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. ² As of the 2020s, NAPFE remains a primarily African-American labor union. ³ NAPFE has 4,923 active members in 116 chapters across the U.S. ⁴ According to its Labor Department annual reports, the organization did not engage in lobbying or political activities in 2020, 2019, or 2018. ^{5 6 7}

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. ²

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. ² In 1965, National Alliance expanded its membership eligibility to all federal employees and became the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE). ² As of the 2020s, NAPFE’s membership remains predominately African American. ⁸

Janice F. Robinson has been the president of NAPFE since 2018. ^{9 10} She supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement. ^{11 12}

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. ¹³

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. ^{4 14} NAPFE’s largest chapter has 745 members and is located in Hialeah, Florida. ¹⁵

NAPFE’s labor relations program primarily focuses on representation, training, education, and technical assistance. ¹⁶ 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. ^{17 5 6 7}

NAPFE also operates a management division ¹⁸ for individuals who hold supervisory positions in postal or federal service, a retiree’s division, ¹⁹ and a youth division constituted of minor dependents of NAPFE members aged 8 to 18. ^{20 13} The labor union also operates a scholarship fund for dependents of NAPFE members. ²¹

NAPFE has contended that “unsanitary, unsafe and low paying work has been “traditionally reserved” for African American men and women ¹³ and complained about Trump administration border policies in its January 2019 newsletter. ²²

Previously, NAPFE represented the World Confederation of Labour (which later joined the International Trade Union Confederation) in North America. ²³

Funding

In 2020, the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees reported revenues of $1,363,150 and expenses of $1,299,418. ²⁴ Of NAPFE’s 2020 revenue, $944,471 came from agency fees and the union’s $25 monthly member dues. ^{25 26}

1. “Welcome to NAPFE.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees.” Accessed July 2, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/.
2. “History of NPAFE.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/about-napfe/history-of-napfe.html.
3. Carpenter, Daniel. “American Democracy Is in the Mail.” Boston Review. September 10, 2020. Accessed July 2, 2022. https://bostonreview.net/articles/daniel-carpenter-american-democracy-mail/.
4. “Result Set – Union Search.” United States Department of Labor.  Search Tool. Accessed June 30, 2022. https://olmsapps.dol.gov/query/getOrgQryResult.do.
5.  “National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees.” Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2). 2020. Schedule 16.
6. “National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees.” Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2). 2019. Schedule 16.
7. “National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees.” Annual Report of a Labor Organization. (Form LM-2). 2018. Schedule 16.
8.  Carpenter, Daniel. “American Democracy Is in the Mail.” Boston Review. September 10, 2020. Accessed June 30, 2022. https://bostonreview.net/articles/daniel-carpenter-american-democracy-mail/.
9. “About NAPFE.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Accessed June 28, 2022.
10. “NAPFE Newsletter January 2019.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. December 28, 2018. Accessed June 30, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/publications/napfe-president-newsletter/254-napfe-newsletter-january-2019.html.
11.  “Janice Fisher Robinson.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-fisher-robinson-b321596b/.
12. “Image.” Janice Robinson LinkedIn Profile. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-fisher-robinson-b321596b/overlay/background-image/.
13. “Membership.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Accessed June 30, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/membership.html.
14. “Districts and Locals.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Accessed July 2, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/about-napfe/districts-search.html.
15. “Local Union 322.” Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-4). 2021. Items 9-18.
16. “Labor Relations.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Accessed June 30, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/services/labor-relations.html.
17. “Legislative Division.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Accessed July 2, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/napfe-legislative-division.html.
18. “Management Division.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Workers. Accessed July 2, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/membership/napfe-management-division.html.
19. “Retirees Division.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Workers. Accessed July 2, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/membership/napfe-retirees-division.html.
20. “Legislative Division.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Accessed June 30, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/napfe-legislative-division.html.
21. “Ashby B. Carter – J. Leon Henderson Memorial Scholarship Fund.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Accessed June 30, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/services/ashby-b-carter-memorial-scholarship-program.html.
22.  “NAPFE Eagle News.” National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. January 2019. Accessed June 30, 2022. https://www.napfe.com/attachments/article/254/NAPFE%20Eagle%20Newsletter%20January%202019_.pdf.
23. “World Confederation of Labour (WCL).” Union of International Associations. Accessed July 2, 2022. https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100014273.
24. “National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees.” Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2). 2020. Statement A-B.
25. “National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees.” Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2). 2020. Statement B.
26. National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees.” Annual Report of a Labor Organization (Form LM-2). 2020. Items 10 Through 21.