APWU News Bulletin 16-2012, June 19, 2012

A bill that would destroy the Postal Service — and our jobs — could be voted on in the House of Representatives in July, and APWU President Cliff Guffey is calling on union members to send their legislators a message: Vote NO on H.R. 2309!

To help APWU members send the message to Congress, the union will be mailing a brochure to the homes of union members in the coming days. President Guffey is asking all recipients to sign the postcard included in the brochure, affix a stamp, and mail the card to their U.S. representatives.

“GOP House leaders are trying to round up support for the bill,” Guffey said, “so we must take action immediately.

“Please ask your House member to oppose H.R. 2309 — or any similar bill — and to support legislation that addresses the cause of the USPS financial crisis without slashing service and punishing workers,” he said.

H.R. 2309 is the bill introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL) that would require the USPS to make $3 billion worth of cuts in post offices and mail processing facilities within two years.

The legislation also would prohibit postal unions and management from negotiating restrictions on layoffs, and it would empower an appointed board to reject negotiated labor contracts it considers too costly.

But the bill would do nothing to correct the cause of the Postal Service’s financial crisis: the 2006 congressional mandate that requires the USPS to pre-fund healthcare benefits for future retirees.

“H.R. 2309 would bleed the USPS of assets and make it ripe for privatization,” Guffey said. “It is essential that postal workers tell our U.S. representatives to defeat H.R. 2309. Our jobs, pay, benefits and bargaining rights are at stake!”

For additional postcards, contact the APWU Communications Department.

Write: APWU Communications Department,
1300 L Street NW, Washington DC 20005
Call:  202-842-4250
e-Mail: communications@apwu.org.

Be sure to include your name, local and the number of cards you are requesting.