APWU members – we need a legislative and political director that truly understands the adversities we face today; one with keen abilities and tenacity to tackle issues that matter most to our working members and retirees; a director who will make a positive difference in our workplace and everyday lives.
Tom is that leader – strong and effective with 22 years of legislative experience. He has served in various elected capacities during his 23 year postal career. He is serving his 5th term as local president and is a respected congressional liaison. Tom works side-by-side with our members on the floor – giving him greater perspective and firsthand insight to the challenges we face today – something our present legislative director lacks; beginning her postal career 52 years ago in 1970 – absent from the floor the last 40 years. What happens to us will happen to Tom. He has 11 years remaining before he reaches minimum retirement age. Any actions Tom takes as director will also affect him.
Tom is relentless when it comes to protecting our hard-fought rights and benefits. He would never trade them away for paper tigers or personal agendas; and certainly never yield to the wants of a PMG, especially one who is vested with our competitors, aggressively dismantling the USPS, eliminating our jobs, destroying service standards, actively removing mail processing equipment, moving forward with office closures and consolidations, creating hostile work environments, implementing anti-worker policies, and eroding public trust – actions that essentially make the Postal Reform Act of 2022 hollow and ineffective.
Tom is persuasive; adept at drafting and interpreting legislation, rallying support, and forging strong relationships with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle – skills that when elected will benefit all members, retirees and our families. Tom has been instrumental in passing law that restored hours and prevents closure within his jurisdiction. He was an active leader in the Stop Staples campaign – a triumph achieved through local leadership and member activists. He is a driving force in successful voter registrations and Get-Out-The-Vote campaigns – electing individuals who support postal workers, retirees, veterans and their families. Together Tom, and John Marcotte, former legislative and political director / 2022 candidate for APWU president, scored a huge victory in achieving service standards for our membership by working with influential legislators. The pending legislation was pulled days prior to its anticipated passage at the request of our APWU president to appease NALC leadership – holding out for their six-day delivery – protecting carriers while leaving our members’ jobs at risk.
Instead of fighting to protect our interests, our current legislative director, APWU president, and their politically appointed Board of Governors supported the NALC in their quest and pandered to the PMG – an individual who is not invested in our future – singing his praises instead of ousting him. They failed to guarantee our service standards while the carriers achieved theirs. They gave away the rights of future postal retirees to make their own decision about Medicare B which comes at a significant additional expense; offers unattainable savings for most when weighed against the month-to-month costs, and mandates their federal health benefits become secondary. Their shortsightedness will place us into a postal only health benefit program that weakens our bargaining strength for affordable premiums, deteriorates benefits, and diminishes access to preferred providers.
When elected, Tom will bring his fierce determination to DC to safeguard and expand our legislated benefits; determined to restore our service standards to save our jobs and ensure every community has a post office. He will battle to win a living wage for workers; protect Social Security and Medicare; pursue cost-of-living adjustments that actually keep pace with inflation; defend affordable, premium healthcare, and laws that protect our ill, injured, and those caring for family. Tom is dedicated to procuring paid Family Medical Leave, safer working conditions, and retirement benefits that sustain us through our golden years – working diligently to equalize FERS cost-of-living adjustments to CSRS while working tirelessly to repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision that impose stiff penalties against social security benefits.
A Veteran and State Director of Veteran Affairs, Benson knows the hardships suffered by our Veterans, military members and their families. When elected, he will continue to work with Veteran organizations and lawmakers to enforce Veterans’ preference legislation; improve medical services and benefits; expedite access, and fight to restore postal hiring registers in order to rebuild our rapidly dwindling Veteran workforce – down 30% since 2020 under the watch of our existing director and president. Veterans and members of the armed forces sacrificed to serve our country; they deserve knowledgeable leaders who are willing to fight for them.
As our next legislative and political director, Benson will regularly meet with politicians on the Hill to elevate our issues instead of sending staff to perform his elected duties. He will present all requests for campaign funding to our COPA Committee as intended as opposed to only those chosen by our president. He will reinstate regular meetings in lieu of consistent poll votes that negate the opportunity for committee discussion. All candidates, regardless of political affiliation, will be granted equal consideration. Politicians who refuse to stand with us on postal and labor issues will no longer be permitted to pilfer our coffers.
Tom is a skilled instructor who will conduct comprehensive training and provide strategic tools that support our locals and state organizations. Recognized numerous times by APWU headquarters for his legislative work; two time recipient of the prestigious John Duka Legacy Officer of the Year Award, and OPWU Member of the Year.
It’s time we elect proven, accessible leaders who still experience our struggles – who are responsive to our needs – rather than reelecting individuals who have failed us. Don’t be misled. Expensive campaign mailings prove nothing. Results do. We deserve better.
Vote for Thomas Benson, APWU Legislative and Political Director – working for every member – leaving no member behind.
To learn more visit www.tombenson4legislativedir.org or find Tom on social media by searching Elect Tom Benson APWU 2022. Thanks for your support.