National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) is a small, independent labor union that represents certain postal and federal employees in the United States. [1] NAPFE was originally founded in 1913 as National Alliance by 35 African-American railway and mail clerks to prevent the elimination of African-American clerks from the Railway Mail Service. [2]
In 1965, National Alliance expanded its membership eligibility to all federal employees. [3] As of the 2020s, NAPFE remains a primarily African-American labor union. [4] NAPFE has 4,923 active members in 116 chapters across the U.S. [5] According to its Labor Department annual reports, the organization did not engage in lobbying or political activities in 2020, 2019, or 2018. [6] [7] [8]
History and Leadership
National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) was originally founded in 1913 as National Alliance by 35 African-American railway mail clerks to prevent the elimination of African Americans from the Railway Mail Service. [9]
In 1923, National Alliance became the first industrial labor union in the United States when it opened its membership to any postal employee, regardless of race, sex, creed, or religion. [10] In 1965, National Alliance expanded its membership eligibility to all federal employees and became the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE). [11] As of the 2020s, NAPFE’s membership remains predominately African American. [12]
Janice F. Robinson has been the president of NAPFE since 2018. [13] [14] She supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement. [15] [16]
Activities and Funding
National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) is a small, independent labor union that represents postal and federal employees in the United States. [17]
According to official filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, there are 4,923 active members of NAPFE in 116 local chapters across the U.S. as of 2020. [18] [19] NAPFE’s largest chapter has 745 members and is located in Hialeah, Florida. [20]
NAPFE’s labor relations program primarily focuses on representation, training, education, and technical assistance. [21] NAPFE did not engage in lobbying or political activities in 2020, 2019, or 2018 despite maintaining a legislative division that monitors federal legislation and policy. [22] [23] [24] [25]
NAPFE also operates a management division [26] for individuals who hold supervisory positions in postal or federal service, a retiree’s division, [27] and a youth division constituted of minor dependents of NAPFE members aged 8 to 18. [28] [29] The labor union also operates a scholarship fund for dependents of NAPFE members. [30]
NAPFE has contended that “unsanitary, unsafe and low paying work has been “traditionally reserved” for African American men and women [31] and complained about Trump administration border policies in its January 2019 newsletter. [32]
Previously, NAPFE represented the World Confederation of Labour (which later joined the International Trade Union Confederation) in North America. [33]
Funding
In 2020, the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees reported revenues of $1,363,150 and expenses of $1,299,418. [34] Of NAPFE’s 2020 revenue, $944,471 came from agency fees and the union’s $25 monthly member dues. [35] [36]