Meeting the Candiates - Human Relations Director
MEET the Candidates
APWU Human Relations Director Election
– Questions & Answers
Each candidates’ answers alternate between
questions and are in different color as shown below.
Initials are bolded for each candidate at the end of each answer.
Daleo Freeman (I) –
Candidate for APWU Human Relations Director
Doris Simmons -
Candidate for APWU Human Relations Director
1.
Please tell our members about yourself. Years of service with the USPS Union and
Offices held.
Daleo Freeman - I am currently serving
in the position of Director of Human Relations after being appointed by
President Dimondstein with the Approval of the Executive Board.
I became a Postal Worker and APWU member in September of 1994. I
decided to join
the fight in 1998 and became a Steward. I was elected President
of the William H.
Burrus Cleveland Ohio Areal Local 72 in 2012 after serving as
Vice-President. I was
elected Director of Industrial Relations of the Ohio Postal
Workers Union (OPWU) from
2013-2016 and OPWU Vice-President from 2016-2022. I am currently
the Vice-President of the North Shore Federation Central Labor Council.
I served on the National Constitution Committee three (3) times
and was the Chair once.
I served on the Rank-and-File Committee twice. I served on the
Young Workers Panels at All-Craft Conferences as well.
Doris Simmons -
My
name is Doris Simmons, I am a Clerk Steward at the Atlanta NDC. I have 39 years
of Postal Service (Civil Service). I held the position of organization director
for 7 years. I have been helping members with their OWCP Claims/COVID. My father
was in the United States Marine Corps and my sister is currently serving in the
United States Army.
2. What
would you like to offer/accomplish with education to state and local officers?
Doris Simmons -
I
would like to set up educational programs for State and Local Officers. This
will ensure that our representatives are more familiar with EEO and OWCP
processes, to better serve their locals members. I want to go a step further to
make myself available to the membership by checking in with the Locals as the
new claims come in.
Daleo Freeman -
I am prepared to take
some risks to move forward to achieve the Department’s goals. To be successful,
the ideas, input, and informed views from state and local officers as well as
the membership will be welcomed. Two-way communication will be paramount. One of
the Department’s goals is to build a national system of local and state Human
Relations Representatives aimed at meeting and assisting members where they are.
Another goal is to utilize the resources granted to us that
stretch far beyond the
grievance procedure and use them to our collective advantage. In
accordance with the
Constitution and the will of the membership, the department will
work diligently to
expand on the protections of our members’ rights through
collective action in the field
and on the workroom floor. Knowledge is the key and communicating
this knowledge
opens the door.
3. EAP –
District Advisory Committees – how would you address the number of craft
vacancies and lack of support from the USPS to holding meetings and providing
input to National in the EAP issues from the district levels?
Daleo Freeman -
The responsibilities of
the Human Relations Department are vast, so I dare not take responsibilities
assigned to other departments according to the constitution, unless another
officer makes that request. Craft vacancies are not under the jurisdiction of
the Human Relations Department, and I have not been asked to assist with
handling any issues dealing with vacancies.
As far as EAP, I intend to make sure that employees are aware of
the services and take advantage of them as the need arises. I have already been
discussing ways to improve and address the numerous EAP issues. There will be
consistent talks and resolution meetings to assure that members receive our
support. I will work to make sure that District Advisory Committees function as
they are intended to.
Doris Simmons -
I would address the absence of support the regarding the EAP
District Advisory Committee’s meetings by proposing a consolidation of the
District committees to get more people together at the same time to try to
streamline the functionality of them and reduce red tape.
4. How
would you improve the accuracy of the membership rosters for the locals? There
seems to be a disconnect between the locals and HQ resulting in a discrepancy.
Doris Simmons -
I would like to see a semiannual or quarterly, member and
non-member lists. And work with the National Organization Director efficiency of
communications with the Locals.
Daleo Freeman -
I must reiterate that
the responsibilities of the Human Relations Department are vast, so I dare not
take responsibilities assigned to other departments according to the
constitution, unless another officer makes that request. I have not been asked
to assist with the handling of membership rosters and the need to do so has not
been presented to me.
5. Tell
the members something positive about your opponent.
Daleo Freeman -
While I do not know my
opponent well, I assume that she is a member to be able to run and I applaud her
for that. Also, I intend to continue to run a clean campaign based on my record
and facts and hope that my opponent will do the same.
Doris Simmons -
Mr. Freeman was a President of a Local in Cleveland which shows a
commitment to the Union.
6. As HR
is responsible for the accurate recording of membership for both active dues
paying members and retirees who are full dues paying members for voting, how do
you plan to update this process and ensure that the members receive their
ballots and are not overlooked on contract and election voting?
Doris Simmons -
I will work with the Organizational Director to see what I can do
to help ensure that the active dues paying member and the retirees receive their
ballots by tracking them through the mail.
Daleo Freeman -
Again, I must reiterate
that the responsibilities of the Human Relations Department are vast, so I dare
not take responsibilities assigned to other departments according to the
constitution, unless another officer makes that request. Some may mistakenly
believe that HR (Human Resources) and Human Relations are the same thing. The
two are different. Further, I have no proof that what is alleged is a problem
and I have not been asked to assist.
7. Are
you running as part of a group/team or not? Please explain your reason for
running
your campaign this way.
Daleo Freeman -
I am a proud candidate
with the APWU Solidarity Team because the current leadership
has demonstrated that collective action by our members activists,
officers, and allies is
the key to protecting our rights and benefits.
The diverse makeup of the Solidarity Team and solid vision of the
best path forward for
our union’s future, will keep the momentum going to best protect
our interests.
Doris Simmons -
I
elected to run on my own and not as a team because I want to show my individual
strengths. No matter who's in office I am a team player.
8. What
is a long-term goal that you would like to set into motion that may take longer
than just one term, yet would be welcomed by your successor?
Doris Simmons -
My
long-term goal is to set in motion a way that our members can continue to get
knowledge and training needed to ensure that my successor can easily incorporate
that will continue the betterment and livelihood of our membership.
Daleo Freeman -
I intend to direct the
activities of the department in accordance with the constitution and the will of
the members, so I would hope that my successor would want to build on everything
that I do. The goal is for the betterment of all our futures. Everyone is
responsible for keeping the labor movement alive, growing, and well. This
election and holding office should not be about personalities, but who can and
will do the work.
One long-term goal that may take more than one term is my goal of
connecting all locals
and states, including Members-at-Large, small, medium, and large
locals, to deliver
programs that assist members with their concerns.
9. OWCP
is a hot button issue with the members and additional training is needed to
allow the Local HR Directors to be more effective, how will you address this?
Daleo Freeman -
After evaluating the
Department and recognizing that many workers need assistance with OWCP education
and the processing of their claims through the system, I have retained our
Specialist as a consultant. Also, we have began vetting and appointing OWCP
Regional Resource Assistants to assist members in all five regions. The Regional
Resource Assistants will conduct training programs and assist locals in their
fight to make sure all injured employees are taken care of correctly and
efficiently.
Doris Simmons -
This
has to be addressed through consistent communication with the Department of
Labor, to ensure training is readily available and an open discussion between
the members and local personnel to identify problems and conduct more training
in person or zoom meetings.
10. Any
additional statement that you would like to close your interview?
Doris Simmons –
As the
proud daughter of a United States Marine who proudly served his country, I look
forward to serving the Members of this great Union if elected, I would like to
bring onboard a retired veteran to make sure their voices are heard
Daleo Freeman –
To summarize, I must note that it is important that everyone
understand the role of the Human Relations Department as outlined in our
National Constitution and By-laws. If members know what the job entails, then
expectations will be reasonable, and members can correctly evaluate the goals
that have been and will be accomplished.
All the duties of the department are important, and I will
endeavor to balance them all,
refraining from letting one aspect of the responsibilities
overshadow the rest. I will
concentrate on mobilizing from within and empowering members. The
human aspect of
union business will always be observed.
I appreciate the opportunity to respond and I hope that my
answers will not be
changed. I trust that you have asked all that you want to know. I
have web articles and
literature that all members can review. For further questions, go
to the Solidarity Teams
website