Greetings APWU Shop Stewards:

Congratulations!

Whether you have been serving as a shop steward for years or are new to job, you are on the front line in the fight for respect and dignity in the workplace. Your determination and dedication – and that of other union activists – help make our union strong.

Much of this Steward Training Manual focuses on processing grievances. I am confident it will be a valuable resource as you work to enforce our Collective Bargaining Agreement.

However, a shop steward’s duties go far beyond filing grievances. Yes, we need committed, forthright representation on the work room floor. But our union will only be strong enough to meet the challenges we face from postal privatizers if we have an engaged, active and empowered membership.

Shop stewards must lead the way in organizing our co‐workers to attend informational pickets and picnics, union meetings and visits to congressional representatives. Stewards also must help sign up non‐members to join the union. And stewards must mobilize union members to engage the public in our fight to preserve our treasured public Postal Service.

The success of the APWU and the labor movement will depend on activism and solidarity.

We look forward to working with you as we strengthen our union – a union that is standing up, fighting back, and winning!

In union solidarity,

Mark Dimondstein
President