It is Not Too Late to Get Involved
Anna Smith
July 1, 2020
(This article first appeared in the July/August 2020 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)
Right now, a lot of changes are happening to the USPS. We have a new Postmaster General, new Governors, and soon will have a new Deputy Postmaster General. The revenue for the Postal Service has also been hit hard from the pandemic, and lack of business advertising. If you think this does not affect you, you are wrong.
Without a strong union, your pay, benefits and job security are all in danger. Each one of us not only has an obligation to be actively involved member, but to be organizing our non-members as well. If you have turned on the news or read any articles online at all in the past month, you have seen what people can do when they stand together.
Your non-member coworkers need to hear from you. It is not okay to stand on the sidelines; they are either standing with you in the fight for job safety, security and livable wages or against you. If you have not been actively involved, it is not too late.
Joining Online
You can still sign up a new member on the spot if you do not have a join form. The Online Join program is going strong. The entire process to join takes a few minutes and can be done from your phone or home computer. Non-members simply select “Join APWU” on the main page of the APWU website and follow the links. Once the 1187 is submitted, a confirmation email containing the completed 1187 will be sent to both the new member as well as the Organization Department. In addition, the Department will be mailing the local or state organizations a copy of the 1187.
Form 1187s received through the online procedure will automatically be entered into our system, thereby expediting their processing time.
In some instances, new hires and those transferring from other unions may not be able to use the online process until the Postal Service notifies APWU Headquarters of the change to the union’s bargaining unit. We are continuing to work on making the online option available in these circumstances as well as an avenue for APWU employees in the private sector. In the meantime, these employees can still utilize the hard copy or online PDF versions and return it by mail, email, or fax.
From July 15 – August 15 for any new member that you organize using the Online Join process, both you and the new member can receive a t-shirt. Email organization@apwu.org with your name, the person’s name that joined and both of your shirt sizes.
Updated Materials
All of the USPS organizing materials have been updated with a bold new look. If you have not ordered the new materials, please reach out to me.
As a reminder, please do not keep more in stock than you will use over a few months. Materials are constantly being updated, and this way you can be sure you are providing the most up-to-date information.
Be safe. Be Blessed.
Enter Your Information and click to Call Your Senators Now
The Postal Service is in a crisis, caused by the Coronavirus, and Congress needs to act, urgently.
The Coronavirus shutdown is plummeting postal revenues while increasing costs. The Postal Service could run out of money soon and the new Postmaster General is already using the crisis to slow down mail/package sorting and delivery. Rather than allowing our Postal Service to slow as service is cut service, Congress must provide support.
Call your Senators urgently. Tell them to support at least $25 billion in stimulus funding for our public Postal Service. Dial (844) 402-1001 or use this form.