Support James Stevenson for Industrial Relations Director

APWU Sisters and Brothers. For those who do not know me my name is James Stevenson III and it is my intent to seek the position of Director of Industrial Relations for the APWU in 2025. I do not come before you with negative comments about any past or current leaders but rather I would like to present a picture of who I am, what I stand for, and what I would like to accomplish as your Director of Industrial Relations. I believe that a Candidate's own body of work speaks volumes versus simply criticizing another.

People often ask me, "Well, how do you feel about the other guy?" My response to that is simply this, "It is very easy for others to sit back and say that you should have done this or you should have done that when you are not playing in the game or you are not in the boxing ring. It is called, "The Arm-Chair Quarterback." I believe that people respond the best way they know how based upon the fact circumstances that are before them." For every person that agrees with your decisions there will be another who does not so you make the best educated decision you can utilizing the resources presently at your disposal.

I am currently and have served in the position of National Business Agent (Clerk Craft) for the Central Region-Chicago Office for the past ten (10) years but I have consistently assisted NBAs in both the Motor Vehicle, Maintenance Craft, and Support Services. I have served as a National instructor for the APWU Arbitration School under the guidance of the incredible Joyce Robinson since 2015. I am also a National Instructor on Discipline, Hostile Work, excessing, and Fighting Postal Closures and Suspensions to name a few. Prior to becoming a National Officer I was the Clerk Craft Director for the Detroit District Area Local and a State of Michigan Area2 Director, former Shop Steward for the NALC (38 years postal employee). I attended the University of Detroit as a full-time college student (Business Major) prior to beginning my postal career at age 19.

What I bring to the table is an extremely aggressive but legalistic style of representation as I was a Civil Rights Investigator for the Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit for twenty (20) years (under the guidance of the legendary and late Clifford Schrupp) in which I became quite familiar with applying law to the representation of aggrieved individuals. This is in conjunction with representing postal employees from all crafts and unions before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in which I went toe to toe with actual USPS attorneys in open court on matters of law. I have also had training in investigations with the United States Justice Department. On March 07, 2014 I was selected out of over 200 candidates to be an Equal Employment Specialist [GS-260-9] with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Resolution Management. I elected to remain with the APWU but it was an honor and privilege to be selected to investigate complaints and facilitate justice for complainants within the Veterans Administration. During my tenure as a local Union official I also served on the Metropolitan Detroit AFL/CIO Diversity Committee.

Recently completed a 3-day EEOC trial in which I represented two (2)clerks who were just being treated horribly. As opposing counsel was a United States Postal Service attorney I successfully defeated both a Motion for Summary Judgement and a Motion for Directed Verdict. Currently awaiting a judicial verdict.

COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO APWU AND EMPLOYEES:

The USPS retaliated and illegally fired me twice for three years after winning multiple grievances which included $90,000 for the clerks at my station. I performed my Union job full-time “off-the-clock” for 3 years without compensation and without medical benefits. The USPS paid nine (9) officials to appear and testify at my hearing to make sure I did not receive unemployment benefits. It took almost 2 years but I defeated the USPS and made State Law at the Michigan Employment Security Commission which benefited Postal employees throughout the entire state. The USPS thought they could break me by “starving me out” but my commitment to my job and the members I served was unwavering in the face of extreme adversity. Trust me Brothers and Sisters I know first hand what you are dealing with on the floor.

I have prevailed in winning the first Class Action grievances in the history of the APWU awarding monetary damages for Hostile Work Claims, Race Discrimination (Benton Harbor Michigan), and Sexual Harassment ( Palatine Illinois). The Palatine Illinois Sexual Harassment award is the first Class Action Arbitration award in APWU history awarding monetary damages to our young female PSE sisters who were being victimized.

Non-Compliance is a prevalent problem in all Unions but I was fortunate to prevail in a Landmark award on Non-Compliance which I refer to as the "Jordan Rules" [Arbitrator Michael S. Jordan-not to be confused with the NBA legend Michael Jordan] which NBAs and advocates across the country are utilizing to seek extensive extra compensation not only for the members but also direct payments to the Union for what is legally referred to as "Frustration of Mission and Diversion of Resources.”

When a USPS Labor Specialist assaulted a Local Vice President in New York I was honored to come in and prevail in that zero-tolerance arbitration which resulted in a Cease and Desist of violating Publication 552 (IMIP)[Great job local parties].

When a Local President from the Maintenance Craft was wrongfully terminated in California I was honored to come in and prevail in that arbitration. The USPS brought in an actual attorney and two labor specialist to no avail. The APWU was victorious. I thank Bobby Donelson and Former NBA Shirley Taylor for their assistance.

When an MVS driver was wrongfully terminated in Detroit I was honored to represent him in a Postal Inspector’s interview and serve as Technical assistant and primary witness in his successful employment arbitration resulting in full back pay. It was a great experience being the technical assistant for the Former MVS National Business Agent Merlie Bell who always did an amazing job.

Major Negotiated items:

1. Illinois-Michigan Global TACS Settlement and Directive: Covers every local and USPS installation in the States of Illinois and Michigan preserving Time and Attendance Work for the bargaining unit. Resulted in negotiated settlements in the millions.

2. $600,000.00 negotiated settlement for improper usage of PSEs at the Troy Call Center.

3. $1,000,000.00 negotiated remedy on the improper usage of 204b's.

4. $500,000.00 negotiated settlement and the creation of over 30 new bargaining unit positions and PSE conversions to career.

5. $500,000 negotiated settlement on the improper utilization of carriers/supervisors performing bargaining unit work.

6. $1,000,000.00 negotiated settlements in returning seventeen (17) terminated employees back to work in a single month.

I stand firmly behind locals and their leaders. The USPS often targets active local Union leaders (it is called "cutting the head off the snake"). When the USPS goes after our local leaders I have gutted the USPS in arbitration and prevailed in returning numerous APWU Local Leaders back to their employment in all crafts utilizing Federal and State Law as well as the CBA. This is not including the millions of dollars in back pay obtained for our wrongfully terminated brothers and sisters on the floor.

When the USPS improperly excessed our Sisters and Brothers from Detroit to Pittsburgh wreaking havoc on family relationship and finances I wrote a grievance which prevailed in arbitration putting $2,000,000.00 in the employee's pockets and brought them back home to their loved ones.

In Chicago I obtained a landmark settlement for $500,000, the creation of 36 new career positions, and the conversion of 36 PSEs to regular for working alone on DBCS violations.

More recently, I wrote the Arbitral Brief that resulted in an Arbitration award which allowed locals to go right back before the original arbitrator for adjudication instead of starting the grievance machinery anew. Locals always have the right to file non-compliance as appropriate and should be utilized accordingly.

I do what people say cannot be done including prevailing in the first Federal Lending Discrimination Lawsuit in United States history which was not overturned on appeals. I originally could not find an attorney to accept my case so I taught myself law at Wayne State University Law Library. After prevailing in Federal Court I was a guest speaker for years at the University of Michigan Law School and Wayne State Law School.

{see Healing Stories Summit: The James Stevenson Story U-tube}

The Law professor at the University of Michigan who invited me as a repeat guest speaker to her law students was none other than the highly respected Federal Judge Judith Levy who is widely known for approving the $626 million settlement for the victims of the Flint water crisis. It was an absolute privilege and honor presenting to her law students as Judge Levy is an outstanding jurist but more important she is an absolute wonderful person. The class was also jointly taught by Former United States Department of Justice Attorney for the Eastern District Saul Green.

In January 2025 I represented employees from Lansing Michigan before an EEOC Administrative Law Judge in which the complainant was awarded $25,000.00 in non-pecuniary damages after a full trial- the USPS was represented by a skilled attorney. The Judge also recommended that the Postmaster be disciplined.

Sisters and Brothers I have utilized the National Labor Relations Board with great success obtaining recently a Landmark Global Settlement in Illinois covering multiple installations, multiple locals, and multiple crafts to protect and preserve the rights of both our locals and members. Additionally, in my first year as an National Business Agent I filed NLRB charges against the USPS for refusing to schedule enough arbitrations. This is in addition to obtaining the Landmark 2012 NLRB Consent Order which has been expanded to incorporate multiple unions.

I am going to be honest with everyone there is one thing that I do like more than Union work and that is Coaching kids soccer which I have done for the past fourteen (14) years because teaching, mentoring, and being there for our children is more important than anything as they are our future. Nothing compares to the smile on a child's face when they believe they can accomplish anything. Just so you know, my 6-7 year old age group team was “undefeated” this year. [Little Champions and future leaders]

APWU family, we are facing unprecedented challenges and we must evolve in our fight or we will not survive that which is to come. I firmly believe that my unique set of skills, experience, body of work, and "out of the box thinking" makes me uniquely and ideally situated to provide the necessary tools in sustaining Postal employment for our members and Postal Service to our valued customers in the community.

Running for National Office is not a simple or easy task as national mailings and campaigning are extremely expensive (nationwide mailings cost tens of thousands dollars) but I am hopeful that you all will support me in this endeavor to become a productive and effective leader of the American Postal Workers Union. Change is here Sisters and Brothers as we are facing extinction level events and I am the individual who is prepared to utilize any and all resources to deal with that change.

I thank all the APWU Officers, stewards, and members who have contributed to my success and the APWU's success as we are nothing without our boots on the ground stewards who are catching hell on the floor.

God Bless our Country and God Bless the APWU.

James Stevenson III

Candidate for Director of Industrial Relations