by Dan Van Minnen
Aurora Postal Workers – congratulations on surviving the 2013 Holiday Season! You delivered and are to be commended for your service and dedication to our customers. Despite all of the obstacles that we had to deal with – such as short staffing, heavy volume and the hostility and stress during the period – your persistence and ability to meet the challenges over the holidays were stellar!
Now I would like to take this opportunity to talk about 2014. With the middle class in decline and median family income $5,000 less that it was in 1999, more Americans( 46.5 million) living in poverty than at any time in our nation’s history, we, as American Postal Workers, have to act. Yes my fellow worker the time for action is now! Consider that most new jobs that are being created are part time jobs at low wages – many at the starvation level of just $7.25 per hour which is the minimum wage – what action can you take to make a difference?
Clearly if we are going to be part of saving the middle class we need to change the political dynamics of this nation. We can no longer allow billionaires and their think tanks or the corporate media to set the agenda. We need to educate, organize and mobilize the working families of our country to stand up for their rights. We need to make government work for the people not just the 1 percent. The issues that will affect us all, for generations to come, include Jobs, Wages, Retirement Security, Wall Street reforms, Campaign Finance Reforms, Social Injustices, Sensible Gun Control, Civil Liberties and Health Care. If you are not already involved then 2014 is the year you should get involved and take the necessary action to stay involved and let your voice be heard.
You could be reading this and saying “hey Dan these things are not really Postal issues so I don’t really care”. Well then I feel sorry for your family and your kids and your grandkids because you are too selfish to see that far ahead into the future. You, as a Postal Worker and a Union member, have it made! You have all the benefits and job security necessary to be a part of the middle class because the Union has negotiated that for you and will continue to do so into the future. The trouble is if you don’t take any action today, what we have now is as good as it will ever be, although maybe not forever . So please try to care and take action to make a difference. We all have that ability because we are American Postal Workers and are a part of the greatest Union in the country. Good things will come to those who make the choice to do good and I hope that you will be a part of that.
Have a safe and Happy New Year and God Bless you all as well as our leaders who are striving to make a difference.