Statement from President Jonathan Smith on Anti-Voter Executive Order

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From: APWU.org

On March 31, the White House issued Executive Order 14399, titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections.” This executive order would require the United States Postal Service (USPS) to regulate who can receive ballots based on state-specific mail-in voter lists, created by the Department of Homeland Security.

The order contradicts the fundamental purpose of the USPS and its workforce – to provide universal service to all. The Postal Service serves all Americans; it cannot be used as a tool to disenfranchise voters.

Americans have voted by mail since the Civil War, which enabled military service members to vote, even while deployed. Since then, in each election, millions of voters in almost every state cast their ballot through the Postal Service. Voting by mail is a tradition that all Americans can be proud of. Changes to how people vote should not happen by manipulating the Postal Service.

When Congress established today’s public Postal Service in 1970, it purposely made the USPS an independent agency, free from the influence or control of politicians. Congress was explicit that the Postal Service’s purpose is to “bind the Nation together” by providing “prompt, reliable, and efficient services” to all communities. Every day, thousands of postal workers make sure that mission is fulfilled. Yesterday’s executive order threatens that independence and is an unacceptable attempt to politicize the post office.

Our public Postal Service does not block mailers from sending letters or refuse to deliver letters because of those who mailed them. Postal workers take the sanctity of the mail seriously, and every process and policy of the Postal Service ensures that mail is accepted, processed, and delivered, no matter who sent it or where it is going. 

The American public, especially voters who cast their ballots through the U.S. Mail, should know that postal workers follow what we call “extraordinary measures” to ensure that ballots reach their destination promptly and securely.  Any change to those measures or to the fundamental purpose of the Postal Service threatens this critical service provided to every person in the United States, guaranteed by law and the Constitution. 

Stop the SAVE Act (S. 1383)

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The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE ACT) represents a significant threat to our
democracy. Passed by the House on February 11, the SAVE Act would make it significantly more
difficult to register and vote in elections. Hallmarks of this legislation include:
 Strict ID requirements to prove citizenship for anyone registering to vote. Unless you are in the
minority of Americans who have a passport, you would be required to provide documents such
as your birth certificate and social security card. A REAL ID does not establish citizenship.
 Making it harder to vote by mail by requiring a photocopy of your ID to accompany your ballot;
 Would require that anyone who registers to vote by mail would still need to show proof of
citizenship in person;
 Requires most voter registration updates to be made in person, even something as simple as
an address change;
 Makes voter roll purges more likely which will require many to re-register in person which will
place additional burdens on those who have had name changes.
The Senate is facing increasing pressure from the White House to pass this legislation so it can go
into effect before the upcoming midterm election.


Call your senators today at 844-402-1001 and tell them to stop this undemocratic power grab by
voting NO on S. 1383, the SAVE America Act!

Third Cost-of-Living Adjustment Announced

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From APWU.org

In accordance with the 2024-2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement, career employees represented by the APWU will receive a $0.12 per hour cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), effective March 7, 2026.

The increase is the result of a rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). It will appear in paychecks dated March 27 (Pay Period 07-2026). The value of the COLA for full-time employees in each step and grade will increase by $250 annually, and the hourly rates for part-time employees will be adjusted accordingly.

The COLAs are in addition to general wage increases. This is the third cost-of-living increase under the 2024 contract. The first increase, effective March 8, 2025, amounted to $00.19 per hour or $395.00 annually. The second increase, effective September 06, 2025, was $0.39 per hour or $811 annually. The total cumulative COLAs received during the 2024-2027 National Agreement so far is $0.70 per hour, or $1,456 annually.

Because Postal Support Employees (PSEs) do not receive cost-of-living increases, new step increases have been created specifically for PSEs in addition to the general wage increases for all employees in the APWU bargaining unit under the 2024 contract. COLAs are added to the base pay schedule, so PSEs will see these increases when they convert to career status.

Rising inflation underscores the importance of our negotiated COLAs within our union contract, made possible by the strength of our membership. In our 2024-2027 contract, we fought to keep twice-a-year COLAs, our best protection against inflation. Postal workers are some of the few U.S. workers who receive COLA increases. Even in the postal world, we are the only postal union that has maintained full COLA in our union contract.

Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period Announced

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From APWU.org

In accordance with Article 8, Sections 4 and 5 of the APWU Collective Bargaining Agreement, penalty overtime rules are not applicable for a consecutive four-week period each year during December. The “Penalty Overtime Exclusion” period for calendar year 2025 will begin Pay Period 26-2025, Week 1 (November 29, 2025), and end Pay Period 01-2026, Week 2 (December 26, 2025).

Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period
November 29 – December 26, 2025

National Election of Officers – Ballots are in the mail. VOTE!

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From APWU.org

“Ballots for the 2025 Election of APWU National Officers will be mailed to members’ homes, along with the election magazine, Wednesday, Sept. 10-15. All members in good standing as of June 13, 2025, will receive a ballot. To be counted, ballots must be returned to and received in the designated post office box in Washington, DC, by 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6. Union members are encouraged to follow the balloting instructions carefully. All requests for duplicate ballots must include the member’s name, address, email address, employee ID number (or retiree ID number), the last four digits of the Social Security number, division (craft), local, and the reasons for the request.

To protect the privacy of your vote, place your ballot in the secret ballot envelope and insert it into the mailing envelope. Information on the mailing envelope must be completed to identify legitimate voters, but mailing envelopes will be separated from secret ballot envelopes before votes are counted.

Members in good standing who have not received their ballots by Monday, Sept. 22, should notify their local or contact the American Arbitration Association between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) at 800-529-5218 to request a duplicate. Ballots may also be requested by visiting: www.electionsaaa.org/ballotrequest/apwu“

Please take the time to vote in this election of National Officers. Return envelopes are postage paid. The officers we elect in the next few weeks will be responsible for leading our National APWU for the next three years. Also, our next contract (Collective Bargaining Agreement) will be negotiated by the candidates in the current election. Do not ignore this opportunity to make your choice for the future of the APWU.

Vote! Vote! Vote!

UPDATE: Missing VER/Optional Retirement Incentive Checks – August 15, 2025

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UPDATE: We have been notified that some of the missing VER retiree incentive checks are now available at the Portland RPDC and the Service will be contacting the retirees. If you have not yet received a call, please contact us at the Local office.

The Portland APWU has learned that several RPDC employees and retirees did not receive their physical paychecks for Pay Period 17 on August 15, 2025. If you are a current employee and did not receive your paycheck on August 15, you should immediately contact your supervisor and your shop steward.

APWU-represented employees covered by the Portland Oregon Area Local who applied for the VER/Optional Retirement with Incentive offer were expecting their first retirement incentive check on August 15, 2025. The incentive check was supposed to be sent to your last workplace. However, many of these checks have gone missing. If you have not yet received your first incentive check and were a Portland Local APWU-represented employee, please contact the Portland Oregon Area Local office as soon as possible.