December 2025 Update
2025 is drawing to its conclusion and it has been a year defined by struggle, accomplishment, and some significant successes. Of course, as the calendar turns to 2026 there will be issues remaining from this year that will need follow up. That is the natural consequence of continuing to pursue issues to their conclusion.
New Year’s Day marks only one hard fast change and that's the change to the Local Union’s Fiscal Year. Although, that alone places numerous tasks and deadlines on our horizon.
Significant changes churned around us like a hurricane in 2025; and that makes looking back at events earlier in the year almost seem like a lifetime ago. In addition to a high volume of grievances, new equipment was deployed in several facilities, subcontracted work was insourced, and a significant number of MHAs were hired, many of whom were quickly converted to full-time career Mail Handlers. Some of these changes have been pursued to their conclusion, while others remain as part of our continuing and permanent industry.
2025 started out with an arbitration victory in the Minneapolis Branch, we conducted an almost year long organizing drive, we attended a Legislative Conference and fought for our Members on Capitol Hill, we played our part in defeating the most anti-Postal employee legislation in recent history, we brought the value of the Mail Handlers Benefit Plan to the attention of thousands of Postal and Federal employee, and every day we fought to protect the rights of the Membership on the workroom floor. We attended national meetings and seminars, conducted Branch meetings, Steward meetings, and training sessions.
During 2025 Local 323 received national awards for our high level of Membership and for our successes in marketing the Mail Handlers Benefit Plan. To call Local 323 a nationally recognized award-winning Local Union would not be an exaggeration. Still, (OK – here I go) while our accomplishments have been significant, this is not a time to rest on our laurels. We must continue our efforts at building a more robust culture of Member engagement, a culture with greater Member participation in the enforcement of the contract on the work floor, a culture where Members decide to serve other Members by becoming representatives, and a culture which recognized the Member as the most important person in the Local Union.
We have a great momentum propelling us into 2026 and we will continue to build a stronger Local Union. There is great potential within Local 323 and that potential is you the Member. We’re all familiar with the slogan “Join the Union – Join the Fight” and I’ll leave you with this thought for your consideration. “Join the Union – Join the Fight” doesn’t end when you enroll in the Union, that’s when it begins.
JL