LABOR QUOTES OF THE APWU
I have yet to come across a repository of inspirational quotes from APWU leaders and/or members. So I started one, myself. I thought someone should. Not all of these--perhaps not any--rise to the level of a timeless quote from the great union leaders of the past but, then, it takes time to make a timeless quote. In any case, until someone does it better, this is my humble offering to the proud members, stewards and officers of the APWU.
...
Bill Burrus with Bill Clinton
Did you know unions are what brought races and genders together more than any other type of organization, including government? We’re all brothers and sisters in the union. And we don’t have to be forced into this unity. In the common struggle for a better life, a decent income and respectable retirement, the divisions fade away.--Loren Adams, Arkansas Postal Workers Union Editor, The Arkansas Postal Worker
I've often said that if you could awaken all the martyrs in history and ask them if they wanted to be martyrs again, my belief is that they would say not. But if you asked them would they do it all over again, they would say yes.—Moe Biller, APWU
Giving private delivery firms access to mail boxes would lead to a glut of unwanted materials and destroy the security and sanctity of the mail.—Moe Biller, President, American Postal Workers Union, 1996
There will be no waiver granted by the APWU to the Postal Service to increase the use and number of casuals at the national or local level.—Moe Biller, President, American Postal Workers Union, 1997
It is time that the USPS realized APWU is a stand-up union. We will not back away from our determination to achieve justice and dignity for all the Postal Workers we represent.—Moe Biller, President, American Postal Workers Union, 1982
You can not negotiate with the turkey over what day Thanksgiving is. Whether it is Thursday or Friday, the turkey is the victim. And WE will NOT be victimized!—APWU President William Burrus, Postal Press Association Conference, 8/2/03
Those unions that enjoy the right to strike have no guarantee that sacrificing their jobs and their livelihood will result in victory but they nevertheless engage in lengthy strikes, not because they are assured of winning but because they are determined to fight.—William Burrus, 1998
A pig with lipstick is still a pig.—William Burrus, 1998
The role of a labor union is to ensure that the balance is not tipped in favor of the employer when employees do not receive wages and benefits commensurate with their contribution.—William Burrus
Three hundred and seventy-five thousand postal employees are deserving of improved wages and working conditions, and through struggle, we will ultimately prevail. We will fight you with every tool at our disposal, and we will ultimately achieve our goals.—APWU President William Burrus (2001)
Tell them that the APWU is united and strong. Here we are, and we are prepared to fight.—APWU President William Burrus
Labor will remain united and continue to work to protect the interests of America’s working families.—William Burrus, November 2004
I've often said that if you could awaken all the martyrs in history and ask them if they wanted to be martyrs again, my belief is that they would say not. But if you asked them would they do it all over again, they would say yes.—Moe Biller, APWU
Giving private delivery firms access to mail boxes would lead to a glut of unwanted materials and destroy the security and sanctity of the mail.—Moe Biller, President, American Postal Workers Union, 1996
There will be no waiver granted by the APWU to the Postal Service to increase the use and number of casuals at the national or local level.—Moe Biller, President, American Postal Workers Union, 1997
It is time that the USPS realized APWU is a stand-up union. We will not back away from our determination to achieve justice and dignity for all the Postal Workers we represent.—Moe Biller, President, American Postal Workers Union, 1982
You can not negotiate with the turkey over what day Thanksgiving is. Whether it is Thursday or Friday, the turkey is the victim. And WE will NOT be victimized!—APWU President William Burrus, Postal Press Association Conference, 8/2/03
Those unions that enjoy the right to strike have no guarantee that sacrificing their jobs and their livelihood will result in victory but they nevertheless engage in lengthy strikes, not because they are assured of winning but because they are determined to fight.—William Burrus, 1998
A pig with lipstick is still a pig.—William Burrus, 1998
The role of a labor union is to ensure that the balance is not tipped in favor of the employer when employees do not receive wages and benefits commensurate with their contribution.—William Burrus
Three hundred and seventy-five thousand postal employees are deserving of improved wages and working conditions, and through struggle, we will ultimately prevail. We will fight you with every tool at our disposal, and we will ultimately achieve our goals.—APWU President William Burrus (2001)
Tell them that the APWU is united and strong. Here we are, and we are prepared to fight.—APWU President William Burrus
Labor will remain united and continue to work to protect the interests of America’s working families.—William Burrus, November 2004
...
Donald L. Foley (photo by Stuart E.)
America is more than a geographical location. It is an inspirational dream of freedom.—Melinda Buskirk, steward (WV) APWU
The Union is not a fee-for-service organization, it is a family.—Sue Carney, APWU Director of Human Relations
At the core, labor unions (we) are working men and women, unified as one force. Despite any personal differences that may exist between us, we have banded together to protect and improve the lives of workers. We rise up together for the greater good. We defend one another like family.—Sue Carney, APWU, 2014
While our soldiers fight overseas' to instill freedom and rights, stand on the battlefields of home and fight to keep them!—Mark Case, APWU Local 277, Western North Carolina, addressing local unions and community allies on September 27, 2011
It is always somewhat perplexing and sometimes shocking to hear, from respected unionists a lack of concern for the struggle of brothers and sisters outside their own backyards. Such failure to bear faith and allegiance to real solidarity is what lies at the heart of labor's inability to coalesce into the force that some of our greatest leaders have envisioned. We must come to the realization that we are all coworkers, brothers and sisters in the struggle with owners.—Donald L. Foley, APWU National Business Agent (posting on 21st Century Postal Worker)
Win by persuasion when possible. Beat them at the table when necessary. And give 'em hell generally.—Donald L. Foley, APWU National Business Agent
[W]hat this Union needs is more union workers and fewer union bosses.—Donald L. Foley, APWU National Business Agent (posting on 21st Century Postal Worker)
We are all here because we want to serve our brothers and sisters, and each individual should be given a constant opportunity to do that in the ways that will best benefit the Union as a whole.— Peter Holter-Mehren, WAPWU President (2002)
Each of us has the power to be good or to be evil. That choice is yours and yours alone. The tragedy of our world is not that so many have chosen to be evil, but that so few have made any choice at all. —Martin Johns, Red Bank Local, APWU
There may be a tomorrow or there may not, but there were and are those moments when we come together and put our selves beyond the reach of self and acknowledge that we are all one.--Michael P. Kaehler, Saint Cloud MN Area Local APWU
The next time you wonder what the union does for you, take a look at the car you drive, the house you own, the standard of living you have, and realize that the union got these for you and that management is hell bent on driving your standard of living into the ground.—Tom Kelly, Local President (VT) APWU
The Union is not a fee-for-service organization, it is a family.—Sue Carney, APWU Director of Human Relations
At the core, labor unions (we) are working men and women, unified as one force. Despite any personal differences that may exist between us, we have banded together to protect and improve the lives of workers. We rise up together for the greater good. We defend one another like family.—Sue Carney, APWU, 2014
While our soldiers fight overseas' to instill freedom and rights, stand on the battlefields of home and fight to keep them!—Mark Case, APWU Local 277, Western North Carolina, addressing local unions and community allies on September 27, 2011
It is always somewhat perplexing and sometimes shocking to hear, from respected unionists a lack of concern for the struggle of brothers and sisters outside their own backyards. Such failure to bear faith and allegiance to real solidarity is what lies at the heart of labor's inability to coalesce into the force that some of our greatest leaders have envisioned. We must come to the realization that we are all coworkers, brothers and sisters in the struggle with owners.—Donald L. Foley, APWU National Business Agent (posting on 21st Century Postal Worker)
Win by persuasion when possible. Beat them at the table when necessary. And give 'em hell generally.—Donald L. Foley, APWU National Business Agent
[W]hat this Union needs is more union workers and fewer union bosses.—Donald L. Foley, APWU National Business Agent (posting on 21st Century Postal Worker)
We are all here because we want to serve our brothers and sisters, and each individual should be given a constant opportunity to do that in the ways that will best benefit the Union as a whole.— Peter Holter-Mehren, WAPWU President (2002)
Each of us has the power to be good or to be evil. That choice is yours and yours alone. The tragedy of our world is not that so many have chosen to be evil, but that so few have made any choice at all. —Martin Johns, Red Bank Local, APWU
There may be a tomorrow or there may not, but there were and are those moments when we come together and put our selves beyond the reach of self and acknowledge that we are all one.--Michael P. Kaehler, Saint Cloud MN Area Local APWU
The next time you wonder what the union does for you, take a look at the car you drive, the house you own, the standard of living you have, and realize that the union got these for you and that management is hell bent on driving your standard of living into the ground.—Tom Kelly, Local President (VT) APWU
...
Moe Lepore
Personally, I look forward to continuing the fight
for justice and equality on the workroom floor. APWU will never NEVER
allow [the] heinous thinking by management to continue without a battle.
It's an atrocity which must be and will be stamped out. We are American
workers and, most importantly, we are human beings!—Moe
Lepore, Boston Metro Area Local APWU (1985)
How lucky am I?—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU
We're the good guys. We get to wear the white hats.—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU
Our America is under siege. Everywhere we look labor is being attacked and, to our chagrin, so are our Veterans, elderly and disenfranchised. There should be outrage from one and all. This is OUR America, isn't it? DAMN RIGHT!—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU (2003)
Labor needs to stand up and take America back for the people. We need solidarity. And its got to go on today. Let's put our stamp on this country!—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU (7/27/04)
Our struggle is the struggle of every working man and woman in America. We built this country, we have fought and died in its wars, paid our taxes and built every road and building in it, from one coast to the other. And all we've asked in return is a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU (2010)
Implementation of knowledge is wisdom.—Mike Levine, Red Bank Local APWU (attributed)
If you never assume importance, you never lose it.—Mike Levine, Red Bank Local APWU (attributed)
If they're cutting your legs out from under you, that just means you're taller than they are; if they stab you in the back, it's because they can't face you.—Mike Levine, Red Bank Local APWU (attributed)
We must explore different means of communicating with our members and put in place the mechanism to deliver our message.—Bill Lewis, APWU, President Trenton Metro and NJSPWU
One of my favorite jibes is, "I like you. I'll try to protect you when the revolution comes." I've been a little nervous about using it lately.—Sterling Nusbaum, APWU (WV)
Tough times will not last forever; only tough leaders do.—Alberto Ortiz, APWU, Puerto Rico Area Local (as posted on 21st Century Postal Worker)
I'm a representative not a judge, our members are judged by management every day, they don't pay dues to their union to be judged again.-- Leo Persails, APWU
I don't wear a tie because it is a symbol of management. I don't think like management, I don't act like management, and I damn sure don't want to look like them.-- Leo Persails, APWU
Only a fool would blame the membership for the problems of a union which their elected leaders can't solve or recognize.-- Leo Persails, APWU
The members of the APWU are the USPS. Management can never share that title because the only mail they ever move is from one side of their desk to the other.-- Leo Persails, APWU
I show supervisors and managers the same respect--or lack of it--that they show me.-- Leo Persails, APWU
How lucky am I?—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU
We're the good guys. We get to wear the white hats.—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU
Our America is under siege. Everywhere we look labor is being attacked and, to our chagrin, so are our Veterans, elderly and disenfranchised. There should be outrage from one and all. This is OUR America, isn't it? DAMN RIGHT!—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU (2003)
Labor needs to stand up and take America back for the people. We need solidarity. And its got to go on today. Let's put our stamp on this country!—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU (7/27/04)
Our struggle is the struggle of every working man and woman in America. We built this country, we have fought and died in its wars, paid our taxes and built every road and building in it, from one coast to the other. And all we've asked in return is a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.—Moe Lepore, President Boston Metro Area Local APWU (2010)
Implementation of knowledge is wisdom.—Mike Levine, Red Bank Local APWU (attributed)
If you never assume importance, you never lose it.—Mike Levine, Red Bank Local APWU (attributed)
If they're cutting your legs out from under you, that just means you're taller than they are; if they stab you in the back, it's because they can't face you.—Mike Levine, Red Bank Local APWU (attributed)
We must explore different means of communicating with our members and put in place the mechanism to deliver our message.—Bill Lewis, APWU, President Trenton Metro and NJSPWU
One of my favorite jibes is, "I like you. I'll try to protect you when the revolution comes." I've been a little nervous about using it lately.—Sterling Nusbaum, APWU (WV)
Tough times will not last forever; only tough leaders do.—Alberto Ortiz, APWU, Puerto Rico Area Local (as posted on 21st Century Postal Worker)
I'm a representative not a judge, our members are judged by management every day, they don't pay dues to their union to be judged again.-- Leo Persails, APWU
I don't wear a tie because it is a symbol of management. I don't think like management, I don't act like management, and I damn sure don't want to look like them.-- Leo Persails, APWU
Only a fool would blame the membership for the problems of a union which their elected leaders can't solve or recognize.-- Leo Persails, APWU
The members of the APWU are the USPS. Management can never share that title because the only mail they ever move is from one side of their desk to the other.-- Leo Persails, APWU
I show supervisors and managers the same respect--or lack of it--that they show me.-- Leo Persails, APWU
...
Liz Powell
There has to be more in life than grievance processing.—Liz Powell, APWU Northeastern Regional Coordinator
We all have different ideas. We all have different visions. I just hope that, in the end, our goals are all the same.—Liz Powell, APWU Northeastern Regional Coordinator
Few of us would miss even $1 a day from our wallets. But we would miss these jobs if they were gone. Believe it!—Bob Pritchard, APWU National MVS Director, on the need for COPA donations
We're going to get together. We're going to stay together. We're going to fight together.—Hank Rauer, APWU, President New Jersey MidState Area Local
Prepare now so you are ready to take action immediately. —Karen See, President, Mansfield Ohio Area Local, APWU (posting on 21st Century Postal Worker)
The time has come for our leaders to lead!—Joe Shevlin, Red Bank Local APWU, Concerned Postal Worker
Change has never been accomplished by doing nothing.--Joe Shevlin, Red Bank Local APWU
Without power you have no peace.—Bob Stutts, APWU National Business Agent (posted on 21st Century Postal Worker, November 24, 2004)
I can hate the war but I will never quit loving the warrior.—Bob Stutts, APWU National Business Agent (posted on 21st Century Postal Worker, November 24, 2004)