American Postal Workers Union
Representation of the Union
The American postal workers union is union (APWU) is tasked with the mandate of fighting for respect and dignity of postal workers in the postal industry (Quinnell, 2018). Members of the union are marketing postal clerks, mailing processors and sorters, structure as well as equipment upkeep, supervisory workers, truck drivers and mechanics, data technology workers and nurses. The union has a total of 222,000 members, assets worth seventy two million dollars, and 240 employees as of now (Quinnell, 2018). The primary industry which the union fights for is the transportation and warehousing.
History of the Union
The union was founded on July 1, 1971, after five postal unions amalgamated after the great postal strike in the year 1970 (APWU, 2020). The merger involved two largest unions which were the United Federation of Postal Clerks (UFPC) and National Postal Union (NPU) (APWU, 2020). The UFPC Clerks main aim was the representation of employees organised and managed mails. On the other hand, the NPU epitomised postal workers in different skills. In addition, three other unions The National Association of Post Office and General Service Maintenance Employees, the National Federation of Vehicle Employees as well as National Association of Special Delivery Messengers later on merged with APWU (APWU, 2020). The Great Postal Strike led to the adoption of collective bargaining agreement, which had not been the case before, owing to the fact that early postal unions relied on the impulses of the Congress for wage increase. This consequently led to the underpayment of postal workers whose salary could not sustain their needs. The Great Postal Strike was as a result of the Congress’ laxity when it came to matters employees salary increment. The strike led to a standstill in mail services across the country hence bringing postal workers grievances to public attention. The strike ended after the Congress approved wage increase as well other benefits by 6% for postal workers (APWU, 2020). The strike encouraged the enactment of postal acts which allowed the union rights to negotiate over their salaries and working surroundings with the management.
Mission/goals of the Union
After the first contract in the year1970, which has lasted for more than 50 years, APWU has continued to fight for self-respect and respect on jobs for its members as well as good salaries, benefits and finally proper and safe working conditions (Quinnell, 2018). This move has consequently enabled the union to achieve tremendous job security requirements. For that reason, postal workers have worked peacefully according to the requirements of the act. Besides the union also works in accordance with its mission which is fighting for a proper pay for its employees, defending the rights of the people to the public postal service and in harmony with all personnel both at home and abroad (Perlmutter, 2016). The union does not however achieve this on its own, but with the aid of the combined bargaining agreement, statutory action and deployment of its members and the general public. In so doing, the union seeks to reach the following goals, preparing local workers appropriately to partake in the ergonomic menace reduction process and finding tasks and situations where musculoskeletal disorders incidents are likely to occur and develop as well as implement proper control measures to reduce such incidences.
Recent Actions the Union has been involved In
Currently APWU has partnered with A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service whose main aim is to aid in the prevention of dismantling of United States Postal Service (USPS) (Quinnell, 2018). Likewise, APWU currently has multiple campaigns whose aim is to safeguard workers and clients of USPS, which include fighting in contradiction of privation, for an impartial and decent agreement shielding their whole negotiating unit, against closure of post office, and to endorse harmless postal jobs. Through the help of the commonality movement, APWU was able to lead a fruitful fight in contradiction of the denationalization of postal marketing services. In addition, APWU is also advocating for postal banking, in a bid to enlarge rudimentary financial services to those whose requirements are not met by the commercial dominated monetary sector (Perlmutter, 2016).
Benefits Provided by the Union
On the other hand, the union has also been linked to multiple community efforts such as the provision of insurance and disbursement of benefits to postal employees as well as their relatives in the event of unintentional death or infirmity, through the American Postal Workers Accident benefit Association. Furthermore, the union also provides scholarship programs for APWU member’s children in order to undertake industrialised, trade, mechanical, and job-related occupations (Quinnell, 2018). Similarly, the Union also has a relief fund for its employees, whose objective is to help employees together with their families to recuperate from natural calamities and disasters which may include house fires (Perlmutter, 2016). Lastly the union also encourages strong associations and common connections between employment and civil rights societies. In so doing, the union is able to not only advocate for employees’ salary increment, but to also cushion them from other factors which may negatively impact their lives. Henceforth, members of the union together with their can live happily without the fear of losing their jobs, or being affected by disasters.
Reference
Quinnell, K. (2018). Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: American Postal Workers Union. AFL-CIO America’s Unions. Retrieved from: https://aflcio.org/2019/4/8/get-know-afl-cios-affiliates-american-postal-workers-union
Perlmutter, M. (2016). THE IMPORTANCE OF ALIGNING THE U.S. POST OFFICE CLOSURE PROCESS WITH GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT IDEALS. Public Contract Law Journal, 45(4), 695-714. doi:10.2307/26504278
APWU. (2020). APWU History. American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO. Retrieved from: https://www.apwu.org/apwu-history
