Fighting For Our Future What can I say that hasn’t already been said? On that note, I will just reiterate what President Rolando has put out on the NALC website. HR 2309, a bill introduced in the House, would, among other things, end direct mail delivery for 90 percent of homes and businesses that now receive doorstep delivery. President Rolando stated: “If HR 2309 becomes law, virtually all residents and business owners would lose the door-to-door delivery they have long relied on.” That’s why the NALC has undertaken an extensive grassroots campaign to inform Americans and those organizations that would be most affected by HR 2309. HR 2309 is a proposal in Congress which would end door-to-door mailbox delivery service for 90 percent of American households and businesses. HR 2309, a bill that’s now headed for a vote in the full house of Representatives, calls for the dismantling of the U.S. Postal Service, one of America’s oldest and most beloved institutions. The USPS has served this nation for more than 235 years, as provided by the U.S. Constitution. If enacted, HR 2309 would: End Saturday mail delivery service, hurting small businesses, rural customers, the elderly and those who rely on the mail for medicine delivery. Radically downsize the USPS, destroying 200,000 jobs and threatening the centerpiece of a $1.3 trillion mailing industry that employs 7.5 million private-sector workers. Force the closure of thousands of post offices, eliminating the heart of many American communities and slowing mail service. Fail to address the true cause of the Postal Service’s financial woes—the 2006 Congressional mandate to pre-fund future retiree health benefits, a burden faced by no other agency or firm. Tell Congress not to destroy the USPS, or your future. All of us need to contact our representatives and ask them to vote against HR 2309. Our future depends on it; spread the word. On a good note, a majority of representatives have signed on to cosponsor HR 1351. But, Brothers and Sisters, our fight to “Save America’s Postal Service” is far from over and we must keep up the momentum. It’s time for us to put on our boxing gloves and start swinging. And we mustn’t stop until our opponent is knocked out. Take this message back to the American people (family, friends, neighbors, etc.) and let’s show Congress that the public stands with us on saving Saturday delivery. Six-day delivery is crucial to the health of the USPS. If we don’t save the Postal Service, who will? Brothers and Sisters, we’re in the fight of our lives. There are many bills for us and against us. Educate yourself (www.nalc.org) and those around you. With everyone’s help, we can continue to deliver for America six days a week and preserve the United States Postal Service, and your job. You can start by becoming an e-Activist, contributing to COLCPE and by signing up for Carrier Corps. In closing, I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year.

It’s Time to Stick Together for Our Collective Future I hope this finds everyone doing well. I just want to praise Richard Thayer for all of his excellent work. He has kept the newsletter and the website in excellent shape. The rumor of 5-day delivery is swarming around all the post offices. This rumor refuses to go away and spreads faster than melted butter. Brothers and sisters, your help is needed and we must work hard to ensure that we save 6-day delivery. “5-day is the wrong way”! Letter carriers must stand tall and together; we must help build back the American middle-class. Again I will ask you to join me and help save our jobs. One of the best ways to help is through the Carrier Corps. Any member can join the Carrier Corps if they pledge 10 hours or more to promote the NALC legislative agenda or support a political campaign. I also ask you to give to COLCPE $5.00 a pay period. That’s only $130 a year and I promise you won’t miss it, especially when it helps with keeping your job. Our union has worked hard for what we’ve accomplished and we should be proud. Our struggles are far from over. Members can also submit their e-mail address to the e-Activist Network. Letter carriers on the list receive timely updates on pressing legislative issues. Within our great state we have approximately 3700 letter carriers and going into most post office parking lots you will see a variety of awesome-looking modern vehicles with every option imaginable. You can also hear your fellow brothers and sisters speak of their wonderful homes. How do you think carriers pay for these things? Our jobs! Your job allows you and your family to have such great possessions. These wouldn’t be possible if we worked at another job, or if our hours were cut. Being part of the middle-class, making a decent living wage is what we all have become accustomed to. We have good paying jobs when compared to other jobs in this state and around the country. Where else can you get retirement, health benefits and a decent wage doing something similar to what we do? Good luck trying to find anything else like it. How many letter carriers do you know who were laid off or fired due to the devastated economy? None! An important reason for this is our contractual protections. But our contract, like other benefits of employment that we enjoy, can be taken from us with the stroke of a pen. What Congress gives, it can also take away. The point is, even under the current economic situation now facing the country, politicians have kept their hands off the USPS. However, we now have many unfriendly members of Congress that are sticking their noses where they don’t belong. Now is the time for us to pull together. We must call on those who have supported us in the past and remind them of their support each time a bill comes up that will affect our hours, wages and working conditions. I can never stress this too much, but to maintain our political leverage we need money. And because we can’t use union dues for political activities, we have to rely on COLCPE. Our COLCPE funds need to be sufficient to support candidates or elected officials who will continue to look out for our interests and those of the USPS. If you don’t contribute to COLCPE, it’s a good indication that you must not care much about what happens to your job, your health, your home, or your family. It’s time for us to stick together for our collective future. As President Fred Rolando has said, “WE ARE ONE is more than a slogan and diversity is a strength.” We should all have faith in our democracy and hope that this craziness won’t last forever. But at the same time, we must do everything in our power to ensure that our honorable work we hold dear to our hearts will survive for future generations.

It’s Time to Stick Together for Our Collective Future I hope this finds everyone doing well. I just want to praise Richard Thayer for all of his excellent work. He has kept the newsletter and the website in excellent shape. The rumor of 5-day delivery is swarming around all the post offices. This rumor refuses to go away and spreads faster than melted butter. Brothers and sisters, your help is needed and we must work hard to ensure that we save 6-day delivery. “5-day is the wrong way”! Letter carriers must stand tall and together; we must help build back the American middle-class. Again I will ask you to join me and help save our jobs. One of the best ways to help is through the Carrier Corps. Any member can join the Carrier Corps if they pledge 10 hours or more to promote the NALC legislative agenda or support a political campaign. I also ask you to give to COLCPE $5.00 a pay period. That’s only $130 a year and I promise you won’t miss it, especially when it helps with keeping your job. Our union has worked hard for what we’ve accomplished and we should be proud. Our struggles are far from over. Members can also submit their e-mail address to the e-Activist Network. Letter carriers on the list receive timely updates on pressing legislative issues. Within our great state we have approximately 3700 letter carriers and going into most post office parking lots you will see a variety of awesome-looking modern vehicles with every option imaginable. You can also hear your fellow brothers and sisters speak of their wonderful homes. How do you think carriers pay for these things? Our jobs! Your job allows you and your family to have such great possessions. These wouldn’t be possible if we worked at another job, or if our hours were cut. Being part of the middle-class, making a decent living wage is what we all have become accustomed to. We have good paying jobs when compared to other jobs in this state and around the country. Where else can you get retirement, health benefits and a decent wage doing something similar to what we do? Good luck trying to find anything else like it. How many letter carriers do you know who were laid off or fired due to the devastated economy? None! An important reason for this is our contractual protections. But our contract, like other benefits of employment that we enjoy, can be taken from us with the stroke of a pen. What Congress gives, it can also take away. The point is, even under the current economic situation now facing the country, politicians have kept their hands off the USPS. However, we now have many unfriendly members of Congress that are sticking their noses where they don’t belong. Now is the time for us to pull together. We must call on those who have supported us in the past and remind them of their support each time a bill comes up that will affect our hours, wages and working conditions. I can never stress this too much, but to maintain our political leverage we need money. And because we can’t use union dues for political activities, we have to rely on COLCPE. Our COLCPE funds need to be sufficient to support candidates or elected officials who will continue to look out for our interests and those of the USPS. If you don’t contribute to COLCPE, it’s a good indication that you must not care much about what happens to your job, your health, your home, or your family. It’s time for us to stick together for our collective future. As President Fred Rolando has said, “WE ARE ONE is more than a slogan and diversity is a strength.” We should all have faith in our democracy and hope that this craziness won’t last forever. But at the same time, we must do everything in our power to ensure that our honorable work we hold dear to our hearts will survive for future generations.

What is a Union? Does anyone know what “union” means? It means an organization of workers that have banded together, often for the purpose of getting better working conditions or pay. A union exists because an individual worker has very little power to influence decisions that are made about his or her job. Belonging to a union means there is strength in numbers; you have bargaining power. As an individual, you have little or no influence. Unions have professional negotiators, advocates and millions of members in your corner. The union is designed to make sure that all have their say and can voice their opinions through their leaders so that management will take note. Most employees join a union because they want protection at work. Our union fights to prevent technology from replacing us. Our union will never rest and will go to bat for you when you are reprimanded, suspended, or fired without just cause. Our union will provide representation and ensure that the person representing you has the necessary experience and has your best interests at heart. Our union ensures that members are well supported. Equal rights for all workers are important to our union. From workers in the field to workers in an office, all employees have the right to safe working conditions and a harassment-free work environment. All employees have the right to be represented. Union membership helps to get better pay and working conditions. By campaigning on behalf of its members, our union leaders are able to negotiate better pay and working conditions. Our union membership helps to ensure job security as the union is able to voice its concern and campaign on behalf of its members. Our union helps stop discrimination because our contracts ensure that all workers are treated fairly and equally. When a problem develops on the job, workers and management can work together as equals to solve it, or a grievance can be filed. Joining a union means job security. Our union has helped create a stable, productive workforce where carriers have a say in improving their jobs. Thanks to letter carriers in the past for what our union is today, from the 8 hour day to bitter struggles over better pay. When crunch time comes, our union has never let us down. It makes sure that all are protected first. Now you know what a union means, what it does, and how it can benefit you. Aren’t you glad you joined the union? With all the information above, one can see the importance of a union and the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act. Spread the word and challenge yourself to improve your branch membership; the more the merrier, and stronger.

The Ball is in Your Court I hope this finds everyone doing well. Now that 2010 elections are over, the North Carolina results speak for themselves. I would like to thank the two releases that were given to us this cycle, Jamey Charlet and Jerome Hoffart. I would also like to thank the 50 plus letter carriers who worked with the AFL-CIO and candidates. The bad news is we lost many friends across the nation in the House and the Senate. The good news for our state is that we were able to hold onto most of our endorsed candidates. Sadly, we might lose a great friend of the North Carolina Letter Carriers, Bob Etheridge. As I write this he is in the middle of a close recount to determine the winner in that race. Our Senate-endorsed candidate, Elaine Marshall, made a valiant effort. She just came up short in funds to secure the victory. Brothers and sisters, I'm here to tell you that we have our work cut out for ourselves. Currently we have two co-sponsors from North Carolina on HR 5746 and they are Congressman David Price (D) 4th District and Mike McIntyre (D) 7th District. This legislation marks the first huge step toward financial solvency for the United States Postal Service and will help strengthen the case against eliminating a day of delivery. With the election past and many of our friends voted out, we must work harder to help the labor movement survive. We must work hard to ensure that we save 6-day delivery. "Five-day is the wrong way!" Letter carriers must stand tall and together, we must help build back the American middleclass. One of the best ways to help is through the Carrier Corps. Any member can join the Carrier Corps if they pledge 10 hours or more to promote the NALC legislative agenda or support a political campaign. Members can also serve as their branch's COLCPE coordinator. The COLCPE coordinator is responsible for convincing members why it's important to give to COLCPE. They also assist members in signing up. Members can also submit their e-mail address to the e-Activist Network. Letter carriers on the list receive timely updates on pressing legislative issues. Again, I ask you, brothers and sisters, to give to COLCPE, $5 a pay period. That's only $130 a year and I promise you won't miss it, especially when it helps with keeping your job. Our union has worked hard for what we've accomplished and we should be proud. However, our struggle is far from over. Everyone must do their part. The ball is in your court; make the right play. I hope everyone has a great holiday season and an exciting New Year.

Rising to the Challenge The reality is that the Postal Service is facing the worst financial crisis in its history and if it is not fixed it will continue to get worse for the future. With this crisis our traditions have been attacked. I am confident, however, that our unity and innovation will bring us through. History may not be repeating itself, but we must rise to this challenge. It won’t be easy, but with all letter carriers working together nothing is impossible to accomplish. It may seem like I keep repeating myself, but the issue I am talking about is more important now than ever. We are in a fight for our livelihood. This is the time we must work overtime to have our voices heard. Without Congress's help, the Postal Service is not going to change the way it does things. Being an e-Activist and contributing to COLCPE are now more important than ever. This is the NALC way to communicate with you and the way we can be heard by Congress. And right now we need Congress to hear us more than ever before. We need many friends in Congress to keep helping us so that the Postal Service remains in business and we keep our jobs. The pending legislation is HR 5746, which is “United States Postal Service's CSRS Obligation Modification Act of 2010.” This addresses the Postal Service's financial problems, calling for implementation of many of the Postal Regulatory Commission's recommendations. HR 173 "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-day mail delivery," is an important reminder that only Congress can authorize any reduction in the number of mail delivery days. Is your representative a co-sponsor of either bill? If not, call your representative and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 5746 and . H. Res. 173 You can also write a letter to the Postal Regulatory Commission and comment in support of Saturday delivery. As President Rolando states, “The PRC’s support of Saturday delivery will be key in getting congressional support to maintain Saturday delivery.” President Rolando wants you to take these points below and use your own words and experience and show the importance of Saturday delivery to you, to your postal customers and to the community you serve. But this is not limited to only carriers, have your family and friends write letters also. Talking points: Saturday delivery is crucial for the Postal Service’s long-term survival. Without it, the USPS will be less competitive, mail demand will decline further and it will lead to a downward spiral. Ending Saturday delivery does little to reduce costs. It saves just 4 percent of costs while cutting out 17 percent of daily deliveries. Many people depend on Saturday delivery—seniors who need their mail-order prescription drugs, small businesses on Main Street trying to meet payroll, and major businesses like eBay whose business models depend on Saturday delivery. Eliminating Saturday delivery should be a last, not first, resort. More time should be spent determining if mail volume declines will slow—if not reverse—as the recession ends. Additionally, please remind the PRC that: The Postal Service’s deficit was caused by the unfair requirement to pre-fund future retiree health benefits, and the Service has been overcharged $75 billion for its pension fund obligations. Fixing the $75 billion pension overpayment and using that money to pre-fund retiree health benefits would make the USPS profitable. The USPS budget can be stabilized without having to resort to sacrificing service. Mail (preferred) to this address: Postal Regulatory Commission Attention: Office of Public Affairs & Government Relations 901 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20268-0001 For more information on the NALC's fight to save six-day delivery, go to nalc.org. Join the e-Activist Network, contribute to COLCPE and write or call your Representative. We must be heard, and nothing is too much. I want everyone to think of their job, family and future. Need I say more? Now is the time – YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS! We all need to be heard.

Is Five Day Delivery a Done Deal? Hope this finds everyone doing well. I just want to praise Richard Thayer for the GREAT paper and website he has created. Richard has worked hard to pick a printer that will work for us and is union based. Again, thanks Richard. We all keep hearing the rumor of 5 day delivery, and that is all it is. You may have heard you supervisor state that 5 day delivery was going to happen by October 2009; however, it didn’t. In the recent month I received an email that will set things straight. This came straight from DPMG and COO Donahoe. During half of last year and so far all of this year the rumor of 5 day delivery is swarming around all the post offices. Just as I was telling everyone it would take an act of Congress. Here is a quote from the DPMG and COO Donahoe that I was able to get my hands on. This statement further specifies what I been saying. In the email, DPMG and COO Pat Donahoe stated, “One thing I have to emphasize … is that nothing can be implemented without Congress changing current law and the president signing the legislation to permit that change,” emphasizes Donahoe. “That’s important to understand. I know some of you may be under the impression that this can just be done by management. It can’t. It needs Congressional approval to make the change.” And as we all know our National Executive board is pushing back hard, they are strongly committed to six-day service. The National Executive board has let Congress know how they feel and where they stand. President Rolando states “I do not believe that weakening our commitment of six-day service to the public will enhance the long-term position of the Postal Service as a critical element in our nation's economic infrastructure.” “In view of the January report released by the postal Inspector General that showed that the USPS was overcharged by $75 billion for postal pension costs, Congress instead should take immediate steps to correct the error.” “If Congress takes such action, the Postal Service will have the financial breathing room needed to develop a more successful plan,” Rolando added. “The NALC stands ready to join in discussions with other principal stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategy for the long-term viability of the Postal Service and continued high-quality service to the American people.” It is time that all pitch in, it’s time to boost our effort and get all letter carrier involved in COLCPE. This is the political action fund of the NALC. Now is the time we need all active letter carriers to give 5 dollars a pay period and retires are to give 5 dollars a month, I promise you won’t miss it. This is a necessity to our jobs, benefits and future. Any questions please feel free to contact me or any of my executive board members.

Hope for the Future: Passage of the Employee Free Choice Act I hope this finds everyone doing well. There is an important bill that is still pending in Congress, a bill that could potentially make or break working families. It's the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The U.S. economic crisis is the natural result of decades of neglect and hostility toward middle class working families. Free trade, deregulation, financial liberalization and, most of all, a sustained attack by business interests on the rights of workers to organize unions to bargain for better pay and benefits have led to an economic catastrophe. The last time such a crisis happened, in the 1930s, empowering workers to defend their interests by joining unions was a key part of the solution. The New Deals National Labor Relations Act made it the policy of the United States to "encourage collective bargaining." More than any part of the New Deal, this law helped create the largest and most productive middle class society in history. According to Labor Department data, median household income doubled along with labor productivity between 1945 and 1979. In the face of today's economic calamity, we need to once again give workers a voice at work to begin the long process of rebuilding the middle class and laying the groundwork for an economy based on a shared prosperity. For this reason, the NALC strongly supports enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act. Among other things, EFCA will give workers, not employers, the choice of how to form a union--through a secret ballot election after 30 percent of workers sign union cards or through a majority card check process. It will also stiffen penalties against companies that use illegal tactics in organizing campaigns. Fines would be increased dramatically on top of the existing law's back pay provisions. In addition, it will encourage good faith bargaining by providing for mediation and binding arbitration for first contracts. After 90 days of bargaining and 30 days of meiation, the parties would settle first contracts through binding arbitration--using a process much like the one that has been used successfully by the USPS and its union for 38 years. You have seen the fight that has taken place over health care reform. There are powerful interests that don't want it to pass. And for obvious reasons. The same will be true of EFCA. These interests will do their best to kill it. We cannot go just on our faith and hope, we must play an active role. Call, write and e-mail your Congress person and tell them to sign on. Our future depends on it.