Notion that USPS Can’t Afford Unions Is a Cheap Shot at Workers

APWU  News APWU President William Burrus has again refuted assertions about the financial condition of the Postal Service that appeared in a recent column in The Daily Caller: “The Postal Service Can’t Afford Unions.” In an Oct. 18 letter [PDF], Burrus wrote that if Tad DeHaven, the author of the column, “knew what he was […]

USPS Liabilities Are A Colossal Sham

OIG Says USPS Could Recover $142.4 Billion Burrus Update In a summary of four reports on postal finances, the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced a stunning conclusion: The Postal Service could recover $142.4 billion to: Meet its financial obligations; Extinguish its debt; Have significant levels of cash for operations; Optimize its infrastructure […]

Congressman’s Call for Concessions Should Drive Postal Workers to the Polls

Burrus Update: A recent guest editorial in the Washington Times by a California congressman demonstrates just how important the November elections are for postal workers. In an article about the Postal Service and contract negotiations, Rep. Darrell Issa declares: “No union has or ever will lobby for a layoff, so it’s up to USPS management […]

Hey, Postal Service: "What's the Big Deal?"

Press Release From Affordable Mail Alliance Union Challenges Existence of Postal Service Financial Crisis Washington, DC – Underscoring the recklessness of the massive rate increase proposed by the United States Postal Service on July 6, American Postal Workers Union President William Burrus made clear on Friday that his Union does not believe the Service is […]

Union Vows to Escalate Fight To Preserve Postal Service

APWU members vowed to escalate the fight against the Postal Service’s plan to eliminate Saturday mail delivery on the fourth day of the union’s 20th Biennial National Convention, unanimously approving a resolution to engage in “rallies, marches, and pickets” in concert with other unions and public interest organizations. The declaration also denounced the “forced relocation” […]

APWU State of the Union Address: 'Our Union is Alive and Strong'

APWU President William Burrus told delegates to the 20th Biennial National Convention that the union is “alive and strong.” Despite the nation’s frail economy, “We can point with pride to the fact that our members were shielded from the tragic effects of layoffs and downsizing,” he said. “I draw no greater satisfaction than knowing that […]

Burrus: “Postal Workers Will Not Settle for Less”

APWU Web News America wants to keep Saturday delivery, and we will beat back this proposal to lock the mailbox on Saturday,” APWU President William Burrus told delegates to the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) biennial convention in Anaheim, CA. “We join with NALC in pledging ‘five day, no way.’” Speaking at the NALC’s […]

Major Mailers Make Billions, But Demand Postal Worker Pay Cuts

Burrus Update #14-2010, Aug. 3, 2010 In their ongoing effort to shift wealth to the richest Americans, conservatives continually attack the pay and benefits earned by average workers. Over the past 20 years, the transfer of wealth has been dramatic. Despite significant increases in productivity, workers’ real wages have declined, while salaries, bonuses, dividends and […]

Burrus: Mailers Want To Cut Postal Employees Wages At Least $18,000 Yearly

Burrus Update #13-2010, July 29, 2010 Competing Interests, Diverging Views In many Updates and editorials on postal issues, I have criticized the influence of large mailers on the USPS — even while acknowledging that they provide much of the volume that makes it possible for the Postal Service to maintain its national network and provide […]

Should APWU Reverse Its Decision To Boycott USPS Voice of the Employee Surveys?

From the American Postal Workers’ Union ‘Ask the President’ on Voice of the Employee Surveys: Question:  I would like the National Executive Board to reconsider its stance on participation in Voice of Employee surveys. Here is my reasoning: Management releases their “findings” and states something to effect that 63 percent of those participating gave a […]