DETROIT—The American Postal Workers Union – fresh out of discussion, debate, and workshops at their 27th Biennial National Convention here – held a rally to build support for their new contract fight with the U.S. Postal Service. Bargaining talks between the union and management opened June 25.
During the convention, which was attended by 2,100 delegates, APWU President Mark Dimondstein condemned recent assaults by corporations and reactionary politicians on workers’ and women’s rights. He slammed the bigotry and voter suppression of multiple recent Supreme Court rulings that set back democratic rights.
“With an election this fall, we should weigh the ramifications of the dangerous march toward dictatorship and what it would mean to the rights of the people, workers, our unions, the public post office, and the well-being of society. We must unite and reject wannabe dictators as part of defending our union and worker rights,” he said.
The goals of the new contract with the Postal Service include “maintaining career no-layoff protections, the 50-mile limit on excessing, full cost of living adjustments, and annual wage increases.” Eliminating the hated two-tier wage system and ending poverty wages for the lowest ranks of its members are the main bread-and-butter issues for the new contract.
