitated the program, and the many officers and friends who engaged in teaching. The Leadership Institute is a concentrated union education program as we owe it to ourselves and future postal workers to make a serious investment today in tomorrow’s leaders of our great union. We are following our Constitutional duties and Convention mandate to engage  seriously in organizing all workers in the mailing and package industry, as a vital part of building power. We have won a number of organizing campaigns with HCR drivers and welcome these proud new members into our ranks. But there is no bigger need and challenge than taking on the wealthy, anti-union behemoth called Amazon. Organizing Amazon must be a priority of the entire labor movement as a non-union Amazon brings down the standards of all workers. Later in the convention you will hear from these courageous workers. Through the determined efforts of local and state officers and shop stewards we continue to aggressively carry out the hard and needed work of enforcing the contract. We encourage new and young workers to step up as future activists and leaders. The Young Members Committee continues to move forward. (Stand up leaders!); The retirees department continues to grow now with ____ chapters and we appreciate the good work of the APWU Auxiliary consisting of family members and friends; The Stand Up for Safe Jobs Campaign prioritizes this vital issue; Run out of the Human Relations Department, the union has advanced education surrounding injury compensation with a cadre of Regional Resource Assistants; A core of representatives has been trained by the Clerk Craft to assist locals on jurisdictional issues with the Mailhandlers; We constantly improve our communications --  our award winning website is visited 45,000 times a week,  emailing and texting reaches 100,000 members all while still publishing our informative bi-monthly magazine and News Service Bulletins; We recently introduced a Podcast and audio versions of the officer’s magazine articles. We opened an APWU History Center -- for history helps inspire and guide us for the battles ahead. We continued to make the COVID Test Kit mailings a success; The national leadership is fully engaged to ensure that the transition this coming year to the Postal Service Health Benefit Plans within FEHB  proceeds as smoothly as possible and the OPM guidelines accurately reflect the law; We participated in the UNI Global Union world conference understanding that international solidarity is vital and we have much to learn from each other; Many activists joined picket lines in solidarity with striking auto workers and others. I am privileged to serve with a strong core of national leaders. I salute all the craft directors, assistant directors, department directors, regional coordinators, and the National Business Agents for their hard work and dedication to the members and movement. Also, to our hard-working Headquarters staff who we rely on to accomplish our tasks and move the union forward. A special shout out to Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth “Liz” Powell and her staff for the months of hard work to pull this convention together and make it a success! We are meeting on the 60th Anniversary of the historic 1964 Civil Rights Act and the brutal KKK murder of three civil rights workers. They are reminders of how far we have come through courageous struggle but still how far we have to go to win true equality and justice. The APWU and the labor movement must be a force for good. As a social justice union, let us counter bigotry, immigrant bashing and race hatred with unity, for division is the boss’s game. We must up the fight to defend and expand voting rights and compel the federal government to stop hiding behind the anti-democratic filibuster rules and pass voting rights legislation to stop the new wave of voter suppression. We must stand with the right to protest, as our movement was founded on protest. We must stand with all workers who are organizing, standing up, rallying, and striking for a better life. And regardless of our personal political beliefs, we must unite as small “d” democratic and fair-minded folks we must reject “wanna be” dictators as part of defending our union and worker rights. We recognize there are no magic wands. We will not win every battle. But looking back on the last few years, the APWU continues to meet the moment. Even when the seas are stormy, when winds of change bring new challenges, and in these perilous times, we link arms together with each other and in solidarity with labor and community allies. The sturdy ship APWU built over generations of struggle, will continue to chart the course to safe harbor and a bright future for postal workers and the postal public. Let us be inspired by the words of Tommy Douglas, the beloved Canadian leader of their labor party and their health care as a human right medical system, Courage My Friends, Tis not too late to build a better world!” Let us “Energize, Organize, Mobilize” for a better life for all postal workers. Let us “Energize, Organize, Mobilize” for better service to the people and to defend our public national treasure from the fangs of the Wall Street privatizers. Let us Energize, Organize and Mobilize to defend and expand voting rights and that cherished democratic rights will not die on our watch. Let us “Energize, Organize and Mobilize” to win ever more workers’ power for, as the words of our labor anthem Solidarity Forever proclaims: “In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold, Greater than the might of armies magnified a thousand-fold, we can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old, for the union makes us strong. Brothers, sisters, siblings, comrades and family – good to be with you in the trenches as the struggle for justice continues. Solidarity Forever! President Dimondstein delivers his State of the Union Address at the 27th Biennial National Convention in Detroit, MI.0Continue reading→