Background
- Founded on July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- First president :Stu Filbey
- Political and social circumstances that led to this union being formed:Postal workers were tired of unfair wages and working conditions.
- Strike of 1970-Striking postal workers felt wages were very low, benefits poor and working conditions unhealthy and unsafe. Richard Nixon ordered armed forces to distribute mail and end strike. Stock market fell due to strike. On July 1, 1971, five federal postal unions merged to form the American Postal Workers Union, the largest postal workers union in the world.
How many members are in the union today?
- "The APWU is the world's largest postal union, representing more than 220,000 USPS employees and retirees, and nearly 2,000 private-sector mail workers.
What is the mission/purpose of this union?
- “The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities.”-Mark Dimondstein
- APWU has fought for dignity and respect on the job for the workers we represent, as well as for decent pay and benefits and safe working conditions. APWU supports the struggle for social and economic justice for all working families.
Current news/issues dealing with this union
- March 24, 2014 -APWU, USPS Reach Agreement on Filling Residual Vacancies
- March 10, 2014-Staples to Close 225 Stores; ‘Proves Postal Counters Are a Bad Idea’, Clerk Craft Settlements Impact Jobs, Conversions
- A Closer Look At The March 4 Atlanta Staples Protest
Sources
- google.com
- apwu.org
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Postal_Workers_Union