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The Postal Service Wants To Make Deep Cuts To Worker Benefits, Internal Plan Shows
 June 18, 2019 --
The U.S. Postal Service wants Congress to help it make significant cuts to employee benefits as part of a plan to balance the agency’s books, according to a draft business plan HuffPost obtained.
The proposal would save an estimated $18 billion on employee compensation over a decade by shaving paid leave, raising workers’ share of pension contributions, and shifting new employees into less secure 401(k)-style retirement plans.
The change to pension contributions would amount to a cut in take-home pay for hundreds of thousands of workers, while saving the agency nearly $7 billion. And while excluding new employees from a pension plan is common practice for private corporations these days, it would mark a significant shift for a federal-sector job long seen as a steppingstone to the middle class.
The change in employee leave policy would combine vacation with sick days, likely resulting in fewer overall days off for workers. That element is estimated to save the agency more than $5 billion.
The proposals obtained by HuffPost were marked as preliminary and subject to change. The postmaster general, Megan Brennan, is expected to present a business plan to the House Oversight Committee this summer
12       Union Meeting & Dates to Know for 2020
  1. February 09, 2020 - Regular Union Meeting @ 2 pm.  
  2. April 19, 2020 - Regular Union Meeting  @ 2 pm Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the Dallas TX Areal Local (APWU) Executive Board Votes to Cancel the August 9, 2020 Membership Meeting.
  3. ​June 14, 2020 - Regular Union Meeting  @ 2 pm. Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the Dallas TX Areal Local (APWU) Executive Board Votes to Cancel the August 9, 2020 Membership Meeting.
  4. August 09, 2020 - Regular Union Meeting @ 2 pm. Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the Dallas TX Areal Local (APWU) Executive Board Votes to Cancel the August 9, 2020 Membership Meeting.             Please see "August Officers Report" Link on the Home Page
  5. October 18, 2020 - Regular Union Meeting @ 2 pm.
  6. December 13, 2020 Regular Union Meeting @ 2 pm.
  7. December 11, 2020 Christmas Dinner 7am to 5pm 
Union Membership on the Rise
This article first appeared in the January/February 2019 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 
By Research & Education Department Director Joyce B. Robinson
According to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, membership in labor unions rose by about a quarter million this year. In 2017, 7.2 million employees in the public sector belonged to a union, compared with 7.6 million workers in the private sector. Although the union membership rate for private-sector workers increased by 0.1 percent, their unionization rate continued to be lower than that for public-sector workers (6.5 percent versus 34.4 percent).
Data Highlights:
  • Workers in protective service occupations and in education, training, and library occupations had the highest unionization rates (34.7 percent and 33.5 percent, respectively).
  • Men had a higher union membership rate (11.4 percent) than women (10.0 percent). However, the gap between their rates has narrowed since 1983 (the earliest year for which comparable data is available), when the rate for men was 24.7 percent and women was 14.6 percent.
  • Black workers had a higher union membership rate (12.6 percent) than workers who were White (10.6 percent), Asian (8.9 percent), or Hispanic (9.3 percent).
  • Union membership rates were highest among workers aged 45 to 64.
  • Union membership among full-time workers was higher (11.8 percent) compared to part-time workers (5.7 percent).
  • Median weekly earnings for non-union workers were 80 percent of earnings for union member workers ($829 versus $1,041).
  • New York continued to have the highest union membership rate (23.8 percent), while South Carolina continued to have the lowest (2.6 percent), though it is an increase from 1.6 percent in 2016.
Industry and Occupation of Union Members
  • Within the public sector, the union membership rate was highest in local government (40.1 percent), which employs many workers in heavily unionized occupations, such as teachers, police officers and firefighters.
  • Private-sector industries with high unionization rates included utilities (23.0 percent), transportation and warehousing (17.3 percent), telecommunications (16.1 percent), and construction (14.0 percent). Low unionization rates occurred in finance (1.1 percent), food services and drinking places (1.4 percent), and professional and technical services (1.7 percent).
  • Among occupational groups, the highest unionization rates were in protective service occupations (34.7 percent) and in education, training, and library occupations (33.5 percent). Unionization rates were lowest in sales and related occupations (3.2 percent); farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (3.4 percent); food preparation and serving related occupations (3.8 percent); and in computer and mathematical occupations (3.9 percent).
Union Membership by State
  • States in the East South Central and West South Central divisions had union membership rates below the national average, while states in the New England, Middle Atlantic, and Pacific divisions had rates above it. Union membership rates increased over the year in 25 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 21 states, and were unchanged in 4 states.
  • Nine states had union membership rates below 5.0 percent, with South Carolina having the lowest rate (2.6 percent). The next lowest rates were in North Carolina (3.4 percent) and Utah (3.9 percent). Two states had union membership rates over 20.0 percent: New York (23.8 percent) and Hawaii (21.3 percent).
  • The largest numbers of union members lived in California and New York. Over half of the 14.8 million union members in the U.S. lived in seven states (California, 2.5 million; New York, 2.0 million; Illinois, 0.8 million; Michigan and Pennsylvania, 0.7 million each; and New Jersey and Ohio, 0.6 million each), though these states accounted for only about one-third of wage and salary employment nationally. 
Excerpts in this article are from the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
               Pat Davis Scholarship
 The requirements for one of the two $750.00 scholarships are listed below. Completed applications must be received no later than the second Sunday in June of the year applied for. You may pick up, call and request an application with rules and regulations be sent to you, &/or download it from our website. REMEMBER ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN THE SECOND SUNDAY IN JUNE FOR CONSIDERATION. Completed applications can be mailed to “The Scholarship Committee, Dallas Area Local, APWU, 2010 Postal Way, Dallas, TX 75212. You can also walk in your application within the time limit specified.  Read more
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Tarrant CLC Rallies for Legislation to Shore Up USPS
   Angi Defelippo of the Tarrant County Central Labor Council kindly sent photos of this week's  American Postal Workers Union National Day of Action calling on Congress to take immediate action to shore up the U.S. Postal Service.
  Whether it is part of the HEROES Act or a stand-alone bill, a measure that repairs damage a previous Congress did to USPS needs to be a high priority, especially after APWU, National Association of Letter Carriers and other union members showed how central the Postal Service is to democracy by delivering tens of millions of mail-in ballots under excruciating conditions.
  USPS has bipartisan support and polls suggest it is the most popular federal institution. It’s high time our elected officials take action to remove barriers that have compromised the service’s finances and blocked its efforts to build new lines of business for the future.
  Hat tip to the Tarrant CLC for these photos and video introductions from some outstanding union activists. - See Photos Below
From Marvin Bolds, Dallas Area Local Clerk Craft Director,
​ I formally announced to the stewards and business agents that Billy Jones resigned from his position as Assistant Clerk Craft Director effective on October 1st, 2020 for personal reasons. On October 2nd, 2020 I submitted a name (Katina Range) to the E-Board for consideration of his replacement. The board voted in favor of Katina Range and she has accepted the position of Assistant Clerk Craft Director. 

From all of us at the Dallas Area Local
Congratulations Katina, you are an amazing unionist and this is the start. You have a bright future not only at the local level also at National level. 
Keep up the great work!
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​Good morning, My name is Katina Range, a union member with the APWU Dallas Local. I'm working with the Texas AFL-CIO and other union members across Texas reminding active or retired members that early voting starts October 13-30th and Election Day is November 3rd.
 This election is going to be close and union members know the profound and lasting impact it will have on working-class membership and their families.
   1. Will you be voting in-person early, voting by mail, or waiting until election day?
   2. When you go to the polls, what issues would you like to see addressed by the representatives you are voting for?
  We are asking the membership to support candidates whose policies align with working union members and their families when it comes to wages, benefits, and working conditions.
 Thanks for your time. Have a nice day/afternoon/evening/weekend, and stay safe!
I HOPE AND PRAY ALL IS WELL AND YOU ARE SAFE.
  It is time for the Pat Davis Scholarship Awards for 2020. Our two winners are:
Tiffany Nugyn and Alexandra Rogers pictured below
Prensented by: Health Plan Director JoAnn Williams.
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Congratulation to Tiffany, 2020 Pat Davis Scholarship winner
 
  Tiffany Nugyn who will be attending The Univerisity of Texas at Austin. 
 
 Her Mother Anh Nugyn, is a Member in good standing working at the Central Station Post Office, Irving TX.

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Congratulation to Alexandra, 2020 Pat Davis Scholarship winner

Alexandra Rogers wins the other Schalorship and will also attend the University of Texas at Austin.
​
  Her Father Bryan Rogers, is a Member in good standing who works at North Texas Processing and Distribution Center..
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 We are pleased to inform you that the Dallas TX Area Local (APWU) Executive Board voted Nichelle Hill (NDC Chief Steward) into the recent vacated NDC Director position (vacated by Jonathan Cage) in accordance with the Local Constitution.
 Nichele has been serving the local in different roles over the years. She is a very familiar face around the  NDC and all facilities in the Dallas area.
  Please join me in congratulating Nichele Hill and wishing her the best of luck in her new role.
Yours In Union Solidarity!
​Yared Wonde President
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 We are pleased to inform you that the Dallas TX Area Local (APWU) Executive Board voted Sheldon Rowlson (MVS assistant Director) into the recent vacated MVS Director position (vacated by Dyrike Shaw) in accordance with the Local Constitution.
  Please join me in congratulating Sheldon Rowson and wishing him the best of luck in her new role.

​Yours In Union Solidarity!
​Yared Wonde President
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​ We are pleased to inform you that the Dallas TX Area Local (APWU) Executive Board voted Tyrone Easley (MVS) into the recent vacated MVS Assistant Director position (vacated by Sheldon Rawlson) in accordance with the Local Constitution.
  Please join me in congratulating Tyrone Easley and wishing him the best of luck in her new role.
Yours In Union Solidarity!
​Yared Wonde President
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We are pleased to inform you that the Dallas TX Area Local (APWU)  Brian Foster has been placed into the recent vacated MVS Business Agent position (vacated by Tyrone Easley) in accordance with the Local Constitution.
  Please join me in congratulating Brian Foster and wishing hin the best of luck in her new role.
Yours In Union Solidarity!
​Yared Wonde President
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  We are pleased to inform you that the Dallas TX Area Local (APWU) Executive Board voted Jonathan Cage (Dallas BMC Director) into the recent vacated Executive Vice-President position (Charles Tillman) in accordance with the Local Constitution.
 Jonathan has been serving the local in different roles and including the last 5 years as BMC Director and Executive Board member.
  Please join me in congratulating Jonathan Cage and wishing him best luck in his new role.
Yours In Union Solidarity!
​Yared Wonde President
2019 Elected Officers, Business Agents and Delegates
                                               CELEBRATION OF LIFE EVENT 10/20/2018
We're overjoyed you made it to our event. It was wonderful to see you and we really appreciate you coming out to be there with us. Thanks!!!
Cuts to employee benefits is part of the Postal Service’s plan to balance the Postal Service’s books!!!!
 June 18, 2019 --
  The U.S. Postal Service wants Congress to help it make significant cuts to employee benefits as part of a plan to balance the agency’s books, according to a draft business plan HuffPost obtained.
The proposal would save an estimated $18 billion on employee compensation over a decade by shaving paid leave, raising workers’ share of pension contributions, and shifting new employees into less secure 401(k)-style retirement plans.
  The change to pension contributions would amount to a cut in take-home pay for hundreds of thousands of workers, while saving the agency nearly $7 billion. And while excluding new employees from a pension plan is common practice for private corporations these days, it would mark a significant shift for a federal-sector job long seen as a steppingstone to the middle class.
  The change in employee leave policy would combine vacation with sick days, likely resulting in fewer overall days off for workers. That element is estimated to save the agency more than $5 billion.
  The proposals obtained by HuffPost were marked as preliminary and subject to change. The postmaster general, Megan Brennan, is expected to present a business plan to the House Oversight Committee this summer.
“Robbing workers to pay the rich, this budget is Robin Hood in reverse.”

White House Budget Proposals 
Slash Postal Workers’ Pay and Benefits
What can you do?
Click Here 
The labor protections in the Protecting the Right to Organize Act would also extend to those not currently classified as employees, such as rideshare drivers.
JARED RODRIGUEZ / TRUTHOUT

  A record number of workers in the United States decided to go on strike in 2018. Now congressional Democrats are trying to harness that momentum to pass a massive labor reform bill that would make it easier for workers to join unions and collectively bargain.
  The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act was introduced on May 2 by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Virginia). The bill would usher in a multitude of protections for workers and give them more bargaining power.
Some of its features include penalties for businesses that illegally fire employees, sped-up union elections that prevent employers from holding anti-union meetings with their staff, and National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protections for many independent contractors who aren’t currently classified as employees. The bill also specifically offers new safeguards for workers that go on strike. Employers would be prohibited from permanently replacing striking workers with scab labor. Plus, the bill would repeal a longtime ban on boycotting “secondary” companies. The current ban makes it illegal for a given union to boycott a separate corporation in solidarity with a strike.
  Boosting Bargaining Power
 “The PRO Act is an important effort to bring U.S. labor law into the 21st century — giving working people more power at a time when it is desperately needed,” said Celine McNicholas, the Economic Policy Institute’s (EPI) director of government affairs and labor counsel, in a statement. “Congress should pass the PRO Act immediately and give working people what they need most: fairness and a voice on the job.”
During the first legislative hearing on the PRO Act, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Connecticut) cited the recent Stop & Shop strike as an example of why collective bargaining rights are so important. In April, over 30,000 grocery store employees went on strike across a number of New England locations to fight proposed pension cuts, bonus rollbacks and an end to overtime pay. The employees prevailed despite being up against an enormously powerful company: Stop & Shop is owned by Ahold Delhaize, a Dutch retailer that claims to have generated $44 billion in U.S. sales in 2018.
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