Washington, DC – As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our union it is important to remember the men and women who established the union a century ago and the struggles they encountered. The struggle, of course, continued for their successors, and continues today.
When I reflect on our history, I am very proud of the APWU’s accomplishments. We must remember that it took great determination; the gains were never given to us; we had to fight for everything we have today. The union’s institutional memory must pay tribute to all our members and, as they retire, they must not be forgotten. Without their efforts, we would not be here today.
The current and future retirees have paved the road to tomorrow, and as they retire most of these members show that they would like to play a vital role in our future. I hope that our locals will invite retirees to meetings and ask them to share some of their history. We have a wonderful history, and active members would be well served to hear the personal experiences of retirees.
Encourage your retirees to join the Retirees Department of APWU and to work toward establishing a chapter in your local. If you need information regarding the establishment of a APWU Retirees chapter, please call the national department at 202-842-8585 or 877-279-8669 (877-APWU NOW).
This article appeared in the November/December 2006 issue of The American Postal Worker.
