1978 - The Year of Change
In the year 1978, at the Chicago Letter Carrier National Convention, it can be truly called what happened there by the efforts of letter carriers across the Country a year of change. It was my first National Convention, and to say the least I was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the delegation and the “booming” loudspeakers. I think it was about 8000 total registered delegates. It was a “sea” of humanity!
The hall that was housing this delegation was the length of several football fields from side-to-side. What was even more interesting was that just prior to the commencement of the convention, a “new” negotiated National Agreement was being sent out to be ratified by the membership.
This was a bit of a surprise to many delegates because the “entire” local leadership of the NALC was at the convention. Many delegates were “angry.”
Normally, when a contract is negotiated, local leaders meet and discuss the “pros” and “cons’ of a “new” contract and make a recommendation to their members as to whether the contract should be “approved” or “rejected.” In this case, however, many local leaders believed that sending the contract out to the membership without the guidance of local leaders was an attempt to circumvent them.
Why would the National leaders do such a thing? Many delegates learned very shortly after that what was the reason. The 1978 contract had some good provisions but the one that caught the “eye” of many delegates was a provision to put a “cap” on the Cost-of-Living (COLA) clause. In effect had this been approved, if inflation exceeded a certain amount (say 4%) even if the cost-of-living were higher (say 7 or 8% or 9%), wages would be “capped” meaning they would be “frozen” at 4% and even though your costs went up (9%), your wages would not. This issue was extremely controversial and vigorously debated back and forth across the aisle(s).
The final outcome was that “most” local leaders encouraged their members to “reject” the contract, and that is what they did. This forced the NALC National leaders at that time to return to the bargaining table, and it forced the Postal Service to abandon their attempts to “cap” the Cola for the next 40 plus years. The membership had “won.”
In addition, during this same period, the incumbent NALC National leaders who had negotiated the “cap” on the COLA were up for re-election that “FALL”. A side effect of the battle to retain an “uncapped” COLA was that most of the then current national leaders “lost their election(s).”
The person who was the “newly” elected National President in 1978 was Vincent R. Sombrotto, from New York City (Branch 36). Many other “new” leaders were also elected. This included our very own then Branch 6000, President, Robert Vincenzi who became the NALC, National Business Agent for the New York, Region 15. At that time, it was one of the largest Regions in the country.
Presently, the most recent COLA released for June of 2022 indicates that if a pay raise were to be granted, it would be another $2517 annual COLA increase or about $97 a pay period. If we had a “cap” on the COLA, I believe it would be substantially less. The membership made the right “call” when they rejected the 1978 proposed agreement.
The NALC leadership in 1978 made the wrong decision.
I do not know anyone who can accurately predict the future. Our future, however, will be based on our current actions. The “new” route evaluation process (TIAREAP) needs to be studied and every member must be actively involved. This is what I believe lead to the success of the membership in 1978 and the retention of an “UNCAPPED” COLA! “Your Silence is Your Consent!”
