01/16/2019 - (This article first appeared in the January/February 2019 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
With negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement between the USPS and the APWU now at an impasse, we are heading into interest arbitration. Below are answers to a few frequently asked questions the union has received regarding the next steps in achieving a new union contract.
01/16/2019 - (This article first appeared in the January/February 2019 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
01/15/2019 - The table below indicates the date and corresponding pay period in which locals and state organizations can expect headquarters to deposit the Dues Check Off (DCO) rebate monies via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).
01/11/2019 - 
On January 10, APWU officers and members joined hundreds of furloughed federal government employees, labor leaders, congressional representatives and other allies on the steps of the “House of Labor,” the AFL-CIO, to demand an end to the government shut down and resulting “lockout” of 800,000 federal employees.
11/02/2018 - (This article first appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
By Western Regional Coordinator Omar Gonzalez
33,400+ employees are absent daily claims management, triggering their Attendance Control Employee Availability (AC/EA) crackdown while they impose so-called “Dynamic Scheduling.”
Leave rules in CBA Article 10 and the Employee & Labor Relations Manual (ELM) Chapter 510 have existed for 40 years. ACEA can’t change those rules. ELM 665.11 requires you to be regular in attendance. However, ELM 511.1 requires management to administer leave on an equitable basis for all employees considering a) the needs of the service b) the welfare of the individual employee.
Too often management imposes discipline using select rules and dictates, such as, three (3) absences in 90 days requires discipline. This dictate violates the contract. “It is the supervisor’s review of the attendance record in light of all relevant evidence, NOT any set number of absences that determines whether corrective action is warranted.” [Article 10.1; 10.2 JCIM].
11/02/2018 - (This article first appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
By Maintenance Division Director Idowu Balogun
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My name is Idowu Balogun, your New National Maintenance Division Director. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your letters, cards and emails of congratulations and condolences. Brother Raymer’s untimely departure left all of us stunned and without adequate words to describe our feelings.I am writing this open letter to you to share with you the state of the Maintenance Division within a 60-day time frame of the unexpected passing of our beloved Director Steven G. Raymer.
10/04/2018 - (This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
By Human Relations Director Sue Carney
Your donations are needed to sustain the Postal Employees’ Relief Fund (PERF). PERF is a nonprofit charitable organization.
When disaster strikes and all is lost, PERF provides tax-free relief grants to postal employees and retirees to help them reestablish a home and replace necessities. PERF has provided more than $19 million in assistance to postal families during its 28-year history, but meeting its mission has become increasingly difficult over the last decade.
10/02/2018 - (This article first appeared in the September/October 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
By Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell
It starts with the process for nominations. One of the ways to alleviate and hopefully prevent complaints, Local Election Committee (LEC) and National Election Appeals Committee (NEAC) appeals, and Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) investigations, is for local affiliates to ensure elections are conducted in accordance with Department of Labor (DOL) guidelines.
07/24/2018 - (This article first appeared in the July-August 2018 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)
By Maintenance Craft Directors
The Joint Contract Interpretation Manual (JCIM) is the mutually agreed upon explanation on how to apply our contract to filling vacant maintenance positions.
The May 2017 JCIM included the Order for Filling Vacant Maintenance Positions. The contractual definition is to duty assignments. Within the craft, we referto this as the “pecking order.”
The preamble paragraph is frequently overlooked: The appropriate PAR and PER must be exhausted before considering other hiring options. To be considered qualified an employee must either be eligible under the current in-craft process for the position in question or be a Maintenance Craft employee in the same level and occupational group as the vacancy.
07/23/2018 - (This article first appeared in the July-August 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
By By Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell
The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has begun bargaining with the United States Postal Service (USPS) for a new contract, and members know this is our bread and butter. This is one of the primary reasons why we signed up to join our union. We are focused on getting the best deal possible for our members and their families while securing the future of the postal service.
Because our members have been united, in the past we’ve been successful. If we stay united, with a broad vision of social justice, I believe we will be successful now and into the future.
