Via John P. Richards, President – Pittsburgh Area Retiree Chapter of the APWU:

Excerpt:

The Chapter and the Local had jointly sent instructions to our members and others about the assembly area and the line of march. Those instructions were the result of the Parade Committee’s determination, at our request, that all the Post Office Unions would march together as an indication of the solidarity that has developed over the last few years. We have worked very hard to foster and grow that solidarity and continue to do so. We were all originally to assemble near the site of the old Civic Arena.

After all the plans were set and approved, the instructions mailed to our members and Metro’s members, at the eleventh hour the rug was pulled out from under us. There was no opportunity to inform our marchers of the change. The Unions were separated with the Pittsburgh Metro Local now assigned to assemble far from the original site, and relegated to marching apart from the Letter Carriers near the end of the parade. No reason war given for this. It was an unconscionable act that is unforgivable!