LCPF Contributions
What is LCPF?
LCPF is the NALC’s Political Action Committee.
Federal laws prohibit labor unions from using member dues for supporting political candidates, contacting legislators regarding members’ interests, publicizing members’ positions on pending legislation, and lobbying congress and state legislatures regarding proposed laws that could benefit or adversely affect the members.
Corporations have no such restrictions. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2010 in the Citizens United Case that corporate spending is FREE SPEECH, and therefore, that there can be NO LIMIT on the amount of company funds they may use to influence lawmakers or fund candidates for public office. Nor are FOREIGN COMPANIES prohibited from lobbying legislators to promote laws that are favorable to their interests. Companies are using these laws to mount an all out assault on workers’ pay, benefits, and rights in State Legislatures all over the U.S, and in Congress.
Why should I contribute to LCPF?
These two factors put workers’ interests at a huge disadvantage versus big corporations. Do not believe for a minute that the Postal Service is not a big corporation. The USPS is the second largest civilian employer in the US, right behind Wal-Mart. And the USPS has a problem that other major corporations do not have: Congress can DIRECTLY regulate how we do business.
Congress, sixteen years ago, mandated that the USPS pre-pay retiree health benefits for the next 75 years, and at an annual cost of 5.5 billion dollars. This prefunding was responsible for 85% of the losses reported by the Postal service since 2007. Thanks to lobbying efforts by letter carriers and LCPF contributions we have finally managed to pass postal reform and eliminate the onerous prefunding mandate. And we have codified 6 day delivery into law.
Never, in any of our lifetimes have workers rights and protections been under attack as they are right now.
Why should I contribute to LCPF, NOW?
Beginning on August 27th all career carriers received a $2455 COLA. It is a MINIMUM of $1497 per year, meaning that all carriers will be getting AT LEAST an extra $ 57.57 in their paychecks stating on September 16th. By signing up at the Gimme Five level now, you will be donating $5.00 to protect your jobs, your families, and your retirement, and won’t even miss it because you will still be getting at least an extra $ 52.57 per paycheck. It’s like having your cake and eating it, too.
If every carrier would donate $ 5 per pay to LCPF, the NALC would have the largest PAC in the country. And, in Washington, MONEY TALKS and B.S. WALKS. With that kind of financial clout, Congress would have to take notice.
Unfortunately, whether you like it or not, this is how business is done in Washington.
Bottom line is this:
• Do you want to risk your job at this time, because of principle?
• Do you want to risk a $ 74,000 per year job because you didn’t want to spend less than 36 cents a day to protect it?
• If you don’t contribute, and you lose your job, how will you explain to your family why you did NOTHING to save it?