News

You can now find gear for the Talk is Cheap: Safety Matters campaign online at the APWU Store. The store has been updated to include a black T-shirt made with soft, breathable fabric. It is union and American-made, of course! For those who have stricter uniform guidelines, the APWU has also created a wristband so […] The post Get Safety Campaign Gear appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets the minimum legal standards for workplace safety, but our collective bargaining agreement adds another layer of security. Through the strength of our union and negotiations over the years, APWU members have secured stronger protections that reflect the real conditions we face every day on the workroom floor. […] The post OSHA and Your Contract Are a Formidable Force for Safety appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

In this special safety-focused issue of The American Postal Worker, A Grand Alliance spoke with Occupational Safety and Health Director Rebecca L. Reindel from one of our most prominent member organizations, the AFL-CIO. Rebecca is from a union family in Cleveland, OH. Her father is a retired pipefitter/welder, and her mother is a retired city […] The post A Grand Alliance Interview with Rebecca L. Reindel appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

Rebecca Gill’s alarm goes off at 7:30 a.m. By 9:30, she’s already at the post office – and from that moment on, it is nonstop. A Lead Clerk at the retail window of her post office, Rebecca starts every shift the same way – reviewing Time & Attendance Collection System (TACS) records and making sure […] The post A Day in the Life of Rebecca Gill appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

May 1, 1991 – A failed waste-gas vent compressor ignited a fatal explosion at a nitropara­ffin plant in Sterlington, LA, killing eight employees and injuring 120 people, including 42 workers and over 70 residents nearby. Union o­fficials and inspectors identified a history of safety issues at the ammonia fertilizer plant, and workers represented by the […] The post Labor History: Fatal Explosion at IMC Fertilizer Plant Exposed Preventable Hazards, Human Toll of Unsafe Work Practices appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

With summer quickly approaching, it is always a good habit to review summer safety tips and understand the dangers of getting skin cancer. Skin cancer can affect both people who get too much sun and people who don’t get any at all, so it is important to reduce your risk of getting skin cancer by […] The post Summer Safety Tips to Prevent Skin Cancer appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

The APWU takes a firm stance on workplace safety and demands that management provide safe working conditions proper equipment, and adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Although workplace safety is paramount, at-home safety is also very important. Safety tips include keeping emergency contact numbers on every phone, knowing the poison control hotline […] The post Safety at Home appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older adults. But most falls are preventable and result from identifiable risk factors that can be addressed. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),one in four Americans over age 65 falls each year. Most falls happen when multiple factors align. […] The post Falls Aren’t Just ‘A Part of Getting Older’ appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

When our union president, Jonathan Smith, asked us to focus on workplace safety for this issue, I will be honest, I did not realize just how deep this topic really goes. Like a lot of us, I usually think first about wages and benefits when it comes to union organizing. Safety matters, of course, but […] The post Organizing for Safety appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

On Thursday, May 21, postal workers in Las Vegas, NV, held a press conference to discuss the results of a new, national bipartisan poll on Vote-by-Mail and to show the APWU’s Vote-by-Mail television advertisement. The ad will run on broadcast and cable television in the Las Vegas and Reno, NV areas. APWU State President Tina […] The post Nevada Postal Workers Say: Vote-by-Mail — Keep it, Protect it, Expand it. appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

As a postal worker and former president of the William H. Burrus Cleveland Area Local, I have witnessed the devastating impact workplace injuries have on our members and their families. We are passionate about promoting safety and providing support for our members. Safety and health aren’t just priorities; they are a core value. This guides […] The post A Culture of Safety: Protecting Our Own appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

As the November elections near, Vote-by-Mail has dominated the headlines. In March, the White House issued an executive order mandating that the USPS regulate who can receive ballots, and lawmakers in Congress are debating potential restrictions on Vote-by-Mail. It is important to know the facts. There are many safeguards in place at each phase of […] The post The Numbers Don’t Lie: Vote-by-Mail Is Safe, Secure, Reliable appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

Safety has always been a cornerstone of the APWU’s mission. Every day, thousands of postal workers across the country perform demanding work that requires physical effort, attention to detail, and hours of standing, lifting, and repetitive motion. Ensuring that workers remain healthy and safe is a central mission for our union and the occupational health […] The post Safety and Support: The Vital Role of Occupational Health Nurses in APWU Support Services appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→

Every Postal Worker has the Right to a Safe Workplace There is a contractual expectation that management will provide safe working conditions and ensure a safe and healthy work environment for postal workers. Because of the enormous and often dangerous equipment postal workers use to process, maintain, and transport mail, we must demand that our […] The post Driving and Working Safely appeared first on American Postal Workers Union.Continue reading→