American Postal Workers Union

Introduction

The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) is a labor union in the United States, representing over 200,000 employees and retirees of the United States Postal Service. It is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and UNI Global Union.

History

The APWU was formed on July 1, 1971, when five postal unions merged following the Great Postal Strike of 1970. The strike led to the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, granting unions collective bargaining rights over wages, benefits, and working conditions. The founding unions include the United Federation of Postal Clerks, National Postal Union, National Association of Post Office and General Service Maintenance Employees, National Federation of Post Office Motor Vehicle Employees, and National Association of Special Delivery Messengers.

Mission and Activities

The mission of the APWU is to fight for dignity and respect on the job, decent pay and benefits, and safe working conditions for postal workers. It engages in collective bargaining, legislative action, and member mobilization to achieve these goals. The union also advocates for social and economic justice for all working families.

Structure

APWU members belong to several divisions, including Clerk, Maintenance, Motor Vehicle, and Support Services. These divisions cater to different roles within the USPS, such as retail clerks, mail processors, building maintenance, and drivers. The union is a democratic organization with more than 1,000 state and local unions and retiree chapters across the U.S.

Leadership and Programs

Current leadership includes President Mark Dimondstein, elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2016. The union supports various programs, such as the E.C. Hallbeck Scholarship for educational benefits, the Postal Employees Relief Fund for disaster recovery, and the American Postal Workers Accident Benefit Association for insurance benefits.

Community and Political Involvement

The APWU promotes strong alliances with labor and civil rights communities. It has been involved in campaigns against privatization of the USPS and advocates for postal banking to expand financial services. Politically, it contributes significantly to both Democratic and Republican causes, focusing on issues directly impacting postal workers and the USPS.

Financial and Lobbying Efforts

The APWU engages in substantial lobbying efforts, advocating for workers' rights, postal reform, and retirement benefits. It supports legislation to repeal provisions like the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, which affect postal retirees' benefits.

Affiliations

The APWU is a member of the AFL-CIO and UNI Global Union, reflecting its commitment to international and national labor solidarity.

Membership and Representation

As of recent data, the APWU represents over 200,000 USPS employees and retirees, as well as about 2,000 private-sector mail workers. This makes it one of the largest unions representing postal workers in the United States.