APWU
USPS Report: PSE Compliance Report Pay Period 11 – May 16, 2025
https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/apwu_pse_compliance_report_fy25_pp11_v03.xlsUSPS Report: PSE Compliance Report Pay Period 11 – May 16, 2025
Read More....USPS Report: PSE Compliance Report Pay Period 09 – April 18, 2025
https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/apwu_pse_compliance_report_fy25_pp09_v03.xlsUSPS Report: PSE Compliance Report Pay Period 09 – April 18, 2025
Read More....House Passes Bill to Eliminate the FERS Supplemental “Bridge” Payment
May 22, 2025The House just passed H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which eliminates the FERS supplemental bridge payment and funnels $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy. Our fight now moves to the Senate.
FERSRetireesLegislative & PoliticalLegislationlegislative actionLegislative and PoliticalRetirees
Just before 7am on Thursday, May 22, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would give $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy on the backs of the working class. Although this bill is officially named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act or H.R. 1, there is nothing beautiful about it. This bill pays for these massive tax breaks through cuts to vital government programs, including the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which covers postal and federal employees.
H.R. 1 would eliminate the FERS annuity supplement for certain employees, which would begin to apply on January 1, 2028. The FERS annuity supplement is an earned benefit that makes it financially possible for postal workers to retire before age 62, which is when Social Security benefits begin. Essentially, this supplement is a monthly payment that helps bridge the gap between an employee’s retirement and Social Security eligibility.
For example, a postal employee age 57 who has met their years of service requirement and is eligible can retire knowing they will receive a monthly payment until their Social Security benefits begin at age 62. If the FERS annuity supplement is eliminated, many postal workers aged 57 to 62 who are eligible to retire will have a choice — take less in retirement without this supplement or continue working years longer until they can collect Social Security.
Thanks to the pressure that postal workers, labor unions, and other allies placed on members of Congress through phone calls, letters, and even trips to Washington, DC, we were able to remove two other harmful provisions in the original version of this tax-cut bill. One provision would’ve increased the FERS employee contribution rate to 4.4% for all active employees, and the other would’ve replaced the high-3 FERS annuity calculation with a high-5 calculation, which would result in a reduction in annuity payments.
The APWU stands firm against the elimination of the FERS annuity supplement as we believe retirement is an earned benefit that should not be jeopardized. Changing the terms of retirement is unfair to postal and federal workers who worked their jobs with the promise of an equitable retirement. We were successful in removing two other cuts to FERS benefits from this bill, so let’s keep up the fight!
Now that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) has passed the House, our fight moves to the Senate. Call our Legislative Hotline at 844-402-1001 and urge both of your senators to protect the FERS annuity supplement!
Click to Call Your Representative
Read More....2025 APWU of Louisiana State Convention
Room rate: ($129.00 double, $149.00 king)/per night +15% taxes. Hotel reservation deadline: June 4, 2025. Call 800-222-8733 ask for “American Postal Workers Union” Group Rate. Registration fee: $75.00 per attendee by May 23, 2025; After 5/23: $85.00. Click here for registration form.
June 19, 2025 – 9:00AM to June 21, 2025 – 5:00PMDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel1521 W. Pinhook Rd.
Lafayette, LA 70503
LocalNoYes2025-05-21 00:00:002025 APWU of Louisiana State ConventionHotel
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
1521 W. Pinhook Rd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
Reservations: (800) 222-8733 ask for “American Postal Workers Union” for Group Rate
CUT OFF DATE FOR GROUP ROOM RATE double of $129.00 or King $149.00 PLUS 15 % TAX IS June 4, 2025
Guests will be required to provide a valid credit or debit card to guarantee each room. If you want to pay cash and do not want your credit card on the reservation it is a $250.00 cash deposit plus room and tax at check in. The $250.00 cash deposit will be mailed out from the hotel to you and should arrive in 14 days in the form of a check. Reservations must be cancelled within 48-72 hours prior to your scheduled arrival date to receive a refund. Hotel check-in time is 3:00 pm and check-out time is 11:00 am. Members can receive a late check-out time of 12:00 noon. The room rate is available for check in from June 19, 2025, and check-out on June 21, 2025. Parking is complimentary for hotel guests.
Registration
Click here for registration form.
Fee: $75.00 per attendee by May 23, 2025; After 5/23: $85.00Make Checks Payable to: Lafayette Area Local # 2803
Mail Registration form and check to:
Lafayette Area Local # 2803
Attn: Joshua Montgomery, President
P.O. Box 90345
Lafayette, Louisiana 70509
Email: da1ofgreatness@yahoo.com
Phone (337) 288-9521
IMPORTANT DEADLINES:
1) OFFICIAL CREDENTIAL FORMS IS MAY 23,2025 TO THE PRESIDENT.
2) RESOULUTIONS FOR CONSTITUTION AND/OR BY-LAW CHANGES IS MAY 23,2025 TO THE PRESIDENT.
3) CONVENTION REGISTATION IS MAY 23, 2025
4) HOTEL RESERVATIONS IS June 04, 2025
5) ADS FOR THE CONVENTION SOUVENIR BOOKLET IS MAY 23, 2025
6) ADDITIONAL BANQUET TICKETS IS MAY 26, 2025
7) A COPY OF YOUR COMPLETE DCO LISTS IS JUNE 19, 2025
8) CONVENTION CONVENES – JUNE 19, 2025
9) CONVENTION CONCLUDES – JUNE 21, 2025
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Defending APWU Veterans Harmed by the Current VA Crisis
May 20, 2025The Union Veterans Council, in partnership with APWU affiliate veteran leaders and veteran service organizations nationwide, will address the devastating impact of the Trump and Musk attacks on our veterans and their family members.
magazineVeterans Resources
In the March/April 2025 Home Front column, we informed APWU veteran members of the highly serious consequences that Project 2025 will have on Veterans’ Affairs (VA) benefits, the quality of healthcare services veterans receive, and the use of private contractors to process and evaluate their disability claims. Our “Hands Off Our Veterans’ Healthcare” fight continues in 2025.
Well, APWU Veterans, what was a warning last year has suddenly become a reality. Veterans nationwide are under attack. The Project 2025 plan to destroy Veterans Preference and to gut federal agencies – including the Postal Service and VA healthcare benefits, has begun. So, it’s time to do what military veterans always do when we are under attack, we fight back!
The Union Veterans Council, in partnership with APWU affiliate veteran leaders and veteran service organizations nationwide, will address the devastating impact of the Trump and Musk attacks on our veterans and their family members. With hundreds of thousands of veterans employed in the Federal workforce, and millions relying on VA Healthcare and Veterans Benefits services, it is critical that our APWU veteran leaders and veteran organizations nationwide are fully informed on these threats and equipped with the real facts to counter misinformation. Together, we will provide accurate, up-to-date information so that our veteran leaders and veteran organizations have the tools to confirm or rebut misleading claims. The goal is to inform, equip, and mobilize leaders with clear, verifiable facts about these attacks. We want veterans organizations to know they have a trusted partner in the labor movement, ensuring they are never caught off-guard by administrative rhetoric or policy changes.
“The Union Veterans Council AFL-CIO is prepared to lead the way in this major battle to save veterans’ rights and benefits, federal jobs, and top quality veterans’ healthcare, fully staffed by Federal Government employees,” said Union Veterans Council Director William Attig.
The Union Veterans Council and APWU veteran leaders must defend our veterans’ family during this major American crisis. Tell the truth about the Trump and Musk agendas: separate fact from fiction. Counter misinformation, identify false narratives, confirm or rebut claims, and provide veterans with trusted information. The personal human cost of these attacks, and how veterans’ organizations and union organizations can work together, are crucial in the battle to save our American democracy.
We are under attack through job cuts, veteran layoffs, political purges, hiring freezes, VA closures and more. VA privatization means outsourcing will lead to longer wait times, higher costs, and worse healthcare outcomes for veterans. The impact of cuts to Social Security, military disability and pension claims, as well as other earned federal government benefits that millions of veterans and family members rely on daily, will seriously damage their personal lives.
The Struggle Continues, Because When Our Union Veterans are Under Attack, We Stand Up, Fight Back! ■
STAND WITH VETERANS Unite for Veterans, Unite for America
Veteran jobs, earned benefits, and essential VA services are under attack.
Revealed: Musk Uses DOGE to Stifle Competition, Siphon Money into Own Pockets
May 20, 2025Our tax dollars should be used to better our communities. But at the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk is allocating funds to stifle market competition in areas that were once used to help his companies thrive. Read more:
magazine
In his role chairing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk has criticized excessive government spending and dependency. Ironically, he is one of the greatest beneficiaries of our tax dollars. Over the last 20 years, his businesses have received at least $38 billion in loans, subsidies, government contracts, and tax credits.
Our tax dollars should be used to better our communities. Musk using government loans and subsidies is not necessarily a bad thing – in fact, Tesla is an example of the success that can come from public investment in private companies. Tesla used government loans to make affordable electric vehicles, reducing carbon emissions to help our environment. But now Musk is advocating for cuts to the same departments that granted his companies contracts and strangling other businesses that could also help our communities and the environment. By gutting programs and agencies that helped his business empire succeed, he is eliminating access to assistance before his competitors can use it.
Musk is also abusing his position to influence government contracts in his favor. In March, The Washington Post reported on changes to a Biden-era program providing internet to rural communities. The program’s contract with Cajun Broadband to provide fast and reliable internet to 450,000 households in Louisiana has been put on hold after the Trump administration announced that it is redirecting grants from broadband to satellite companies, particularly Musk’s Starlink company.
DOGE cuts are harming our communities. Layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration will make our food supply chain less safe, and cuts to the National Institute of Health have slashed funding for cancer research. The unelected billionaire is recklessly putting our country at risk so that he can put money in his pockets.
Let’s fight back against the billionaire class and say, “Hands off our public services!” ■
Revealed: Musk Uses DOGE to Stifle Competition, Siphon Money into Own Pockets0
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Greenpeace Prepares International Lawsuit to Defend Freedom of Speech
May 20, 2025Greenpeace, an environmental advocacy organization, recently suffered a setback in its fight against Big Oil company Energy Transfer (ET), when a jury issued a $660 million award against the organization.
magazine
Greenpeace, an environmental advocacy organiza tion, recently suffered a setback in its fight against Big Oil company Energy Transfer (ET), when a jury issued a $660 million award against the organization. The lawsuit is a clear-cut example of how a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) is used against activists and non-profits that speak out against injustices, like the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), by burying them in expensive, drawn-out legal battles so that they can no longer fight back.
“This case should alarm everyone, no matter their political inclinations,” said Sushma Raman, Greenpeace Fund Interim Executive Director. “It’s part of a renewed push by corporations to weaponize our courts to silence dissent. We should all be concerned about the future of the First Amendment… These rights are critical for any work toward ensuring justice – and that’s why we will continue fighting back together, in solidarity.”
Now, Greenpeace International is suing several ET entities involved in the DAPL dispute for all damages it has suffered because of ET’s unjust lawsuits and the prejudice displayed in North Dakota.
For example, ET’s key findings lacked evidence, evidence supporting Greenpeace was excluded, there was ongoing concern about the fairness and impartiality of the jury, and requests for a change in venue were denied.
Kristin Casper, Greenpeace’s general counsel said, “This isn’t just a fight for Greenpeace defendants: it’s a fight about the protection of fundamental rights for everyone. We are committed to our values, such as nonviolence, independence, and promotion of solutions. We won’t back down…This is the kind of fight that we were made for.”
Greenpeace Prepares International Lawsuit to Defend Freedom of Speech0
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Bill Restricting Federal and Postal Unions from Deducting Union Dues Moves Forward in Congress
May 20, 2025On March 18, the Paycheck Protection Act (H.R. 2174) was introduced in the House, which if passed, will prevent all federal and postal unions from deducting union dues from employee paychecks, thus weakening our collective bargaining power. Learn more:
magazineLegislative and Political
On March 18, 2025, three conservative lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced the Paycheck Protection Act (H.R. 2174), which would restrict all federal and postal unions from deducting union dues from employee paychecks, if it becomes law. In addition to union dues, this bill aims to restrict deductions for “fees or political contributions,” which may mean many other deductions, such as the Committee on Political Action (COPA) and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
The bill, introduced by Rep. Eric Burlison (RMO- 07) and cosponsored by Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL-15) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), was voted favorably out of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 25. Now, lawmakers can move this bill to the House floor for a vote, which has not yet been scheduled as of the publication of this issue of The American Postal Worker.
For years, voluntary payroll deductions have been used as an efficient and economical way for employees to pay certain bills. By targeting union dues, lawmakers are taking direct aim at labor unions’ self-funding. Ultimately, it would be harder for workers to pay their union dues, and therefore the union would have fewer resources to fight grievances and collectively bargain.
While lawmakers argue that this bill protects your freedom – in reality, union dues are completely voluntary and always authorized by postal and federal workers themselves. The so-called “Paycheck Protection Act” places unnecessary burdens on the APWU and could dismantle our union.
The APWU’s Legislative and Political Department is closely monitoring this bill and will continue to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to fight against this bill moving any further, but we need your help. Contact your congressional representatives in the House and urge them to strongly oppose H.R. 2174, the Paycheck Protection Act! ■
Bill Restricting Federal and Postal Unions from Deducting Union Dues Moves Forward in Congress0
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Looking Back: Black Workers Organize ‘Revolutionary Union Movement’
May 19, 2025This month in Labor History, we look back at the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement of 1968 – when over 4,000 Black workers who were fed up with racist policies organized a two-day strike at Chrysler’s Hamtracmck plant to demand improvements for Black workers on the job and in their unions, spawning a revolutionary union movement across other auto plants in Greater Detroit.
magazineAPWU History
May 2, 1968 – Auto workers walked o the job at Chrysler’s Dodge manufacturing plant in Hamtramck, MI after the company implemented “speed-up” conditions that forced workers to increase output by nearly 40%. However, while white workers were prominently on the picket line, it was mainly Black men who were fi red for walking out, including General Gordon Baker.
Prior to 1960, white men had dominated the city’s auto industry, but increased demand led Chrysler to hire large groups of Black workers to fill the dangerous assembly lines. By 1968, a majority of the workforce of the Hamtramck plant was Black (70%), but most of the managers and union representatives were white – further underscoring the racism of the time.
Fed up with the company’s racist policies, including segregated lunchrooms, the union’s inaction to help fired Black workers, and lack of Black representation, Baker organized the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement (DRUM) with two former classmates Luke Tripp and John Watson, from Wayne State University, to demand improvements for Black workers in the workplace and in their unions.
The founders of DRUM were no strangers to activism – they grew up in the Deep South and were familiar with the strategies of rural, southern militant organizing. In college, they formed a student-led civil rights group and protested police violence.
After Baker’s dismissal, he wrote a letter to the company declaring battle. DRUM held rallies for workers, students, and community members about racial justice and called for a series of wildcat strikes, which DRUM saw as a tool to address the grievances of Black workers. Only a year since the 1967 riots in Detroit, Black workers were frustrated by the limits on economic opportunities and their power within their unions.
On July 8, DRUM led nearly 4,000 Black workers o the job for a two-day strike at the same Hamtramck plant, preventing the production of 3,000 cars. None of the workers were fi red, and DRUM was thrown into the spotlight. They also ran an opposition slate during subsequent union elections.
By 1969, the “Revolutionary Union Movement” wildcat strikes spread to other auto plants in Greater Detroit, forming the Ford Revolutionary Union Movement and the Eldon Avenue Revolutionary Union Movement at the Chrysler Eldon Avenue plant, as well as outliers like UPS and healthcare workers.
The wildcat strikes from 1968-1969 had tremendous influence on Detroit’s industries and its unions, forcing the “Big 3” to make improvements to working conditions, addressing racial justice, improving seniority and grievance procedures, and helping Black workers gain more representation in local union positions. ■
Observing Juneteenth for Dignity and Equality
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Welcome and Gratitude
May 19, 2025Health Plan Director Sarah J. Rodriguez expresses gratitude for members’ support of the APWU Health Plan, sharing excellent satisfactory rankings in payment accuracy, financial accuracy, and administrative accuracy.
magazineHealth PlanSarah Jane Rodriguez
Thank you for selecting the APWU Health Plan as your health insurance provider. We have designed a plan especially for YOU! We honor the opportunity to serve postal families. We not only pay claims, but we also provide a platform to collaborate and promote healthy lifestyles. This Open Season, the Health Plan enrolled over 2,500 new members! Today, we cover almost 174,000 lives. With the introduction of the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program, APWU members had many choices – thank you for trusting us. Your continued loyalty and new membership directly affect the union and our ability to organize. Union Proud, Say It Loud!
Our Commitment to You
In addition to strong benefits and affordable rates, the APWU Health Plan takes service and quality very seriously. Represented by the OPEIU Local 2 and SEIU 32BJ unions, our Customer Service team participates in ongoing training to effectively communicate the benefits of our plans. Our team excels at going the extra mile, with patience and empathy, to make sure you have a positive experience with us. If you have questions about your health plan, do not hesitate to call the Customer Service number indicated on the back of your Health Plan ID card.
High Option members, call 800-222-2798;
Consumer Driven Option members, call 855-808-3003.
Proven Excellence
In a recent independent audit, conducted by Mercer, the APWU Health Plan ranked one of the highest in PSHB in three categories: payment accuracy (99.18%), financial accuracy (99.63%) and administrative accuracy (100%).
The audit results surpassed the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) goal of 98%. With these scores, you can be con dent that you are enrolled in a plan that exceeds OPM quality standards. These high scores mean fewer errors, faster claims processing time, and greater peace of mind for you.
Your Voice Matters
As you embark on your first 100 days of coverage for the 2025 benefit year, let us know how we are doing! As our member base continues to grow, we want to check in with you to understand your experience. What works for you? What are some challenges? Please take a short survey, by visiting: hcsurvey.apwuhp.com. ■
Welcome and Gratitude0
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