Dear APWU Family:
As expected, the presidential election was close and came down to a handful of “battleground” states. Donald Trump has prevailed, riding voters’ deep concerns over the high cost of living and lack of economic opportunity, but also garnering millions of votes by running a divisive campaign based on fear, bigotry, resentment and revenge. In addition the outcome, particularly the lower voter turnout, reflect a frustration and disillusionment with both mainstream political parties.
Kamala Harris, who received a strong majority of union member votes throughout the country, graciously conceded the race — in stark contrast to Donald Trump when he lost in 2020 and responded by inciting a violent coup attempt to stay in power.
I and the national leadership, fully respect that our members hold many varying political beliefs and applaud all those involved in the political process. Members worked for various candidates, participated in the APWU “Labor 2024” program, registered people to vote, talked to co-workers, family and friends, put up yard signs, made phone calls, knocked on doors, worked the polls – and voted!
The election is over, but the negative and deep ramifications for postal workers, the labor movement and all workers as indicated by Project 2025, the right wing “blueprint” for a Trump administration, is just beginning.
Donald Trump, in his first term, openly promoted postal privatization, calling for the Postal Service to be broken up and sold off to private corporations for private profit. Had he succeeded, our union would have been broken, our postal livelihoods erased, and our national treasure – the public Postal Service – destroyed.
The APWU led the charge, uniting with the people of the country, in defense of the Postal Service, our jobs, and the essential service we proudly provide every day. We defeated the privatization scheme and secured the political support needed to win long-overdue postal reform legislation.
So, while we should expect many difficult challenges to come – in the postal world and beyond – we should never forget that working people have the power to prevail.
The struggle indeed continues. We will keep our eye on the prize as we work to build our union, strengthen the working-class movement, and based on our common interests, solidarity and unity, prepare for the tough fights ahead.
Regardless of who sits in the White House, the APWU remains committed to our goals of fairness and justice for working people – good wages, benefits and retirements, respect for all workers, safe workplaces, workers,’ civil and women’s rights, and rejecting any march toward dictatorship and authoritarian rule. We will continue to work on a non-partisan basis with all those, including elected representatives regardless of party, who share these goals. Our future lies in our hands!
On another note:
Regardless of which candidates you supported, APWU members from all crafts should be extremely proud of our role in enhancing the public’s most precious democratic right – the right to vote. With extra hours, attention, effort and priority, postal workers shined by moving “heaven and earth” to make sure that over 40 million mail ballots were processed, arrived on time and were counted. APWU locals stepped up to ensure the job was done well and any problems were addressed. Once again, we have shown how essential we and the public Postal Service are to the people of the country.