APWU

APWU Applauds Decision to Keep Local Mail Local

Posted in: APWU

January 16, 2025In November 2024, The Postal Regulatory Commission reversed course on a slew of postal consolidations, retaining local mail processing at 16 additional facilities across the U.S. This is a win for the public postal service, as we believe local mail should remain local.
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In November 2024, the Postal Service notified the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) in two rounds of announcements dated Nov. 12 and Nov. 22, that 16 additional facilities that will retain local mail processing, reversing their recommendation for consolidation, as originally planned.
The APWU applauds this decision. While we agree that the current network needs upgrades to handle the change of mail-mix from a majority of envelopes and flats to packages, we believe that local mail being consolidated and sorted hundreds of miles away from its entry into the mail flow, only to return a day later, further delays America’s mail.
We stand with the people of our country and agree that we need improved postal services. During the peak season for holiday mail, we anticipate too many delays. But we also know how well the Postal Service can operate. During the 2024 General Election season 97.7 percent of them were delivered within three days.
When we have the proper staffing in place and enact measures to ensure that our system runs efficiently, like we did during the 2024 election season, we can ensure that every community from coast to coast – and beyond – has dependable mail delivery service.
“The APWU believes that the Postal Service must modernize its network to improve service and deliver mail reliably to its customers,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “We are happy to see the USPS responding to feedback that local mail should stay local, but we also know that moving the goal posts on service standards and ending afternoon collections for certain facilities will not improve the public’s trust or experience with our Postal Service.” ■

APWU Applauds Decision to Keep Local Mail Local0

USPS Board of Governors Elects New Leadership

Posted in: APWU

January 16, 2025The USPS Board of Governors elected governor Amber F. McReyolds as a new board chair at its fourth and final meeting of 2024, Now three vacancies exist upon the expiration of Anton Hajjar’s term on December 8.
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On Nov 14, in its fourth and final meeting of 2024, the Postal Board of Governors elected fellow governor Amber F. McReynolds to serve as chair of the Board. She also currently chairs the Board’s Election Mail committee. Additionally, the governors elected Derek Kan to serve as vice chairman.
At this meeting, the Board discussed the Postal Service’s 2024 financial report, reports from the Audit and Finance committee, Compensation and Governance committee, Operations committee, and Election Mail committee.
It was also the final meeting for Governor Anton Hajjar. Hajjar’s seat on the Postal Board of Governors expired on Dec. 8, adding an additional vacant seat to the two existing vacancies. Outgoing President Joe Biden had already submitted three nominees to fill these seats, which include Val Butler Demings, William Zollars, and Gordon Hartogensis. But, by the time of publication for this issue of The American Postal Worker, the Senate failed to move to confirm the president’s nominees, and the vacancies are expected to carry over to a new Trump administration.
The Board provides the important oversight in ensuring that this institution continues to provide high-quality service to every community.
The gridlock to confirm these qualified nominees is frustrating, but it further demonstrates the necessity of grassroots actions and vigilance at the state and local level to ensure that the Postal Service is treating employees well and moving the mail to every door, without exception.
The Postal Board of Governors does not have the final say in how our mail runs – the people do. No matter who Trump nominates to the Board, the APWU will keep fighting for the exceptional service and delivery standards our communities deserve. Stay tuned for more updates.

usps board of governors elects new leadership0

Project 2025 Seeks to Undermine Public Services with Schedule F

Posted in: APWU

January 16, 2025The reinstatement of Trump’s 2020 “Schedule F” Executive Order may be on the horizon with Project 2025, reclassifying many civil servants into at-will employees without job protection. Organized labor must stand together and prepare to fight back:
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The American Postal Worker has reported on the conservative-created, Trump-supported Project 2025 in past issues. Please see the August- September 2024 and October- November 2024 issues for more background information.
Americans everywhere depend on efficient government services to support our communities, foster economic stability, and provide a social safety net for neighbors in need. Civil servants, at all levels of government, help make sure public services like Social Security payments, disaster relief, and public education are accessible to everyone who wants them. Keeping high quality public services available and open to the public also means keeping civil servants with expertise in these jobs.
Project 2025 seeks to undermine this expectation of efficiency and expertise in public services by dismantling the Federal Government and reinstating Trump’s 2020 “Schedule F” Executive Order. This would allow the ruling administration to reclassify many civil servants as policymaking or policy-evaluating workers, thereby removing their civil service protections and making them at-will employees. President Trump could then install whomever he pleases based on favoritism and loyalty to his administration.
Deploying Schedule F to replace dedicated civil servants with inexperienced cronies removes the very people who are experts at their jobs and have the knowledge to help our government serve our communities in the best possible way.
Installing employees based on “who you know” favoritism effectively removes the nonpartisan and professional nature of civil service – civil servants should simply be the most qualified for the job. That’s why tests like the ones postal workers must take for employment exist. An unbiased exam means that workers earn their jobs based on their skills, not who we know or what color our skin is.
Furthermore, in the long run, this practice could effectively dismantle public trust and efficiency in government services, letting billionaires like Donald Trump and Elon Musk make the case for a privatized, capitalistic government that profits off its citizens, instead of a government that exists to uplift workers and our communities.
Our union family at the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is preparing to fight back and protect their workers who are providing essential public services at the federal level. We must stand together as working people and fight back against attacks on the AFGE and our other union families, to protect knowledgeable, dedicated federal employees and great public services for everyone. ■

Project 2025 Seeks to Undermine Public Services with Schedule F0

2024 Ballot Measures: Wins for the Working Class

Posted in: APWU

January 16, 2025During the 2024 General Election, voters weighed in on more than just candidates; in many states, they also voted on state-specific ballot measures that mattered most to them as individuals, such as increasing the minimum wage, preserving public education, protecting reproductive rights, and the right to unionize.
magazineElections

During the 2024 General Election, voters didn’t just choose candidates to represent them in their respective local, state, and federal elections, but in many states they also voted on ballot measures on specific issues that mattered most to them as individuals.
Ballot measures, or ballot propositions, are state-level measures that give citizens the power to change laws through a vote, meaning that the voters decide on the issues. Ballot measures can be a key tool to allow voters to pass measures at the state level.
In 2024, voters decided on issues that affect working class people, irrespective of partisan affiliation, such as increasing the minimum wage, expanding paid sick leave, preserving public education, banning anti-union captive-audience meetings, protecting reproductive rights, and the right to unionize.
In many cases, the same states who voted in favor for the issues above also elected candidates that opposed them, showing a dissonance between the progressive policies voters want and the conservative policies elected officials enact. Working people need a party that will focus on the issues that affect us – and fight for those same issues when they are in office. Voters said enough with the status quo and empty promises, they sought change that will impact their lives and families. The results in this election, for both candidates and ballot measures, show that if we are going to win for working people, we need candidates who will fight for us, not the billionaire class. ■

2024 Ballot Measures: Wins for the Working Class0

USPS Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Report Highlights Need for Adaptation, Expanded Services

Posted in: APWU

January 16, 2025Volume Down, Revenue Up. The financial results of the Postal Service for the 2024 fiscal year have been announced, and the results may surprise you. While USPS remains a trusted public service, it must continue to adapt to changes in the mail mix to remain competitive. Read more:
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The Postal Service released its 2024 Form 10-K on Nov. 14, 2024, which reports on its financial results for the 2024 fiscal year (FY) that ended on Sept. 30, 2024.
Highlights of the report show that the total operating revenue for FY2024 was more than $79.5 billion, an increase of $1.35 billion, or 1.7 percent from FY2023. Revenue from shipping and packages was $32.26 billion, an increase of $625 million, or 2 percent from FY2023.
Despite the increases in revenue, total volume was down 3.2 percent for the year. Package volume, however, increased 2.7 percent, with a 1.9 percent increase in revenue. First-Class Mail (FCM) volume declined by 3.5 percent, but revenue increased by 3.38 percent. The revenue increase results from four price increases on market-dominant products in 2023 and 2024. And while the USPS revenue was down 1.3 percent for single-piece FCM, revenue was up 5.4 percent for presorted FCM. The price increases easily made up for the modest volume losses.
For the past decade, private companies such as FedEx, Amazon, and UPS have been investing in the expansion of their delivery networks at a financial loss in hopes for future gains, which has taken modest mail and package volumes away from the Postal Service. FedEx and Amazon have made the most investments, which may soon become profitable. This would allow them to gain more density in the market space, meaning that they would provide similar shipping and delivery services, and the Postal Service could lose its market share in the industry.
While the Postal Service remains a trusted public service, it must continue to adapt to changes in the mail mix and declining mail volumes by expanding its products and services to remain competitive. This may be difficult if the Postal Service enacts additional proposed changes to service standards that would further slow mail, degrade services, and undermine the public trust. Expanded products and services, like postal banking, could also increase revenue for the USPS and should remain a priority for the USPS to become fiscally solvent. ■
Total Volume: Down 3.2%Total Revenue: Up 1.7%First Class Mail Volume: Down 3.5%First Class Mail Revenue: 3.38%

USPS Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Report Highlights Need for Adaptation, Expanded Services0

Preparing for Retirement

Posted in: APWU

January 15, 2025Retirees Director Nancy Olumekor urges postal workers, whether you’re 5, 10, or 30 years from retirement, to prepare by attending retirement planning seminars hosted by the APWU Retirees Department and staying abreast of relevant legislation.
magazineRetireesNancy Olumekor

Every year, we make New Year’s resolutions to plan for the future. One area to plan for is retirement. Whether your retirement is five, 10, or 30 years down the road, there are several questions you need to get answered: First, what is your retirement system? Is it the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Offset? Are you one of the handful of employees in CSRS, meaning that you already have over 42 years of service and will receive a pension of 80 percent? Do you know how your federal pension will be calculated when you retire, or what role Social Security will play in your retirement income? What about the Thrift Savings Plans (TSPs)? Do you understand how the money is invested, or why management pays a share? How does your sick and annual leave figure into the retirement equation?
These questions can all be answered in the retirement planning seminars conducted online by the APWU Retirees Department at least once a quarter. For dates and times, visit apwu.org/events. In addition, we conduct in-person seminars at the local, state, and national levels. Contact us at RetireeQandA@apwu.org if you have questions. Our counselors are very knowledgeable and experienced in the matters related to your retirement.
Legislative and Executive Actions
Legislative or executive decisions made by Congress or the White House may affect your retirement. We must remain vigilant and ready to act on legislative issues that impact your retirement benefits. Congress enacted Social Security in 1935. Social Security is the only source of retirement income for many Americans. Postal workers and most postal retirees have paid into Social Security. Current postal workers pay into three retirement programs – the FERS pension, Social Security, and TSP. The retirement benefits you pay for as you work must be protected from the whims and plots of politicians. Think tanks, with the help of Congress, are looking at ways to reduce your benefits without your advice or consent. The APWU supports the following legislative priorities to protect and improve your retirement benefits.
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act, if signed into law, would allow temporary postal and federal employees who are promoted to career status, the option of “buying back” the time that they worked as a noncareer employee to use toward their retirement. It would affect over 100,000 APWU members who have converted from temporary to career status.
The Equal COLA Act would fi x the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) discrepancy created by Congress in the 1980s. Under the current system, all annual COLAs are based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W). CSRS retirees receive a COLA equal to the CPI-W increase, while FERS retirees only receive an equal COLA if the CPI-W increase is 2 percent or below. If CPI-W is over 3 percent, 1 percent is subtracted from the CPI-W for FERS.
The Social Security Expansion Act would strengthen and enhance Social Security. Some features of the bill would subject income above $250,000 to Social Security taxes; calculate COLAs using the CPI for the Elderly (CPI-E), and make the Special Minimum Benefit 125 percent of the poverty line. It is estimated that this bill will make Social Security solvent for over 70 years, since the extremely wealthy would pay the same tax rate as the average employee.
The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which are parts of a Social Security law enacted in the 1980s, that unfairly reduce, or sometimes eliminate, Social Security benefits for millions of local, state, and federal annuitants.
What steps will you to take to ensure that your representatives on Capitol Hill are aware of your position on these issues? ■

Preparing for Retirement0

Progress Is A Must In This New Year

Posted in: APWU

January 15, 2025Human Relations Director Daleo Freeman outlines goals for the department in 2025, including to continue trainings for locals and states, and to utilize Regional Resource Assistants to better assist locals and states with their issues.
magazineHuman RelationsDaleo Freeman

The Human Relations Department would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. As another year rolls over, it is time to reflect and hope for a brighter future. In 2025, the Human Relations Department will hold its Educational Assembly in Houston, TX. We will build unity and solidarity and efficiently equip members through education and empowerment. During this educational event, members will be informed on topics such as the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP), the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Veterans’ Rights, Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Economic and Social Justice, and Equal Employment Opportunities (EEOs). We will do our best to inspire and energize in the new year.
The Employee Assistance Program
This year, we will be providing locals and states with more guidance on how to effectively utilize EAP in their local areas. We will continue to meet actively to stress the importance of assisting members as they need it.
The Office of Workers’ Compensation
After a successful year in 2024, we will keep the momentum going by conducting more training related to the OWCP. Although we organized many notable training courses across the country this past year, there is still more work to be done. In this new year, the Human Relations Department aims to continue trainings for locals and states, and to utilize Regional Resource Assistants to better assist locals and states with their issues. Our mission is to continue this year by building on our program and providing excellent training for all.
Veterans’ Rights and Benefits
As reported in 2023 and 2024, we initiated a program for our U.S. veteran service members, organized a database to recognize and encourage them, and to build a coalition. We are committed to using all the tools and resources at our disposal to build and mobilize our membership. Please stay informed and encourage all veterans to pay attention to our communication channels for resources and updates on our progress.
Civil Rights and Engagement
As we continue to strive for equality for all, I am excited to announce that our department takes on the issues of today. We are looking forward to this year. We are fueling the momentum we carried into this year by becoming more knowledgeable and empowered on all platforms, while stressing the importance of mobilizing and continuing to secure assistance for all who are in need.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
This year we will be providing our members with much-needed guidance on how the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) works, as well as an overall handbook of the EEOC process. We know how tedious the EEOC process can be, so your Human Relations Department intends to produce an informative manual specifically for APWU, on the EEOC rules and processes, and general guidelines on how to navigate through them. Currently, we are not providing representation, but it is important that we provide a resource that is readily accessible to all members. Please stay tuned for more information on the upcoming issue of the new EEOC booklet, which will be shared with all our members.
Lastly, I want to thank all who will be taking on the challenges that we face this year. I’m confident that all these challenges will better forge together the common goals we wish to accomplish in 2025. This department looks forward to addressing your needs, providing resources, and offering opportunities to get involved throughout the year. We can do it better when we work together. Thank you all. ■

Progress Is A Must In This New Year0

Understanding the Pregnancy Discrimination Act

Posted in: APWU

January 15, 2025 Research & Education Director Joyce B. Robinson shares important information on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and explains what to do if you feel you are a victim of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.
magazineResearch and EducationJoyce B. Robinson

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978 amends Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions constitutes unlawful sex discrimination. Pregnant women and their related conditions must be treated in the same manner as other employees with similar disabilities or inability to work. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), effective June 27, 2023, strengthened the law.
Pregnancy Discrimination Violates the Collective Bargaining Agreement
Pregnancy discrimination violates Article 2, Non- Discrimination and Civil Rights, Section 1, Statement of Principle of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Postal Service and the union, which states, “The Employer and the Union agree that there shall be no discrimination by the Employer or the Union against employees because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, or marital status.” Therefore, if an employee is temporarily unable to perform her job due to pregnancy, the Postal Service must treat her the same as any other temporarily disabled employee by providing light duty, modified tasks, alternative assignments, disability leave, and leave without pay. In addition, it violates the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), Article 672.1 b.
Pregnancy and Maternity Leave
Under the PDA, employers must treat pregnant employees the same as other employees with temporary disabilities. If an employee has been absent from work due to a pregnancy related condition and recovers, her employer may not require her to remain on leave until the baby’s birth. Employers must provide reasonable accommodations to employees with limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. This could include modified work schedules, more frequent breaks, or time off for medical appointments. Temporarily disabled leave or leave without pay must be granted for pregnancy. The job must be held open for a pregnancy-related absence the same as for employees on sick or temporary disability leave. It is illegal for the employer to retaliate against an employee for fi ling a discrimination charge or participating in an investigation on pregnancy discrimination.
What To Do If You Are a Victim of Pregnancy Discrimination
If you feel that you are a victim of pregnancy discrimination, take the following actions:
Write Down What Happened – Record the date, time, and place of the incident and include what was said and identify witnesses. Keep a copy of these notes at home.
Contact Your Union Representative – File a grievance within 14 days of the incident, citing a violation of Article 2, Article 13, Article 19, and Article 30.
Keep Copies of Job Evaluations – Keep records at home of all evaluations that show that you do a good job at work. Your supervisor may criticize your job performance later in order to defend the discrimination.
File an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Complaint – A pregnancy discrimination charge must be fi led within 45 days of the discriminatory action to preserve your legal rights. EEOC regulations require that EEO complaints against the Postal Service must be fi led with the Postal Service. You may use PS Form 2565, EEO Complaint of Discrimination in the Postal Service, to fi le your formal EEO complaint. For a copy of PS Form 2565, EEO Complaint of Discrimination in the Postal Service, contact Research and Education Department Director Joyce B. Robinson at jrobinson@apwu.org. ■
Resources: Pregnancy Discrimination Act, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Collective Bargaining Agreement between the APWU and the USPS, and the USPS Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM).

Understanding the Pregnancy Discrimination Act0

Organizing for the Year Ahead

Posted in: APWU

January 15, 2025Organizing Director Anna Smith shares tips on how to make union organizing a part of your new year’s resolutions.
magazineOrganizationAnna Smith

As we begin the new year, many of us take stock of our lives and set goals for improvement. Some of us may focus on our health, finances, or personal growth with each new year. But have you ever considered making union organizing your New Year’s resolution? I know we say it repeatedly, but collective action is more important than ever. The chatter of stagnant wages, unfair working conditions, and inequality continue to challenge workers across industries. Unionizing is a powerful tool to address the challenges we feel in our workplace. Building solidarity is the only path to securing better wages and benefits, giving workers a real voice, and addressing inequalities in our workplace.
Union organizing isn’t just about improving conditions for individual workers, it’s about creating a movement in our workplaces, our communities, and across the country, not just for postal workers but in every industry. We, as unionized postal workers, have made monumental gains over the past 50 years. The rights and benefits we enjoy today are because others stood together. Whether you want to just continue to enjoy what you currently have, or want more, in either case, only through organizing can we maintain, sustain, or improve.
When workers come together, dignity and empowerment can transform both our professional and personal lives.
Are You Ready to Make Union Organizing One of Your New Year’s Resolutions, But Don’t Know Where to Start?
Educate yourself – Learn about the history of the APWU and your local. The APWU website has a lot of information about our history, and how we got to where we are today, our struggles, and our triumphs. Visit apwu.org/apwu-history or the “Welcome to the APWU” book found on the Organization Department’s page: apwu.org/organizers-tool-kit
Connect with your coworkers – Talk to your coworkers about their workplace concerns and interests. Building relationships and trust is crucial for effective organizing. Everyone has something in common, so fi nd that common ground.
Reach out to your local union – Talk with your stewards and officers, attend your local membership meetings, and invite others to go with you. Get involved. I have never heard any union leader say they had too much help, or too many stewards.
Stay committed – Organizing is not easy by any means, and it most certainly is not a one-time task. It’s an everyday, all-the-time process, where persistence is key.
As you plan your resolutions this year, consider the impact you can have on collective action.
In 2025, resolve to stand up, speak out, and organize! ■

The winners and their organizing
goals from our raffle in the
Nov/Dec 2024 article are below!

Moving Forward in 2025

Posted in: APWU

January 15, 2025Leg/Pol Director Judy Beard noted that while the 2024 elections brought change, we also saw wins on the state level.
magazineLegislative and PoliticalJudy Beard

With the 2024 elections behind us, we are now moving forward into our 2025 legislative agenda. While the results of the election are sure to bring major changes to the U.S. government, our commitment to advocate for our members and their families remains unchanged. We must continue to stay vigilant of attacks against working-class families. Proposals, such as imposing high tariffs that would raise consumer prices, reducing Social Security and Medicare benefits, raising the retirement age, and threats to both federal and union jobs, are all on our radar. Our fight has always been a collective one. This year, we must fight harder than ever before to protect and expand our rights.
Getting to know your elected officials is the first step toward making positive changes to federal and state law. If a bill exists that aligns with your ideas, ask for the support of your elected officials. If it does not yet exist, ask them to draft a bill. As a constituent, you have the right and power to ask your elected officials to fight for your interests.
The Makeup of Congress
Following the 2024 elections, Republicans maintained control of the House of Representatives and won control of the Senate, as well as the presidency. There are 220 Republican seats and 215 Democratic seats in the House of Representatives, and 53 Republican seats and 47 Democratic seats (including the independents who caucus with the Democrats) in the Senate. These results mean that Republicans and Democrats may need to work together to pass legislation. In the Senate, the filibuster means that 60 votes are needed to pass certain bills, which would require Democratic votes. We hope that these margins result in both parties working together to benefit the American people.
Legislative Priorities in the 119th Congress
The new 119th Congress began on Jan. 3, 2025. Two of the APWU’s most important legislative priorities this year are the Federal Retirement Fairness Act and the Shipping Equity Act. While these bills have not yet been reintroduced, we are currently working with potential lead congressional sponsors of each to ensure their reintroduction.
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act, if signed into law, would provide career employees the opportunity to make up contributions to their retirement benefits for the time they worked as a temporary postal employee. Currently, postal workers who begin their postal career as temporary employees (non-career employees such as postal support employees (PSEs), transitional employees, and casuals) are not allowed to make contributions to their retirement benefits until they become career employees. The goal of this bill is to allow employees to retire on time, with their full, hard-earned retirement benefits.
The Shipping Equity Act, if signed into law, would remove the current restriction on the Postal Service shipping beer, alcohol, and wine directly to consumers, and level the playing field between the Postal Service and private carriers. It’s time we lift this ban and enable the public Postal Service to realize the opportunity to increase revenue and expand on demanded services.
Ballot Measure Wins in 2024
While many federal races may not have gone as we had hoped, there were some notable wins at the state level. Currently, 26 states and the District of Columbia allow for citizen-initiated ballot measures. This means that voters, not state politicians, can decide if a law should be repealed or if an amendment should be made to their state constitution.
In 2024, seven states protected or strengthened the right to reproductive freedom, two states increased their state’s minimum wage, and two states expanded voting rights. These results clearly show that Americans from across the country support a variety of issues that better the lives of postal workers and their families. ■

Moving Forward in 20250