A Hopeless Proposition: Coping Without COPA

By APWU Executive Vice-President Cliff Guffey

APWU President William Burrus has written multiple articles, updates, and bulletins outlining the union's concerns about what is likely to be contained in the commission's report, which is due July 31.

APWU headquarters staff also has been working on an action plan to try to influence as much as possible the contents of the report. However, if—as we suspect—commission members already have their minds made up against us, the action plan will help us to present influential opposition to harmful recommendations in the report.

If, as expected, President Bush offers the report to Congress as a means to amend the Postal Reorganization Act, we must be prepared.

Our last line of defense will be our supporters in Congress. And there is one very important way you can work to support them and to preserve your job.

COPA Contributions Work for You
Clearly, we need money for the union's Committee on Political Action. Our COPA fund is the vehicle we use to raise money to support political candidates who support us.

We need your voluntary contributions to this fund because it is illegal for us to use dues money for political purposes. Donations from the union membership are the only legal source for APWU COPA money.

In the past, many local and state unions have worked hard to raise COPA money. That vigor should be applauded; those examples should encourage all locals and state organizations to work harder to raise COPA funds, which are so necessary to protecting our livelihood.

Working for and with our friends in Congress, regardless of party affiliation, is now a political necessity.

Source: May/June, 2003 issue of The American Postal Worker Vol 33, #3 & various.

  The May/June and July/August issues of The American Postal Worker contain an authorization form for contributing to the APWU COPA fund on pages 9 and 29 respectively. On the form you will find several options for contributing in any amount you choose.

President Burrus has requested that each Local president assume the responsibility of raising the equivalent of 37¢ per pay period from each Local member for the APWU COPA fund. Contributing to the APWU COPA fund is the best direct way each member can help protect his/her job, union, and retirement benefits.

Congress will be the ultimate arbitrator in this bid by the current administration and the big private-sector mailing industry profiteers to take our jobs, reduce our pay and slash work benefits for all federal employees, including postal workers.

Let's help the APWU defend those rights the union has fought to establish—its the very least we can do to let our voices be heard.

What Is COPA?

Because legislation has an important impact on our members, the union is definitely involved in legislative matters. The APWU maintains a very effective legislative program which monitors legislation being considered by Congress that will have an impact on postal workers and their families. APWU COPA—the Committee On Political Action—raises voluntary contributions to assist the campaigns of friendly legislators and to defeat those who consistently oppose us. COPA also has a Voices in Politics (VIP) publication which advises postal workers and their families on legal grassroots political action.

COPA Needs Your Help—Now More Than Ever!

In 2003, the mailing industry and its allies in the House and Senate will try to:

• Enact postal reform measures recommended by a hand-picked partisan presidential commission.
• Protect and expand the big mailer's subsidized postage rates, which deprive the Postal Service of the revenue it needs to maintain universal service and six-day delivery.
• Roll back postal workers' collective bargaining rights.
• Privatize the Postal Service.

The APWU must conduct an effective lobbying program in order to present our side of the issues to congressional representatives in both house of the legislature. Unless we organize and fight back, the future of the Postal Service—and postal workers—is in peril.

APWU members should have received a letter in February, 2003 with information and forms on how to contribute to COPA. Contributions can currently be made by check, credit card or via electronic fund transfer. You may also ask a steward about how you can make a difference by contributing to this important program.

COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL ACTION

The main focus of COPA is on political action and fund-raising, as well as educating members on critical issues.

Members across this great country have gotten involved... members have organized and participated in numerous demonstrations, letter writing and phone campaigns, and voter registration drives. Members have also reached into their pockets to give financial support to political candidates that support postal workers and their concerns, and have supported COPA.

The campaign slogan of the APWU Committee On Political Action for 1998 was "Keep US in USPS and some of the issues facing postal workers at that time were privatization and contracting out of postal jobs, postal reform legislation, cuts in OSHA, retirement, pay and other benefits. Here we are in 2003 and we are still struggling to keep the US in USPS, and most of the same issues continue to threaten the security of all postal workers, as well as a struggling economy, changes in the mail volume, financial concerns expressed by the US Postal Service, and the streamlining of mail operations and personnel at all levels... issues which have intensified in the days following September 11, 2001...and compounded by anthrax contamination.

We cannot allow the focus of our members to be drawn away from the the need to become and stay politically involved, to fight against renewed interest in privatization, postal reform legislation, cuts in the work force, cuts in retirement, pay and other benefits. Our lives and our world may have been challenged, but "we are the 800,000 men and women of the United States Postal Service" and there is strength in numbers.

Members raise funds at local meetings, as well as conventions, conferences and educational seminars. But to meet the political challenges which face us and threaten our future, political momentum cannot wane. We must continue to keep the pressure on law makers to protect our future. To meet the challenges that lay ahead, every postal worker, active and retired, we must do their part. Your postal future is at stake

Be informed, stay informed, let your voice be heard.

SOURCE: APWU, SJAL - Committee On Political Action (COPA)

Editor Note: The above is for informational purposes only. This website cannot be responsible for misleading or inaccurate details about the COPA program. For updated information concerning contibutions to COPA, please see your local APWU union officials.