FIGHTING THEN - FIGHTING NOW
Organizing Our Brothers and Sisters
One Member At A Time
Years of Proven Dedication and Commitment to the Labor Movement
President - APWU, Florida State - Four Consecutive Terms
Sarasota Local President - 14 Years
Vice President - AFL-CIO of Florida
Active in Democratic Party
Grassroots Organizer
Get Out the Vote Committee
Secretary, APWU Rank and File Committee, 2006
National Convention Delegate Since 1986
Dear Brothers and Sisters, as a proud member of the Sarasota (FL) Local and the Leadership Team, I am seeking your support and vote to make me your APWU Organizing Director in Washington DC. I have the knowledge, experience, personality, and commitment to succeed in this position. More importantly, I have the passion for the job. I not only believe in our union, I support all unions.
Passion and belief in what you do must be there naturally. It's something that cannot be forced or imitated. We need an Organizing Director that not only inspires members when you speak to them, but motivates them to go out on the work room floor with a fire in their belly so they may approach another non-member and inspire them to join the Union. I strongly believe that this Union is organized one member at a time - and we need to inspire and motivate current members as well as our officers to get this accomplished and I intend to do just that.
With your vote I will come into this position straight from the workroom floor. Because of this, I understand the mindset of each member better than any other candidate for this position. I have been out there in the trenches working along side you for these past 27 years. I understand the trials and tribulations as well as the day to day frustration and pressures of what you have to deal with at the Post Office.
Organizing must be everyone's job and I will lead us all in that endeavor. I plan to work closely with all officers, at all levels in the organization from top to bottom. I plan to keep in touch with local presidents and work on ways to help them reach their non-members. We need to better understand the demographics to assist each local in getting the non-member to join our ranks.
I will work with other Unions to brainstorm for ideas, to understand the mind set of the non-member and how to motivate them to join our union. It will give us new ideas and allow us to start thinking outside of the box. I have networked with other Unions for many years and already have contacts all over the country. My long term friendship over the past 20 years with NALC President Fred Rolando is an added bonus and welcome alliance. Let’s not ignore the realities that our Union is both gaining and losing members with cross craft excessing events throughout the country.
Along with communicating with the non member by mail, I plan on reaching out to them by phone, the computer and the workroom floor. I will institute a program that will make it possible for them to join on the spot, whether they are at work or at home on their computer as long as it does not interfere with local constitution and bylaws.
While it is most important to organize within our ranks, it is also our responsibility as a Union to better everyone’s quality of life. We cannot ignore the unorganized. This struggle cannot be just about us. However, it is my strong belief that we must first start from within. As your Director – that will be my top priority.
While we have made valiant efforts at outside organizing over the past few years, we unfortunately have not been very successful. My team members, Cliff Guffey, Liz Powell and I have been discussing and debating outside organizing ideas. We need to take on campaigns that will coincide with our organization, not work against us or take us down. We must organize wisely, not just organize to organize.
To organize, we must educate both the member and their families as to who we are as a Union; what we are all about; when and how we got here. We need to take credit for our past accomplishments and remind our members and their families, that their increased quality of life is no coincidence. As your Director, I will assist and show you the benefits of getting involved in your communities and schools. Educating our future workforce on what Unions really are all about is crucial to our survival. We must dispel the corporate myth that Unions are unnecessary and detrimental to the workforce. I will coordinate this educational project with Joyce Robinson and her staff.
As an active participant in the APWU for the past 27 years, my dedication to this union has been tested and proven. I have held all positions in the Sarasota Local starting six months after hiring into the Post office, including Local President where I served for 14 years. I have always worked in some capacity for the Florida State organization holding many positions, including 8 years as State President for four consecutive terms. Throughout the years I have been active in the State AFL-CIO being on numerous committees such as candidate screening, "Get Out The Vote", and elected to the state board as a Vice President. All my adult life I have been a working advocate for the Democratic Party, and have held positions on both the State and County Democratic Executive Committees.
All this has been on my own time while still holding down a full time position as a postal employee. I have spent countless hours and dollars out of my pocket educating myself and working for this Union. Now is the time to put that investment to work for our national organization.
As I interact with the membership, my love for the Union is obvious - but most importantly - it's contagious. And is that not what we need in an Organizing Director?
I am proud of what I have accomplished for this Union as a part time officer, and can only imagine the possibilities that lie ahead if I was elected to a full time position where I will now have the time and talent to concentrate on specific tasks, goals and programs.
In the early years when my local union had 250 plus members, I increased our membership to 98 % organized. During my tenure as State President, I was successful in bringing all the locals into the organization. Some locals were hard core "non-participants" in the state organization and it was my persistence and encouragement that convinced those locals to change their ways and join the State in their fight to reach out to the smaller offices and members -at -large. I'm proud to say that I put Florida on the map for APWU.
Over the years I have worked closely and well with our national officers whether it has been on committees, projects, elections, education, or brainstorming. I already have a great working relationship with Myke Reid and Steve Albanese in the legislative area, due to my active political life in Florida. I have worked with Judy Beard and the Retirement Organization in making Florida a growing retirement organization, with many chapters. As the state Education Director and President I brought Bill Kaczor into Florida and along with him promoted the health plan. As a 26 year member of the health plan, I will use this as an important organizing tool.
My work ethic is established and is part of who I am. I will be in the office or out in the field at your locals and states, for organizing events. I will participate in those events in Washington, DC to promote and support the labor agenda. I will use my nationwide connections with many Unions to better the APWU presence to the other Unions. I plan to be active and a voice for APWU in Washington DC whether it will be on the mall protesting or in the halls of congress
I will do my job and organize this great Union. I am respectful of the fact that this position is really the only revenue creating position in this organization. If we fail to organize our members internally, we are at risk of losing our ability to properly represent our members in these challenging times.
I will motivate that non-member to WANT TO BE A MEMBER and a part of this great organization, instead of standing on the sidelines looking in.
As I interact with the membership, my love for the Union is obvious –but most importantly- it’s contagious. That is exactly what we need in an Organizing Director and I graciously request and ask for your vote and support for my candidacy in the upcoming 2010 National Election for the APWU and for those other candidates representing the Leadership Team.
Who am I? Born and raised in the Detroit Area. My grandfather brought my Dad’s family over from Canada to work in the factories. He was a proud member of the UAW. My grandmother participated in the Woolworth sit down strikes in Detroit. My father belonged to CWA. My brother is a 35 year UAW member, who is currently laid off for the past year. My late husband Bill King was fired for trying to form a Union in the Sign shop where he worked.
I remember growing up thinking that Unions were an every day part of life. If you didn’t join the Union, you didn’t work. It was that simple. If the teachers went on strike - we had a longer summer vacation. I was quite surprised when I came to the Post Office years ago and found out that this did not hold true. I now have a strong appreciation of the organizing challenges of a national union such as ours, as well as the mind set of the public in a right-to-work state.
For three years, I was a card carrying member of Teamster Local 79 in Tampa. We had satellite Union meetings in the parking lot where I worked in Sarasota. I guess that gives a whole new meaning to grass roots organizing!
I am a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree
I am a widow, stepmother to 3 with one grandson. I am an honest, caring hard worker who takes my job seriously. I believe in a fair days work for a fair days pay. I am always willing to go that extra mile to help someone. I will work well with my fellow Union officers but will not hesitate to stand my ground firmly and voice my opinion.
Help me secure the future of our Union by casting your ballot for me as your next National Organizing Director.
Look for my name - It’s the 3rd candidate’s name listed on the ballot.
Vote Martha Shunn-King, Organizing Director
