APWU
2025 US Mail Not For Sale Press Release Template
https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/apwumarch20template.docxAPWU Template Press Release for March 20 Day of Action
Read More....The US Postal Service helped build the Black middle class. Trump could end that legacy
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/11/usps-black-middle-class-trumpTuesday, March 11, 2025US Mail Not for SaleNo PrivatizationThe US Postal Service helped build the Black middle class. Trump could end that legacy
Read More....THE GUARDIAN: The US Postal Service helped build the Black middle class. Trump could end that legacy
March 11, 2025Trump’s potential plans for the USPS could threaten the agency’s rich legacy of Black employment, from which generations of Black families have secured wealth and benefits through service. “The postal service workforce is more diverse racially [and] ethnically than the labor force in this country as a whole,” said Brian Renfroe, the national president of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
No PrivatizationTHE GUARDIAN: The US Postal Service helped build the Black middle class. Trump could end that legacyTrump is expected to privatize the USPS, where Black people make up 29% of the staff, and cut down on the number of jobs0
THE GUARDIAN: US Postal Service faces murky future as Trump mulls dismantling institution
March 2, 2025Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to dissolve USPS’s bipartisan board of governors and place the agency under the control of the commerce department secretary, Howard Lutnick, the Washington Post recently reported.
No PrivatizationThe Guardian: US Postal Service faces murky future as Trump mulls dismantling institution0
This Workers’ Memorial Day, File a PS Form 1767 – Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice
March 12, 2025This Workers’ Memorial Day, we are calling on our members to take part in collective action to make sure our workplaces are clean, safe, and healthy! On April 28, fill out and file a PS Form 1767 – Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice. Here’s how a PS Form 1767 works:
magazineSpeak Up for Safe Jobs
Each year, on April 28, we observe Workers’ Memorial Day. On this day, the labor movement remembers workers killed or injured on the job and vows to continue the fight for strong safety and health protections in the workplace. Without workers standing together and fighting for our safety, we would not enjoy the protections from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and our union contract.
This Workers’ Memorial Day, we are calling on our members to take part in collective action to make sure our workplaces are clean, safe, and healthy! On April 28, fill out and file a PS Form 1767 – Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice. Whether something small like sticky floors, or a persistent problem such as a toxic workplace, stand up with your coworkers to shine a light on the hazards in your workplace. If we don’t look out for each other, no one else will.
How a PS Form 1767 Works:
To report a hazard, find and fill out the PS Form 1767. These must be readily available to you. If it is not, you can fi nd a form on apwu.org.
APWU recommends that you utilize the 4-copy NCR form provided by the USPS in your workplace. This way you can see what actions were completed or ignored.
File a report of the condition on PS Form 1767 with the immediate supervisor and request an inspection of the condition.
The immediate supervisor must promptly (within the tour of duty): Investigate the alleged condition; Initiate immediate corrective action; Record actions or recommendations on the PS Form 1767; Forward the original PS Form 1767 and one copy to the next appropriate level of management (approving offi cial); Give the employee a copy signed by the supervisor as a receipt; Immediately forward the third copy to the facility safety coordinator. If the hazard is not fixed within 7 days, you can file a grievance to ensure action is taken.
Below is a list of some issues you can report on a PS Form 1767:
• Blocked fire extinguishers
• Doors blocked
• Pallets stacked too high
• Mail Transportation Equipment overloaded
• Red-tagged equipment not being repaired
• Empty equipment stacked too high
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) not being provided
• Safety service talks not being given to all employees
• Fire extinguishers expired or not inspected
• Restrooms inoperable or unclean
• Emergency stops being bypassed on machine jams
• Fire and spill drills not conducted
• Safety barriers inoperable or unrepaired after damage
• Tractor trailer backing lines not visible nor repainted
• Insufficient parking lot lighting
• Air conditioning and heating inoperable
• Harassment, intimidation or bullying in the workplace
• Hazmat spill procedures ignored
• Compressed gas cylinders stored in unsafe areas
• Exit routes not marked or illuminated
• Doors, passageways, stairways not properly marked as
“Not an Exit”
• Floors obstructed with equipment
• Inadequate lighting or ventilation
• Eye flushing stations inoperable or unclean
• Shelving not bolted down or to walls
• First aid kit material outdated or unavailable
• Missing guard covers on mail processing equipment
• Shelter in place not properly labeled
• Deaf and hard of hearing not included in safety talks
• Mold and asbestos issues
• Drilling without out proper vacuum and or ventilation
• Dust and other unknown matter in ventilation systems
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) not updated
• Leaking roofs not repaired
• Worn out or torn floor mats not replaced
• Starting and stopping devices not clearly marked
• Roll up doors inoperable or malfunctioning
• DBCS machines damaged or malfunctioning ■
This Workers’ Memorial Day, File a PS Form 1767 – report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice0
Read More....
Stand Up for Safe Jobs on Workers’ Memorial Day!
March 12, 2025On April 28, Workers Memorial Day, I challenge all of you to be willing to Stand Up for Safe Jobs and take action on this day. There are many things you can do:
magazineIndustrial RelationsCharlie Cash
In December 2024, the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2023 was released. According to the 2023 data, 5,283 fatal traumatic work injuries occurred in the U.S. On average, nearly 15 people died per day at work. Fifteen people woke up, said goodbye to their families, and never returned home.
That is a death rate of 3.5 deaths per 100,000 workers. The death rate for Black or African-American workers is 3.6 deaths per 100,000 workers, and for Hispanic or Latino workers it is 4.4 deaths per 100,000 workers. The death rate for White workers is 3.3 deaths per 100,000 workers.
The U.S. Postal Service remains one of the most dangerous companies to work for. In fiscal year 2023 (Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023), 34,472 employees were injured or had occupational diseases. Additionally, five employees were killed on the job. This does not account for the thousands of unreported injuries or claims that were not approved by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). Your work is dangerous.
Each year, April 28 is a significant day for workers and unions worldwide. It is the day to honor the hundreds of thousands of workers who die and are injured on the job each year. It is a day of action, reflection, and mourning for workers and unions. It is known as Workers’ Memorial Day. April 28 was chosen because of its relationship with the Occupational Safety and Health Act going into effect on April 28, 1971. The law led to the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to finally had a federal law that required workplace safety.
We cannot rely on OSHA to be there to enforce safety rules and regulations in 2025. Under the current Trump Administration, we are already seeing agencies gutted, starved of funds, and workers being asked to resign, such as government safety enforcement officials. Project 2025 is being implemented at a furious pace. One of its tenets calls for mass deregulation to include the dis- mantling or severe curtailing of OSHA operations. This would lead to safety enforcement being up to individual businesses. This will not lead to less injuries or deaths at work, I believe it will lead to more.
On April 28, I challenge all of you to be willing to Stand Up for Safe Jobs and take action on this day. There are many things you can do. Take a moment of silence at the beginning of your shift by yourself or with your coworkers to honor not just the postal employees injured or killed, but workers worldwide. Take a safe action on that day. Wear a high-visibility piece of clothing to make yourself visible at work but to also remind management and your co-workers of your dedication to workplace safety. You can also reinforce your right to a safe workplace! I challenge you to check your workplace and when you see a safety violation, report it! Complete PS Form 1767 – Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice, turn it into your supervisor, and then make sure management follows the process required of them when this form is submitted. You can find some ideas of what can be reported in this Safety article.
The APWU contract with the Postal Service states in Article 14:
It is the responsibility of management to provide safe working conditions in all present and future installations and to develop a safe working force.
But not only does the contract require a safe workplace, so does the law! It is your right and all of us need to be willing to stand up and ght for that right!
STAND UP FOR SAFE JOBS! IT IS EVERY WORKER’S RIGHT! ■
Stand Up for Safe Jobs on Workers’ Memorial Day!0
Read More....Iowa State Convention
Room rate: $123/night+taxes. Call 877-504-0315 mention Iowa Postal Workers Union. Registration fee: $100 until deadline April 11; Late registration is $150.
May 2, 2025 – 8:15AM to May 3, 2025 – 5:15PMHilton Garden Inn 4640 N River Blvd NE
Cedar Rapids, IA
LocalNoYes2025-03-11 00:00:00Iowa State ConventionThis meeting is dedicated to training and education.
Hotel Information
Hilton Garden Inn
4640 N River Blvd NE
Cedar Rapids, IA
877-504-0315
Room rate: $123/night+taxes.
Registration
Registration fee: $100 until deadline April 11; Late registration is $150.
Includes lunch and dinner on Friday for each delegate.
10
It is Time to File Your Labor-Management Report!
March 11, 2025March 31 is fast approaching! It is especially important that local and state treasurers file their annual Labor-Management (LM) report for the Department of Labor (DOL) by its due date of March 31. All locals must file an annual LM financial report with the DOL as part of the legal requirements by the Labor Management and Disclosure Act (LMRDA).
magazineSecretary-TreasurerElizabeth Powell
March 31 is fast approaching! It is especially important that local and state treasurers file their annual Labor-Management (LM) report for the Department of Labor (DOL) by its due date of March 31. All locals must file an annual LM financial report with the DOL as part of the legal requirements by the Labor Management and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). Local and state affiliates who have a fiscal year that ended Dec. 31, 2024, must file their LM report on or before March 31, 2025. The DOL requires the annual report filed within 90 days of the end of the local fiscal year; therefore, if your local’s fiscal year is other than Dec. 31, you are required to electronically file your LM report within 90 days of the end of your constitutional fiscal year.
The number of annual receipts the local receives will dictate which LM report your local will be required to file.
Form LM-2: For locals with annual receipts of $250,000 or more.
Form LM-3: For locals with annual receipts $10,000 to $249,999.
Form LM-4: For locals with annual receipts of less than $10,000.
What constitutes “annual receipts?” Annual receipts refer to the total amount of money a local receives during a fiscal year from all sources, including dues, fees, investments, and other income (rental income), proceeds from sale of aprons and other union gear, which determine which LM report form the union must file. All LM reports filed with the DOL become a matter of public record and are posted on the its website.
The DOL provides the national Secretary-Treasurer with a list of locals that have failed to file their LM report or have filed a delinquent report. Article 16 of the national APWU Constitution and Bylaws requires all affiliates to provide the Secretary-Treasurer with local records showing: verification of filing the DOL report (LM report), a copy of the Internal Revenue Service 990 report, local elections records that should occur at least every three years, and a copy of the local’s constitution and bylaws.
Do not delay! Ensure your LM report is electronically filed by the due date. If you need assistance contact Annette August, Executive Assistant to the Secretary- Treasurer, at 202-842-8538 or email aaugust@apwu.org.
Secretary Treasurer’s Training
April 8-10,2025, Miami, Fl.
Be sure to register to attend the Secretary-Treasurer’s Training in Miami, Fl. The following training will be provided:
Officer Fiduciary Responsibility Training
Beginners QuickBooks Training
Advanced Refresher Training
Please note that all classes are conducted simultaneously on all three days. Therefore, individuals may register for only one class.
Registration deadlines may end before the cut-off dates if the class is full. The QuickBooks classes have a limited number of available spots. There will also be time made available for you to meet with individuals in the Secretary Treasurer’s Department about specific questions that you may have.
For travel purposes, please count on classes going until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025. ■
New 2025 General Services Administration Mileage Rate
Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the standard General Services Administration (GSA) mileage rate is seventy cents ($.70) per mile, which is up three cents from 2024. It is important that reimbursement for mileage is requested at the appropriate rate and properly documented with a mileage log sheet, accompanied by Google Maps or MapQuest for the mileage reimbursement requested.
Visit the Secretary-Treasurer’s page at www.apwu.org to fi nd other items to assist you and your local function properly. Information on the page includes, but is not limited to:
Constitution and By-Laws
Election of Union Officers
Dues, Mailings List, and Membership
Protecting Local Assets
Department of Labor Forms
IRS Forms
It is Time to File Your Labor-Management Report!0
Read More....
Don’t Panic, Organize!
March 11, 2025“Big Fish” corporations and the billionaires trying to run our country have an open path to swallow workers whole by driving down pay and benefits and busting unions for profit. However, when we organize and stand together, we have the power to stop those who want to control our lives and work.
magazineVice PresidentDebby Szeredy
At the People’s March in Washington, DC on Jan. 18, 2025, I took a photo of the sign below that was clear and to the point!
“Big Fish” corporations and the billionaires trying to run our country have an open path to swallow workers whole by driving down pay and benefits and busting unions for profit.
However, when we organize and stand together, we have the power to stop those who want to control our lives and work. We cannot allow the billionaires to take control of our lives. We have no time to play victim.
We cannot sit back saying, “Hey, we are moral people so we should be okay.” My role being a moral person is not enough; I need to be engaged in the world I live in. What I know is true, I do love and care about all people, and I must do something about protecting those values for myself and for the workers of our country.
One example is healthcare. Do you believe that healthcare is a right? Do you think it is right that the rich have access to better healthcare than the poor? Unions continue to fight for better healthcare for all, while many corporations ght to provide cheap or no healthcare for their employees who sweat and bleed to make them rich. We must create equal access to good healthcare that does not discriminate against economic and other differences. A good healthcare system should foster hope and life. Many people say they are against killing another human being, but many people, including babies and children, die every day because they cannot afford continuous healthcare services. The statistics are staggering.
We see unashamed racism, classism, and sexism returning to America at the highest levels of our government and in our communities. White and rich privilege are back in charge, and our outcry is faint. How naïve we were to think this was all behind us. Are you willing to close your eyes, or will you be fully aware, present, and actively embrace organizing with others to become the human beings we can be proud of? Step up and actively work with your local union to save the public Postal Service for all people and let us be an example by protecting our communities. We do care about all human beings.
It’s real, our public service and all our inalienable rights are on the kitchen table to be devoured by the oligarchy this year!
The Postal Service is not a company, we are a daily communication service, a connecting network of good people who care about the survival of our communities, during good times or bad, and always wanting to provide a helping hand, whether it be to deliver COVID protections, medicines, good news, acceptance and legal information, letters and gifts of love, and urgent packages and products. We have programs and expanded-service initiatives that we cannot seem to get approved in Congress. These programs would bene t all people, regardless of background, that need a little help and community.
Are you willing to get involved in saving our public services? Let your APWU local union know you are willing to be a volunteer and take action. ■
Don’t Panic, Organize!0
Read More....WestPac Logistic Division Expansions 3-10-25
Monday, March 10, 2025Western AreaWestern westpac_logistic_division_expansions_3-10-25.pdfWestPac Logistic Division Expansions 3-10-25
Read More....