The Political Insider

On Wednesday, the powerful American Postal Workers Union issued a statement that appears to be at odds with the Biden administration’s position on mandatory vaccination.

President Joe Biden will announce plan that will require all federal employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, or comply with what is being called “stringent COVID-19 protocols like mandatory mask wearing — even in communities not with high or substantial spread — and regular testing.”

The federal mandate may cause issues with the Biden administration, and one of the Democrat Party’s most reliable voting blocs, big labor. Several unions have voiced opposition in addition to the Postal Workers Union.

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Objections By The Postal Workers Union

In their statement, the APWU says of course, that the “health and safety is of paramount importance.” They also say that the Union has encouraged their rank and file members to get vaccinated.

However, the union interestingly notes that “it is not the role of the federal government to mandate vaccinations for the employees we represent.” 

The statement concludes, “Issues related to vaccinations and testing for COVID-19 in the workplace must be negotiated with the APWU. At this time the APWU opposes the mandating of COVID-19 vaccinations in relation to U.S. postal workers.”

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Opposition From The Unions And Within The Union

Politico reports that on Tuesday, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said that he would support federal mandate, but that may cause a split among member unions.

Notable among those member unions, the President of the The American Federation of Teachers joins the Postal workers in opposing a federal mandate.

On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs was the first federal agency to require employee vaccination or regular testing. 

Several other unions, including the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the Association of Flight Attendants have come out against vaccine mandates.

The President of the Service Employees International Union, the powerful SEIU, which represents workers in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, recently issued a statement that denounced the University of Maryland Medical System to issue a vaccine mandate for its employees.

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Postal Worker Union Is Huge Democrat Party Supporter

According to OpenSecrets.org, the Postal workers union PAC favored Democrat federal candidates in the 2019-2020 election cycle, spending roughly 85% of their campaign funds on Democrats.

In the presidential election, it should be no surprise that $10,000 went to Joe Biden. In the House, 84.3% of donations went to Democrats, 15.7% to the GOP.

Some familiar names benefiting from the generosity of the Postal Workers Union include, $10,000 to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, $7,500 to Nancy Pelosi, and $3,500 to Rashida Tlaib. 

Over in the Senate, things were pretty much the same. Democrats received 87.56% of donations, Republicans at 12.44%. Both of Georgia’s brand new Senators picked up $10,000 a piece, and Elizabeth Warren received $2,500. 

But does this beg the question, just how much money will continue to flow if big labor feels like its staunchest ally, Lunchbucket Joe, is working against them?