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Outsourcing: the exporting of AmericaThe Razorback Scheme, Fayetteville, Arkansas Local #667 …While in Florida, I visited a shopping area in Venice, Florida where I asked where the post office was located, “Oh we don’t go to the post office anymore Loren, was our host’s reply. “We just go to a postal outlet at a department store or to the UPS shop two doors down.” “Why not go to the post office?” I asked. She replied, “Because we have to wait in line at least 30 minutes each visit and the clerk is so grumpy by the time we reach the counter, I feel like just walking off.” I explained to our host what is going with the postal service around the country – how management is attempting to outsource our jobs, set up contract stations everywhere and hire minimum wage workers in the private sector. First, they squeeze the postal workers, require them to ask a set of mostly ridiculous questions and set an impractical daily procedure. Then they reschedule workers to ridiculous hours and off days. It’s as if they want the system to fail to justify outsourcing the business to private contractors of their choosing. (Actually, that’s what they’re up to, all guesswork aside.) We live in rough times. Why? Mr. Greed and Mr. Mean have seized the reigns of power in this country and are determined to ram their extremist ideology down the throat of America. I could write about our dysfunctional foreign policy but that goes without saying. What affects us directly, however, are outsourcing, privatization, and the exporting of jobs overseas. None dare call it the revival of slavery but what is it? One notable refrigerator factory closed a couple of months ago in Michigan and moved its plant to Mexico where they now pay workers 33¢ an hour instead of $11.00 an hour (Michigan workers). Yes, the company was making good profits in Michigan but the move to Mexico helped the bottom line tremendously – although it left 2,700 unemployed in its wake. The town of 9,000 now is a ghost town, thanks to corporate greed. But, oh, how they LOVE America. Yes, the very ones exporting America are the ones who claim to be the most patriotic! They wave the flag and demand the pledge stay intact, yet they don’t give a flying flip about Americans or the nation’s future. Millions of jobs have now vanished to sweatshops overseas. In addition, hundreds of companies have relocated their corporate headquarters in offshore countries (actually just mailboxes) so they can evade taxes while sponging off America. And they call themselves “patriots.” Benedict Arnold companies are what they are. Remember when the postal service set up three bulk mail processing plants in Mexico where workers were paid $1.20 an hour? Yes, U.S. mail processed outside the country…The point is – don’t think it won’t affect you! If our country continues down this path, we will indeed witness the same decline as the fall of the Roman Empire. Our government in Washington is thoroughly infected with these greed mongers and warmongers who thrive off war profiteering. The blood of our youth and the billions from our treasury are spent to enlarge their pocketbooks. While boasting “character” and “family values,” they favor the wealthiest at the expense of the nation’s future. The RAZORBACK SCHEME is the official monthly publication of Fayetteville , Arkansas Local 667 |
LeRoy D Moyer Prepares Postal Reform Awareness Walk
I'm on the last stage of my training and will walk fifteen
miles this Saturday. Next week I'll walk 2-3 days of 4 miles and then rest
Friday-Sunday.
Monday (May 10th) I'll begin my walk which isn't quite 150 miles from
Philadelphia to Washington, DC. The walk will end on Friday around 4 PM.
My walk of course is to raise awareness of Postal Reform and raise funds for
COPA. I hope that everyone has gone to
www.PPWU.org and downloaded
sponsor sheets and pledge cards.
I appreciate the kind words and offer of support that I have received from
every corner of this Country, to include my friends in Alaska. I especially
appreciate the support I received from the delegates in attendance at our
state convention this past weekend.
Together we can make a difference, together we can raise awareness of postal
reform and raise bunches of cash for COPA.
By the way, the PPWU endorsed John Kerry at our state convention. We need
the COPA funds to help with Postal Reform and the ELECTION in November.
Together, we can make a difference. Thanks to everyone.
April 28, 2004
APWU Readies Massive Media Campaign
To Battle Anti-Worker ‘Reform’ Proposals
APWU Readies Massive Media Campaign To Battle Anti-Worker ‘Reform’ Proposals-
The APWU is preparing to finance a large-scale media campaign to battle anti-worker, anti-consumer “reform” aspects of proposed legislation should it become necessary, President William Burrus said recently.
“Nine months ago, the APWU National Executive Board authorized a special assessment of union members’ dues to fund such a campaign,” Burrus said. “I am prepared to implement the assessment if legislation is introduced that is detrimental to postal workers and the American public.”
The assessment would generate $2 million. Vowing to do “whatever it takes” to defeat anti-worker “reform” efforts, the board approved an $8 assessment per member at its July 8, 2003, meeting, to be paid in $2 increments over four pay periods. The effective date would be determined by the APWU president.
Burrus also announced this week that he would ask the union’s 1,500 locals and 50 state organizations to “go all out” to provide additional funds to support local media campaigns. “I will call on local and state leaders to embark on independent efforts to raise fivefold that amount if proposed legislation is harmful to workers or American citizens” he said.
“We intend to raise enough money to thwart any legislation that would undermine postal services, or the rights of postal workers,” Burrus said. “And we will work to end giveaways to the mailing industry that threaten the viability of the USPS,” he said. “We will do whatever is necessary to defeat any plan that would weaken the nation’s mail system.
“Recent polls indicate that November’s elections will be hotly contested,” Burrus noted. “We are prepared to target any district to protect the USPS and postal jobs. Our media campaign will lay the groundwork for educating the public about the issues of postal reform.”
The special dues assessment is separate from the union’s Committee On Political Action fund-raising efforts. By law, dues can be used to educate the public about postal reform legislation, but cannot be used to make contributions to candidates’ political campaigns.
APWU State President Leroy Moyer Plans Postal Reform ‘Awareness Walk’
APWU Board Vows
to do 'Whatever It Takes'
to
Prevent Gutting
of USPS
Dues Assessment Approved to Fund Media CampaignVowing to do "whatever it takes" to defeat anti-worker "reforms" likely to be recommended by the presidential commission studying the Postal Service, the APWU National Executive Board at its July 8 meeting authorized a special assessment of union members’ dues to fund a media campaign.
The assessment, which passed in a nearly unanimous vote by the 12-member board, is authorized by Article 16.3 of the APWU Constitution and Bylaws. The board approved an $8 assessment per member, to be paid in $2 increments over the course of four pay periods.
"The APWU must do whatever is necessary to preserve our interests and the interests of the American public," said APWU President William Burrus before introducing the resolution to the union’s governing board. "We have to be prepared to react to whatever happens. Whether that means loudly opposing commission recommendations or fighting against detrimental legislation, we must do everything in our power to defend consumers and workers."
The Presidential Commission on the U.S. Postal Service will deliver its report by July 31. Postal reform legislation has been introduced into the Senate and significant and similar measures are expected in the House. Burrus said that the money collected by the assessment would be used to launch a public education campaign in key congressional districts about threats to the nation’s mail system.
"The goal is to raise enough money to finance a campaign that will thwart potential legislation that would undermine postal services in America and provide further giveaways to the mailing industry," Burrus said. "We intend to do whatever it takes to prevent the destruction of the Postal Service." Several board members pointed out that the APWU cannot afford to wait. "We have to be ready to react to the commission’s report," said Executive Vice President Cliff Guffey, "If they’re trying to destroy us, we had better hit back with everything we’ve got."
Other board members agreed that the special assessment will prove to the American public that the union is serious in its fight and willing to encourage its members to take an active part.
"I think we have an obligation to take this action. It will help make the members feel that they are more a part of the organization," said Secretary-Treasurer Robert L. Tunstall. "Even if it only makes them suddenly decide to come to a union meeting to discuss the matter, it’s getting them involved."
The effective date of the assessment will be determined by the APWU president based upon the report of the presidential commission. "The purpose of the special assessment is to conduct a media and public relations campaign to protect and ensure the rights of APWU-represented workers and service to the American public," the resolution states. "These monies will be placed in an account separate from the union’s general fund."
"If the media campaign proves to be unnecessary," Burrus noted, "the special assessment will not take place." An example would be if the commission were to recommend only minor changes to the relationship between postal workers and its employer.
The monies will be used only to fund media projects, which could begin in key districts during the August congressional recess and will widen in the fall, when Congress reconvenes, to include a broader range of critical congressional targets.
"This special assessment should not be confused with the union’s COPA fund-raising drive," Burrus said, referring to the APWU Committee On Political Action. By law, dues cannot be put towards political campaign contributions.
Any local willing to assume the cost of the assessment can do so by notifying the national Secretary-Treasurer. A letter explaining this option will be distributed to the local presidents later this week.
(source: APWU)
