Retirees are proposing three issues to be addressed by union members at the August 2026 National Convention. They are as follows:
Two of the issues are proposed constitutional issues (Article 6 and 13) and one is a proposed change to Article 17 Section 6.
- Article 6 relates to having State and Local Retiree Chapter having one (1) vote for each 25 members or fraction thereof. This is the same currently for the rest of the State and Local Unions.
- Article 13 is to add the Retiree Director to the APWU Health Plan Board of Directors.
- Article 17 Section 6 would be to permit orientation to retirees prior to retiring.
Some reasons to support these issues are:
1. Make all APWU members feel as if they are really a full part of the APWU.
2. Make the union whole and united.
3. Truly show solidarity.
4. One step towards a united single postal union.
5. Help current members understand why they should join the APWU Retiree Department.
6. Most retirees have garnered more wisdom on all things, including solidarity, and the APWU needs that wisdom in discussion and vote.
7. The most important member of any Health Plan Board is the Retirees Director since Retirees Health Care is exponentially more important than a craft worker due to that demographic’s propensity to endure a plethora of age-related serious health conditions.
8. Having APWU provide retiree orientation would be heads and tails above what (ELM), Subsection 569 – General Retirement Information. states: that field division general managers and postmasters are responsible for ensuring that retirement information and counseling are made available to employees in several ways. It has always been a joke and still is. We can count on our Union to help with this in a credible and expansive manner.
Bobby Donelson
bd62748@aol.com