Vote Delayed On S.1507
Grassroots Action Campaign Extended

(08/10/09) The Senate adjourned for its August recess without voting on a bill that would be devastating for postal workers. As a result, union members have several more weeks to voice opposition to legislation that would undemine our wages and benefits in future contract negotiations.[full story]

 

Senate Bill 1507 Immediate Action Needed
If the bill (S.1507)passes as written, it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers..

Urgent Message
Dear APWU Members & Retirees,

“If the bill (S.1507) passes as written, it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers” - President William Burrus. Given the severity of Postal Service’s financial crisis, if this bill passes, we can anticipate that in the next round of negotiations, many of the things our members take for granted — such as cost-of-living increases, raises, and protection against layoffs — will be at risk.” Under current law, arbitrators must consider the “comparability” of postal wages to employees in the private sector who perform similar work.

WE NEED AS MANY PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS
into your Senators’ offices as possible between now and the end of the week when we expect the full senate to take up the measure. We are asking APWU members/retirees to contact their Senators and urge them to oppose the bill when it is debated by the full Senate. Let your Senator know that we cannot support S. 1507 because of the arbitration amendment.
Please Call & Send an e-mail to your Senators

To send a pre-written e-mail message to your Senators, visit: www.capwiz.com/apwu/issues/alert/?alertid=13812926
To call your Indiana Senators please find their name and telephone number below: 
Lugar, Richard G. - (R - IN) - (202) 224-4814
Bayh, Evan - (D - IN) - (202) 224-5623


TRI-STATE CONFERENCE NOT SCHEDULED
There will not be a 2010 Tri-State Seminar , usually held at Miami University in Ohio, due to the unusually high union activity this year. With the uninn conventions at both the state andnational level and the national union elections the leaders who put on the conference felt the finacial burden on the local unions would not be preudent. The conference will resume in 2011.

INDIANA eMAIL ALERT
In an effort to be able to communicate in an expedient manner in instances where or when the need arises for notifications to be made where URGENT action is need the Indiana Postal Workers is establishing an eMail Alert Program. Click on the link below to sign up to be notified by eMail on the link below

APWU, AFLAC Offer Benefit to Help Protect Members' Families Against Medical Catastrophe

(Click on the AFLAC duck for more info)

Representative from AFLAC made a presentation at the Indiana Postal Workers State Convention. The National APWU and AFLAC teamed up in August, 2004and the benefits are being presented across the country.

Labor to Obama:
Where's the Change We Can Believe In?
By Doug Cunningham

(02/15/10) After an enormous electoral effort that arguably made the difference in bringing Democrats to power in Washington labor – from rank and file workers to top leadership – are extremely frustrated that Democrats have not followed through with meaningful reforms. The latest blow was the failure of the Senate to confirm Craig Becker to the National Labor relations Board. The Employee Free Choice Act labor law reform is also languishing. John Gage, President of the American federation of Government Employees, says labor is being “thrown under the bus “again by politicians who are allegedly friendly to workers. United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard said if Democrats don’t deliver, it will be very hard to motivate union members to work for Democrats in the November elections. Gerard has said that a number of labor leaders are dismayed at Democrats who have held up and helped delay passage of health care reform ands a lot of other things that would help working families. AFT President Randi Weingarten says it’s important that Democrats reconnect with and reassure working people that the public officials labor supports are really working to make things better.

Union Calls for Campaign to Defeat Anti Worker Bill
(07/30/09) APWU President William Burrus has called on APWU locals and state organizations to organize opposition to a Senate bill that contains a provision that would be devastating to postal workers. The Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Funding Reform Act of 2009 (S. 1507) was intended to provide temporary financial relief to the cash-strapped Postal Service, but an amendment to the bill has rendered it unacceptable to postal workers.
[full story] [Flyer for Distribution]

THE 2010 CLIFF BASS SCHOLARSHIP

The CLIFF BASS Scholarship awards college scholarships to members families through through the Indiana Postal Workers Union. Applications and essays will be accepted beginning in November. Click here for an application and the rules.

This year four scholarships were awarded to applicants.

IN THE NEWS

 

IPWU CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS ONLINE

The Indiana Postal Workers Union's Constitution and Bylaws is online for members ONLY in the Adobe *.pdf format. Members will need to use the proper USERNAME and PASSWORD assigned to them, and will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to read and print them.

In addition to the Constitution and Bylaws, past issues of the "IPWU Dispatch", APWU FMLA Forms, and more... are also available online and the Collective Bargaining Reports (CBR's),will soon be available in the Adobe *.pdf format for members, officers and business agents (stewards).

CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSING

With all the recent impacts in our offices, Central Regional Coordinator, Sharon Stone has placed information on the National APWU Website to address these important issues and concerns. Click on the picture for more information and a link to the site.