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APWU Board Issues Resolution
Opposing Attack on Iraq

APWU News Service Bulletin #2-03, Jan. 22, 2003| PDF

The National Executive Board of the American Postal Workers Union at its Jan. 14 meeting voted to oppose war with Iraq. The resolution states:

"The APWU National Executive Board opposes the pending war with Iraq. This declaration is based on the information made available to the American public at this time. We abhor terrorism, and we endorse all action — diplomatic and military — to appropriately respond to acts of aggression. However, pre-emptive attacks against sovereign states are not consistent with the principles of freedom and respect for all people."

APWU President William Burrus, who introduced the resolution, noted that President Bush's endorsement of pre-emptive strikes constitutes a radical departure from America's long-standing foreign policy.

"There is no reason to rush to put the sons and daughters of America's working families at risk," Burrus said. "And in the absence of imminent danger, there is no justification for killing the innocent children of Iraq. There are certainly enough pressing domestic issues to focus on. We should continue to move cautiously on Iraq."

A week after the APWU announcement, a Washington Post-ABC News poll revealed that seven in 10 Americans favor giving U.N. weapons inspectors more time to search for weapons of mass destruction. In what the Washington Post story called "one clear sign of public caution on Iraq," 43 percent of respondents to the survey said that U.N. inspectors should have "as much time as they like to scour Iraq." Another 25 percent said the U.N. teams should be given "a few months" or more. Only one-quarter of the respondents to the survey supported a deadline of a few weeks or less.

The poll was not just about Iraq. Survey results also showed that for the first time in the Bush presidency, a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy. "The number of Americans who regard the economy as healthy has not been lower in the past nine years," the news story said, "and fewer than half supported the tax-cut plan Bush has proposed as a remedy."

Previous polls suggest that a president's popularity increases once a war has begun.

"Perhaps that's the main reason Americans should be wary of a plan to attack Iraq," Burrus said. "The Bush resolve on this issue may be largely political, and that's hardly a good reason to put American lives in jeopardy."

"The administration is advancing a politically bankrupt economic policy and a morally bankrupt foreign policy," Burrus said.

Moratorium on Excessing Extended

Having failed in a timely manner to provide the APWU with a list of USPS facilities that are to be consolidated or closed, the Postal Service has agreed to extend the moratorium on excessing beyond May 31.

The deadline for providing the finalized list of plant consolidations was Dec. 31, 2002. This target date had been set by the two-year contract extension.

With its failure to meet its contractual obligation to let APWU members know which plants are slated for consolidation, the Postal Service has agreed to extend the moratorium on excessing proportionally with the delay in providing the list of consolidations and closings.

In a related matter also covered under the extended agreement, management is obliged to petition the Office of Personnel Management for early retirement opportunities by Feb. 1.

In effect since Dec. 19, the contract extension was formally signed by both parties on Jan.16.

Local and State COPA Contributions

The following group contributions to the Committee on Political Action (COPA) fund were made during or after the APWU's August 2002 national convention in Minneapolis. The union is currently replenishing its political war chest to help elect pro-worker candidates to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Many APWU locals are already planning their 2003 COPA drives. Is yours?

Reading (PA) Area Local $2410

Texas Postal Workers Union Multi-Craft Seminar $1870

Southern Region POWER Conference $1500

Greater CT Area Local Annual Retirees' Brunch $1500

Colorado Springs Area Local 2002 COPA Drive $1433

Billings (MT) Local Training and Installation Dinner $1350

Tri-State Conference (MD-DC, VA, WV) $785

Manchester (NH) Area Local -- Raffles, Breakfast, and Golf Tournament $600

California State APWU -- Sacramento Retirement Seminar $550

Owensboro (KY) Area Local $550

APWU Presidents' Conference (Seattle) $510

Waterbury (CT) Area Local Retirees Clambake $355

Tri-County PA Area Local -- Summer Picnic Fundraiser $325

Erie (PA) Area Local Retirement Party $300

Georgia Fall Seminar $265

Delaware State Fall Meeting, Installation of Officers $258

New York Metro Area Local Annual Picnic $886

Arkansas State Convention $225

Long Island Area Local Auxiliary $198

South Jersey Area Local $195

Southwest Florida Area Local -- Local Meeting 50/50's $810

Las Vegas Area Local $575

Springfield (MO) Area Local Auxiliary $100

Illinois Postal Workers Auxiliary $86

COPA Funds Collected at National Convention*

Birmingham (AL) Area Local $3275

Minneapolis Area Local $2221

National Auxiliary $1300

San Francisco Local $1025

New York Metro Area Local $886

Massachusetts State Convention (Correction from $350) $ 810

Las Vegas Area Local $575

Gainesville (FL) Area Local $536

Phoenix Metro Area Local $505

Honolulu Area Local $289

New Jersey Mid State Area Local $275

Houston Area Local $187

Missouri State Auxiliary $100

Chicago Local POWER $60

* These contributions have not previously been reported in a News Service Bulletin. Some COPA contributions made during the convention were reported in News Service Bulletin Convention Bulletin No. 3.

Early Retirement Options

A corrected version of an article that appeared in the January/February 2003 edition of The American Postal Worker appeared in the PDF version of the Jan. 22 News Service. To view the story online, click here.

Mailing List Update Update

APWU National Headquarters recently updated the mailing list for the News Service.

While some individuals who previously received the News Service bulletins may no longer be included on the revised list, copies of the News Service will continue to be sent to all APWU-identified work locations, as well as to all local and state organizations.

The News Service also may be found in two different formats at the APWU Web site. Past bulletins, too, are available at www.apwu.org.

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