APWU
Protecting Our Rights During the Threats We Face!
March 24, 2025The threats to our collective bargaining rights are very real. There are new policies that some people in power want to implement, which could signi cantly impact our ability to negotiate for our wages, rights, and benefits. Organization Director Anna Smith provides ways postal workers can protect our rights.
magazineOrganizationAnna Smith
Almost from the day we start working at the Postal Service, we hear negative comments such as, “the Post Office is going under,” or “automation will replace our jobs.” For those who have been around for any length of time, those predictions have fallen short. Despite the threats, we are still here today!
We learn to adapt to changes and adjust how things are done, and we will continue to do so. One thing is for sure, the workplace as we know it today will not be the same in five years, or even a year from now.
However, the threats to our collective bargaining rights are very real. There are new policies that some people in power want to implement, which could signi cantly impact our ability to negotiate for our wages, rights, and benefits.
What can we do? We push back! We must strengthen our union’s power by increasing our membership, organizing, and taking action. Stay informed and know your rights. There is a wealth of information available at union meetings, in union publications, and by visiting www.apwu.org. Together we must build community support for the work we do as postal workers. We must stand up and take action to protect the rights we have.
No action you take to protect our rights will be too small, such as having a conversation with your nonmember coworkers asking them to stand with you, making a phone call to a legislator, or even just sharing a post on social media about a collective APWU action. Make protecting your job and rights a priority.
What does the Volunteer Early Retirement Incentive mean for the APWU?
The Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) incentive may be beneficial and meet some members’ personal needs, but it will create challenges for our union as a whole and on the workroom floor. One of the positive effects of the VER is that junior employees might have the opportunity to bid into duty assignments that are typically held by senior coworkers. It also gives workers the ability to enjoy their retirement early.
There are some challenging effects that we must adapt to and overcome. Our union membership will decline. Yes, we can build it back up, but any decline in membership means a decline in bargaining power. That isn’t a good position for us to be in during contract negotiations. We all know that management will test us on the workroom floor, demanding more work be done with less people.
As a union, we must protect both those taking the VER and those who remain in the bargaining unit. As the Postal Service replaces those retiring, it is essential that we take every opportunity to bring new employees into the APWU. Have conversations with your non-member coworkers. If you see new employees, ask them to stand with you and join the APWU. If you hear new employees stating they didn’t see a union representative at orientation, let your local union leaders know. Helping nonmembers join is easier than ever with “online join,” it’s quick and can be done from either a mobile device or computer at www.apwu.org. Feel free to reach out to the department for any assistance with organizing.
Remember, for those who are retiring, be sure to take advantage of the rights and benefits of being an APWU Retiree Member. ■
Are You a Newly-Employed Career Employee in Your Craft?
Be sure to request the recently updated Career Employee fliers from your local for the Clerk, Maintenance, and Motor Vehicle Crafts. The newest version has a revision date of 1/2025. Please discard any previous versions, as they have information pertaining to Federal Employees Health Benefi ts (FEHB) rather than the new Postal Service Health Benefi ts (PSHB) program. You can also find them online by visiting: apwu.org/career-employees.
Protecting Our Rights During the Threats We Face!0
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The Struggle Always Continues
March 24, 2025As the dust settles on the start of the 119th
Congress, your Legislative and Political Department
is hard at work fostering relationships with the new and
returning members of Congress.
magazineLegislative and PoliticalJudy Beard
As the dust settles on the start of the 119th Congress, your Legislative and Political Department is hard at work fostering relationships with the new and returning members of Congress. While there are many issues we track, and legislative priorities we advocate for, it is first important to note specific attacks on postal workers.
Potential Attacks on Postal Workers
There are several proposals for federal cost-savings that the APWU is firmly against, some of which were discussed during President Trump’s first term, including:
Raising the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) contribution rate;
Reducing or fully eliminating cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs);
Eliminating FERS supplemental retirement payments;
Reducing annuity calculations, basing it on the highest five years of pay (High-5) instead of the highest three (High-3);
Increasing Federal Employees Health Bene ts (FEHB) contributions.
We will continue to carefully watch for potential attacks on the hard-earned benefits of APWU members and retirees during the upcoming congressional budget process.
Recent Executive Actions
Two executive actions taken in January impact our fellow federal workers. First, a hiring freeze was placed on federal civilian employees, with limited exceptions. The executive action goes on to request a formal plan to reduce the size of the federal workforce. Second, President Trump reinstated Executive Order 13957 from Oct. 2020, which created Schedule F – now renamed Schedule Policy/Career. This is a reclassification of federal employees with “policy-influencing positions” as political appointees. In short, Schedule Policy/Career allows the president to appoint his supporters to key government positions, while removing qualified, merit-based hires.
While these two actions do not directly impact postal workers, we must pay close attention to any changes to the federal workforce and be prepared, when called upon, to help our federal union siblings fight back.
The Department of Government Efficiency
The newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created by an executive order signed on Jan. 20, 2025. Recently, lawmakers and news organizations have discussed how to make the Postal Service more “efficient.” Ideas include downsizing the entire Postal Service, embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with robots replacing employee work, revoking the $3 billion Congress granted to the Postal Service for the new electric vehicle fleet, and replacing the current retirement plan with a defined contribution plan for new hires – drastically reducing retirement bene ts and eliminating the retirement security we have all fought to preserve. Another idea attempts to reduce the total number of career employees and have postal workers cover multiple tasks in various crafts.
Committees to Watch
There are two committees of note with jurisdiction over the Postal Service. In the Senate, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) is tasked with, in part, the responsibility to, “study the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of all agencies and departments of the federal government.” In the House, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee maintains jurisdiction over the Postal Service and will soon be tasked by Republican House leadership with finding areas of government spending to cut.
Please click here to see if your member of Congress is a member of either crucial committee. We encourage all APWU members to remain vigilant of these and any future attacks on postal workers, especially our hard-earned benefi ts. It is important that we, as postal workers and retirees, defend the work we do to serve the public. Please visit our website at apwu.org/legislative to view information about our current fi ghts and talking points for our legislative priorities.■
The Struggle Always Continues0
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Postal Workers Say, ‘Hands Off’ Our USPS in National Day of Action to Defend the Public Postal Service
March 21, 2025In a resounding show of solidarity, thousands upon thousands of postal workers and members of the community took to the streets for a National Day of Action on March 20 to say, “Hands Off Our Public Postal Service – The U.S. Mail Is Not for Sale!”
US Mail Not for SaleDay of ActionUS Mail Not For Sale – Day of Action
In a resounding show of solidarity, thousands upon thousands of postal workers and members of the community took to the streets for a National Day of Action on March 20 to say, “Hands Off Our Public Postal Service – The U.S. Mail Is Not for Sale!”
From Fairbanks, AK to Honolulu, HI, from San Juan, PR to Bangor, ME, and throughout the country – postal workers and allies took action at over 250 locations to fight for our jobs, our service, and our future.
Spending the day holding informational pickets, handing out leaflets, speaking with customers, holding press conferences and talking with the media, postal workers underscored the importance of a vibrant, public Postal Service.
Postal workers wanted to inform the public and speak about the serious and dangerous threat that postal privatization poses to our jobs and services. If the administration’s plan to sell off the USPS goes through, it will result in higher prices, reduced delivery days, and the end of universal delivery.
Postal privatization wouldn’t just mean the end of reliable, affordable services, it would also destroy more than 600,000 good union jobs. Furthermore, postal workers operate under a universal service obligation, we affordably move the mail to all 169 million addresses every day. Private delivery companies would only go where they could make a profit. That is why we spent the day speaking one on one with customers and reaching out to local media to get the word out that the U.S. Mail Is Not for Sale!
In February, the public Postal Service came under a serious and unprecedented threat by the billionaire “Wall Street” class when the Washington Post reported that the new presidential administration intended to fire the Postal Board of Governors and shift Postal Service operations to the Commerce Department, currently headed by the billionaire Howard Lutnick. They want to aggressively – and illegally – take over and dismantle the public Postal Service in a sell-off to the highest bidders for their own private gains and profits.
“We’re trying to alert the public – the people of the country – that our postal services are truly in danger. This is not a one-off day, this is the beginning of an ongoing fight,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein, while addressing attendees at the Brentwood Post Office in Washington, DC.
“This is really a fight between Wall Street and Main Street. They want their hands on this money,” he continued, in reference to the nearly $80 billion that the USPS generates in revenue each year, “…and we want to take care of the 169 million addresses that we move the mail to get delivered to every day. We’re not going to let them get the Post Office,” he concluded.
But the fight doesn’t end today! A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives recently introduced House Resolution 70 (H. Res. 70), expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization.
Visit apwu.org/action to write to your House representative and urge them to cosponsor H. Res. 70 to stand with the Postal Service and its dedicated workforce against the threat of privatization.
Our March 20 National Day of Action was a big success, showing the strength of our solidarity to defend a Postal Service that belongs to the people, and not the billionaires. To see all your photos from across the country, CLICK HERE.
Postal Workers Say, ‘Hands Off’ Our USPS in National Day of Action to Defend the Public Postal Service0
Read More....New York State 2025 Conference
New York State 2025 Conference
May 6 – 7, 2025
Long Island Marriott
101 James Doolittle Boulevard
Uniondale, New York 11553
Hotel Room rate $209/ per night plus taxes and fees
1(800) 228-9280 or (516) 794-3800
Deadline date for room registration April 1
Registration fee $99, deadline April 18
May 6, 2025 – 9:00AM to May 7, 2025 – 5:00PMLong Island Marriott 101 James Doolittle Boulevard
Uniondale, New York 11553
LocalNoYes2025-03-18 00:00:00New York State 2025 Conference10
HRC Flyer
https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/hrc_flyer.pdfHRC Flyer
Read More....Human Relations Conference 2025
https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/agenda_for_website_3-4-25.pdfHuman Relations Conference 2025
Read More....Wall Street Licks Its Lips at Prospect of Selling Off Public Post Office
March 13, 2025Wells Fargo Analysts publish a report on the massive profits they could make by selling-off our public Postal Service
US Mail Not for Sale
Just over one month into the new administration, Wall Street speculators are already excited at the prospect of extracting massive profits from a sell-off of our public Postal Service and raising shipping costs for the public.
President Trump has expressed support for privatization and is reported to be actively planning a direct takeover of the Post Office by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik, former chairman and CEO of Wall Street bank, Cantor Fitzgerald.
Despite the critical role that the Postal Service plays, Wall Street privatizers have been chomping at the bit to tear up this national treasurer and put its profit in their own pockets.
Wall Street Circulates Document Detailing Potential Profit from Postal Privatization
Read the whole report here.
In a document circulated within the banking industry, Wells Fargo equity analysts argue that postal privatization could be a huge money-maker for investors. They advise the administration to sell off the most profitable parts of the service – primarily packages and parcels, while putting taxpayers on the hook for the rest.
They stated that privatizing could be a huge money-maker for investors, calling the Postal Service “an obvious source of value.” The Postal Service generates nearly $80 billion in revenue each year. That is $80 billion in the public domain that Wall Street investors can’t get their hands on.
Wells Fargo suggests that the Postal Service should sell off the most profitable parts of its service – primarily packages and parcels, and put taxpayers, who currently don’t pay a dime, on the hook for the rest – stating that if they were in control, “Parcel could be carved out and sold or IPO’ed” to Wall Street investors.
The report suggests they would raise prices by as much as 140 percent, claiming “…we believe raising prices would be likely, which would be positive for [USPS competitors] FedEx and UPS. In order to stand alone and earn a reasonable return we estimate USPS would need to raise prices by [about] 30-140 percent across its product lines.”
They also want to sell-off, lease, or otherwise monetize our community Post Offices, which occupy prime real estate locations. “Unlocking [about] $85b of Real Estate Can Underpin the [privatization] Process,” exclaims the report, outlining a postal real estate portfolio that includes around 7,200 “smaller post office facilities” and 20,700 acres of land.”
“We believe value can be harvested to help underpin the financial burden of separation,” write the authors. It would mean that six-day delivery would be shifted to a mail-only service that is either subsidized by taxpayers or paid for by cashing in on local Post Offices.
Postal Workers, Our Community are Wall Street’s Biggest Threat
However, the report also suggests that Wall Street fears our power and influence to stop them in their tracks. “Public, private, labor, and federal support of the USPS remains high,” the authors admit before recognizing that rural communities “have a particularly strong affinity for the USPS,” and that many critical services are moved through the mail, including election ballots, medicine, taxes, bill payments, government distributions, and much more.
The report also recognizes that the USPS is authorized as an independent agency by Congress, has high bipartisan support, and is overseen by the Postmaster General and the Postal Board of Governors.
So, Congress should not stand by as the billionaires and corporate-bought politicians openly plan to privatize our public Postal Service. The APWU encourages you to call, write, and email your congressional representatives and urge them to defend our public Postal Service and to say to the Wall Street privatizers, “Hands off our public Postal Service – The U.S. Mail is Not for Sale!”
Read the whole report here.
Wells Fargo Analysts publish a report on the massive profits they could make by selling-off our public Postal ServiceWells Fargo Analysts publish a report on the massive profits they could make by selling-off our public Postal Service0
Read More....Wells Fargo on Postal Sell Off: Their Blueprint
https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/wells-fargo-usps-privatization-a-framework.pdfTheir Call
The US Postal Service is back in the headlines and with Trump 2.0’s emphasis on cost cuts, we believe Postal reform may become a focus.
2025 Human Relations Conference
Human Relations Conference: Strength in Diversity, Empowering Every Voice.
Register for the upcoming Human Relations Education Assembly. This will be a comprehensive training designed to equip stewards and APWU members with knowledge specifically focusing on: OWCP and ECOMP filing, EEOC and the steward’s role in the alternative dispute process, Veterans Rights and Benefits, and EAP and the local Advisory Committee.
The assembly will also offer a variety of workshops designed to engage participants and address the APWU’s role in advocating for human rights and community civil engagement in this changing political landscape.
June 12, 2025 – 5:00PM to June 15, 2025 – 8:00PMHilton Americas, Houston TX1600 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010
NationalNoNo2025-06-12 00:00:00https://apwumembers.apwu.org/APWUMembers/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=HREL25Registration is now closed.
Strength in Diversity, Empowering Every VoiceGeneral sessions will include lecture and panel discussions on:
OWCP
Veteran’s rights and benefits
EAP
EEOC
Civil Rights and Engagement
the Postal Employees Relief Fund
Workshops options to look forward to: Incorporating EAP into the workplace and the fabric of the local; How to get members engaged in education; Recognizing forms of discrimination in a toxic workplace; OWCP policy changes; How to Hazzard map; Freedoms we strive for; Project 2025 and implications towards Organizing and Union Activity.
When registering, you will select one (1) workshop during each timeframe below:
Sat., June 14
*1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
1. OWCP
2. Local/State Veteran’s Councils
3. Civil Freedoms
*2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
1. OWCP
2. Local/State Veteran’s Councils
3. Civil Freedoms
Sun., June 15
*1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
1. EEOC
2. EAP
3. Project 2025
*2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
1. EEOC
2. EAP
3. Project 2025
Please note that the above agenda is subject to change.
00
2025 Human Relations Assembly
Human Relations Conference: Strength in Diversity, Empowering Every Voice.
Click to see the flyer. | Click here for details about the baseball game.
Register for the upcoming Human Relations Education Assembly. This will be a comprehensive training designed to equip stewards and APWU members with knowledge specifically focusing on: OWCP and ECOMP filing, EEOC and the steward’s role in the alternative dispute process, Veterans Rights and Benefits, and EAP and the local Advisory Committee.
The assembly will also offer a variety of workshops designed to engage participants and address the APWU’s role in advocating for human rights and community civil engagement in this changing political landscape.
Human Relations Conference
Strength in Diversity, Empowering Every Voice
Below are details regarding the upcoming Human Relations Conference, as well as helpful travel information. Register and make your hotel reservations early in order to ensure your placement in the conference.
Please click here for a link to the conference’s agenda.
*For travel purposes, please count on classes going until 5:00 pm on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
If you have any questions concerning the conferences, please contact Daleo Freeman, Human Relations Director, at dfreeman@apwu.org.
Houston, TX Dates:
· Arrival: Thursday, June 12, 2025
· Conference: Friday, June 13 – Sunday, June 15, 2025
· Departure: Monday, June 16, 2025
Registration
Early Registration: Before May 16, 2025 – $125
Late Registration: May 17, 2025 or after – $150
Location: Hilton Americas Houston 1600 Lamar St Houston, TX 7701
Hotel Rate: $199.00/night plus $ plus taxes *Cut-off date to make reservations is Thursday, May 22, 2025. Reservations can be made online at https://book.passkey.com/go/APWU2025
Baseball Game: The Houston Astros will host the Minnesota Twins on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 7:10 pm CT. Tickets can be purchased for $57 each and will be in Section 332. To purchase tickets, please use this link: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Americanpostal26
Additional Hotel Information: All reservations are guaranteed with a major credit card number and one night’s deposit. Guaranteed reservations will be held for the first night. In the event of a no-show, all consecutive room nights under the same reservation will be cancelled. The hotel allows individuals to cancel their room reservation without penalty up to seventy-two (72) hours prior to their scheduled arrival date. If a guest who has requested a room within the room block checks out prior to the guest’s reserved checkout date, the hotel will add an early checkout fee (not to exceed 50% of the group rate) to that guest’s individual account. Guests wishing to avoid an early checkout fee should advise the hotel at or before check-in of any change in planned length of stay. Paying by Check: · Contact Hannah Decker via email at hdecker@apwu.org for additional information.
The following topics will be covered during the Human Relations Conference.
OWCP
Veteran’s Rights & Benefits
Runaway Inequality
Local/State Veteran’s Councils
Civil Freedoms
EEOC
EAP
Project 2025
Airports
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – 18 miles
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) – 10 miles
Agenda & Registration Information:
*Information above is subject to change. Please check the marquee in the hotel for the most up to date information.
Please note breakfast and lunch will provided for registered members on Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15. There will also be a dinner for registered members on Sunday, June 15.
June 12, 2025 – 5:00PM to June 15, 2025 – 8:00PMHilton Americas, Houston TX1600 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010
Reservations can be made online at https://book.passkey.com/go/APWU2025
Please click here for a link to the conference’s agenda.
NationalNoNo2025-06-12 00:00:00https://apwumembers.apwu.org/APWUMembers/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=HREL25Registration is now closed.
Strength in Diversity, Empowering Every Voice00