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2008 COPA Campaign Highlights
(This article first appeared in the July/August 2008 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
Custodians Care in Okeechobee…
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From left are Larry Scott, PBAL Maintenance Craft Director Gary Hamrick, PBAL President Wayne Parker, and Michael Alayon. |
Although they are some 50 miles inland, workers in the Okeechobee Post Office are represented by the Palm Beach Area Local. Two PBAL APWU members, Larry Scott and Michael Alayon, received a significant settlement from a grievance earlier this year and, to show their appreciation, made significant contributions — $500 each — to COPA at the local’s April union meeting.
…And in Rochester
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David Canfield |
The Rochester SCF Area Local’s COPA campaign was recently bolstered by a $250 check and a note of “appreciation for the hard work and perseverance shown by the staff and membership of the APWU in procuring the just settlement for all custodians.”
The donor, David Canfield, was among those benefitting from the MS-47 arbitration award that netted affected members $2,700 apiece. “I challenge all the other custodians to match or beat my donation,” Canfield wrote, “to help in the struggle to keep the liars and con artists who are trying to dismantle the Postal Service from achieving their goals.”
Barberic Measure for COPA
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The two looks of Dave McCleary. |
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Taking just a little bit more off the top was a top draw in the hospitality room at the Illinois Postal Workers Union convention. Champaign Area Local President Dave McCleary said he was open to a cooler look, but only if it could be done for COPA.
As a result, the state APWU shaved a few hundred dollars from the amount it needs in order to reach its COPA goal.
“He asked for a minimum donation of $300, saying he would shave his head in the IPWU hospitality room,” said Bob Gunter, the state APWU president. “The host local, Bi- State Area, went to work and raised the $300 and then some.”
Gather Together, Spread the Credit Tina Pruitt, president of the APWU Auxiliary of Florida, says that the most successful COPA campaigns result from equal parts organization and donation. As part of a project for the state convention in May, several baskets of goodies were contributed to the Auxiliary to be bid upon to raisemoney for COPA. “Maybe the campaign’s organizers should get some credit for setting up the way to make donations,” she said, “but the $1,520 we procured was due to the generous efforts of the locals.” Among those giving large were the Tallahassee Local and the Central Florida, Manatee, Mid-Florida, North Central, and Space Coast area locals. The gift baskets featured items such as $100 shopping cards and handmade lap robes, or were stuffed according to a theme: kitchenware, bath and body products, barbecue accessories, etc. There was even a Cinco de Mayo goodie basket — the convention was, after all, held on the first weekend following May 5. |
ABOUT COPA
APWU COPA, the union’s Committee on Political Action, was created to raise voluntary political campaign contributions from our union’s active, retired and Auxiliary members to support the campaigns of candidates for public office.
Campaign contributions from members of organizations who give through a fund such as a political action committee often have a major influence on congressional elections, thereby influencing votes on many important issues.
The APWU must have a strong voice in political affairs, and we must support the elected officials who advance our interests and help defeat those who oppose them. If we sit on the sidelines, organizations that oppose our goals will go unchecked.
Simply put, our union has too much at stake to turn a blind eye.
