Dues Paying Membership Should Be Congratulated!!

By Carl Johnson, Secretary/Treasurer and Tour 3 Clerk/Maintenance Craft Steward

I recently came across some information that (a) I did not know, and (b) is very insightful.  The first contract between the APWU and the USPS was only 38 pages.  WOW!! I find that to be simply amazing.  Just this fact alone really puts into focus and answers the question, "What has the Union done for me lately?"  

Wage protection, penalty-overtime pay, COLA, health benefits, retirement benefits, just cause protection in discipline, no-layoff clause, paid holidays, life insurance, bidding rights, saved grade, I could go on and on.  Not all of these benefits were in that first 38-page contract in 1971.  These benefits were won through hard fought contract negotiations and arbitrations under the insightful leadership of Brother Moe Biller and Brother William Burrus.  

When you look at the following chart, it reminds me of something I tell employees.  You may not like your steward or even the Local, but how can you possibly ignore what APWU National has done for each and every one of us dues paying members.  If you know a non-member, they won't be receiving this newsletter.  Pass this story on to them or let them read it.  We need everybody to be dues paying members.  The only free ride is to the cemetery, which is were our jobs are going to be if we don't get everyone to be dues paying members.  Please donate to COPA!

Year of Contract    Pages

1971-1973                38

1973-1975                151

1975-1978                147

1978-1981                147

1981-1984                161

1984-1987                205

1987-1990                248

1990-1994                368

1994-1998                374

1998-2000                423

2000-2005                492*

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Last modified: July 26, 2010