Wednesday’s Convention business began at 8:00 AM, with the start of voting in the primary election for two of the National Officer positions: Regional Vice President in the Eastern Region and Regional Vice President in the Southern Region. The two nominees who receive the largest number of weighted votes from the delegates will appear on a mail referendum ballot in September, when one of them will be elected by the membership into the office of Regional Vice President.
As the voting came to a close, delegates poured into the Convention Hall to reconvene for business. Once seated, the delegates viewed a short, but important, message from Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA). Connolly spoke on current postal reform legislation, declaring that the next few months will require many decisions that will have “lasting ramifications” for the Postal Service, its employees, and its patrons. He later opined that the bill proposed by Republican Darryl Issa, H.R. 2309, would “gut mail services” and would have a perilous impact on the future of the Postal Service.
Afterwards, Matthew “Matty” McDonald of Local 300 delivered an uplifting Invocation, in which he sought protection for our troops at home and abroad. His message was especially appropriate given yesterday’s recognition of our courageous men and women in uniform by President Hegarty.
Matthew “Matty” McDonald of Local 300 delivered an uplifting Invocation
Following the Invocation, Fred Rolando, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers, gave a masterful speech in which he focused on prospective ways that postal unions and all postal employees can deal with the lack of leadership now being displayed by the upper ranks of the Postal Service. After expressing his gratitude for NPMHU efforts in bargaining, in legislative representation, and in the work place, President Ronaldo declared that the highest echelons of USPS management are not doing their jobs: “We have more than a crisis in leadership; we have a total abdication of leadership!” The Convention Hall shook with applause. President Ronaldo continued, “If we do nothing, we face a future of decline. . . . The only thing we need to decide is this: will we be the agents of change, or will we be the victims? I am here to say that we will be the agents!” Once again, the delegates responded with cheering and applause.
Fred Rolando, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers
Part two of Dr. Greg Giebel’s history lesson followed, as he expounded on the formation of our own great Union, highlighting the period from 1900 to 1916. Of particular note, Giebel informed the delegates that the reason we celebrate August 6, 1912 as the NPMHU’s birthday is because this was the first day on which the Postal Service recognized our right to organize and our right to engage in the grievance process. Noting that “few would dispute the claim that the Postal Service has been one of our Nation’s greatest treasures,” Giebel continued to captivate the audience as he elaborated on the creation of the NPMHU, the Progressive Era of the early twentieth century, and the manifestation of workers’ rights. He also shared archival video obtained from the Library of Congress, showing mail handlers loading horse-drawn trailers as far back as 1903.
Dr. Greg Giebel’s history lesson (Part 2)
Turning to the day’s business, President Hegarty gave a hearty introduction to the Constitution Committee, chaired by Brother Sam D’Ambrosio, Eastern Region Vice President. The Constitution Committee has had the monumental responsibility of reviewing all proposed constitutional amendments submitted by the membership and making recommendations to the delegates. Given their importance, amendments to the Constitution require a super-majority vote (2/3 of the delegates) for passage. This important process will continue over the next few days as the delegates debate and vote on dozens of proposals. Today, the delegates adopted amendments that reconfirm the Union’s opposition to privatization and express support for union-security proposals requiring nonmembers to pay their fair share of the costs of representation. Also adopted were amendments to allow certain non-postal and non-federal employees to join the Union as associate members, to provide the National Officers with payments for earned but unused sick leave upon leaving office, and to prohibit any member from representing the National Union for a period of two years if he or she worked in a supervisory or management position with the Postal Service.
Chair of the Constitution Committee, Sam D’Ambrosio, Eastern Region Vice President
After the completion of the day’s proceedings, the results of the primary elections were certified and announced. More details will follow tomorrow, but the top two finishers in the Eastern Region were James Bell of Local 304 and Kevin Fletcher of Local 305 and the top two finishers in the Southern Region were Pervous “Andy B” Badilishamwalimu of Local 310 and Lawrence Sapp of Local 318. Those candidates will face off in a mail referendum ballot later this year, in September.
Stay tuned for our next report on the Convention.