03/23/2015 – 
Three in-depth flyers and a brochure just published by the APWU dispel common misconceptions about the Postal Service.
“With contract negotiations underway, it’s important for union members – and the public – to know the truth about the Postal Service’s phony financial crisis, the threat of privatization, and the potential for expanded and enhanced postal services,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.
“I encourage union activists to pass out the flyers in break rooms and cafeterias as they discuss the contract campaign with their co-workers,” he said. Flyers have been mailed to local presidents for distribution.
The information is also available in a brochure format, which can be used when speaking with allies and potential allies. “I hope APWU activists will distribute the brochures at meetings with local labor councils, state federations, community organizations, elected officials, the media, and others,” Dimondstein added.
“APWU members across the country are doing outstanding work – building unity, enthusiasm and activism in our campaign for a good contract. Members are involved at every level of the organization – in Contract Action Teams, locals, state organizations, retiree chapters and the APWU auxiliary,” he pointed out.
“With your continued activism, we will fight to protect our vibrant, public Postal Service for generations to come!”
– See more at: http://www.apwu.org/news/web-news-article/setting-record-straight#sthash.F7VzJi94.dpuf
O.K. let me get this right according to this apwu brochure the postal management has done all these things which will destroy the post office. Yet, universal service is maintained, stamp prices are low, and the post office is making a profit. Am I missing something.
it’s nice to see others who share my opinion….. thank you…… and if anyone who is a member of our unions, have questions then please get ahold of your national president or your state president. I will guarantee that you will not get a direct answer to the question or concern you have…… I have tried both routes and all I got was a bunch of talking in circles- and make sure that everyone becomes a member- that was their answer….. and also continue to donate to their PAC
no negotiated contract for apwu, usps wants to wait for a republican president, so they can sell the post office and raid all the $$$$$$ from the PREPAID retirement and hbp $$$$$ already paid. Congress has to steal $$$$ from somewhere, they already spent all the soc sec $$ and medicare $ and ran up a bigger national deficit.
keep drinking the koolaid ET Mike…… I know carriers who aren’t members of the union and have had the same job for 30 years here….. newsflash!- the general public really doesn’t give a rats ass about the politics and finances of the PO. They want us to deliver the mail when we have it and pick up the stuff they want to mail. They don’t care whether it’s 5 days a week or 6 days a week or even what it costs. Our union boss Rolando screwed us in the last contract in the name of more potential members. He is screwing your side by not allowing 5 day delivery or even curbside delivery. So the PO went to the next thing to save money which is closing Post Offices. I’m sorry it sucks for you, but right now these unions are working against each other and against it’s members now matter how many “grand alliances” we form. The carrier union only wants membership numbers to line their pockets, and the clerk union- well I really can’t tell what they are after….. although I do know their last contract sucked too. This “mess” congress created was agreed upon by our unions back in 2006 when it started. Inflation is around 6%/year and we all get our 1% raise- and your union is working for you? really?? The volume continues to drop, and the business needs to right size. Offer early retirements on both sides and then see where we are. All these rallies, and flyers, and appearing on radio and tv is a complete waste of time and money. Start thinking for yourself, not whatever line of bull the union is feeding you this week. These unions can be strong and effective, but they need to focus on it’s current members and our contracts first and foremost. Then all the other stuff can follow.
Rolando is not to blame for the increase in non-career and the creation of the CCA to replace the TE’s,the contract went to arbitration and arbitrator Das chose to impose a two year wage freeze and created the CCA category at a lower pay than the TE’s were making in the last contract. Blame it on the APWU’s then president Cliff Guffey,who sold all craft employees down the river by not saying no management on their CBA proposals and going to arbitration.
So one of the clerks is going to vote for Ted Cruz. Well you go right ahead and vote for one that wants to destroy your job and benefits. Just vote for the Canadian born gun hugger, anti worker slave labor creator. Keep it up, and you might be able to work for .85 cents an hour at the Postal Service like my father did as an RPO clerk in the 50’s. Senator Huey P Long once said “Never underestimate the stupidity of people”.
I must add that it’s the goals unions fought for and achieved that made working for the USPS the attractive job it is or was. Scabs do not like being reminded of this, and I find it impossible to believe they would be stupid enough to think that the wages and benefits, not to mention job security, were all offered by USPS management out of the goodness of their hearts.
We must be fair and acknowledge that some unions in history have been terrible and did a lot of damage in terms of the public image of them. Teamsters, the history of no show jobs, and organized crime involvement in so many unions in the big cities were all deplorable, but we must concern ourselves with our unions in the USPS and not worry about the others.
That being said, we are not overpaid, we do not strike, and work under existing contracts until agreements are either reached or decisions are made by arbitration. We are quite reasonable as far as organized labor goes.
I believe scab workers fall into two groups: those disgusted with poor union representation and corruption, which still does exist as any does in any large organization, particularly the rural union, and those who are Republican dyed in the wool Kool-Aid drinkers who believe whatever the GOP or FOX News tells them, and refuse to acknowledge that all the spin is there to protect the fat cats and promote the dismantling of the middle class.
Not to mention cheap. A scab is a thief. You get the benefits, the pay, the representation for nothing. Your work buddies pay for your sorry cheap ass. You supposedly hate entitlements as “liberal” programs, like welfare or food stamps, but you can’t see how you’re getting something for nothing, too.
No, our unions are not perfect. But you’re here because of what the unions accomplished, and it’s disgusting how you think you are entitled to the good things you have and letting others pay your sorry way for you.
Maybe one day the Service and unions will come to agreement that those who choose to be scabs will be subject to whatever wages, benefits and job security the management sees fit without union interference. Then let’s see you run the union down.
Amen ET Mike Amen
To Carrier Chuck well said.
in the aforementioned poster one talking point is “retail work is being sent to Staples” and another is ” 140 buildings sold off since 2012 and another 82 to be closed in 2015″……….what Diamondstein and Liz Powell are hiding from you is that Democrat Sen Diane Feinstein and her hubby Richard Blum have a “No Bid Contract” with the USPS to sell postal buildings. (deal is under investigation for possible fraud by blum for false under market appraisals and flipping to friends who give him kickback on higher sale price) Diamondstein is hiding rich 1%er democrats crony capitalism as it pertains to the postal service. he has no credibility and his ethics is in question. what does this all mean for the average a-pee-u clerk………..nothing more than a 1% yearly raise and no additional benefits of any kind. that is why I will vote for Ted Cruz……..bring it down man, bring it all down man. 1% yearly raise’s and 6% true yearly inflation make this job worse and worse every year. when will these dolts ever learn. burrASS, Guffy, and now Diamondstein should represent the clerk craft and not the DNC.
Good grief….. here the unions go again. I sure hope congress does something soon- one way or the other so this complete waste of time and resources by our unions stops. Instead of focusing on this crap, why aren’t the unions focusing on getting a good contract for it’s workers for once? Nope- have to keep playing the political games.
Unfortunately the public has been misinformed about the financial status of the postal service. There are people who still believe that tax dollars fund the postal service. It is never too late to get the word out. If these flyers and brochures help by getting out the message “Setting the record straight on USPS phony financial crisis, Privatization Threat” GREAT!
You said… …Here the Unions go again? You should be supportive that the APWU is making the effort to get the word out.
You said… …I hope congress does something soon? Wow, they are the ones that created this mess.
You said… …Why aren’t the unions, focusing on getting a good contract for it workers for once. I can’t speak for the Letter Carrier Union But, if you ever looked at and read the APWU’s contract, it makes other Unions wish they had contract like we have. We need to get every bit of exposure out there and if these flyers and brochures help getting out the message “Setting the record straight on the USPS phony financial crisis, Privatization Threat”
You said… …Have to keep playing the political games. This is no game! The unions are trying to stop the dismantling and destruction of the only non-tax funded, self-sufficient government branch that belongs to you and I and all the citizens and non-citizens of the United States.
You being a carrier you job is not being effected like my job is and thousands of other postal employees around the country are being forced to make major life decisions, like trying to sell their house, being lucky enough in finding a state and a job to move where one would feel safe to raise their family, forced early retirement, changing crafts, being too close to retirement to relocate but will have to drive a hour or more to work just to keep ones job, ect..
Carrier Chuck, You being a letter carrier, what have you done to get the message out? Other than being negative about the Unions. Without the unions you would not have your JOB!
remember you cant fight stupid
Then the members of the APWU did something about it. They voted out those who negotiated the concessionary contract in favor of Mark Dimondstein and most of the slate that ran with him.
The rank and file members were not interested in continuing down the path blazed by Guffey and company. The change has been a breath of fresh air and we are turning the APWU into a Union that is willing to fight management both in and outside the traditional bargaining arena.
Getting a “good contract” is no longer enough, we have to link our arms with the community to fight for better quality service from the Postal Service. If we fail to do this, even if we got an amazing contract, we lose in the long run as management continues their attempts to destroy the very service that keeps us all employed.
ET Mike-Stop smoking crack! No way the other unions would want the APWU crap contract! If you look at the APWU contract,you will see full-time is 30 hours a week,which no union has ever negotiated for,and a permanent lower tier wage scale which will bring all APWU employees salaries down as the 30 year+ employees retire and the 50 mile excessing rule doesn’t stop management from excessing APWU employees beyond 50 miles, no thanks! that is why the other union presidents refused to sign a bad agreement with Donahoe. You got lied to screwed by your own president and executives who were in bed with Donahoe!
Can they be mailed as an EDDM?