Bob James
WSALC President

The Washington State Association of Letter Carriers is dedicated to serving the Letter Carriers in our state in accordance with the NALC Constitution. Our role is to support our National and our Branches is in organizing and in the political arena and legislative process.
As a New President and Congress take over the running of our government, it is very important to Letter Carriers, Active and Retired, to remain watchful and more importantly, involved. Involved to the point that our Congress and President know where Letter Carriers stand on issues that face the Postal Service, our jobs, benefits and retirement. Many of the newly elected, both Republican and Democratic, are our friends. We must work with them for the betterment, under trying circumstances, of reduced volume and need for our services, to make sure that the Postal Service, not only survives, but thrives in a difficult economic climate. Our country faces many problems. Economic problems that demand changes in policy and direction. Many problems that our nation's funds are being spent on. In this atmosphere, we must be vigilent that the Postal Service is not used as a cash cow and that unionized Letter Carriers are not subjected to the negative attacks that have been directed at other Unionized workers in our country.
I would like to point out legislation that the WSALC is involved with helping to pass. First, is the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The American Middle Class has deteriorited in recent years. I believe, a return to prospersity is accomplished through setting national policy and goals through what is best for the hard working women and men of our country and EFCA does just that.
Second, is the Sick Leave Reimbursement legislation. Many of our NALC members belong to the FERS retirement system. This legislation, in different forms, allows for accurred sick leave to be paid money at the time of retirement for saving and not using sick leave. These are just two of many legislative issues that we must work on.
In 2008, WSALC, in conjuction with the National NALC, and the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) was quite active in the LABOR 2008 program. President Young activated Letter Carriers, who working with the WSLC, made phone calls, knocked on doors and did all the tasks that helped get Labor endorsed candidates elected. I am most grateful working with the WSLC, National Business Agent Paul Price, his staff, and Oregon Letter Carrier Kevin Card, that we had a very large and successful LABOR 2008 Walk in the Olympia area of our state.
Looking forward to this year, WSALC will be sending Letter Carriers to the WSLC Conference in Olympia. WSALC will be sending Letter Carriers to Washington DC to meet with our Congressional Delegation on our issues.
I believe that through working with our friends we can forward our concerns and issues in this new year. Bob