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Members Call for Unity

(This article was first published in the July/August 2009 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

The declining state of the economy and the desperate financial condition of the USPS have given us all an ugly dose of reality. Unlike so many other Americans, however, APWU-represented postal workers are positioned to survive the storm — mainly because of job-protection provisions of our Collective Bargaining Agreement.

But there are no long-term guarantees. The job security we enjoy today is being challenged as never before. The current APWU Postal Service contract expires in November 2010.

Making a Mark in Miami and Atlanta During a two-day “Women’s Organizing Drive and Membership Appreciation” campaign hosted by the Miami Area Local in April, more than 20 new members joined under the watchful eyes of Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Baker (left photo, finalizing a form) and President Wilhelmina “Cookie” Ford (center, watching Sylvia Pena-Ortiz sign up). A few weeks later, Atlanta Metro Area Local activists (right) led by President Ken Beasley, second from left, signed up 30 members during the kick-off to a summer campaign.

The question that we all have to consider is: “Where do we go from there?”

Our workplace lives are defined by the contract. Our members understand this and appreciate what the union does for them. They show it by paying dues, supporting the APWU with a portion of their hard-earned wages. They know that declining mail volume presents challenges for all postal workers. Many members understand that with jobs at stake, it is time to take an extra step, by “organizing to survive.”

Telephone Contact Program

Members are helping the APWU in a new “Call for Unity.” The Organization Department has been assisting locals by providing the phone numbers of non-members so that we can expand our ability to sign up new members. This will strengthen the union for the tough times ahead.

The goal of the new telephone contact program is to bring non-members out of their self-induced ignorance: We must get them to join the union and become proactive in protecting their jobs.

We are hoping these non-members will be willing to talk to us from the comfort of their home, and that we will have some frank conversations about the need to join the union and the basis for their reluctance to join — until now. Studies have shown that once they are contacted by phone, people are more likely to be relaxed and be able to discuss matters with common sense.

If you are interested in becoming a Telephone Organizer, contact the Organization Department at 202- 842-4227.

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