President, Trenton Metro Area Local, #1020

President, New Jersey State Postal Workers Union, #130

Executive Vice President, Trenton Metro Area Local

Chief Shop Steward

Director of Research & Education, New Jersey State Postal Workers Union

Delegate Mercer County Labor Council

Instructor, Postal Labor Union Summer School, WV

Mail Processing Equipment Mechanic 

Maintenance Mechanic 4 & 5

Custodian Group Leader

Dear President, 

I am writing to request your support for National Business Agent Maintenance Craft in the upcoming APWU election. Being a maintenance craft employee for 30 years, I have a thorough understanding of our craft and the problems unique to maintenance.  I began my maintenance career as a custodian and have worked my way to mail processing equipment mechanic. 

Currently, I serve as the President of Trenton Metro Area Local # 1020 and President of the New Jersey State Postal Workers Union #130.  In addition to these two positions, I have served the union as Shop Steward, Chief Steward of all crafts, Research and Education Director and Executive Vice President.  I have 20 years experience as a union representative. 

During my tenure, I have successfully presented grievances at every level of the grievance arbitration process.  I received formal training in arbitration preparation and presentation and advanced shop steward training from The George Meany Institute and the Postal Labor Unions Summer School.  I’ve participated in numerous educational conferences through the APWU to help me represent you. 

Training and education is a critical part of being a union representative.  Besides formal training, I believe in a hands on approach in the daily operation of representation.  I instruct and assist stewards with research, formulating interviews, checking for procedural errors and requesting information.  I believe a steward should have a good working knowledge of Article 15.

I have been an instructor for the Postal Labor Unions Summer School; I developed a negotiating class that taught skills to assist with negotiating grievance settlements, local negotiations and mediation.  Additionally, I authored a guide, “Negotiating Strategy”, to assist in negotiating.  I co-instructed a local negotiations course with Mike Gallagher during the last round of local negotiations.  I have instructed this course for the last several contracts with various co-instructors.

Seeing the problems advocates face when preparing for arbitration, I have authored and developed a course, “The Steward's Role in Arbitration”, that was presented at the Postal Labor Unions' Summer School.  I have promoted and instructed numerous educational seminars and generated many emails and reports for Internet web sites on current events and different subjects.  Training has been absent for too long in the Eastern Region.  With local leadership working in conjunction with the NBAs, we can restore an educational program second to none. 

When the Trenton P&DC was closed due to Anthrax, and all 600 members from all crafts were reassigned to other P&DCs as well as makeshift temporary locations. The employees of the Trenton P&DC looked for someone to lead them and keep them informed of what was happening. I stepped forward and provided leadership when anthrax became an old news story to others. My goals included fighting to get medical attention and testing for employees and transportation to the temporary work locations (the postal service resisted in every way).  I set up an email list and sent regular emails to keep all postal employees current with news and information.

Today I continue to step up to lead our members and fight when excessing rears it’s ugly head. I attend arbitrations so I can assist and be there for the member.  I go with a member when requested to REDRESS as to level the playing field.

During the renovation of the Trenton P&DC, I maintained a strong union presence to preserve our work and to protect our rights and ensure our safety.  APWU maintenance members from all around the country felt at home and were afforded the same protection.  Every member in maintenance, including visitors, received the same benefits.

Our stewards and membership are starved for information; the lack of communication is one of the biggest complaints I've received while campaigning. I developed an email system for my members and created a web page to keep my membership current with news, electronic bids and a wealth of information.  My updates are then printed and posted in the work place.  If elected I will provide the same to maintenance members in the Eastern Region.  I know the importance of providing the membership with accurate and timely information.  Since the emails and web site are personal property and solely paid for by me, they may not be censored by the administration. 

I believe a union leader should be visible during a crisis, large or small.  NBAs should assist local leadership during major events such as excessing.  My goal is to bring my experiences and hard work directly to you representing even a larger group of Union Members in the future.  I hope you will consider participating in this important election by supporting my efforts and candidacy. 

Please visit my web site for more about my candidacy, www.BillLewisTMAL.com

Yours in Solidarity, 

William “Bill” Lewis

PO Box 3499

Mercerville, NJ 08619 

E-Mail: BillLewisTMAL@aol.com

The job of an NBA is one of great responsibility and I would like you to know that my plan is to launch a new era of responsiveness. In order for an NBA to be effective, you must be visible and available to the membership, and your local is important to me.  In order to meet this goal the following serves as an outline of my action plan: 

1. Maintenance Craft Shop Steward Training will be held for the region.
2. MS-47 Compliance, with the 3 pronged success approach. (First in regional history)
1. Congressional intervention for disabled veterans for entry-level placement.
2. Grievances, challenging non-compliance.
3. Federal court lawsuit to enforce arbitration awards.

(The National APWU disagrees with this formal, aggressive approach)

3. Strict Article 12 enforcement, unnecessary excessing of our members must end.
4. Timely processing of your grievances at the regional level.
5. Active advocacy for all maintenance member issues.
6. A pledge to give top priority to all grievance issues.