"Because postal workers went to work, the terrorists lost."--U.S. Congressman Steven Lynch (D-MA)

Congressmen Pledge Support at Boston Rally by Martin Johns

Boston Rally Shows Solidarity by Moe Lepore

One Participant's View by Dan Kuralt

Congressmen Pledge Support at Boston Rally  by Martin Johns

United States Congressmen John Tierney and Steven Lynch expressed solidarity with postal workers at the Save Our Service Rally, hosted by the Boston Metro Area Local on Saturday, October 18.

Speaking to several hundred workers, representing union members from at least 10 states, on a sunny and crisp New England afternoon, the Congressmen promised to ensure that postal reform is not accomplished on the backs of the workers.

“We expect,” said Congressman Lynch, “the leaders of our country—including the President—to live up to the ideals and the promises that have been made to every generation of Americans by the United States Constitution.”

Congressman Lynch noted that his swearing in ceremony in Washington had been cancelled, and office buildings shut down, when anthrax was released into the U.S. mail in 2001. But postal workers continued “to do the business of the American people.”

“I’m here to say thank you,” Congressman Lynch said. “Because postal workers went to work, the terrorists lost.”

Congressman Tierney said that no one fears a “fair” review of the Postal Service, but emphasized that the Presidents Commission Report should not be used as a tool to attack unions and working Americans, nor the institutions and services the citizens of America rely upon.

APWU President Bill Burrus characterized the President’s Commission report as “Postal Destruction,” rather than Postal Reform. President Burrus told the gathering that the APWU would not willingly surrender all that has been gained in Collective Bargaining in the last 30-plus years. “Postal employees are not the Wal-Mart employees of the future.”

Upon the conclusion of his remarks, Bill Burrus and National Mail Handler’s Union President, John Hegarty, joined hands and raised their arms in a show of solidarity.

Other rousing speeches were given by Scott Molloy, a Professor of Labor Studies at the University of Rhode Island, and Boston Metro President Moe Lepore.

There was some disappointment that turnout for the event was not greater. Tony Romano, Secretary-Treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council, attacked this disappointment head on. Romano stated that he had been asked how he liked the Rally. “It stinks!” he said. Romano thanked those in attendance but was blunt in addressing those who did not attend. “You tell them Tony Romano said, ‘Shame on you.’”

What the crowd lacked in size, it more than made up in enthusiasm. They marched, they chanted, they cheered. They gathered as brothers and sisters and left with an even stronger bond than that with which they had arrived.   As with any such event, the Save Our Service Rally in Boston was successful, simply because it was held.

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(from the BOSTON METRO AREA LOCAL 100 web site)

(10/20/03)--Our rally this past Saturday on Boston Common was awesome. Although the rally lacked the huge numbers of brothers and sisters that we anticipated, anyone who attended, I’m sure, will tell you it did not lack spirit and camaraderie. Boston Metro owes a huge debt to the locals who attended. We had union (A.P.W.U.) members from as far as Ohio travel to our local for the rally.

President Burrus attended, along with Vice President Guffey, National Clerk Craft Director Jim McCarthy, and Director of Research & Education, Joyce Robinson. Our Regional Coordinator, Liz Powell, was also in attendance, as well as a host of National Business Agents.

Congressmen Stephen Lynch, John Tierney and Mike Capuano also attended and spoke to the membership. There were rousing speeches from President Burrus and our Congressmen, as well as Scott Molloy, a Professor of Labor Studies at URI, who brought the house down.

Tony Romano, Secretary-Treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council, also delivered an impassioned speech.

The weather was great and the Common proved to be a great venue for a rally. I want to sincerely thank all of the brothers and sisters who attended our rally. A special "thank you" to the Mail Handlers Union who also attended. New England President, Bob Losi, as usual, was there supporting A.P.W.U., as was the National President of the Mail Handlers Union, John Hegarty. Both brothers spoke to the crowd and delivered a message of unity. It was a day of solidarity and one of unionism at its best!

Unfortunately I am not able to list everyone who attended, however, to all of our brothers and sisters from all ten states who took time from their weekend and their families, I am more than proud and I can assure you that Boston Metro will be there for you if you need us. That I promise.

Yours in Union Solidarity,

Moe Lepore, General President

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One Participant's View  News Analysis by Dan Kuralt

(from the pages of 21st Century Postal Worker)

Dan Kuralt
Springfield, Ma. Area Local #497; Massachusetts State APWU
Area Representative
- Sunday, October 19, 2003 at 08:17:10 (PDT)

The Rally, which was put on by the Boston Metro Area Local, went off well yesterday. The weather was sunny and brisk. There were about 250 to 300 activists present from all of the New England states as well as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan and New York.

President Burrus, VP Guffey, Research & Education Director Joyce Robinson, Clerk Craft Director McCarthy and many of the NBAs were there as well. The National President of the Mailhandlers Union plus many of his local officers were also present and pledged solidarity with APWU.

Fiery speeches were given by brother Burrus as well as several other guests and one of our Massachusetts Congressmen who is on one of the committees who will be getting this legislation.

There was local press coverage from the Boston Globe as well as television stations that sent camerapersons to record the events.

Numbers wise, this was not a very good showing of concern on the part of the membership. In fact, it was pitiful. For whatever reason, locals did not mobilize the numbers that they have in the past.

We have to do something to convince our membership to take the threats contained in the proposals of the Presidents' Commission seriously, because they either don't or are in too much of a stupor to react.

I personally feel that our past successes have convinced too many that they have nothing to worry about. It is our job to change that.

Having done this stuff for thirty-five years (taken part in pickets, rallies and protests) I know that Congress and the press
expect to see the hard core activists like others and myself who were in Boston yesterday out there.

What impresses them most though, is numbers of average members who are willing to get out there with the activists as a sign of their concern. We don't have that as of yet.

I am a long time proponent of local action like that in Detroit and Boston. I have also come to believe that we do need a national legislative conference to petition Congress with large numbers of our members, all of them being on-message.

In order for this to work we need for locals to send the large numbers and pay for their expenses (food and accommodations), as was done successfully in the past. We also have to put our videos like the very effective ones that President Burrus did into our member’s homes. We need to reach out to each and every member and non-member to convince them that their participation is important and will be the deciding factor. The sooner, the better.

Congratulations on a job well done by the Boston Metro Area Local and their President Moe Lepore and his local officers, as well as all of those who got out there and walked the walk. Some drove a great distance to take part.


 

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