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Mail Handlers Union rejoins AFL-CIO (12/15)

Earlier this week, the AFL-CIO reported that the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (part of the Laborers) has rejoined the federation. A news release issued by the AFL-CIO appears below. The release also is available on the AFL-CIO web site HERE National Postal Mail Handlers Union Rejoins National AFL-CIO December 12, 2006 The National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) – which is part of the Laborers union – returned to the AFL-CIO today when AFL-CIO President John Sweeney presented a charter to the union’s officers. The Mail Handlers are the first union to take advantage of the AFL-CIO Executive Council’s decision in August to authorize President Sweeney to re-issue charters to unions which were once independent affiliates and now want to return to the AFL-CIO, even though they are part of unions that recently disaffiliated. “The union movement is strengthened by the Mail Handlers’ decision to rejoin the AFL-CIO, which will bring together all the major postal workers’ unions and benefit working families nationwide,” said Sweeney. After the Mail Handlers expressed interest in rejoining the Federation, Sweeney consulted with the union leadership, the Laborers, the AFL-CIO Executive Council and the other postal unions to make their reaffiliation possible. NPMHU National President John Hegarty said that he is delighted with this direct affiliation agreement, indicating that he is “confident that nearly 50,000 Mail Handlers across the country will benefit from this continuing partnership between the NPMHU and the AFL-CIO.” Hegarty added, “Mail Handlers have a long history with the Federation, with our first affiliation beginning nearly 70 years ago, and we certainly look forward to a long and productive relationship well into the future.” The Mail Handlers are a major postal union, with more than 47,000 regular members and more than three times as many associate members. The Mail Handlers’ Union’s original affiliation with the AFL-CIO dates back to the 1930s. They continued that affiliation through the Laborers, following their merger with the Laborers in 1968, up until the time the Laborers left the AFL-CIO in May of this year. The AFL-CIO represents 10 million working men and women nationwide and has 54 affiliate unions, including the Mail Handlers. The Executive Council statement authorizing the re-issuing of national charters can be found HERE ###