Union Leaders

President Young gave a warm introduction to John Hegarty, the president of the 50,000-member National Postal Mail Handlers Union , saying he has been a valuable ally in postal reform efforts and dealing with the USPS.

Hegarty told the convention that the NPMHU and the NALC “have always worked together on important issues,” most recently joining forces to protest USPS’s proposal to contract out the work performed at the nation’s Air Mail Centers.

Noting that the contracts of the four postal crafts all expire in November, Hegarty said that, while not bargaining together, his union and the NALC “will share resources and coordinate for fair agreements.” In both the political and collective bargaining arenas, he said, “Our mission must be to get involved, stay involved, and get others involved.”

The union leader, who noted he has a brother who is an NALC member, also spoke about the split in the labor movement and efforts to repair the damage. NPMHU is affiliated with Laborers’ International Union of North

America , one of the unions that left the AFL-CIO to create the Change to Win coalition last summer. Hegarty said recent developments make him optimistic his union will be able to re-establish ties with the AFL-CIO in the near future. In thanking Hegarty for his remarks, President Young reiterated his declaration in his keynote address regarding contracting out—“It ain’t gonna happen!”

To mark his importance to the NPMHU, and to commemorate his abiding interest in education and training, on February 15, 2005 the National Executive Board unanimously passed the following resolution In Honor of Arthur S. Vallone:

Resolution
In Honor of Arthur S. Vallone

WHEREAS, at the time of his passing on January 30, 2005, Arthur S. Vallone served on the National Executive Board of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) as the elected Vice President for the Northeast Region; and

WHEREAS, after serving honorably in the United States Army, Arthur S. Vallone became a Mail Handler in the United States Postal Service, and held that position for more than twenty five years; and

WHEREAS, for the last fifteen years of his life, Arthur S. Vallone served as the elected President of NPMHU Local 309, which is headquartered in Buffalo, NY, and which serves more than 1,500 Mail Handlers employed within its jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS, Arthur S. Vallone repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to the membership of the NPMHU, by volunteering to serve on countless details and special projects to enhance the strength and effectiveness of the NPMHU, and to better the lives of all 50,000 Mail Handlers across the United States; and

WHEREAS, Arthur S. Vallone understood the tremendous importance of education, as he volunteered to help develop and deliver countless National-level training programs to NPMHU officers and representatives from across the country; and

WHEREAS, as committed as Arthur S. Vallone was to the NPMHU, he was even more committed to his loving wife, Kim, and to his wonderful children, Sara, Jackie, and Artie; and

WHEREAS, the elected leadership of the NPMHU seeks to pay special tribute to the life and work of Brother Arthur S. Vallone, and to honor his legacy of commitment to family, country, and Union;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NPMHU National Executive Board does hereby dedicate and rename the NPMHU National Scholarship Program as The NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone National Scholarship Program, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all recipients of the NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone National Scholarship shall be known as Vallone Scholars.

NPMHU Eastern Regional Office

1950 Street Road, Suite 315
Bensalem, PA 19020
Phone: 215-638-3188
Fax: 215-638-3573

The Eastern Regional Office is located in Philadelphia, PA. The jurisdiction of this office includes Locals 304 (Kentucky and Ohio only), 305, 308, 309 (Erie, PA only), 322, 334.

Ed began his postal career over thirty years ago at the Philadelphia General Post Office. In 1979, he became a Mail Handler at the Philadelphia Bulk Mail Center (BMC). During the 1980s, Ed served in the positions of chief shop steward and Administrative Vice President at the BMC. Over ten years ago, he was elected as the Pennsylvania State Executive Board Member (Local 308), a position that he continues to hold. Ed was appointed to his current CAD position as Eastern Region Representative in early 1993.

Ed Gallagher
Director

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Resolution In Honor of Arthur S. Vallone

NPMHU Eastern Regional Office

Resolution
In Honor of Arthur S. Vallone