NALC Political Equality
By Alec Helwig
Did you know there is an upcoming NALC election for national offices? Did you know there are several people who are rumored to be running for President of the NALC?
The last few years have seen a rise in activism in the NALC for massive reform of representation at the highest levels. Because of this activism, several people from within the NALC are said to be running for national offices with the expectation to change things for the better. Variety is what makes democracy great, so having several voices to hear and choose from is wonderful.
Parties running for NALC President and other offices have previously relied solely on mailers to be able to get their message out. Mailers are the most concrete way to reach as much of your base as possible because it’s a uniform method of service (another great way we serve the nation and standardize communication!), but they can be very expensive, limiting the message candidates are able to relay to their constituents. The mailers can even be a barrier for entry into the running for a national office.
However, at the last national convention at Boston in 2024, it was voted that ad space could be bought in the Postal Record for campaign purposes. This dramatically reduced the barrier for entry for getting a campaign’s platform to their potential voters. In the end, that means more opportunity for you to learn about who is running for office and what their platform is. It doesn’t hurt that campaign promises could be written down and referenced in the future, haha!
But in all seriousness, this allows for an even more informed voter base. The information age has given us so many new methods to receive information, with podcasts being a prolific news source, but you have to know where to look for it and make the time for it. Now, that information can be mailed directly to you via the Postal Record, which is the standard for reaching letter carriers and making an impact. Democracy made this possible!
Watch for opportunities to learn about candidates in the Postal Record. Get your head in the game on this election. A lot rides on this election like it hasn’t before, and we don’t have the luxury to sit on our hands and wait for democracy to happen; we need to get informed and get involved in the process. Future contracts, quality of life on the workroom floor, and more ride on the outcome of this election.
Read more from the NALC website here.