Two Organizations
On These Things We Agree
by David Rupert
Much ink has been spilled on the "two becoming one" proposal for our Postmaster organizations. It is difficult for either organization to easily shed 100 years of history -- of separation. But times are difficult and we should not be overly distracted with internal squabbling. I believe that there are answers to be had. NAPUS President Charlie Moser's approach is "let's do it now." League President Joe Cinadr has countered that the real crisis lies in legislative and financial difficulties faced by the Postal service and that the unification issue can be worked out over time.
The answer I believe is somewhere right in the middle. There are far too many assets and plans and problems to do it right this moment. Yet neither should some facts be ignored. Historically, each Postmaster organization started at different ends of the spectrum, and were not borne out of competition. The League of Postmasters was formed by fourth class Postmasters who had no representation. The National Association of Postmasters of the United States was begun at the behest of the Post Office and for many years excluded small post offices.
Those differences are now gone as both serve all Postmasters, offering basically the same services. Each has a different slant, and some have suggested that a third slant would better serve postmasters. The best thing about two organizations is the checks and balances. Each competing organization must offer something to membership rather than simply serving the beast of the structure. History, pride, and past pains keep both organizations at odds -- so much so that even the talk of unification is laced with barbs.
There are some steps that I believe can break this stalemate. We should first begin at the basest level. A document should be composed entitled "This We Believe". It should start with Postmasters rights and core beliefs. We then could agree in principle on the following items:
1) Joint statements: No organization should issue a statement without the other organization's consent and knowledge. Speak with one voice. This posturing to `one up' the other organization is wrong.
2) Joint legislative issues: We should begin to coordinate and lobby and work a legislative agenda together. Legislators will listen to Postmasters if we can convey the same message.
3) Encourage Joint State Conventions: We can never get along at the national level until we agree at the state level.
4) Publications: Beginning with the state and working our way to the national level we should combine our magazine and communicative efforts.
5) Consultation: We should never be at the table alone - we should be a united front. Shunning another organization while at the same time talking about cooperation is counterproductive.
6) Future Conventions: Each organization has national conventions planned at least four years out with contracts in place. We must stop the long independent planning now and figure out a timeline for a joint convention.
7) Finances: A workgroup should be put into place now to discuss money, as this bone of contention will be strongest in the future.
Once this groundwork is laid, then other structures could be built, or dismantled on its base.
Of course, fierce loyalists on each side will disagree, but these few simple things can start the ball rolling toward unification, or it could open up the vaults of reality so that each party will recognize that becoming one is an impossibility.
As Postmasters, there are so many things that we desperately need. Division and infighting are not among them. Let's cast aside inflammatory remarks and get down to the business of our noble professions. We have mail to deliver. We have customers to serve. We have a service to preserve. Let's do it in one spirit.