APWU: Vote on the Tentative Agreement – If You Didn’t Get a Ballot…

APWU News Bulletin

Ballots for the ratification of the tentative 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement were mailed to eligible members April 8-11, and must be received in designated return post office box in New York by 9 a.m. on May 10. The vote count will begin May 11.

“It is crucial that APWU members exercise their right to vote on the Tentative Agreement, which will have a profound effect on our members’ lives and livelihoods.”
Cliff Guffey
APWU President

If you have not received a ballot by Monday, April 18, contact the American Arbitration Association by phone at 800-529-5218 to request a duplicate, or by e-mail to apwu@adr.org. You will be asked to provide your name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your craft, and your mailing address. (In addition, if your ballot is damaged or if the return envelope lacks the postage-paid designation, please request a duplicate.)

APWU President Cliff Guffey encouraged all members to vote on the Tentative Agreement. “It is crucial that APWU members exercise their right to vote on the tentative collective bargaining agreement,” Guffey said. “The provisions of the contract will have a profound effect on our members’ lives and livelihoods.”

The single-question ballot allows members to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on a contract, which, if ratified, would expire on May 20, 2015.

In addition to a ballot, the ratification mailing includes a copy of the Tentative Agreement [PDF – members only]; a summary of highlights of the proposed agreement [PDF]; the official statement of the Rank-and-File Bargaining Advisory Committee; a letter from President Guffey; and a postage-paid return envelope.

The Tentative Agreement and a summary of contractual provisions also can be found at www.apwu.org, and in the April-June issue of The American Postal Worker magazine [PDF – members only].

“This is a strong agreement that was unanimously endorsed by both the Rank-and-File Committee and the National Executive Board,” Guffey said. “Now it’s in your hands. I urge every member to vote.”

The Rank-and-File Committee will supervise the vote count, which will take place on May 11. Results will be posted at www.apwu.org as soon as they become available.

Mailing to Non-Members

As part of the union’s organizing campaign, the APWU sent a ratification packet to workers represented by the union who are not members, inviting them to cast a ballot. Their votes will only be counted if they complete union sign-up cards, which are enclosed in the mailing.

Get Out the Vote!

Number of Members Prize
1-49 $200
50-99 $200
100-499 $1,000
500-999 $2,000
1,000 and above $4,000

To encourage participation in the contract ratification process, the national union will reward the locals that are most successful in mobilizing members to vote. To be eligible, locals must reach a voter participation level of at least 50 percent.

The top three locals in each of several categories will receive monetary compensation to be used on behalf of local members. The prizes will be awarded as follows:

If more than three locals in any category generate 100 percent participation, all “100 percent” locals will receive awards.

source: APWU

2 thoughts on “APWU: Vote on the Tentative Agreement – If You Didn’t Get a Ballot…

  1. Democrats are no better than republicans. I can’t believe anyone still plays the political race card. Politician or union official, it does’nt matter, they have all sold out to the highest bidder. But I tell you one thing, this is the worst contract offer ever. Vote NO and vote NO again on your anniversary date when you cancel your membership in the use to be a good union, The apwu. Lower case on purpose. I never was a Biller/Burris fan, but they make this bunch look like virgins.

  2. Vote yes or we will really be screwed over by congress. If this doesn’t pass, the Republikkkans are already drawing up bills to end our collective bargaining.

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