(09/08/10) American Postal Workers Union President William Burrus has denounced efforts by the Postal Service to influence the outcome of contract negotiations by issuing demands in public forums. "It is extremely disappointing that the Postal Service is attempting to circumvent the bargaining process through the issuance of demands in the media," Burrus said.

(09/03/10) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined the Postal Service $8,000 for serious safety hazards at a Binghamton, NY postal facility.

(09/01/10) Negotiations for a new national agreement between the American Postal Workers Union and the U.S. Postal Service began Sept. 1 in Washington, DC. The current contract expires Nov. 20, 2010. "Every contract negotiation brings special challenges, and this will be no different," APWU President William Burrus said at the opening session. "Mail volume is depressed and revenue is down, but we have faced similar circumstances before."

(09/01/10) On the fifth and final day of the convention, delegates reaffirmed their commitment to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) by voting "yes" to a resolution that would make retaining union members' right to participate in the plan a "top priority" for negotiators during 2010 bargaining.

(09/01/10) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined the Postal Service $210,000 for willfully exposing employees to electrical safety hazards at the Cincinnati Bulk Mail Center (BMC).

(08/31/10) As Labor Day approaches, we pause to reflect on the contributions unions have made to raising the quality of life for American workers. Labor Day also marks the beginning of Union Label Week, Sept. 6-12 -- a time for consumers to make a special effort to purchase union-made goods and union-produced services when they shop.

(08/27/10) APWU members vowed to escalate the fight against the Postal Service's plan to eliminate Saturday mail delivery on the fourth day of the union's 20th Biennial National Convention, unanimously approving a resolution to engage in "rallies, marches, and pickets" in concert with other unions and public interest organizations.

(08/27/10) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the Postal Service $191,000 in fines for exposing employees to serious and repeat safety hazards at the Bulk Mail Center (BMC) in Kansas City, KS.

(08/26/10) APWU members and friends celebrated the 53-year career of President William Burrus and his contributions to the union at a tribute dinner Aug. 24. "You have been my friends, my comrades in arms, and most importantly, my family," Burrus remarked at the end of the program. "Our goal has been to improve the lives of postal employees, and we have been successful beyond our wildest dreams. Over the past 40 years, we have done good things together," he said.

(08/25/10) Thousands of APWU members, led by union president William Burrus and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, marched through the streets of downtown Detroit on Tuesday afternoon to Save Saturday Service and rally for good jobs. Wearing blue APWU T-shirts and chanting "Five Day -- No Way!" delegates shut down busy streets and assembled in Campus Martius Park to alert the public to the need to stop USPS plans to abolish Saturday mail delivery.

(08/24/10) APWU President William Burrus told delegates to the 20th Biennial National Convention that the union is "alive and strong." Despite the nation's frail economy, "We can point with pride to the fact that our members were shielded from the tragic effects of layoffs and downsizing," he said. "I draw no greater satisfaction than knowing that despite the storms that gathered, our members were covered by the umbrella of union representation," he said

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) slammed the Postal Service with $350,000 in fines for exposing employees to electrical safety hazards at the Portsmouth, NH Processing and Distribution Center.

(08/19/10) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA) fined the USPS $225,000 for willfully exposing employees to electrical hazards at the Dayton, OH mail processing center.

(08/16/10) The APWU is asking union members to boycott USPS "Voice of the Employee" surveys in order to prevent management from manipulating the results to undercut the union during upcoming contract negotiations. The results of the survey are likely to be misrepresented by the Postal Service in an effort to reduce employee wages and benefits, APWU Director of Industrial Relations Greg Bell wrote in an Aug. 6 letter to local and state union presidents.

(08/13/10) "America wants to keep Saturday delivery, and we will beat back this proposal to lock the mailbox on Saturday" APWU President William Burrus told delegates to the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) biennial convention in Anaheim, CA. "We join with NALC in pledging 'five day, no way.'"

(08/12/10) The APWU Safety and Health Resource Kit has been updated and posted on the APWU Web site. The kit is a resource designed to assist APWU officers, stewards and safety reps.

(08/09/10) As the start of the APWU 20th Biennial Convention nears, preparation for the event has moved into high gear at the union's national headquarters in Washington, DC. At the end of July, 2,405 delegates representing 331 locals had registered for convention credentials.

(08/09/10) The union is asking APWU members to give their U.S. representatives an important "welcome home" message during Congress' August recess: Support H.R. 5746, a bill to restore financial stability to the Postal Service. "This crucial legislation is a vital step toward returning the USPS to solvency," said APWU President William Burrus.

(08/03/10) The Department of Labor (DOL) is seeking to consolidate complaints regarding the Postal Service's ongoing and systemic violations of safe electrical work practices, and has initiated settlement discussions with the Postal Service in an attempt to correct the hazards. The DOL has invited the APWU to participate in the discussions. Responding to APWU safety complaints, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued fines of more than $3.7 million for "willful and serious" electrical safety violations at 17 USPS facilities since January.

(08/06/10) The AFL-CIO adopted a resolution written by the APWU in support of retaining six-day mail delivery at its Aug. 4 Executive Council meeting. The motion to adopt the resolution expresses the labor movement's opposition to the USPS proposal to eliminate Saturday delivery. APWU President William Burrus urged the Executive Council to endorse the resolution and to go on record as "supporting the preservation of six days of postal services per week."