Dear Member:
The fact that you visited this web site demonstrates you care about the future of this Union, its members and the Postal Service. Over the next decade we will face challenges like we have never seen before. As Postal Workers we know the changes occurring in our workplace and it will take courage, leadership and experience to get us through it.
- I am currently serving as the Assistant Legislative and Political Director for the APWU and have held that position since 2004 and I am seeking re-election
- Prior to that I was the Executive Assistant to President Burrus
- A Clerk division business agent for 12 years before that
- Previous to all of those national positions I was President of the Boston MA local for 16 years.
I ask for your support in the upcoming election not just for myself but for the entire Leadership Team.
ABOUT THE TEAM
I am confident that the team of officers led by Cliff Guffey will meet that challenge.
I urge you to look over the candidates on this team and you will find it is representative of the workforce we represent. Cliff Guffey is one of our more experienced officers and has held a variety of National resident positions in our Union including Director of the Clerk division and Executive Vice President. He is ready to lead this Union as its new National President. He will need to rely on his experience, which spans well over 20 years at headquarters, to take us through the rough times ahead. I am confident he can do it.
Greg Bell is our candidate for Executive Vice President and for the last 15 years he has been our Director of Industrial Relations. He is the person who has been administering our national contract during the period as well as preparing our Union for several rounds of Collective Bargaining. Under his leadership the Industrial Relations Department has become a smooth and professional operation. I know he is ready to step up.
Liz Powell became our Secretary Treasurer a few short months ago and you would think she has been doing the job her entire life. The transition from the previous office holder was absolutely seamless and she has brought fresh new ideas to that office. For the first time in our history we have a woman as one of our top three General officers.
Mike Morris is moving from the Clerk Division to become the next Director of Industrial Relations. Mike has worked on our National Negotiations for over 20 years and is one of the most respected and talented officers we have. He has proven to be a tough and smart negotiator and has demonstrated he knows how to get things done. He oversaw the recent 2 year battle to stop the closings of over 1000 Post Offices around the country. This natural leader will be a tremendous asset to all of us in the years to come.
We are fortunate to have a wealth of talented division and department directors on our team. Myke Reid has had a string of legislative and political successes as he takes care of our business on Capitol Hill. Sue Carney and Joyce Robinson head up the Human Relations and Research and Education Departments. Rob Strunk is running as our Director of the Clerk Division and there is no officer who knows more about that craft. Steve Raymer has proven to be one of the most successful Directors of the Maintenance Division and Bob Pritchard has done a great job as our Motor Vehicle Director. Bill Manley heads up our Support Services Division.
When it comes to experience no one compares to our APWU Health Plan Director Bill Kaczor. He has overseen the Union health plan for over 25 years and has taken it through some of the most difficult times. Today, under his leadership, that plan stands heads and shoulders above all others and has new and innovative ways to protect yourself and your family. He has earned your support and confidence and deserves to be re-elected.
In addition to those Directors we have a team of experienced assistant Directors like myself, in Legislation, Mike Foster of MVS, and Gary Kloepfer, Greg See and Idowu Balogun of Maintenance. We also have Pat Williams returning as our most senior assistant Director of the Clerk Division.
Running again as our Regional Coordinators we have Omar Gonzalez in the Western Region, Mike Gallagher in the Eastern Region, Sharyn Stone in the Central Region and John Dirzius in the Northeast Region.
NEW FACES
No organization can stay vibrant without bringing some new blood into leadership positions and this election offers you some great new choices. Current NBAs Lyle Krueth and Lamont Brooks will be candidates for open Assistant Director Clerk Division positions here in DC. Princella Vogel is currently the President of the Houston Texas local and she will be running for Southern Region coordinator. Last but not least we have the former state President of Florida, Martha Shunn as our candidate for Director of Organization.
As I said at the outset this is a diverse and talented team. I support them all and urge you to do the same.