APWA Newsletter
August, 2006
MAKING AND BREAKING NEWS
July 17th saw the APWA receiving its’ second big break in the media with an article published in BusinessWeek. This was our first media coverage that ran with coast to coast distribution. Published on page nine our quarter page article not only worked to publicize the efforts of the APWA but provided us with FREE advertising. FREE is always a good thing when you are a non-profit organization; particularly one taking on IBT.
However, BusinessWeek was not APWA’s only big print media coverage in July. July 24 saw us featured in Pensions & Investments. While a professional journal catering to the investment community it is WIDELY read in money management, brokerage, securities, and investment houses. One interesting quote from the article noted that “UPS contributed $1.29 billion in 2005 to multi-employer funds, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.” This goes to the root of why the APWA was formed. Where is our $1.29 billion and why are we not receiving the same pensions as some of our co-workers who are not represented by IBT? Now when you find yourself confronted with criticism that our numbers do not add up remind yourself and your critics that the bankers, investors and money managers of this country have all viewed our information. Can the same be said for IBT?
UPS FREIGHT NEWS
July 11, 2006 found us updating our website to offer information to our coworkers at UPS Freight. After being barraged with all manner of inquiries about how UPSF employees could join APWA we decided that adding this page would allow us to accurately measure the level of interest among UPS Freight employees. Imagine our shock when we realized that UPSF employees do not want to be Teamsters!? UPS Freight employees view the APWA as a safe harbor where they can avoid the clutches of what they are sure would be a hostile takeover by the Teamsters. With the overwhelming response seen and heard throughout UPSF it was with much pleasure that on Saturday, July 22, 2006 our voting directors, managers and executive staff formalized and adopted our proposal that UPS Freight be included in the APWA.
GOSSIP AND RUMOR PATROL
Please note that the voting directors, managers, and executive staff of the APWA are barred from “posting” on internet sites such as Teamsternet and Brown Café. Van, we need to do this prior to releasing this article. The official positions of the APWA regarding most issues can be found on our website at ***********************; if you cannot find the answers you are looking for on the site please drop us a line through the contact us link and we will be happy to respond. Bloggers on sites such as Teamsternet and Brown Café are entitled to their opinions for and against the APWA but please be aware of anyone’s motivations for posting information that “they” claim is the “official APWA position.” The internet is a wonderful informative place and blogging has opened us up to conversations with co-workers, Teamsters, and APWA members we would otherwise never know. Just guard yourself against those who are out to save themselves and the bureaucracy that has jeopardized our financial security in retirement.
And last but certainly not least; we held two meeting in Tennessee on the 29th of July. The one that we want to bring to your attention is the classic example of what your mother told you about choosing your friends wisely. At the Nashville Embassy Suites Hotel we were using a conference room when a group of about 30 people who identified themselves as Teamsters attempted to crash our meeting. They were being led by International Vice President of the Teamsters Union Doug Norris. Doug is responsible for following us around the nation and “attempting” to disrupt our meetings. I say attempted because he has been so consistently unsuccessful. These people were blocking the hallway with their protest. It happens that in the ballroom adjacent to our room there was a wedding that was about to begin. The hotel manager came to this group and politely asked them out of common decency to leave the hallway so as to not disturb the brides wedding. They refused his request. And they refused the request of the police officer we had hired for our meeting. It was only after re-enforcements arrived that the group finally begrudgingly and slowly left the building. It would seem obvious that this type of leadership is exactly why we choose not to associate with that group. Maybe its time for you to reassess your position and consider joining the APWA. We would be delighted to have you become a member. And we promise not to embarrass you by disrupting some girls wedding party.
See you next month with more about our future’s.
August, 2006
MAKING AND BREAKING NEWS
July 17th saw the APWA receiving its’ second big break in the media with an article published in BusinessWeek. This was our first media coverage that ran with coast to coast distribution. Published on page nine our quarter page article not only worked to publicize the efforts of the APWA but provided us with FREE advertising. FREE is always a good thing when you are a non-profit organization; particularly one taking on IBT.
However, BusinessWeek was not APWA’s only big print media coverage in July. July 24 saw us featured in Pensions & Investments. While a professional journal catering to the investment community it is WIDELY read in money management, brokerage, securities, and investment houses. One interesting quote from the article noted that “UPS contributed $1.29 billion in 2005 to multi-employer funds, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.” This goes to the root of why the APWA was formed. Where is our $1.29 billion and why are we not receiving the same pensions as some of our co-workers who are not represented by IBT? Now when you find yourself confronted with criticism that our numbers do not add up remind yourself and your critics that the bankers, investors and money managers of this country have all viewed our information. Can the same be said for IBT?
UPS FREIGHT NEWS
July 11, 2006 found us updating our website to offer information to our coworkers at UPS Freight. After being barraged with all manner of inquiries about how UPSF employees could join APWA we decided that adding this page would allow us to accurately measure the level of interest among UPS Freight employees. Imagine our shock when we realized that UPSF employees do not want to be Teamsters!? UPS Freight employees view the APWA as a safe harbor where they can avoid the clutches of what they are sure would be a hostile takeover by the Teamsters. With the overwhelming response seen and heard throughout UPSF it was with much pleasure that on Saturday, July 22, 2006 our voting directors, managers and executive staff formalized and adopted our proposal that UPS Freight be included in the APWA.
GOSSIP AND RUMOR PATROL
Please note that the voting directors, managers, and executive staff of the APWA are barred from “posting” on internet sites such as Teamsternet and Brown Café. Van, we need to do this prior to releasing this article. The official positions of the APWA regarding most issues can be found on our website at ***********************; if you cannot find the answers you are looking for on the site please drop us a line through the contact us link and we will be happy to respond. Bloggers on sites such as Teamsternet and Brown Café are entitled to their opinions for and against the APWA but please be aware of anyone’s motivations for posting information that “they” claim is the “official APWA position.” The internet is a wonderful informative place and blogging has opened us up to conversations with co-workers, Teamsters, and APWA members we would otherwise never know. Just guard yourself against those who are out to save themselves and the bureaucracy that has jeopardized our financial security in retirement.
And last but certainly not least; we held two meeting in Tennessee on the 29th of July. The one that we want to bring to your attention is the classic example of what your mother told you about choosing your friends wisely. At the Nashville Embassy Suites Hotel we were using a conference room when a group of about 30 people who identified themselves as Teamsters attempted to crash our meeting. They were being led by International Vice President of the Teamsters Union Doug Norris. Doug is responsible for following us around the nation and “attempting” to disrupt our meetings. I say attempted because he has been so consistently unsuccessful. These people were blocking the hallway with their protest. It happens that in the ballroom adjacent to our room there was a wedding that was about to begin. The hotel manager came to this group and politely asked them out of common decency to leave the hallway so as to not disturb the brides wedding. They refused his request. And they refused the request of the police officer we had hired for our meeting. It was only after re-enforcements arrived that the group finally begrudgingly and slowly left the building. It would seem obvious that this type of leadership is exactly why we choose not to associate with that group. Maybe its time for you to reassess your position and consider joining the APWA. We would be delighted to have you become a member. And we promise not to embarrass you by disrupting some girls wedding party.
See you next month with more about our future’s.