Re-Elect Daleo Freeman for Human Relations Director
Hello APWU Family,
I respectfully request your support and vote for me to continue as Director.
After arriving in Washington, D.C. in April of 2022, I embraced the responsibilities of this office, had a vision for the future, and a plan to get the job done. Fulfilling the duties of the office and making a difference in the lives of our members has been rewarding.
I intend to continue preparing and directing programs as outlined in our Constitution and Bylaws. Having resurrected all the program areas of the Department (Equal Opportunity, Civil and Community Service and related programs such as OWCP and Veterans Rights), together, we have made great strides in providing the needed resources for members.
The appointment of Regional twenty Resource assistants to assist with OWCP and EEO matters on an as needed basis aligned with my objective to keep members informed, included, and involved. Your input has been an integral element that has contributed to carrying out the vision and making the Department successful.
I took some risks and implemented innovative strategies to achieve departmental goals. I will continue to provide strong leadership and make hard decisions.
We began implementing convention resolutions as we stood with the Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington. The support of “more than 140 million poor and low wealth people of every race, creed, religion, in every region of this country,” demonstrates the type of unity that is needed for all working people to prosper.
Under my direction, we have participated in activities that help build the labor movement. We stood with workers in other countries to strengthen worker power. We defended human rights.
We mobilized from the inside. The internal and external components are complementary, not exclusionary. We worked on achieving the goal of building a national system of local and state Human Relations Directors/Representatives to carry out departmental objectives to the benefit of members at those levels, similar, to the Veteran’s Network that we established.
Our multi-dimensional approach prioritized utilizing resources that extend beyond the grievance procedure. In accordance with our Constitution and the will of the Council and the membership, the Department we worked diligently to expand on protecting members’ rights through collective action on the workroom floor. Knowledge is the key and communicating this knowledge opens the door.
There is more to do and accomplishing these goals involves having a comprehensive plan and vision. The Department has been planning and setting goals to determine what is expected and to assess the status of the Department as we go to another level. We want to keep going.
After evaluating the Department and recognizing that many workers need assistance with OWCP education and the processing of their claims through the system, the necessary assistance was being provided. We have appointed OWCP field representatives to assist members in all five regions. The representatives conducted training programs and assisted locals in their fights to make sure all injured employees are taken care of correctly and efficiently.
We worked toward making the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) function properly. Consistent talks and resolution meetings took place. Members were made aware of the EAP. The Department will continue to put forth a strong effort to ensure that our veterans who have served this country are supported, and have their contributions recognized. Veterans deserve to enjoy the rights and benefits that they are afforded.
Natural Disasters are inevitable and the APWU will continue the joint efforts with the Postal Service in a humanitarian effort to assist workers in their time of need. The Postal Employees Relief Fund (PERF) will continue to be administered efficiently.
The need to bolster civil rights is clear. Internally, the handling of EEO cases will be prioritized. Externally, issues to be tackled include, but are not limited to stopping voter suppression, becoming an anti-racist society, supporting human rights, fighting for diversity and more.
The APWU will need to build new coalitions and strengthen the ones we have. Coalitions of diverse interest groups that join the human and material resources to produce changes that are unable to be delivered individually are required. We’ll aim to involve members and their families in organizations that work alongside the APWU to address the issues that affect us. Building these coalitions will give us an avenue to effectively unite and strengthen the movement by addressing our common concerns.
National involvement has always been important to me. I have served on the National Constitution Committee three times and the Rank & File Committee twice. I have served on Young Worker Panels at All-Craft Conferences. I have served as Local President of the William H Burrus, Local 72 for ten years and as the Ohio Postal Workers Union Vice-President for three years.
I am proud to be a member of the Leadership 2025 Team. If elected I look forward to continuing to work with this diverse team of leaders that have demonstrated that collective action by members, activists, officers, and allies is key to protecting our rights and benefits on the workroom floor, in the halls of Congress and in the corporate arena.
Transparency will continue to be integrated in the operation of the Human Relations Department.
