
Financial Issues for Local and State Union Officers:
Self-Interest vs. Selfish Interests
(This article first appeared in the May/June 2008 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
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In a presidential election year, the difference between self-interest and selfish interests becomes even more apparent and significant.
Selfish interest implies that one cares nothing for anyone else’s needs. When we act out of selfish interest, we show that we care only that our needs or desires are met. Self-interest, on the other hand, is grounded in the principle that what is good for you is also good for me.
At first look, the two seem the same. A self-interested action, however, takes others into consideration: We act this way because what is good for all of us will, of course, be good for me.
If all Americans had access to adequate and affordable healthcare, then we as postal workers wouldn’t have to trade wages or other benefits to maintain our high coverage at a low cost. Similarly, when the matter of whether to raise the minimum wage is being considered, it is in the self-interest of postal workers to support the increase, because it raises the floor for everyone.
When politicians propose “Do Not Mail” legislation they are not acting in the best interest of postal workers who depend on bulk business mail to sustain postal operations and employment. They are selfishly trying to make political points by ranting against so-called “junk mail.”
Who Is Being Served?
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To better understand how you can best act in your self-interest requires that you know what has been done for you and what still needs to be done. When deciding who to vote for in November, you must examine the candidates’ records to determine if your self-interests are served or negated.
APWU members are working people who depend, of course, on the arrival of a paycheck every two weeks. Laws and politicians that fail to assist workers and their families simply are not in our self-interest. Laws and politicians that hurt the middle-class are not in our self-interest. Laws and politicians that fail to protect our jobs, salaries, and benefits are not in our self-interest.
Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has made it clear that he intends to continue many of the policies of George W. Bush, a president who has been no friend to postal workers.
According to Congressional Quarterly, McCain has voted in support
of President Bush’s position 89 percent of the time, and 95 percent
of the time in 2007. Among his votes are several that the AFL-CIO
and the APWU consider detrimental to workers and their families:
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Even when he’s silent on an issue, McCain has hurt working families. He didn’t bother to show up to vote on a Senate stimulus package that failed by one vote. In fact, he missed more than half — about 275 — of the Senate votes during the first three months of 2008. Can you imagine what would happen if we missed 57 percent of the mail each day?
I urge all members to do their own research. Visit the candidates’ Web sites, and nonpartisan third-party Web sites as well. Don’t trust your favorite news outlets to be nonpartisan — examine a number of local and national news sources.
It is up to you to make the decision: You will decide which candidate supports you and your family’s self-interest, and which is an advocate only for selfish interests.
ABOUT THE SECRETARY-TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT
Terry R. Stapleton
Secretary-Treasurer
202-842-4215
202-842-8530
The Secretary-Treasurer acts as the union's chief financial officer and serves local unions, state affiliates, officers, and members in many ways.
The Secretary-Treasurer seeks to increase union revenue by encouraging non-members to join, and is responsible for the collection and proper disbursement of union funds. The Secretary-Treasurer's Department offers in-depth training to local and state union officers who have financial responsibilities for their organizations.