2016 will be a very busy year for the entire union, especially for those of us in Ohio.  Just take a look at things already on the schedule:

1.  OPWU Convention and election of officers.  I have already announced that I will be leaving as state president.  It is time for new leadership and I would like to work with veterans and hopefully, for Senator Brown.

2.  The APWU will also hold an election of officers starting with the nomination process in June.  This election could affect who serves you as national business agents, regional coordinator, national executive board (including president), and resident officers.

3.  APWU Biennial Convention will be held in Orlando, Florida in August.  This could bring changes to our constitution and decide on who the union supports in the presidential election.

4.  Presidential election.  Who will be the next president of the United States?  We will also be electing congresspeople and one Ohio United States Senator.

5.  Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Sometime this year we will have a new contract.  We are currently in the arbitration process and that will probably last until the early fall.

Add all of these things to the normal business of the union and it is easy to see that we will be very busy in 2016.  

One thing that I did not list but is still of importance is the continuing battle over postal reform.  We have been waiting more than SIX years for congress to do something about the USPS.  How much longer will it take to get them to do anything?  Even just providing for the Postal Service to get into banking would be a major step in the right direction, but who knows when anything will get done.  My guess is not very soon.

Terry Grant, President OPWU AFL-CIO