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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Form Union at Alabama Chemical Plant

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Form Union at Alabama Chemical Plant 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. Production and maintenance workers at the Gaylord Chemical manufacturing facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, voted last week to join the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC), part of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).Workers at the plant—who make chemical compounds used in medical and industrial solvents and food additives—reached out to the union a few months ago to begin their organizing efforts. Their landslide election win is even more exciting in the context of Alabama’s “right to work” laws and vocally anti-union lawmakers.“I just want to thank the [ICWUC] for getting behind us and supporting us. As soon as we reached out to them, they were quick to respond,” one Gaylord Chemical worker stated.Jordan Easley, ICWUC’s national organizing coordinator, said of the campaign victory: “[Workers] excelled when it came to open support, public support, and the numbers reflected that. They got what they deserve. Obviously most employers don’t want a union, but I think [Gaylord Chemical] were stopped in their tracks. They are reminded that you need workers more than workers need you.” Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/15/2025 - 09:41Continue reading→

Updated Function Four Operation Numbers

January 15, 2025“Clerks should ensure that they are on the correct workhour operation. Standby codes are NOT work hours.” - Clerk Craft Director Lamont Brooks magazineClerk Division Lamont Brooks Actual vs. ‘Earned’ Complement The APWU objects to the Postal Service using “Earned Hours” as opposed to actual “Work Hours” to determine staffing. The APWU asserts that this violates Article 37.3.A.1., which requires the Postal Service to use all available “work hours” for Clerk Craft assignments. If we challenge the models or tools management uses, it should only be as a rebuttal to their position and should not be the main argument. We should not devote significant time to rebutting management’s staffing models and tools. Our main focus should be advancing our extremely strong Article 37.3.A.1. language, and referencing the three National Goldberg awards and two Step 4 settlements. In its April 3, 2017, reply to Lamont Brooks, the Postal Service took the position that “earned hours” are simply “internal management tools” to provide data to local management and ensure compliance with the contract. They insist that earned hours should match work hours. That is why actual work hours are the controlling method to determine staffing. We must fight to adequately staff the window and mail processing. Delayed mail and long lines in the lobby are contrary to proper staffing. Lead Clerks should be assisting management to properly staff the offices. The most important clock rings are as follows: Begin Tour Out to Lunch In from Lunch End Tour Clerks should ensure that they are on the correct workhour operation. Standby codes are NOT work hours. When clerks are not clocking on the proper operation it becomes a management excuse to reduce the complement. Operation 956 SOV is used for loaner hours. The Postal Service informed the Clerk Division that local management can add operation numbers that may be missing on an MDD/IO scanner. We remain in discussions on Operation 352, which the parties negotiated at the national level for retail lobby assistance duties prior to reaching the window. Detailed descriptions of operation numbers are in the M-32 Handbook. The updated list of Function Four Operation codes is as follows: TAC140R2 - v4.002 - (09) National Authorized Operations Operation Operation Desc CAG A-L (F1) Non-Supv LDC CAG A-L (F1) Supv LDC 2280 Express mail delivery 4800 2000 2410 Allied distribution 4300 ---- 3150 SDUS incoming parcels 4100 ---- 3170 SDUS Sunday parcels 4100 ---- 3180 Small DU sorters (SDUS) bundle 4100 ---- 3190 Small DU sorters (SDUS) SCF 4100 ---- 3530 Operational standby cust srv 4800 2000 3550 Window services 4500 ---- 3570 Government services 4500 ---- 5440 Cages serving carriers 4800 ---- 5580 Office work & records-CS 4800 2000 6060 Institutional standby cust srv 4800 ---- 6080 Stewards - Clerks - CS 4800 ---- 6210 Travel customer service 4800 2000 6250 Stewards-mail handler-CS 4800 ---- 6310 Meeting time-customer services 4800 2000 6370 Postage due/BRM/MRS/PRS 4200 ---- 6670 CFS Miscellaneous Support 4900 ---- 7420 Misc activity-Cust Serv 4800 2000 7690 Box section 4400 ---- 7970 CFS manual forward/RTS Oper 4900 2000 9050 ADUS incoming parcels 4100 ---- 9080 Auto DU Sorters (ADUS) bundle 4100 ---- 9090 Auto DU sorters (ADUS) SCF 4100 ---- 9100 ADUS Sunday parcels 4100 ---- 9560 SOV activities 4700 ---- 0770 Sunday parcel distribution 4300 2000 0850 CFS COA scanning 4900 ---- Updated Function Four Operation Numbers0Continue reading→

Maitenance PTR Payment Distribution Is on the Way

January 14, 2025BREAKING NEWS: Your share of the PTR payment distribution is on the way Awards and SettlementsMaintenance DivisionIdowu Balogun The Maintenance Division received information that some PTR employee received their share of the settlement in the latest pay period. The USPS informed APWU that as of January 13, 2025, the rest of the settlement recipients will be receiving their payout within the next two pay periods. Recipients will get their payment via their current method of receiving payment. If retired or resigned from postal employment, it will likely be a check in the mail (possibly sent to your last office of employment). Be aware that higher amount expected distribution must be manually verified before releasing the payment, which could lead to above mentioned delays. In the meantime, you can check the amount owed to you at https://apwu.org/news/awards-and-settlements/maintenance-ptr-settlement-payout-2024-2025.  BREAKING NEWS: Your share of the PTR payment distribution is on the way The Maintenance Division received information that some PTR employee received their share of the settlement in the latest pay period. The USPS informed us as of today (1/13/2025) that the rest of the recipients will be receiving their payout within the next two pay periods. Recipients will get their payment via their current method of receiving payment. If retired or resigned from postal employment, it will likely be a check in the mail. (possibly sent to your last office of employment). Be aware that higher amount expected distribution must be manually verified before releasing the payment, which could lead to above mentioned delays. In the meantime, you can check the amount owed to you at https://apwu.org/news/awards-and-settlements/maintenance-ptr-settlement-payout-2024-2025. 0Continue reading→

Maintenance PTR Payment Distribution Is on the Way

January 14, 2025BREAKING NEWS: Your share of the PTR payment distribution is on the way Awards and SettlementsMaintenance DivisionIdowu Balogun The Maintenance Division received information that some part-time regular (PTR) employees received their share of the settlement in the latest pay period. The USPS informed APWU that as of Jan. 13, 2025, the rest of the settlement recipients will be receiving their payout within the next two pay periods. Recipients will get their payment via their current method of receiving payment. If retired or resigned from postal employment, it will likely be a check in the mail (possibly sent to your last office of employment). Be aware that higher amount expected distribution must be manually verified before releasing the payment, which could lead to above mentioned delays. In the meantime, you can check the amount owed to you at https://apwu.org/news/awards-and-settlements/maintenance-ptr-settlement-payout-2024-2025.  BREAKING NEWS: Your share of the PTR payment distribution is on the way The Maintenance Division received information that some PTR employees received their share of the settlement in the latest pay period. The USPS informed us as of today (1/13/2025) that the rest of the recipients will be receiving their payout within the next two pay periods. Recipients will get their payment via their current method of receiving payment. If retired or resigned from postal employment, it will likely be a check in the mail. (possibly sent to your last office of employment). Be aware that higher amount expected distribution must be manually verified before releasing the payment, which could lead to above mentioned delays. In the meantime, you can check the amount owed to you at https://apwu.org/news/awards-and-settlements/maintenance-ptr-settlement-payout-2024-2025. 0Continue reading→

IP Bryant, GVP Bennett Walk Picket Line with Striking Culinary Union Members

IAM International President Brian Bryant, IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett, and several IAM International Representatives recently walked a picket line in front of the Virgin Resort and Casino in Las Vegas to support fellow UNITE HERE workers.  The workers have been on strike since November, and their resolve is stronger than ever. The The post IP Bryant, GVP Bennett Walk Picket Line with Striking Culinary Union Members appeared first on IAMAW.Continue reading→

The Union Should Be Involved in Politics

January 14, 2025“We can never let our differences of opinion on political issues prevent us from working together to secure and save the things we have in common, which are protecting our jobs, benefits, and the Postal Service.” – Northeast Regional Coordinator Tiffany Foster magazineNortheast RegionTiffany Foster On behalf of the Northeast Region, we hope you and your family had a joyous holiday season and that the new year brings you more love, peace, joy, and happiness. The 2024 General Election was contentious and touchy, and everyone had an opinion. Some guarded their thoughts on the election for fear of arguments and insults. I witnessed the damage it caused to relationships between family and friends. I saw the same within our union. Family members don’t think alike or believe the same things. This is also true in our union. We all have the right to believe and think what we want; that’s the beauty of our rights in this country, but we must remember that this principle goes both ways. Author Roy T. Bennett said, “We are all different. Don’t judge, understand instead.” I hear union members say, “The union should stay out of politics, do their job, and represent us.” Politics touches everything in this world. Our union not getting involved in politics would be a failure to represent its members. I believe postal unions have a constitutional right and responsibility to be involved in politics on every level of government. The U.S. Constitution mandated the creation of the Postal Service. For example, Congress passed the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act, which President Nixon signed into law. The first paragraph of the act reads: The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. This law gave postal unions the right to collective bargaining, among other rights. These rights were a demand by the postal unions to Congress. We enjoy the benefits of this law today. In 2011, Postmaster General (PMG) Patrick Donahoe tried to renege on the collective bargaining agreement he had just signed by requesting that Congress introduce legislation to let him lay off 120,000 employees and remove employees from federal benefits programs. His request failed because members of Congress supported our union and postal employees. When PMG Donahoe tried to outsource postal work to the Staples office retail company, local, state, and national unions lobbied members of Congress to support the Stop Staples campaign, and they did. They wrote letters to PMG Donahoe to eliminate the program, conducted investigations, and rallied with their constituents. The collective work of everyone involved forced the program to end. Congress was important in this fight. Across the country, APWU members contacted their elected representatives to help fight the Delivering for America plan. Many members of Congress got involved and demanded answers and transparency. In some cases, the implementation was either stopped or delayed due to the push from the unions and Congress. These are just some reasons why we should be involved in politics. The Constitution grants Congress power over the Postal Service; they can create laws that can harm or help us. We must build relationships with the elected officials who support us and work to gain the support of those who don’t, regardless of party affiliation. We need their voice in our struggle. It’s that simple. The union is not just a grievance machine. It can’t be in order to exist and represent its membership. We can never let our differences of opinion on political issues prevent us from working together to secure and save the things we have in common, which are protecting our jobs, benefits, and the Postal Service. My fellow Regional Coordinators (Omar Gonzalez, AJ Jones, Yared Wonde, and Amy Puhalski) and I thank everyone in the APWU for building those political relationships for the greater good. We’re going to really need it now. ■ The Union Should Be Involved in Politics0Continue reading→

Preventing Injuries While Lifting Objects on the Workroom Floor

January 14, 2025The Industrial Relations Department shares proper lifting techniques to avoid injury when moving heavy parcels and sacks: magazineSpeak Up for Safe Jobs As postal workers, we sometimes forget just how much lifting we perform daily, as well as how important it is to remember to lift every object in a safe and correct manner. Bending down can cause the discs between your spinal vertebrae to pinch. These discs may slip or rupture during improper lifting, causing severe pain or disability, and your muscles or ligaments may also stretch or tear. Improper lifting practices can also compress the stomach, which may cause a hernia. To prevent injuries while lifting objects, you should always use proper lifting techniques. Safe Lifting Techniques To improve stability, straddle the load by comfortably spreading your feet (normally shoulder width apart), putting one foot by the front of the parcel (the side facing you) and one foot to the left or right of the parcel. Keep your back straight by using a squatting position. Remember that “straight” does not mean “vertical.” A straight back keeps the spine, back muscles, and organs in correct alignment. Draw the load close to your body while completing the lift, pushing the weight through your heels as you stand upright. When carrying the load, keep it close to your body, tucking your arms and elbows into your sides. When arms are held away from the body, they lose much of their strength, placing more stress on back and shoulder muscles. Keeping your arms tucked in helps keep body weight centered. Grasp the parcel near the top of the farthest corner and wrap your palm around the edge. Hold the opposite bottom in the palm of your other hand. Use the full palm because fingers alone have little strength. Keep your head upright when lifting and permit it to move freely. This helps maintain balance because the center of gravity changes with load acquisition. Position your body so that its weight is centered over the feet. This provides a more powerful line of thrust and ensures better balance. Start the lift with the thrust of the rear foot. Begin to lift straight up, smoothly and without stopping, by pushing your legs and keeping your back straight. Complete the lift to a standing position. Be sure that your hold on the parcel is secure before moving. If you must pivot or turn, use your feet. Do not twist the body trunk. When raising a parcel above shoulder height, follow the procedures just described, pausing at waist height. Before resuming the lift, rest the edge of the parcel on a ledge, a stand, or your hip. Shift your hand position to support the bottom of the parcel, and after bending your knees for a boost, straighten them as you lift the parcel to your shoulder. When lifting sacks, use the same general lifting procedures used for lifting parcels, and observe the following precautions: The position of the hands varies somewhat, grasp opposite diagonal corners. If you are carrying a sack for any distance, rest it against your hip and stomach once it is waist high. Shift your hand position so you can boost the sack after you bend your knees. Lift the sack to one shoulder, stoop lightly with your hand on your hip, and rest the sack partly on your shoulder, arm, and back. Hold the sack at the front corner. When putting the sack down, swing it against your hip and stomach. If you place it on the floor or ground, bend your legs and lower the sack, keeping your back straight. By following these simple, yet practical, techniques at work and home, you can prevent injuries and enjoy a healthy work and after-work life. ■ Preventing Injuries While Lifting Objects on the Workroom Floor0Continue reading→

The Public Deserves Faster Mail, Not Degraded Services

January 14, 2025“You all proved once again that, when given the proper resources, you can sort and deliver mail promptly and efficiently – just as the law requires.” Industrial Relations Director Charlie Cash calls on members to oppose any degradation of service. magazineIndustrial RelationsCharlie Cash Happy New Year, union family! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I, along with millions of others across the country, thank you for all the hard work you did to deliver smiles to people around the world. I used the Postal Service to send gifts to my children in Utah and the work you did made sure those gifts were delivered to them. It is the work of the members of the APWU that ensures gifts, cards, joy, and love are delivered to mailboxes everywhere. You are the invisible force that accepts the mail, sorts it, maintains the equipment, maintains our fl eet, programs the Postal Service’s computers, takes the customers’ calls, and makes sure everyone is paid for that work. You may not be seen, but not a single piece of mail is delivered anywhere in this country without you! But it wasn’t only during the holiday season that you showed up, worked, and dedicated yourselves to making sure the mail was delivered. You did it during the election as well! During the 2024 General Election period (starting Sept. 1, 2024) you processed 99.22 million ballots. Because of your work, it only took 1.95 days for ballots to be delivered to voters from election boards. The average day to return ballots to local election boards was even better – one day. None of this could have been accomplished without you.1 You all proved once again that, when given the proper resources, you can sort and deliver mail promptly and efficiently – just as the law requires. But why is it only during election time that the leaders of the Postal Service are committed and dedicated to ensuring mail is delivered to the public at this pace? I remember the times when one-day delivery of First-Class Mail at the local level was the standard, not the exception. I remember two or three-day delivery across the country was also the norm. But now what we see is the continuing slowing of mail. It seems it doesn’t matter who oversees the Postal Service, the slowing of the mail is no longer an abomination that the public once viewed it as – it is now becoming the norm. The Postal Service claims that mail will still be delivered within its standards of two to five days, but that it could now take longer. It could be four now instead of three days. What was four could be five. No matter how you spin it and claim the standards haven’t changed, the mail is slower. Especially where it is needed most – rural America. This is all in the name of saving $3 billion a year. The public deserves better. They deserve faster mail. They demand the focus and attention to getting the mail delivered, like we focus on getting ballots delivered within one day. If we can do that, for a couple months each election cycle, we can do it every day. Maybe a more prompt and efficient delivery of mail would encourage increased usage of the Postal Service. Isn’t that what the goal of the Delivering for American plan was supposed to be? Keep an eye out for APWU efforts to continue to oppose any degradation of service. We will need your help. We will need you to educate the public, contact your legislators, and continue to raise your voices to protect the Postal Service. We don’t know what is to come under President-elect Trump for the Postal Service. I know this union will oppose any continued degradation of service or the dismantling of the only agency mentioned in the U.S. Constitution – the Post Office. Solidarity! ■ ---- 1 2024 Post-Election Analysis Report: Delivering the Nation’s Election Mail Securely and Effectively, page 5. usps-post-election-report-2024-12-02.pdf The Public Deserves Faster Mail, Not Degraded Services0Continue reading→

2025 California State Convention

Room rateL $179/night plus taxes. Call (1-800-222-8733) Group Code: 904 or go to Link https://group.doubletree.com/tn4vcw | Registration: $100 before April 11, after $125. May 17, 2025 - 9:15AM to May 18, 2025 - 8:15AMDoubleTree by Hilton Ontario Airport Hotel222 North Vineyard Avenue Ontario. California 91764 LocalNoYes2025-01-14 00:00:002025 California State ConventionHotel Doubletree by Hilton Ontario Airport Hotel 222 North Vineyard Avenue, Ontario, California 91764 When booking, call (1-800-222-8733) Group Code: 904 or go to Link https://group.doubletree.com/tn4vcw Room rate of $179.00 plus taxes per night. Parking Per Car is $18.00 per room per night. There is a shuttle from Ontario Airport. Registration Click here for CA State Convention registration form. Registration is $100.00 until April 11, 2025, after $125.00. All checks are paid to: CALIFORNIA AREA LOCAL 4635 129 EAST “A” STREET UPLAND, CA 91786 ATTN: RAFAEL PEREZ SECRETARY-TREASURER CONTACT CALIFORNIA STATE PRESIDENT GAARE DAVIS for more details: CALSTATEGD@ATT.NET 626-487-4366 OR President RICK RUIZ at RRUIZ@CAL4635.ORG 909-981-2260. 10Continue reading→

Standing with Every Worker and Family Impacted By the Los Angeles Fires: In the States Roundup

Standing with Every Worker and Family Impacted By the Los Angeles Fires: In the States Roundup It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on X (formerly Twitter). Alaska AFL-CIO:Labor Bleeds for the Cause is happening this weekend!Pre-register for the event by signing up at: https://t.co/9ccml6RKF0Have questions about donating blood? Check out this FAQ from the Blood Bank of Alaska: https://t.co/SsGgIxWkMY pic.twitter.com/99MwrCA7qX— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) January 14, 2025Arizona AFL-CIO:Today is the opening day of the 57th Legislature, tune in to watch Governor Hobbs' State of the State Address: https://t.co/najxHz6aYm— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) January 13, 2025California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:Our @CaliforniaLabor family is standing with every worker and family impacted by the #lafires. Check out housing assistance, food assistance, and more emergency resources and union relief funds HERE➡️@LALabor @AFLCIO https://t.co/k9obY4rfrD pic.twitter.com/jJFurq5j9S— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) January 11, 2025Colorado AFL-CIO:In the Free State of Colorado, it only makes sense that the state government stays out of union-employer collective bargaining negotiations. Pass SB 5- the Worker Protection Act! @GovofCO @jaredpolis #coleg #copolitics— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) January 9, 2025Connecticut AFL-CIO:Proudly representing CT at this year's #MLK2025 Civil & Human Rights Conference, CT AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer @ShellyeDavis & Political Director Joelyn Leon join with AFL-CIO @STRedmond to declare there is #PowerInUnity! pic.twitter.com/o4qYLuD7BE— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) January 10, 2025Illinois AFL-CIO:“CEOs and billionaires want nothing more than to see workers divided, but we’re standing here today with greater solidarity than ever,” said AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler.https://t.co/Jmps63g6X7 pic.twitter.com/mKaFifWbnP— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) January 14, 2025Maine AFL-CIO:The signing of the Social Security Fairness Act repealing offset penalties for public workers was the product of a true bipartisan grass roots movement of workers & unions. Thank you @SenatorCollins for taking the ball & running with it!https://t.co/27kjoMcbyx— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) January 10, 2025Massachusetts AFL-CIO:Please join @BTU66 and the labor community for informational pickets this Thursday, January 16th, before the school day.Pick a Boston school near you or join one of these :◦Charlestown High School: 7:00–7:20 a.m.◦Curley K-8: 7:55–8:20 a.m.◦Tobin K-8: 8:50–9:10 a.m.— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) January 14, 2025Minnesota AFL-CIO:We're accepting scholarship applications for high school seniors! Applicants must be a union member or dependent of a member, have a straight “B” average, and plan to attend a post-secondary institution within Minnesota. Apply at https://t.co/yRQRBExcIP #BetterInAUnion pic.twitter.com/D2XJ8UPbPx— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) January 13, 2025Missouri AFL-CIO:Enjoy a bowl of #UnionMade soup this month! #BuyUnion #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/cf0XSxflri— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) January 13, 2025Nevada State AFL-CIO:The Nevada State AFL-CIO held a labor legislative meeting on Thursday and Friday evening where affiliates had the opportunity to discuss labor’s legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session. We thank all of the attendees and elected officials for joining! pic.twitter.com/Tt0Pk1WMd7— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) January 11, 2025New Hampshire AFL-CIO:“Right-to-Work” (HB238-FN) is back. The first public hearing is on 1/22 @ 10:00 AM. Please stand in #Solidarity with NH working families and sign in to register your opposition by using this link: https://t.co/1XUMH2yEEm#NHPolitics #1u #RTW pic.twitter.com/eyduSvUSEk— New Hampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) January 10, 2025New York State AFL-CIO:Scenes from our State of the State Breakfast this morning. Thanks to all who attended! #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/aR5VEGChYF— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) January 14, 2025North Carolina State AFL-CIO:NC Republicans are trying to steal this election, period. It's past time for Jefferson Griffin to concede that Allison Riggs won! N.C. Supreme Court blocks certification of Democrat as winner of close high court race https://t.co/Splemkpyzu via @nbcnews #ncpol— NC State AFL-CIO // #CountMeIn (@NCStateAFLCIO) January 8, 2025Ohio AFL-CIO:This morning, #Ohio @AFLCIO President Tim Burga visited the @Oapse4 @AFSCME members on strike at the @EFCTS for dignity and respect. Please call Superintendent Shelly Groves (614-836-4530 ext. 1332) and let her know these dedicated workers deserve a fair contract. pic.twitter.com/sdXMGEWPp3— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) January 14, 2025Oregon AFL-CIO:It's about safely caring for patients, dignity, and respect. And we're with @OregonNurses members every step of the way. https://t.co/B8NQKBNZXt— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) January 13, 2025Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:The trades are calling! Earn a livable wage, health insurance and retirement benefits – all while working on a job site and learning your craft. pic.twitter.com/7lBuRPGdFW— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) January 10, 2025Texas AFL-CIO:Working Texans deserve a legislature that works for THEM, not billionaires and corporations.With our Fair Shot Legislative Agenda, we’re demanding lawmakers deliver on 10 pro-worker priorities.Stand with Texas workers and add your name TODAY! #txlege https://t.co/iraMEr4694— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) January 14, 2025Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:Aaaand we’re off. The 2025 Legislative session kicks off today and here is our fearless President, April Sims, with our top 6 Bills for raising wages and improving jobs for workers in Washington State. pic.twitter.com/JYy3BD47Ce— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) January 13, 2025Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:Workers say Amazon is now deploying its union-busting "science" at Whole Foods https://t.co/QZGZueNpoR— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) January 14, 2025 Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 01/14/2025 - 10:15Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Union Heroes: Firefighters Battle Southern California Wildfires

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Union Heroes: Firefighters Battle Southern California Wildfires 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. As devastating wildfires rage in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, dedicated members of the California Professional Firefighters are working tirelessly to help battle the disaster and protect residents. Fire Fighters (IAFF) General Secretary-Treasurer Frank Líma (second from left) was on the ground with elected officials in California this week to meet with first responders and support relief efforts.If you want to donate to help out or have been impacted by the destruction and need resources, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and its community service arm, Labor Community Services, have information and a relief fund set up online.LA Fed Wildfire ResourcesLos Angeles Fire Relief Fund Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 01/14/2025 - 09:59Continue reading→

APWU and USPS Agree to One-Time Retirement Incentive, ‘Early Out’ for Postal Workers

January 13, 2025On January 13, 2025, the United States Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union have mutually agreed to a One-time Retirement Incentive, including an "early out" option for eligible employees. Voluntary Early Retirement / Incentives On January 13, 2025, the United States Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union have mutually agreed to a One-time Retirement Incentive, including an "early out" option for eligible employees. The parties agree that the Postal Service will make lump sum incentive payments totaling $15,000 (less applicable taxes and deductions) to eligible full-time career employees who choose optional retirement or retire pursuant to a Voluntary Early Retirement (VER). Part-time employees will be eligible for a prorated amount, as provided in the attached MOU. You can read the full MOU below. Questions and Answers regarding this MOU will be posted soon. 2025-01-13 MOU Re: One-Time Retirement Incentive APWU and USPS Agree to One-Time Retirement Incentive, 'Early Out' for Postal Workers0Continue reading→