Category: APWU News

Whatever your holiday traditions and beliefs, I hope you and your family had safe, enjoyable holidays. With last year in the rearview mirror, the “struggle continues” in 2024. In addition to daily battles to enforce our union contract, I’d like to highlight some of our upcoming challenges and opportunities as a union: New Union Contract: The main Collective Bargaining Agreement (union contract) covering 200,000 postal workers expires on Sept. 20, 2024. Negotiations will begin on June […]

While still in its early stages, postal management is aggressively proceeding with their “network modernization” plans. Currently, three out of an estimated 60 future Regional Processing and Distribution Centers (RPDCs) are at least partially up and running – Richmond, VA; Charlotte, NC; and Atlanta, GA – with at least nine more scheduled to open next year. There are approximately 24 Sorting and Delivery Centers (S&DCs) (large carrier/delivery units) open, with plans for dozens more in […]

APWU-represented career postal employees will receive a union-won general wage increase (GWI) equal to 1.3 percent of base pay, effective Nov. 18. Non-career APWU-represented employees will receive an additional 1 percent, or a 2.3 percent GWI, as they do not receive COLA. The raise will appear in paychecks dated Dec. 8, 2023. This latest wage increase caps off two years of strong raises secured in the 2021-2024 contract and follows record-breaking cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for […]

The APWU is a “Solidarity” union. That means we step up and support our union family when they’re striking to win better contracts, fighting for healthy and safe workplaces, or taking action to ensure workers can enjoy a dignified retirement. When workers stand up and fight together, our movement grows stronger. And, in this time of heightened labor militancy, APWU members are answering the call. We are proud of the support our members have shown […]

On August 26, APWU members and officers from across the country participated in the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington in the Nation’s Capital with thousands of labor rights and civil rights activists and organizations. The event, billed “not a commemoration, but a continuation,” was held in remembrance of the 250,000 people who, on Aug. 28, 1963, gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver […]

Drivers for 10 Roads Express in Richmond, VA voted 17-0 to join the APWU. The Richmond drivers are now the fifth 10 Roads Express location to unionize with the APWU since 2022. The workers stood strong in solidarity against management’s union busting consultants, who spread misinformation and used scare tactics to intimidate the workers. Despite managements’ anti-union campaign, the workers won unanimously and showed they have a real voice and power to bargain with management. The drivers petitioned to […]

On behalf of our 200,000 members, I salute and congratulate the 340,000 Teamsters who work for UPS on the ratification of their solid new union contract, which delivers much-needed gains for these workers within the same industry as APWU members. I also want to congratulate International President Sean O’Brien, who led Teamster members across the country in an impressive contract campaign, including the credible threat of a powerful strike, which helped create the power and […]

In preparation for the 2023 All-Craft Conference, the APWU had requested an extension for all grievance time limit deadlines for all levels. In response, on July 11, the Postal Service issued a moratorium on “all grievances, disciplinary actions, and arbitration hearings at the National, Regional and Local levels” within the extension period. Effective from Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, through Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, this extension period coincides with All-Craft Conference activities. The parties have agreed to extend deadlines fifteen (15) days beyond […]

Kenneth “Ken” Prinz, Assistant Director of the Motor Vehicle Service (MVS) Division at APWU national headquarters, has retired, effective July 1. Brother Prinz began working as a clerk for the Postal Service in 1974, but transferred into the MVS craft after approximately two years. Prinz is a member of the Philadelphia PA Area Local, where he began serving as a steward in 1986. He was elected as the Assistant Director of the MVS division of his […]

Anna Smith What’s the first thing you hear from a non-member when you ask them to join the union? Maybe surprise! Many non-members have never been asked to join the union. But a lot more non-members really just don’t understand what we are and what we do. They might ask “Why? What’s the union going to do for me?” There are a lot of ways to answer that question. We are a family. By working […]

In accordance with the 2021-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), career employees represented by the APWU will receive a $0.10 per hour cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), effective March 11, 2023. The increase is the result of a rise in the January Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). It will appear in paychecks dated March 31, 2023 (Pay Period 07-2023). The value of the COLA for full-time employees in each step and grade will increase by $208.00 annually for full […]

APWU national officers have filed a national dispute with postal management on behalf of members who have had their pay stolen by cyber-criminals and are unable to recover the money. Several hundred postal workers have had pay stolen by cyber-criminals who used fraudulent websites to obtain sensitive personal data that was used to divert and steal direct deposit payments. The thefts mainly occurred during Pay Period 26 of 2022 but continued into Pay Period 1 […]

On November 7, 2022, the parties agreed to the Peak Season Exception period MOU for 2022. The MOU identifies the time when Holiday Clerk Assistants (HCAs) may be hired. HCAs are hired for three (3) consecutive pay periods. In 2022, that is either November 5 through December 16 or November 19 through December 30. The MOU also provides that any “local disputes involving the application of the Postal Support Employees (PSEs) District Caps MOU will be […]

APWU-represented employees who fall under the 2021-2024 National Agreement received the retro-active payments owed on them in their paychecks dated October 28, 2022. Employees will see the retro-active payments listed on their paychecks as multiple “adjustments”. In order to fully understand the retro-active payments, each person should download their full paystub that is available to them through the USPS employee website. Pay stubs could be over 10 pages long. An explanation on how to read […]

The official results [PDF – Members Only] of the APWU Election of National Officers have been tabulated and were certified by the American Arbitration Association on Oct. 7. A summary will be published in the November-December issue of The American Postal Worker.  The results will also be separated by local. These will be posted to the Members Only section in the coming days. Uncontested offices are not shown in the web posting, but will be listed in the magazine.

Entire APWU Solidarity Team prevails APWU President Mark Dimondstein was elected to a fourth term as votes in the APWU National Officer Elections were tallied on Oct. 6. Also re-elected were Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard, and Retirees Department Director Nancy Olumekor. Human Relations Department Director Daleo Freeman was elected to a first full-term. Yared Wonde will become the new Southern Region Coordinator and Arrion Brown will become the new Support Services Division Director. Election results […]

Message from APWU President Mark Dimondstein, Executive Vice-President Debby Szeredy and Secretary-Treasurer Liz Powell on Hurricane Ian and Fiona. In the past two weeks, two disastrous hurricanes have caused massive devastation and hardship, including the loss of life. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are still recovering from the damage of Hurricane Fiona. Hurricane Ian continues to sweep through the Southeast United States after delivering massive damage in Florida. These storms have deeply impacted our […]

Elizabeth Powell September 16, 2022 APWU 26th Biennial Convention The delegates in attendance at the 26th Biennial Convention showed up and stepped up through the challenges COVID-19 may have presented to ensure the convention was successful. Congratulations to everyone who participated. As the Secretary-Treasurer, it is the responsibility of my department to plan and execute the convention. The convention committee members, craft conferences and convention delegates met to discuss, debate and adopt resolutions that will […]

The First Two COLAS of NEW Contract Combined Equal $1.81/hr In accordance with the 2021-2024 Collective Bar­gaining Agreement (union contract), career employees represented by the APWU will receive a $1.18 per hour Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), effective August 27, 2022. The adjustment is the result of a rise in the Consum­er Price Index (CPI-W) – one of the federal government’s measures of inflation. It will appear in paychecks dated September 16, 2022 (Pay Period 19-2022). This […]

APWU 26TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION. DAY 3 After a productive second day of convention, delegates continued on Wednesday to make significant progress on union business. Share this video Delegates continued to make progress on the important union business before the convention, considering, debating, amending and voting on several resolutions throughout the day. The Constitution Committee work led off the day’s debate, followed by the conclusion of the Labor-Management Committee report, with delegates beginning to hear from […]

APWU 26TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION. DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS After a productive first day of convention, delegates continued on Tuesday to make significant progress on union business. Share this video After a productive first day of convention, delegates continued on Tuesday to make significant progress on union business. They debated and voted on many meaningful resolutions addressing bargaining demands as the Labor-Management Committee, co-chaired by Ken Fajardo, Albuquerque Local, and Wanda Harris, Miami Area Local, continued its […]

DAY 1: CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS On Monday, APWU President Mark Dimondstein delivered the ‘State of the Union.’ He highlighted our successes and struggles and gave an outlook for a bright, while challenging, future.  Share this video On Monday, APWU President Mark Dimondstein delivered the ‘State of the Union.’ He highlighted our successes and struggles and gave an outlook for a bright, while challenging, future.  Reflecting on the moment, Dimondstein said, “the pandemic has made it crystal clear […]

As delegates arrived in Maryland’s National Harbor for the 26th Biennial National Convention, the Clerk, Maintenance, Motor Vehicle Services, and Support Services Divisions held their respective conferences, alongside the APWU Retirees conference. At the Clerk Craft Division Conference, Director Lamont Brooks led members in discussion of how to continue to protect and expand craft jobs, remove the multi-tiered wage system, and how to be proactive against workplace harassment and safety issues. Delegates heard about the […]

In accordance with the 2021-2024 Collective Bar­gaining Agreement, career employees represented by the APWU will receive a $1.18 per hour cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), effective August 27, 2022. The increase is the result of a rise in the Consum­er Price Index (CPI-W). It will appear in paychecks dated September 16, 2022 (Pay Period 19-2022). The value of the COLA for full-time employees in each step and grade will increase by $2,455.00 annually, and the hourly rates […]

In a recent presentation before the neoconservative American Enterprise Institute, Postmaster General (PMG) Louis DeJoy outlined his views of the future direction of the United States Postal Service. One remark from the Postmaster General during a discussion following his prepared speech created headlines that deeply concern postal workers and the American Postal Workers Union. The PMG said that, through attrition and retirements, the USPS “may need to get 50,000 people out of the organization” in […]

Truck drivers for 10 Roads Express in Harrisburg, PA have voted to form a union with the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO. The 100 professional drivers in Harrisburg join nearly 1,000 10 Roads Express drivers who are already part the APWU. The drivers, whose company is now the largest USPS trucking contractor, worked hard for their win. They stood strong in solidarity against a concerted anti-union campaign based on lies, illegal threats, and retaliation. However, […]

Mark Dimondstein Share this article (This article first appeared in the July/August 2022 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) Soaring inflation is hurting working people worldwide with rising prices on basic necessities including gasoline, food, transportation and housing. Inflation is largely being driven by an economy concentrated in the hands of a few powerful and greedy corporate monopolies that have the power to raise prices, with little fear of competition. In 2021 consumer prices […]