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Training Conference PowerPoint Presentations and Workbooks are available here |
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The Postal Record article covering the Rap Session is available here |
More than 1,600 NALC leaders and activists from branches and state associations across the nation assembled at the Luxor Las Vegas Hotel April 25-26 for a 2009 National Rap Session and participated in workshops and an enthusiastic discussion of critical issues facing letter carriers, including route adjustments and the future of six-day delivery.
NALC President William H. Young surprised many in attendance by announcing that he plans to retire soon – probably before the end of the year – at which time under the Constitution he will turn the reins of the union over to Executive Vice President Fred Rolando.
“I have served as a full-time officer for this union for half my life – 31 of my 62 years,” Young said. He said he has not yet set a definite date.
 “It is my privilege to be the president of the greatest union in America,” Young added.
Later, Garden Grove, California Branch 1100 President Charlie Miller led a letter carriers’ cheer for Young.
Young’s announcement came at the Sunday morning Rap Session, which followed a day of workshops led by national officers on the route adjustment process, city delivery and contract administration issues, community service and Postal Service finances – all affected by the economic crisis that has swept the nation and caused concern for both the Postal Service and the NALC.
“Corporate greed got us to where we are,” Young said. “It was not working men and women who caused this recession. With Barack Obama as president, we have a chance to turn the economy around and to rebuild the Middle Class.”
Praises Campaign Workers
Young used the opportunity to praise all those letter carriers who were released to work on the various political campaigns last fall. He noted that although the NALC is only the 15 th largest union in the AFL-CIO, it released more people for a longer time than any other union.
Young said most carriers would rather have stable routes, and for the first time, NALC has a seat at the table for route adjustments, urging members to support the ongoing route adjustment activity.
Although some time away, Young also discussed the next round of contract negotiations, which will be held in 2011.
“Our obligation as leaders is to make sure the benefits our predecessors got for us are not thrown away,” he said. “We will attempt to negotiate the best possible contract for our members as we have always done.”
No Delivery Cutback
Under questioning about a possible cutback to five-day delivery (as mentioned by Postmaster General John Potter), Young said Congress will never approve such a change.
“It would be the death-knell for USPS,” Young said. “Business expects six-day delivery and if we didn’t do it, someone else would swoop in and take it. That’s how business works: find a need and fill it.”
The topic of early-outs came up. Director of Retired Members Ernie Kirkland said it has yet to be determined whether the current VERA is an extension of the previous one or if it’s completely new.
Regarding the Committee on Letter Carriers Political Education (COLCPE), Young noted that when he began his term as president in 2002, COLCPE was spending $1 million per two-year election cycle, funded heavily by retired members. He said the total now is $3 million, and many more active letter carriers are donating to protect their future. |
