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January 8, 2025The fast and furious online reaction to The [Washington] Post’s Dec. 19 editorial underscores how strongly the people support and trust the U.S. Postal Service. US Mail Not for SalePresidentMark Dimondstein The fast and furious online reaction to The [Washington] Post’s Dec. 19 editorial underscores how strongly the people support and trust the U.S. Postal Service. Though the Editorial Board claims to be “agnostic” on postal privatization, the board suggests it’s been successful elsewhere. This couldn’t be further from the truth; postal privatization has proved deeply unpopular in other countries, where it has led to higher postage rates and cuts in service. Privatization would jeopardize the Postal Service’s universal obligation to provide postal services for all people, no matter who we are or where we live. What’s to stop a Wild West of price gouging and profit-taking? Where profit cannot be made — especially in rural America — service would probably cease. The bleak picture of the Postal Service’s financials presented in the editorial ignores some obvious fixes: Allow the Postal Service to provide expanded products, such as financial services and licensing; invest Postal Service pension and health funds in something other than low-yield Treasury bonds; end presorting discounts, which amount to corporate welfare for big mailers and deprive the Postal Service of needed revenue; update the 1970 business model to address the reality of growing package volume and declining letter volume in the internet age. In addition, The Post’s editorial devalues what the public Postal Service does. Whether through providing tens of millions of people secure access to the ballot box, sorting and delivering medicines, packages, personal correspondence and advertising, enabling customer access for small businesses, bringing normalcy after natural disasters, or giving the exchanging of ideas and information a presence in every community, the Postal Service remains vital to binding the country together. Omissions such as the Postal Service’s role in ensuring access to e-commerce are striking. Yes, the Postal Service is facing financial and service challenges. But we should not use these fixable challenges as reason to side with private business oligarchs. The unionized, dedicated postal workers side with the people as, together, we say: “The U.S. mail is not for sale!” Read President Dimondstein's response and other responses to the Dec. 19 Washington Post Editorial by clicking here! The Mail is Not for Sale! APWU President Mark Dimondstein's Response to The Washington Post's Dec. 19, 2024 Editorial About Postal Privatization0Continue reading→

January 7, 2025Recently, two National Business Agent (NBA) positions became vacant in the Clerk Division. Robert “Bob” Romanowski left his NBA job in the Philadelphia Region when he was promoted to the newly established Assistant Director “C”, Clerk Division, at APWU headquarters and Robert “Bob” Kessler retired, after over 44 years, from his position as NBA for the St. Louis Region. Clerk CraftClerk Division Lamont Brooks Recently, two National Business Agent (NBA) positions became vacant in the Clerk Division. Robert “Bob” Romanowski left his NBA job in the Philadelphia Region when he was promoted to the newly established Assistant Director “C”, Clerk Division, at APWU headquarters and Robert “Bob” Kessler retired, after over 44 years, from his position as NBA for the St. Louis Region. In accordance with the APWU Constitution & By-Laws, Clerk Division Director Lamont Brooks was tasked with filling these NBA vacancies, with approval of the Clerk Division Executive Council. By unanimous vote from the Clerk Division NBAs, Kim Miller, Keystone, PA Area Local, was appointed to National Business Agent, Philadelphia Region. Sharon Curtis, Greater Kansas City, MO Area Local, was named to the position of National Business Agent, St. Louis Region by another unanimous vote from the NBAs. Miller attended Mansfield University and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, in addition to serving honorably in the United States Army from 1996-2000. She began her postal career in Harrisburg, PA on August 12, 2000, joining the APWU on the same day. In 2005, she began her union career as a steward. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed Secretary-Treasurer of the Keystone, PA Area Local. She also served as a state officer for the Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union, first as Business Agent and then as President. Miller was also local president for the Keystone Area Local from 2014-2024. She attended arbitration advocacy training in 2015, served on the Constitution Committee twice, and was Co-Chair of the current APWU Rank and File Committee. Curtis began her postal career as a PTF clerk in Cameron, MO while attending night school to earn her bachelor’s degree in accounting. She also worked in the Saint Joseph, MO Post Office and Stamp Fulfillment Services in Kansas City, during which time she became active in her local union. She has held several positions in the APWU, including steward, editor, and secretary-treasurer. She was also an area vice-president for the Missouri Postal Workers Union.  She has attended APWU’s well-known National Advocacy school organized and prepared by Research and Education Director Joyce Robinson. For the past seven years, she has successfully served as an arbitration advocate in her area. Both Miller and Curtis officially took office as National Business Agents on January 6, 2025. The Clerk Division officers and the entire APWU congratulate both new officers and wish them the best during their term of office.   Recently, two National Business Agent (NBA) positions became vacant in the Clerk Division. Robert “Bob” Romanowski left his NBA job in the Philadelphia Region when he was promoted to the newly established Assistant Director “C”, Clerk Division, at APWU headquarters and Robert “Bob” Kessler retired, after over 44 years, from his position as NBA for the St. Louis Region.0Continue reading→

January 7, 2025Recently, two National Business Agent (NBA) positions became vacant in the Clerk Division. Robert “Bob” Romanowski left his NBA job in the Philadelphia Region when he was promoted to the newly established Assistant Director “C”, Clerk Division position at APWU headquarters. Additionally. Robert “Bob” Kessler retired from his position as NBA for the St. Louis Region after over 44 years. Clerk CraftClerk Division Lamont Brooks Recently, two National Business Agent (NBA) positions became vacant in the Clerk Division. Robert “Bob” Romanowski left his NBA job in the Philadelphia Region when he was promoted to the newly established Assistant Director “C”, Clerk Division position at APWU headquarters. Additionally, Robert “Bob” Kessler retired from his position as NBA for the St. Louis Region after over 44 years. In accordance with the APWU Constitution & By-Laws, Clerk Division Director Lamont Brooks was tasked with filling these NBA vacancies, with approval of the Clerk Division Executive Council. By unanimous vote from the Clerk Division NBAs, Keystone Area Local President Kim Miller was appointed to National Business Agent, Philadelphia Region and Greater Kansas City Metro Area Local Secretary-Treasurer Sharon Curtis was appointed National Business Agent, St. Louis Region by another unanimous vote from the NBAs. Miller attended Mansfield University and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, in addition to serving honorably in the U.S. Army from 1996-2000. She began her postal career in Harrisburg, PA on August 12, 2000, joining the APWU on the same day. In 2005, she began her union career as a steward. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed Secretary-Treasurer of the Keystone Area Local. She also served as a state officer for the Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union, first as business agent and then as president. Miller was also local president of the Keystone Area Local from 2014-2024. She attended arbitration advocacy training in 2015, served on the Constitution Committee twice, and was co-chair of the current APWU Rank and File Committee. Curtis began her postal career as a PTF clerk in Cameron, MO while attending night school to earn her bachelor’s degree in accounting. She also worked in the Saint Joseph, MO Post Office and Stamp Fulfillment Services in Kansas City, during which time she became active in her local union. She has held several positions in the APWU, including steward, editor, and secretary-treasurer. She was also an area vice-president for the Missouri Postal Workers Union.  She has attended the APWU’s well-known National Advocacy School organized and prepared by Research and Education Director Joyce Robinson. For the past seven years, she has successfully served as an arbitration advocate in her area. Both Miller and Curtis officially took office as NBAs on Jan. 6, 2025. The Clerk Division officers and the entire APWU congratulate both new officers and wish them the best during their terms of office.   Recently, two National Business Agent (NBA) positions became vacant in the Clerk Division. Robert “Bob” Romanowski left his NBA job in the Philadelphia Region when he was promoted to the newly established Assistant Director “C”, Clerk Division, at APWU headquarters and Robert “Bob” Kessler retired, after over 44 years, from his position as NBA for the St. Louis Region.0Continue reading→