Clearing Up Confusion About the Tentative Agreement

Clearing Up Confusion About the Tentative Agreement

Support Needed; States Battle for Workers' Rights

In more than a dozen states, working families are coming together to face down attacks on good jobs and the right to bargain for a middle-class life. You’ve seen it in Wisconsin, where more than 100,000 people flooded the Capitol in Madison multiple times. You’ve seen it in Indiana, where protests against anti-worker legislation have continued for a month—and as a result we’re winning on many issues in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and plenty of other places.

Whether you were directly involved in worker uprisings or not, you are a part of our movement. These huge efforts were made possible because of the solidarity of people like you, acting together.

We need your help to keep the movement going and growing. We’ll keep giving you opportunities to do it—we hope you’ll take us up on those opportunities as much as you can, and also find ways to get involved in your own way.  One way you can show your friends and neighbors that you’re part of the nationwide movement for good jobs and workers’ rights is by purchasing a  We Are One lapel pin or button.

You’ll be able to wear your support with pride, and it will help us grow our movement—all but the actual cost of your pin or button will be a donation to support massive mobilization efforts by workers who are fighting for their freedom to bargain for a better life.

As you know, the right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a middle-class life are under attack as never before.  So we’re combating these new threats with unprecedented solidarity.  April 4th is the anniversary of the assasination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, (April 4, 1968) in Memphis, Tenn., where he was helping sanitation workers gain a voice at work and the right to bargain to realize their dream of a better life.  On that day and the days surrounding it, working families across the country will be organizing numerous solidarity actions. Together, we’ll stand with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio and dozens of other states where corporate-bought politicians are trying to take away the rights for which Dr. King gave his life.

Act now: Your purchase of a union-made pin or button will support ongoing worker-led mobilizations for good jobs and workers’ rights. Click Here

All but the actual cost of your “We Are One” button or pin will be a donation to support massive mobilization efforts workers are leading around the country.  For just $15 (plus shipping and handling), you can receive a classy union-made-in-America 1" x 1¼" We Are One lapel pin—and $12.95 of that will be used to support mobilization efforts for workers who are fighting against attacks on working families in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and other states. Or for just $10 (plus shipping and handling), you can receive a bold 2" x 3" lapel button and contribute $9.43. Of course, the more buttons and pins you buy, the more you’ll help. Order by midnight Friday; You’ll be supporting worker-led mobilizations across the country and you’ll receive your lapel pin or button in time to wear it with pride on April 4th.

So far, we’ve seen the most inspiring series of uprisings among working people in our lifetimes—let’s keep that energy going. Your continued support today, on or around April 4, and in the days and months to come will help keep this movement strong.

APWU Members to Vote on Tentative Agreement

APWU Members to Vote on Tentative Agreement

Mailing Starts April 8; Ballots Due Back May 10

Voting on the Tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement for the period 2010-2015 between the American Postal Workers Union and the United States Postal Service will start with a mailing set to begin on April 8. The single-question ballot will allow members to vote 'Yes' or 'No' on a contract, which, if ratified, would expire on May 20, 2015.

The vote count will take place on May 11. Ballots for the referendum must be received in the designated post office box by May 10, 2011.

In addition to a ballot, the ratification mailing will include a copy of the Tentative Agreement, a summary of highlights of the proposed agreement, the official statement of the Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee, a letter from APWU President Cliff Guffey and a postage-paid return envelope.

The Tentative Agreement (available to members only) and a summary of contractual provisions also can be found at http://www.apwu.org/

In accordance with the APWU Constitution, the Rank-and-File Committee must approve a Tentative Agreement before members are given the opportunity to vote on ratification. The committee voted unanimously to endorse the proposed agreement on March 16. The union's National Executive Board also voted unanimously to approve the Tentative Agreement.

The Rank-and-File Committee will supervise the vote count, which will take place on May 11. Results will be posted as soon as they become available at http://www.apwu.org/

National Officers to Meet in February; Guffey Seeks to Unify Leaders on New Direction

National Officers to Meet in February; Guffey Seeks to Unify Leaders on New Direction

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG | Ohio Gov. Candidate John Kasich Hates Unions

John Kasich, Republican candidate for Ohio Governor hates unions!  In a recently posted YouTube video Kasich is heard bragging about his Wall Steet dealings and ranting against unions and public employees.  Read more here or Click Here to watch the video

OSHA Fines USPS For Safety Violations at Cincinnati BMC

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined the Postal Service $210,000 for willfully exposing employees to electrical safety hazards at the Cincinnati Bulk Mail Center (BMC).

OSHA issued the USPS three citations after inspectors found that the Postal Service failed to provide employees working on electrically energized equipment with adequate training and protective equipment, exposing them to the risk of electric shock.

The latest citations in Ohio bring the Postal Service’s total OSHA fines to more than $4.6 million.

Union Vows to Fight to Save Postal Service From Itself

Reverend Jesse Jackson addresses the delegates on Wednesday

Click here to view news, highlights and video from the 2010 APWU National Convention