Dear Member:
Thank you for taking the time to visit this web site. I firmly believe that once you have weighed the qualifications of the candidates against the challenges we face, you will come to a decision, as I have, that supporting the members of the Leadership Team 2010 is in your best interest.
We are facing what will be the most difficult contract negotiations in the history of postal collective bargaining. The newly elected slate of officers will take office just a few short days before the end of collective bargaining and must be ready, from the first day of office, to either close a deal with the Postal Service, or prepare our case for interest arbitration. This is NO TIME to be learning on the job, too much is at stake.
The Leadership Team 2010, from top to bottom, has the experience and the technical expertise to negotiate with the Postal Service over your wages, rights and benefits and to challenge the USPS with all legal means possible in order to protect your livelihood.
My History
I am a candidate for Director of Industrial Relations. This is one of the most important positions in the Union. The Director of Industrial Relations is responsible for negotiating and enforcing the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the United State Postal Service. With the support of the other members of the Team, ably led by Cliff Guffey, I truly believe that I am up to that task. I will bring experience in National Level Negotiations that covers a twenty year span. I have 24 years experience as a National Officer of the APWU and seven years experience as a local and state officer.
I also have years of experience in the world of arbitration and have taught hundreds of APWU advocates arbitration skills at both the beginner and advanced levels, serving as an instructor in Joyce Robinson’s arbitration schools.
I have served you as your Assistant Director of the Clerk Division for the past nine years. Prior to that, I served as a National Business Agent in the Memphis Region for 15 years. I have also served as President of the Gadsden, AL Area Local as well as Alabama State President.
I recently spearheaded the APWU effort which, with the great support of many locals, successfully beat back the USPS Station and Branch Closing Initiative at over 3300 stations and branches across the country.
I ask you for the opportunity to continue to serve you in the capacity of Director of Industrial Relations.
Leadership Team 2010
President
I am proud to be a member of the Leadership team 2010, a team that is led by my friend of many years, Cliff Guffey. Cliff has the experience to lead us through what promises to be the toughest round of negotiations ever. I will be proud to serve in the trenches with Cliff and the other members of this team on your behalf. Cliff has many novel ideas on ways to approach old problems with an eye on the Postal Service of the future. Cliff is acutely aware that we must look forward and not backward. The methods and means that have served us well over the past may not be the best models as we look toward what the Postal Service will look like in the 21st century. Cliff is uniquely qualified to lead us toward a brighter future for the Postal Service and also for the American Postal Workers Union.
Executive Vice President
Greg Bell has served the APWU well for the past 15 years as Director of Industrial Relations. Under his stewardship, that department has negotiated major gains for all postal workers. Prior to that, he was President of one of our largest locals in Philadelphia. He is imminently qualified to assume a new role as Executive Vice President of our great union. Greg is one of the most diligent and hard working officers I have ever known in the APWU. He is a staunch advocate for postal workers in dealing with the USPS. Greg has the experience, the knowledge and the determination to advance the APWU ahead in the difficult years to come.
Health Plan Director
I ask you to re-elect Bill Kaczor as Director of the APWU Health Plan. Bill has ably led the plan for many years and we have seen major strides in benefits and membership gains under his leadership. The APWU Health Plan is a major part of our Union and Bill has the experience that is necessary to continue the progress we have made over the last few years. Bill Kaczor is the right person for the job!
Organization
Martha Shunn is our candidate for the vacant position of Director of Organization. Martha has the skills and the heart for this very important aspect of our Union. She has served as President of both her local and of her home state, Florida. She is very knowledgeable about the union movement in general and has been very active in the AFL-CIO in Florida as well as in the political arena. Martha will be a great asset to the Union and I ask you to support her.
Clerk Division
Rob Strunk has a long and distinguished career as National Officer of this Union all the way back to the 1970s. In addition Rob has served as President of the Phoenix Metro Area Local. In that capacity he was responsible for producing the very first JCAM in APWU history. I have worked as a colleague with Rob since 2001 and worked with him prior to that on special task forces and negotiations. Rob is capable of leading the Clerk Division through the additional changes that are coming. He has a strong background in both retail and plant operations. Rob is an excellent administrator and a true leader. We need to keep his expertise and more importantly, his wisdom. I support Rob for the position of Clerk Craft Director without reservation. He will lead an excellent group of Assistant Directors as well. Pat Williams, from the Greater Los Angeles Area Local will continue to provide the glue that holds the Clerk Division together. I have worked with Pat since 2001 and I know what she is capable of doing. I ask you to support her. Rob and Pat will be joined by two new Assistant Directors, Lyle Krueth, from the Minneapolis, MN Area Local and Lamont Brooks from the Northern Virginia Area Local. Both these officers will bring new energy, technical expertise and a strong work ethic to the Clerk Division. I look forward to working with all the officers of the Clerk Division. You will be in good hands with this group protecting your interests.
Motor Vehicle Division
Director of the Motor Vehicle Craft Bob Pritchard and Assistant Director Michael Foster are certainly up to the task of representing the members of the Motor Vehicle Division. They have invaluable first hand work floor experience in both VMF and driver issues. Under Bob’s capable leadership, no craft has been more successful over the past decade in representing their craft than these two leaders. Mike Foster’s office at 1300 L Street is right next to mine and I can tell you he is the hardest working officer in DC. He is always there when I come to work, and still there when I leave. You have 24/7/365 first rate representation with these two Union Leaders. Keep them fighting for you.
Southern Region Coordinator
Princella Vogel has served capably as President of the largest local in the Southern Region, the Houston, TX Area Local. She will bring intelligence, experience, dedication, leadership and integrity to the Southern Region Coordinator position. Soon the members of the Southern Region will experience what the members of the Houston Local already know, Princella Vogel is a dynamic labor leader and I ask all my friends in the Southern Region, my home region, to support Princella. I look forward to working closely with her as we move forward into the next decade.