Chanting Obama\'s slogan, "Yes We Can!" the more than 3,200 Postal Worker delegates from across the country unanimously endorsed the Democratic candidate for president, who addressed the convention live via satellite.
"It\'s time to bring about the real change that working families need" and elect an administration "that doesn\'t choke on the word \'union,\'" Obama said, drawing loud applause.
"It\'s time for something new," Obama said. "It\'s time to turn the page. It\'s time to bring about the real change that America\'s working families need. That change is building an economy that rewards not just wealth, but work — and the workers who create it." View a video of the entire speech.
The union announced it is launching its largest-ever effort to mobilize members to get out the vote for Obama and other labor-endorsed candidates in November.
On the first day of the convention, which ran from Aug. 18-22, delegates welcomed National Association of Letter Carriers President Bill Young. His appearance came a few weeks after APWU President William Burrus accepted an invitation to speak at the NALC\'s national convention in Boston.
Even though the two organizations – the largest postal unions in the world – trace their history back more than 100 years, neither had hosted the other\'s president at a national convention.
Young, who received a rousing reception from the Postal Worker delegates, said it\'s time for both unions to turn a new page.
"Whatever divided us in the past doesn\'t mean diddly-squat," Young said. "We will work together and we will succeed."
APWU and NALC, which represent the vast majority of workers at the U.S. Postal Service, face challenges including loss of jobs due to privatization and technology and postal "reform" proposals that could undermine the quality, universal service that has been a hallmark of the Postal Service since its inception during the American Revolution.
Young and Burrus both said the need to change the direction of the country is also bringing the two unions together.
"Something\'s got to change, and we\'ve got make it happen," Young said in his remarks to the convention. "The men and women of the NALC are ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women of the APWU to make sure that it does."
The APWU constitution calls for the creation of one big postal union. Burrus cautioned that the two unions "have not discussed the thought of merger. What we have done is taken the first step in a long journey that could lead to an improved relationship."
On the fourth day of the convention, delegates staged silent demonstrations at three "Goin\' Postal" shipping centers in the Las Vegas area. Carrying signs that read, "It\'s no joke," union members said they found the name of the privately operating companies to be offensive.
"We\'re appalled that the U.S. Postal Service has entered into an \'Approved Shipper Program\' partnership with the franchising operation," said Burrus.
For more information
The Labor Education Service, which publishes Workday Minnesota, produced daily video highlight shows at the APWU convention. View links to the programs and the union\'s daily newsletter at www.apwu.org/news/latest_news.htm
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Chanting Obama\’s slogan, "Yes We Can!" the more than 3,200 Postal Worker delegates from across the country unanimously endorsed the Democratic candidate for president, who addressed the convention live via satellite.
"It\’s time to bring about the real change that working families need" and elect an administration "that doesn\’t choke on the word \’union,\’" Obama said, drawing loud applause.
"It\’s time for something new," Obama said. "It\’s time to turn the page. It\’s time to bring about the real change that America\’s working families need. That change is building an economy that rewards not just wealth, but work — and the workers who create it." View a video of the entire speech.
The union announced it is launching its largest-ever effort to mobilize members to get out the vote for Obama and other labor-endorsed candidates in November.
On the first day of the convention, which ran from Aug. 18-22, delegates welcomed National Association of Letter Carriers President Bill Young. His appearance came a few weeks after APWU President William Burrus accepted an invitation to speak at the NALC\’s national convention in Boston.
Even though the two organizations – the largest postal unions in the world – trace their history back more than 100 years, neither had hosted the other\’s president at a national convention.
Young, who received a rousing reception from the Postal Worker delegates, said it\’s time for both unions to turn a new page.
"Whatever divided us in the past doesn\’t mean diddly-squat," Young said. "We will work together and we will succeed."
APWU and NALC, which represent the vast majority of workers at the U.S. Postal Service, face challenges including loss of jobs due to privatization and technology and postal "reform" proposals that could undermine the quality, universal service that has been a hallmark of the Postal Service since its inception during the American Revolution.
Young and Burrus both said the need to change the direction of the country is also bringing the two unions together.
"Something\’s got to change, and we\’ve got make it happen," Young said in his remarks to the convention. "The men and women of the NALC are ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women of the APWU to make sure that it does."
The APWU constitution calls for the creation of one big postal union. Burrus cautioned that the two unions "have not discussed the thought of merger. What we have done is taken the first step in a long journey that could lead to an improved relationship."
On the fourth day of the convention, delegates staged silent demonstrations at three "Goin\’ Postal" shipping centers in the Las Vegas area. Carrying signs that read, "It\’s no joke," union members said they found the name of the privately operating companies to be offensive.
"We\’re appalled that the U.S. Postal Service has entered into an \’Approved Shipper Program\’ partnership with the franchising operation," said Burrus.
For more information
The Labor Education Service, which publishes Workday Minnesota, produced daily video highlight shows at the APWU convention. View links to the programs and the union\’s daily newsletter at www.apwu.org/news/latest_news.htm