National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Alamo Branch 421

Zoom Meetings

Topic: September General Branch Meeting

Date and Time: 7:00 PM September 14, 2023

Meeting ID: 910 4501 0739

Message from Tony Boyd, Retired Branch President

Letter Carriers, Exercise Your Right to Vote!!!

Brothers and Sisters,

I am reaching out to all of you because although I have been retired for over a year and a half, I keep informed by attending the monthly meetings, conventions, etc., because the union is just as important to me now as a retiree as it was when I was an active letter carrier. At the October 2022 union meeting, I was informed that only 43 percent of our eligible members voted during the 2020 general election, and frankly, this news has been bothering me ever since, so I felt compelled to speak out on this extremely critical issue.

Regardless, if you are single, married, with or without children, voting has an influence on you and everyone you love and care about. Why? Because voting creates change. As a letter carrier and union member, your vote also has an impact on your job, your career, and the U.S. Postal Service. The most recent example of this was the passing of the Postal Reform Act of 2022 (H.R.3076). If you do not know about it, Google it or go to NALC.org.

For those of you raising children, you have an even greater incentive for voting. As parents, we embrace and appreciate the idea of wanting a better life for our kids than what we had growing up. Even if you had a good upbringing, you still want a better life for your little ones. Besides the work you do, the saving, the time and money spent on them, and all the other sacrifices you make to give them a better life, voting is one of the most impactful things you can ever do for your children’s future as well as yourself.

In this current day, anyone who believes that voting does not matter is just blind to reality. Our entire history as union and as a nation is direct evidence and proof that voting matters. The NALC was formed by letter carriers voting in 1889. More recent, the contract and benefits you currently enjoy were negotiated and voted on by our union. Women achieved the right to vote in 1920. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed (by voting) to prohibit discriminatory practices that prevented people of color from voting (primarily in southern states – including Texas). As recent as the late 1950’s and 1960’s, San Antonio, the very city we live and work in, was segregated to the point that letter carriers of color (black and brown) could not eat at certain establishments or deliver mail in certain neighborhoods. Voting changed that by putting in place people and rules that abolished that nonsense. Voting matters.

No matter what your ethnic background may be, you owe it to your predecessors, your loved ones, and yourself to exercise your right to vote. Your right to vote was hard earned and in some instances, people sacrificed their life for the privilege you enjoy today. When you do not vote, you are guaranteeing that your voice will not be heard and that any changes you that want to see will not happen. Is that how you want to be seen, as a non-entity? When you do not vote, that is exactly how you are viewed – as nothing, invisible. As the saying goes, “we don’t mind, ‘because you don’t matter.”  

As letter carriers, it is just our fate that we must extensively use the voting process to remind this country, state, and city, that we – letter carriers, do matter. It is a challenge we must embrace and accept EVERY election cycle, especially now. Brothers and sisters, we are a force to be reckoned with both individually and collectively when we make it clear to our elected officials and those aspiring to be elected, that ignoring our concerns comes with a price to pay. You cannot send that message if you do not vote. Forty-three percent of our members voting is unacceptable. We can and MUST do the right thing…VOTE!

Tony Boyd, President (Retired)

NALC Branch 421

WELCOME TO BRANCH 421 IN SUNNY SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS!

We are pleased you found your way to our website.

Here you can find out more about our association,get to know our members, and stay informed of those things that affect us all, as letter carriers, postal workers and union members!

We would also like to welcome you to visit us in person !

We strive to keep up to date information and resources available for our stewards use,as well as provide interesting and informative information for all members and their families.

If there is anything that you would like to see on our website,please feel free to contact the webmaster at:

webmaster@nalc421.com

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide training and support for the Chief Stewards and Stewards that represent our union brothers and sisters in the field. To protect and fight for the contractual  rights of Letter carriers. To provide information, support and guidance to letter carriers and their families

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Provide notice to all managers

Letter Carriers from Branch 421 will not be intimidated, abused, or threatened in any manner by members of management.  There are no exceptions to this policy for any reason.  Violations of this contractually guaranteed right will not be tolerated.  

Louise Jordan, Alamo Branch 421 President

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Provide representation to the following merged cities: 

 Beeville - Boerne - Carrizo Springs - Converse - Cotulla - Crystal City - Devine - Eagle Pass - Floresville - Hondo - Jourdanton - Karnes City - Kenedy - Nixon - Pearsall - Pleasanton - San Marcos - Schertz - Seguin - Universal City - Uvalde - Yoakum

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