COLA Raise Shows Value of a Union Contract

The $686 salary increase that will be reflected in APWU members’ paychecks Sept. 21 demonstrates the ongoing value of the union contract, said APWU President William Burrus. “With the one-level upgrade for all APWU-represented positions in February,” he added, “the negotiated raises will amount to approximately four percent over a period of five months.”

Burrus described the September Cost-of-Living Adjustment and the upgrades early next year as important illustrations of a good collective bargaining agreement and a strong union.

“COLA raises have made important contributions to our members’ wages,” he said. “The $686 increase will be one of the largest in our history and it presents us with an excellent opportunity to build the union. I encourage union activists to use the occasion of this raise to seek out non-members and persuade them to join us.”

Burrus also said that it would be an ideal time for APWU leaders to ask members to become more involved in union activities and to contribute to COPA, the union’s political action fund. Burrus said he will be sending invitations to join the APWU to all non-members covered by the national agreement, timed to coincide with the raise. Solicitations for contributions to COPA also will be mailed to APWU members.

“I hope that local and state leaders will assist in these efforts,” Burrus said.

The COLA increase will be the third-largest since 2000. (APWU-represented employees received an $812 cost-of-living raise a year ago, and a $728 COLA in September 2005.) The current adjustment will amount to a 33 cents per hour increase, or $26.40 per pay period, and it represents a 1.4 percent increase in the salary of an APWU-represented employee at Grade 5, Step O.

The February upgrade has been calculated to be the equivalent of a raise of approximately 2.6 percent. Updated payscales will be distributed in the September/October edition of The American Postal Worker magazine. 

All-Craft Conference Begins Nov. 5
Nov. 8: Installation of Elected Officers

The 2007 APWU All-Craft Conference, set for Nov. 5-8 in Las Vegas, will offer a series of educational seminars, including craft-specific workshops for members of the Clerk, Maintenance, Motor Vehicle Services, and Support Services Divisions of the union. At general business sessions, important craft issues and resolutions will be discussed and voted on.

Installation ceremonies for newly elected APWU national officers will be held the evening of Nov. 8. Tickets for the reception, ceremony, and dinner will cost $35. A maximum of 1,500 tickets will be available, and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Members may view the conference schedule and additional information about the Installation Dinner Dance. Registration for the conference — as well as for the installation ceremony — may be done online. Those who wish to register by mail have the option to do so. 

Ballot Mailing for APWU National Election Draws Near

The APWU Election Committee will mail ballots for the 2007 National Officers Election Sept. 12-15, and ballots are due back by 2 p.m. on Oct. 5.

Members who have not received a ballot by Sept. 20 are asked to notify their local, or to contact the American Arbitration Association between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EDT) at 800-529-5218 to request a duplicate. To receive a duplicate ballot, members must provide their name and the last four digits of their Social Security number, along with their local, craft, mailing address, and telephone number. Ballots may also be requested by e-mail to apwu@adr.org.

The Election Committee will supervise the vote count. Unofficial election results will be posted at www.apwu.org as soon as they are available. Official results are expected by Oct. 12.