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PO Box 3 phone: (732) 544-0335 Red Bank, New Jersey 07701 fax: (732) 544-3682 A brief history of The Red Bank Local EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Joe Shevlin/President Jeff Brents/Vice-President Joe Leddy/Secretary-Treasurer John Seery/Clerk Craft Director Ray Glasser/Maintenance Craft Director Sean Morse/Director of Industrial Relations STEWARDS Frank Agamemnon Glenn Breeds Tom Buysee Joe Conrad ALTERNATES Ray Bossinger Debbie Kloza Melinda Lew Tim Monihan Tim Nolan Larry Rasmussen
The Red Bank Local (APWU) was chartered on July 1, 1971 (Local #0986), and, as such, is one of the original Locals of the American Postal Workers Union. The Red Bank Local currently represents APWU members at Post Offices in Red Bank, Fair Haven, Shrewsbury, Westboro, Freehold, Lincroft, Oceanport, Navesink and at the Monmouth P&DC in Eatontown, New Jersey. Prior to the 1970 Post Office Strike, the Red Bank Postal Union represented members of the clerk and maintenance crafts. The Red Bank Postal Union was affiliated with the National Postal Union (Philadelphia Region). Earlier still, Red Bank was affiliated with The United Federation of Postal Clerks (aka "the Feds"). The Red Bank Post Office was among the first in the nation to join the Postal Strike in 1970, begun in New York City. Kenneth Hopwood, who came to Red Bank in 1961 and is still an active clerk there today, relates that about 90% of Red Bank employees walked off the job and manned the picket lines. Those who didn't, he recalls, were "mostly letter carriers nearing retirement." Ron Griffiths was the RBPU President at the time of the strike. The Red Bank Post Office then experienced more than 2 decades of rapid growth, resulting in a move from 105 Broad Street to its current location, the addition of an "Annex" on Shrewsbury Avenue, and, eventually (1988), the Monmouth P&DC. The Monmouth facility, through the Local's tireless vigilance, currently has a 14 day bidding cycle and no Part-Time Flexis. With rare exception, no Clerk Craft Casuals have worked at Monmouth, outside of "Christmas Help," for two decades. To date, there has been no successful Excessing of employees from Monmouth, though several have been proposed and the threat is always there. The Red Bank Local has been very successful in defending its members from unwarranted discipline. The Local has also waged successful campaigns on higher level positions, ensuring that Associate Offices maintain T-6 and Senior Mail Processing positions where required by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Red Bank Local has had a long and storied history that includes "The 1994 Massacre," when Postal management sought to break the Union by firing 3 of its top officers, beginning with President Gregg Foti. The Local responded by becoming even stronger. More recently, 2 Arbitrators, in 3 hearings, upheld the sanctity of the Local Agreement when management attempted to unilaterally impose a 28 day bidding cycle. Former Red Bank President Gregg Foti was once honored as Leader of the Year, by the New Jersey State Postal Workers Union. The Red Bank Local's website (redbanklocal.com) has twice been nominated for Labour Website of the Year. In the early 90's, The Red Bank Local adopted the moniker of "The World's Most Dangerous Local" as an homage to Paul Schaeffer's "World's Most Dangerous Band" of David Letterman's Late Night television show. Little did they realize the Postal Service would make this slogan a centerpiece in their court and arbitration proceedings against Foti, even entering a Red Bank t-shirt into evidence. The Local has made the motto truly meaningful by representing their members with intelligence and persistence and is quite content to be referred to by higher level Postal Managers as "those f***ing guys from Red Bank." The Red Bank Local has a long tradition of community service marked by regular donations to such organizations as the Missy Maloney Fund, the MS Walk, the Lukemia Lymphoma Society, the American Diabetes Association, Red Bank Regional High School's "The Source" program, as well as Veteran's groups and other local organizations. Past Presidents of the Red Bank Local include Emil Katz, Louise Miner, Rudy Rudolpho, Ed Malone, Jackie Douglas, Ed Truax, and Gregg Foti. Current President, Joe Shevlin, has served the Local in that position since 1999. If you are a former or current Red Bank postal worker and/or former or current member of the Red Bank Local, and can offer "Additions and Corrections" to the above, please contact the Webmaster or write to the address at the top of this page. Historical facts, anecdotes, and photographs are welcome. The Red Bank Local reserves the right to post, publish, reject or edit submissions as it deems necessary or proper, and your submission represents your permission to use such content without remuneration and with or without attribution. Legalese--I hate the stuff.
(left to right) former Red Bank President Gregg Foti, APWU President William Burrus, Boston Metro President Moe Lepore, Mike Levine and Joe Shevlin The Red Bank Local, APWU, AFL-CIO, is a non-profit organization.
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