Full details for the event can be found at: https://actionnetwork.org/events/protect-your-vote?referrer=jeff-larue&source=direct_link

USPS Attempts to End Per Diem at NCED

By Tom Marquez, Editor - CPWU

On November 6, 2025, the Postal Service notified the APWU of its intent to cease per diem payments for employees attending off-site training and to revert to providing three daily meals at the Three Squares Eatery located at the National Center for Employee Development (NCED). Management claims the per diem program was a “trial” and that the trial period has ended.

The Union strongly disputes this claim. The APWU maintains that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing per diem remains in full force and effect for the duration of the 2024–2027 National Agreement and cannot be unilaterally terminated by the Postal Service.

USPS’s attempt to withdraw from this MOU outside of established bargaining procedures represents a serious step backward in labor-management relations. If allowed to stand, it would undermine a program that postal  employees have relied upon during training and travel assignments.

Where We Stand Now

Originally, USPS indicated the per diem program would end no earlier than January 2026. However, to allow for further discussion between the APWU and USPS, implementation has been delayed until June 1 2026.

The Union is actively pursuing all available options, including legal avenues and the filing of national-level disputes. The APWU contends that the Postal Service’s actions violate Articles 5, 19, and 37/38 of the National Agreement. APWU President Jonathan Smith continues to engage management in negotiations on this issue.

What Your Union Needs From You

· Dates and developments may change, so keep an eye on the APWU and CPWU websites.

· Notify the Union immediately if your per diem request is denied by contacting a steward.

(Adapted from an article originally published in the Denver BMC Newsletter, APWU/Local 7029, January 2026 also written by Tom Marquez)

BMC Conference Named in Honor of NBA Craig Fisher

By Tom Marquez – Editor, CPWU

During the 2025 Bulk Mail Center Conference, a motion was brought forth to name the event in honor of Central Region-A National Business Agent Craig Fisher, recognizing his many years of service and dedication to the American Postal Workers Union. The motion received unanimous support from all BMC members in attendance and was approved by BMC Coordinator Terry B. Martinez.

Fisher, who has been a longtime advocate for the Bulk Mail Centers and their critical role in the Postal Service, expressed sincere appreciation for the recognition.

“It means a lot to me... It’s been a lifelong passion fighting for the BMCs and I think they are instrumental in the Postal Service. The package business is growing and BMCs are set up to deal with packages so they’re instrumental in the future.”

The APWU proudly honors Brother Fisher’s commitment and tireless advocacy on behalf of postal workers nationwide.

APWU Members Elect Jonathan Smith as National President

Jonathan Smith of the New York Metro Area Postal Union has been elected President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) following the tally of votes in the 2025 Election of National Officers.

Debby Szeredy was reelected as Executive Vice President.

“Congratulations to Brother Smith and all those candidates who prevailed in this election,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “I also want to salute every candidate who stepped forward to serve. Elections like these embody the strength of our union’s democracy.”

Election results were certified by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Department of Elections. Official results for all races are listed below. Winners are identified by an asterisk (*); incumbent officers are denoted by “(I)” after their name.

General & Administrative Officers

President
Jonathan Smith* – 13,545
AJ Jones – 11,855

Executive Vice President
Debby Szeredy* (I) – 13,677
Vance Zimmerman – 11,427

Regional Coordinators

Southern Region

Samuel “Sam” Wood – 717
Mike “Sully” Sullivan – 897
Al Davison – 935
Tony D. McKinnon, Sr* – 1,345

Clerk Division

National Business Agents, Central Region Chicago Region, (A)

Eric Chornoby – 483
Erika L. Williams* – 503

National Business Agents, Southern Region

Atlanta Region, (B)

Doris Orr-Richardson* (I) – 881
Stacey Sabir Brown – 439

Atlanta Region, (C)

Sandra Munoz Hernandez* (I) – 783
Keenan D. Anthony – 540

Dallas Region, (C)

Diann Scurlark* (I) – 549
Jenie Frazier – 324

National Business Agents, Western Region

Denver Region, (A)

LaMont Green (I) – 285
Joyce Muhammad* – 342

San Francisco Region, (A)

Joe Macias* – 927
Matthew Labuda – 309

San Francisco Region, (C)

Fabiola Dominguez* (I) – 868
Eric A. Van Dyke – 364

Maintenance Division

Assistant Director, (A)

Terry B. Martinez* (I) – 1,653
Curtis Walker – 1,527

National Business Agents, Maintenance Division

Central Region, (A)

Thomas Vlasek – 102
John Hunt* – 196
Kenny Carson – 121

Eastern Region

Kenneth Lester (I) –143
Antonio “Tony” Barner – 123
Steven Duckworth* – 358

Western Region, (B)

Louis M. Kingsley (I) – 253
Kyle Popek* – 313

Motor Vehicle Service Division

National Business Agents, Central Region

Mark Krueger (I) – 93
Nigel Devon Thomas* – 246
Michael Mize – 184

National Business Agents, Eastern Region

Shana Parker* (I) – 252
John Minor – 110

Support Services Division

Director

Arrion Brown (I) – 116
Kimberly A. Maurer* – 144

Retiree National Convention Delegates

Central Region

Bruce C. Jackson – 1,242
Patrick A. Chornoby* – 1,466

Western Region

Patricia A. Williams* (I) – 957
Don Cheney – 311

Uncontested National Officers

General & Administrative Officers

Secretary-Treasurer
Elizabeth “Liz” Powell (I), Western Nassau New York Area Local (NY)
Industrial Relations Director
Charles “Charlie” Cash (I), Buffalo Local (NY)
Legislative/Political Director
Judy Beard (I), Detroit District Area Local (MI)
Human Relations Director
Daleo Freeman (I), William H. Burrus, Cleveland Area Local, #72 (OH)
Organization Director
Anna Smith (I), Portland Oregon Area Local (OR)
Research and Education Director
Joyce B. Robinson (I), Richmond Virginia Area Local (VA)
Health Plan Director
Sarah Jane Rodriguez (I), Phoenix Metro Area Local (AZ)

Regional Coordinators

Central Region
Amy Puhalski (I), Western Michigan Area Local (MI)
Eastern Region
Vince Tarducci, Philadelphia BMC Local (PA)
Northeast Region
Tiffany Foster (I), New York Metro Area Postal Union (NY)
Western Region
Omar M. Gonzalez (I), Greater Los Angeles Area Local (CA)
Clerk Division
Director
Lamont Brooks (I), The Northern Virginia Area Local (VA)
Assistant Director (A)
Sam Lisenbe (I), Fort Worth Area Local (TX)
Assistant Director (B)
Ashley Cargill, Oklahoma City Area Local (OK)
Assistant Director (C)
Robert “Bob” Romanowski (I), New Jersey Shore Area Local (NJ)
National Business Agents, Central Region
Chicago Region, (B)
Devendra Rathore “D” (I), Fox Valley Local (IL)
Chicago Region, (C)
James Stevenson III (I), Detroit District Area Local (MI)
Cincinnati Region, (A)
Leo Kreyenbuhl (I), Cuyahoga Falls Local (OH)
Cincinnati Region, (B)
Michael William Funk, Jr. (I), Greater Cincinnati Ohio Area Local (OH)
Minneapolis Region, (A)
Todd M. Elkerton (I), Saint Paul Area Local (MN)
Minneapolis Region, (B)
Gregory Becker, Milwaukee Area Local (WI)
St. Louis Region, (A)
Sharon L. Curtis (I), Greater Kansas City Metro Area Local (MO)
St. Louis Region, (B)
Daniel Skemp (I), Rapid Area Local (IA)
Wichita Region, (A)
Philip D. Thomas, Omaha Area Local (NE)
Wichita Region, (B)
Emily Lain Weber (I), Wichita Area Local (KS)

National Business Agents, Eastern Region
Philadelphia Region, (A)
Kim Miller (I), Keystone Area Local (PA)
Philadelphia Region, (B)
John Louis Jackson, Jr. (I), Philadelphia BMC Local (PA)
Philadelphia Region, (C)
James DeRidder, Philadelphia BMC Local (PA)
Washington DC Region, (A)
Rachel A. Walthall (I), Baltimore Francis “Stu” Filbey Area Local (MD)
Washington DC Region, (B)
Pamela R. Richardson (I), Lynchburg Area Local (VA)
National Business Agents, Northeast Region
New England Region, (A)
Bill Mazurowski (I), Hartford Local (CT)
New England Region, (B)
Scott M. Hoffman (I), Boston Metro Area Local (MA)
New England Region, (C)
Tom O’Brien (I), South Shore Area Local (MA)
New York Region, (A)
Peter Coradi (I), Brooklyn Local (NY)

New York Region, (B)
Elizabeth “Liz” Swigert (I), Queens Area Local (NY)
New York Region, (C)
Clifton W. Johnson, Long Island Area Local (NY)
National Business Agents, Southern Region
Atlanta Region, (A)
Jim DeMauro (I), Tampa Area Local (FL)
Dallas Region, (A)
Carlton Williams (I), Dallas Area Local (TX)
Dallas Region, (B)
Charles M. Tillman (I), Dallas Area Local (TX)
Memphis Region, (A)
Joe H. Jolley, Jr. (I), Nashville Area Local (TN)
Memphis Region, (B)
Pamela Smith (I), Birmingham Area Local (AL)
National Business Agents, Western Region
Denver Region, (B)
Joseph Zamenick, Jr. (I), Phoenix Metro Area Local (AZ)
Northwest Region, (A)
Brian Dunsmore (I), Portland Oregon Area Local (OR)
Northwest Region, (B)
Morning Dunn (I), Oregon Postal Workers Union (OR)
San Francisco Region, (B)
Mike Hetticher (I), Eureka Local (CA)
San Francisco Region, (D)
Chuck Locke (I), Sacramento Area Local (CA)
Maintenance Division
Director
Idowu Balogun (I), Greater Los Angeles Area Local (CA)
Assistant Director, (B)
Jason Treier (I), Lancaster Area Local (PA)
National Business Agents, Maintenance
Central Region, (B)
Jeffrey Scott Beaton (I), Greater Kansas City Area Local (MO)
Central Region, (C)
Stephanie Logan (I), Saint Paul Area Local (MN)
Northeast Region
Dave Sarnacki (I), Springfield Mass Area Local (MA)
Southern Region, (A)
John Gearhard (I), Jacksonville BMC Local (FL)
Southern Region, (B)
Carlos Paz (I), Dallas Area Local (TX)
Southern Region, (C)
Joshua Montgomery (I), Lafayette Area Local (LA)

Western Region, (A)
Hector Baez (I), San Diego Area Local (CA)
Motor Vehicle Service Division
Director
Michael O. Foster (I), Detroit District Area Local (MI)
Assistant Director
Garrett C. Langley (I), Lancaster Area Local (PA)
National Business Agents, Motor Vehicle Service Division
Northeast Region
Rick White (I), Boston Metro Area Local (MA)
Southern Region, Southeast Sub-Region
Bruce E. Amey (I), Atlanta Metro Area Local (GA)
Southern Region, Southwest Sub-Region
Dyrike Shaw (I), Dallas Area Local (TX)
Western Region
Jerome Pittman (I), San Francisco Local (CA)

Support Services Division
National Business Agent
Orlando L. Anderson (I), St. Louis Gateway District Area Local (MO)
All-Craft National Business Agents
Alaskan Area
Vacant
Caribbean Area
Samuel A. Hernàndez Algarin (I), Puerto Rico Area Local (PR)
Pacific Area
Michael C. Vitug, Leeward Oahu Area Local 6069 (HI)
Retirees Department Director
Nancy E. Olumekor (I), Nation’s Capital Southern MD Area Local (MD)
Retiree National Convention Delegates
Eastern Region
Cynthia A. Nesmith (I), Philadelphia Area Local Retiree Chapter (PA)
Northeast Region
Leona Draper (I), Moe Biller/Eleanor Bailey Retiree Chapter (NY)
Southern Region
Patricia Ann McGriff (I), Northeast Florida Retiree Chapter (FL)