Bargaining Update: Lockdown Week Begins

APWU President and Lead Negotiator Mark Dimondstein updates members as "lockdown week" begins for negotiations. Listen and learn more.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Greetings APWU family.
This is Mark Dimenstein, APWUpresident with a second update on the
progress of national negotiations.
As you all know, our main collectivebargaining agreement union contract
expires this Friday on September 20th.
I reported to you last week that we willbe locking down with management to try

(00:22):
to make real progress and hopefully,and we're certainly striving for a new
agreement by the end of the contract,
I'm reporting to you directlyfrom a hotel in Washington, D.
C.
I assure you we're not on vacation.
Your hardworkingnegotiating team is at work.
Your executive board is here.
A number of business agents whohave been helping throughout the

(00:44):
summer and now are also here.
Engaging in the real negotiationand tough negotiating process.
So here we are, we've submittedover 100 proposals from the
union side to management.
They've submitted about 20 to us and thenegotiations get more intense all week.
We're here 24 hours a day.

(01:04):
We're going to keep you posted.
And by the way, you allhave a role to play.
No, negotiations are not easy.
They're not quick.
But when you put on your union gearand you say union proud, say it loud.
Good contract now.
Management gets the message.
So this is a particularly goodweek to wear your union gear,
especially this Thursday.

(01:26):
We're going to continue to keep youposted through our website, through
social media, through videos likethis and stay strong, stay spirited.
We're in a fight together.
Solidarity forever.
And see you next time in afew days with a new update.
Solidarity.