“The Struggle Continues” is a famous quote often cited by legendary former APWU National President Moe Biller. He was not talking about struggling within our own union. The struggle was all of us together, fighting to make sure our members and our communities are valued and our services to the public continue.
When I’m in the field or on the road traveling to state conventions, I hear the ugly stories about how management is causing a toxic work environment. A toxic work environment often creeps into our union environment when management tries to turn us against each other. Instead, we need to support each other and stand together in our union because we are stronger together. The struggle should never be within the union. Don’t fall for them trying to divide us. If that is what you are experiencing in your local or state, start thinking about ways to strengthen your union. We need to find ways to value each other and work together to change the toxic workplace. It can change when rank-and- file members build our power against harassment, bullying, and discrimination together with local officers and stewards.
Union work is family work, it is not about titles, money or ego. It is about working together to be proud of our postal work, respected, and to help build living wages, better benefits, full staffing, and a safe work environment. We cannot be a mighty union if we don’t stand and participate together.
If you are experiencing a hostile workplace, attend union meetings, share your experiences, learn about other’s experiences and discuss how to transform the toxic work environment. We deserve to come to work without fear of hostility and reprisal. During the “Good and Welfare” portion of your union meetings, discuss strategies to change our toxic work environment instead of living with it every day of our lives.
Here’s an example: If you have an abusive supervisor, members at the union meeting could agree to file a PS Form 1767 Report of Hazard, Unsafe, Condition or Practice every day they are exposed to being attacked or see or hear someone else come under attack by the supervisor. Request to see your steward to discuss and make a copy of every PS Form 1767 every day for one month, including management’s response, and provide a witness statement. Make sure a copy of your PS Form 1767 is sent to the District Safety Office Manager by your steward. All these documents will be collected from the many members to present at the next Labor-Management meeting. Make sure you have rules to address submitting agenda items at least a week before the meeting so that management can come to a meeting prepared to discuss the supervisor causing a toxic work environment. Have rules in place to record and submit the minutes from each side and the right to have corrections and additions that allow both the union and management to sign the minutes, as agreed, within a few days after the meeting, and then post the minutes to members on the union bulletin board.
Keep the pressure on and have strategies that members will participate in month after month until management resolves toxic workplaces.
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