In some respects information is like a natural resource. It materializes, and sits idly until someone discovers it. Sometimes we dig it up, sometimes it’s presented to us as a gift, and sometimes we inadvertently happen upon it or find it like a gold ring laying on the ground. But like some of our other natural resources (fire, water, gas, etc.), if used wrong, it can be detrimental to us (as in burned down building, floods, explosions). As Unionists, correct information is our lifeblood. Unfortunately, like a California wildfire, incorrect information spreads much more fast than does the right message.

The goal of our union at the national, regional, and local level is to gather information, process it, make decisions based on it and then pass it on to each an every member. Theoretically, the member can than take that information and used it to their best ability.

The cause of the information not getting disseminated to each and every member lies with both union leadership and the individual. Together the process and the individual meet to benefit everyone.

Union leadership has the obligation to get the message to the membership. The Union does this through it’s magazine, the websites, station bulletin boards, local, regional and national conventions and training sessions.

The strongest arm of our process is the magazine “The Postal Record”. It is filled with information and messages directly from the national officers. Also in the Branch Items section it gives you information just meant for your local branch and a state section. The best thing about the Postal record is that every dues paying union member gets one delivered to their door. It costs about $28.00 per year to produce it. So even retiree’s who pay dues of $12.00 yearly get a great benefit from it.

Next , there is the electronic arm of the process www.nalc.org. We now live in an instantaneous society. The website gives those interested the ability to get the information as it occurs and in between the Postal Record. It through the websites (local and national) you can sign up as an e-activist. This process takes about two minutes and the result is you get email alerts to the latest news about the union. How convenient is that? It also allows the union the ability to pressure politicians at a moments notice. It also allows the membership to be galvanized in a short time. If an issue occurs that affect us the union sends out a letter that you only needs your name and sends it to the appropriate politician or news group. How convenient is that?

The next arm is the bulletin board. Written into the contract under article 22, it gives us our own space to disseminate union information at the station level with some restrictions. Your shop steward takes time to place the items there for you. So if he/she is not available you have access to the “fast food of information. Your local president works hard daily to get out his message by sending letters to be posted on the bulletin board.

There are many local, regional, and national “meetings” that allow you to get the latest information. And if you can’t make these meetings, you can access them through the previously mentioned ways. Your shop steward is always available to explain any issue you may have on the clock. Give him/her that respect and fill out a form 3996 and request “union time” as your reason. Your discussion with the steward is confidential.

The “meetings” referred to are but not limited to the Regional Rap Session. It is held every spring in Atlantic City. The Congressional Breakfast is held in Washington D.C. There, we lobby our local Congressmen on postal issues and attend a rap session at our national headquarters. The next morning we attend a breakfast with our political representatives to drive our points home. The national convention is held biannually as well as the state conventions. In both conventions there are training classes that everyone must attend to take back to the membership. While not exciting, they give us our backbone.

So, what is the role of the union member? To seek out and be open to the information when it comes your way. By reading your bulletin board, talking to your shop steward, attending branch general meetings, taking time to look at the websites, and attending meetings you empower yourself. Daily, we all take time to inform ourselves about other things that interests us. It only takes a couple minutes to learn something about your rights that will benefit you daily. And that information will enable you to deal with the “bleep” that management puts you through daily! And in the end, that is the power of information.

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