Unity is Not Just a Cliché
Unity is not just a cliché - it is imperative for the survival of NALC! Words like Unity and Solidarity have been around for as long as Labor Unions have existed. From the birth of Labor Unions in the early 1900’s through today, Unity and Solidarity have helped bring about change as workers united to demand fair treatment and safe work conditions from their employers. The National Labor Relations Act, first passed into law in 1933, helped create conditions wherein, with the help of Labor Unions, workers could earn decent livable wages and work in safe conditions. As a result of Unity and Solidarity in the labor movement, Americans have a 40-hour work week, overtime pay, weekends off, paid holidays, and so much more.
Unity is not just a buzzword for the NALC. Members of this Branch, along with their Brothers and Sisters from Branch 36, risked it all when they went on strike in the spring of 1970. On March 17, 1970, letter carriers in New York City led a general postal strike against what was then known as the Post Office Department to protest poverty-level wages. Carriers and other postal workers throughout metropolitan New York—and soon, in other cities across the country—followed suit. This successful strike by nearly a quarter-million postal workers led to the August 12, 1970 signing of the Postal Reorganization Act which, among other things, gave NALC the authority to bargain collectively for the National Agreement with the newly created United States Postal Service.
If you watch any of the available footage of the 1970 Postal Strike, you can sense the bravery of the strikers as well as the fellowship and camaraderie they had for one another in the face of dire consequences - termination or even incarceration. Against real adversity, the strikers stood their ground together. However, I have noticed that same solidarity that I appreciated early in my career seems to be slowly disappearing with each retiring carrier. As time has gone on, the Carrier workforce has become more fractal. Carriers have become more tribal and isolated. As a result, carriers seem to spend less time socializing together off the clock. It not enough to just to acknowledge the aspects that divide us. I worry that perhaps our members are losing sight of what makes this union special - as well as the source of its power and strength. It is our Unity.
If we are to retain the salary and benefits that the City Letter Carrier positions provide, it is important to remember that it takes unity to prevail as a labor group. We must not allow the enemies of organized labor to divide and conquer all this Union has built. We must reunite the workforce. Unity means the state of being united. Solidarity means to stand as one, in unity. All members of organized labor together, standing in unity and solidarity, can move the NALC and the Letter Carriers forward.
We must, at a minimum, care for one another. Instead of focusing on what someone else has that you do not, focus on where your rights may be violated. I cannot understand those who focus on making sure that other Carriers are equally violated rather than focusing on what we can do together to protect our rights. Each of us must start by standing up for ourselves. Give your local Steward a call about a situation or write a statement to protect co-worker’s rights. We call each other brother and sister in this union for a reason; because when it comes to our career, we must operate as one family! We must not just sit passively and let it happen! I implore you to get more involved!
Become a local leader in your office. Years ago, the NALC set forth programs to create a Labor Union with the ability to reach beyond its own walls. If there is an open steward position; fill it! If there isn’t an On-the-Job Instructor in your office and you consider yourself to be a “Professional” letter carrier; volunteer! Attend membership meetings and see if the issues that may plague your office are a problem elsewhere. Take 2 minutes a week to check out the Branch and National Website. Create a sense of community by getting involved in the MDA charity drives as well as the Food Drive. Take time to read the National’s and the Branch periodicals, periodically! If you do not like the way our Politicians on Capitol Hill treat the USPS or our Union, then get involved with our Political Action Committee. The Letter Carrier Political Fund (LCPF) is one of the most powerful Labor PACs in existence.
You don’t have to do all of the things I’ve suggested. We all spend too much time and energy complaining about the job on social media and to our friends, family and co-workers. Just spend a small fraction of that time and energy on getting involved and promoting the Unity of your brother and sister Union members. I must warn you however, if you do, you run the risk of improving the morale of your office and feeling good about yourself.
A while back, a member had the misfortune of asking me exactly what they “get out of the union” on a very bad day. The answer I should have given my colleague was one word - Unity!
The dues keep the lights on; it is you and your brothers and sisters that fuel this Union!
