Last Saturday, June 1, 2013, I had the privilege of marching in Lynden's 104th annual Farmer's Day parade. I walked with the Whatcom County Democrats. There were a number of retired union members from many different unions, and there were the farm workers there showing solidarity as well.
I was the lone postal worker in the contingent.
I do understand that many of us work Saturdays, and many cannot physically participate. Marching in a small town parade may not sound like it means a whole lot, especially in the grand scheme of things, but it's one of countless ways to raise awareness regarding the importance of unions and the issues that matter to us as union members. So for those who have Saturdays off, or who are able bodied, why was there no turnout?
There has been a lot of talk about GMO's in our foods recently. In fact, in November, there will be a ballot measure regarding labeling of foods containing GMO's. A GMO is a genetically modified organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Organisms that have been genetically modified include micro-organisms such as bacteria and yeast, insects, plants, fish and mammals. GMO's are the source of genetically modified foods. They are banned in some 30 countries around the world, restricting our ability to trade with them, and they are not required to be labeled here in the US, giving consumers a choice between foods that do or do not contain GMO's.
What does that have to do with unions? Plenty. If you are leary of GMO's in your food, then buy locally grown, locally produced foods, which are less likely to contain them. Buying local is always great for the community, and it's a way of supporting our union brothers and sisters in the UFW (United Farm Workers).
This is just a single example of how vital to the infrastructure of our country unions are.
I encourage you to get out there at any possible opportunity you can to support labor friendly causes and to participate in labor friendly events, particularly APWU events.
I found myself very disappointed that not a single other postal worker turned out to show solidarity in this parade. The weather was beautiful and there were thousands of spectators lining the streets. I couldn't help but wonder why there is such low participation in union activities. During the Labor Neighbor Campaign, when so much was at stake for the USPS, there were only three postal workers in Washington state who participated. None of the postal workers I personally contacted could spare even two hours to phone bank or pass out flyers.
The individuals with whom I marched were informed as to the nature of the problems facing the postal service, but many people in the public, and many people employed by the USPS simply don't know what's going on and how tenuous a position the USPS is maintaining. This tight rope we are walking won't hold forever, and without union participation, our jobs and even our pensions are at stake.
On October 1, 2012, because of congressional inaction, the USPS defaulted on a $5.6 billion pre-payment for future retiree health benefits. It was the second such default in two months; the Postal Service missed a $5.5 billion payment in August of 2012. Overall the postal service expected a $15 billion deficit and a projected shortfall of $238 billion over the next ten years. No other government agency or private business is required to make such payments. The USPS has asked Congress to drop the requirement, to no avail.
But then last month, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew announced that he would start dipping into two government employee retirement funds to buy more time before he US Treasury is faced with the prospect of defaulting.
In a letter to congressional leaders, Lew said that he would begin tapping the civil service retirement and disability fund, and the fund into which the postal service has paid billions of dollars to fund health benefits for future retirees, 75 years into the future!
Where is the public outcry? More baffling, where is the outrage of postal workers?
I urge you to get involved. The job you save could be your own.
In solidarity,
Maria Risener
"We may have found a cure for most evils; but we have found no remedy for the worst of them all, the apathy of human beings."
~Helen Keller
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