California Postal Legislative Coalition Event Highlights Concerns

California Postal Legislative Coalition Event Highlights Concerns
By Marilyn Walton
NAPS Western Region Vice President

Representatives from NAPS, UPMA, NARFE and all the postal unions met for the 27th annual California Postal Legislative Coalition meeting in Sacramento Feb. 1 at the Laborers’ Union Hall. The coalition meets quarterly via Zoom to work on California state and national legislative issues that impact postal and federal employees.

This year’s theme was “Power of the Vote.” Appearing via Zoom, Judy Beard, APWU’s national legislative and political director, listed important legislation that is the focus of APWU members. John Beaumont, NALC’s special assistant to the president for legislative & political affairs, focused on NALC’s national legislative agenda and a list of bills the union is supporting.

Brian Young, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association’s legislative director, shared updated information from DC and reviewed bills the organization is supporting. Nels Christeenson, president of NARFE’s Chapter 1956 in California, was emcee.

Annie Norman, a member of the Save the Post Office Coalition, zoomed in from Detroit. The coalition takes on Wall Street and is very concerned about talks to privatize the Postal Service. The group supports rallies sponsored by postal unions and follows political activities and any proposed changes to processing and delivery of the mail.

In-person speakers included Crystal Jones, the UPMA California Chapter’s legislative representative. She affirmed that their legislative agenda is in step with all the coalition’s organizations. UPMA’s Legislative Summit in Arlington, VA, will be the same week as NAPS’ Legislative Training Seminar.

NAPS’ Legislative & Political Affairs Director Bob Levi addressed the coalition via Zoom. NAPS Secretary/Treasurer Jimmy Warden and Pacific Area Vice President Chuck Lum attended in person.

Levi and Warden provided a great ice-breaker so attendees could see how legislatively smart they were. The six contestants were from the NRLCA, NALC, Mail Handlers, APWU, UPMA and NAPS. The Mail Handlers/APWU Team won.

Levi also presented an extensive overview of the legislative issues on which California coalition members need to focus, as well with Congress.

Katie Maddocks, National Postal Mail Handlers Union’s legislative and political director, was sponsored by Local 302 to attend in person. Her presentation dealt with the negative initiatives impacting our brothers and sisters in the federal union. She highlighted that what can be done to federal workers eventually can impact postal workers.

We had the opportunity to recognize UPMA member Clarice Golden, our special founding member and retired postmaster of Hayward, CA. She received a special recognition award. It is because of Clarice the coalition was established.

A special thanks to all the organization’s presenters, especially our NAPS national officers who traveled to California to support our event. Also, to coalition volunteers who made this year’s event a success.

Attendees gave up a Sunday to share information on how to keep the Postal Service viable and be informed on legislative concerns as our NAPS members travel to DC in March to visit our California legislators on Capitol Hill!