07/20/2016
Michael William Funk, Jr.
Candidate for National Business Agent (B)
Cincinnati Region, Clerk Division
APWU members, I, Michael William Funk, Jr., have been a union member for over 32 years. You can rest assured that I'm rock-solid union. I served in the USMC as an Electrical Engineer before being hired by the USPS in 1984. After discussions with many other union officers in the Tri-State Area, the general consensus is that we need a change. We must elect a NBA that has the proven ability to stem the tide of arbitration losses we've suffered over the last three years. I have decided to run for NBA of the Cincinnati Division (B) and I ask for your vote because, I will deliver. Although my opponents are good union people, the simple truth is, I bring to the table a certain skill set and level of success that they simply can't match. I possess the usual litany of elected positions held such as Steward, Chief Steward, Assistant Clerk Craft Director, Vice-President, President, and Arbitration Advocate. My educational accolades are too many to list ranging from multiple years of Steward Training at the Miami University, National Arbitration Training in Atlanta, to para-legal studies in college. I also have vast experience with what I call the "alphabet soup of acronyms used to impress" such as, OWCP, EEO, RA, MSPB, OIG/PIS, etc. I have handled thousands of grievances from step-1 through arbitration. Because of the large number of cases that I have processed over the years, I can confidently say that there is very little I haven't seen, from every form of discipline you can think of through multi-million dollar contract cases. I tell you this not to impress, but to inform. I know that an uninformed vote counts as much as an informed vote and elections have consequences. I take union representation very seriously and my record reflects that.
In my opinion, being there is half the battle. I have made it a priority to show support for all union Brothers and Sisters. I have walked many picket lines fighting for workers' rights. Anybody can talk the talk; I have walked the walk. If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, I encourage you to visit my page MikeFunk4NBA.
What sets me apart from my opponents is my level of success. I don't need to attempt to sway you with hyperbole because I bring real tangible results to the table. Under my leadership as President of the Cincinnati Area Local for the past five years, clerks have been awarded over $6 Million. None of my opponents can come close to this. As President, I represent over 70 offices from one clerk facilities to a large P&DC spanning Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. In addition to all the normal union activities, I have run the administrative side of our local with much success. Our finances are strong and our net worth has never been larger. I have established a clear hierarchy of officers to handle every situation adding to our local's efficiency and accountability. Our presence has increased in all offices and I hold firm to a policy of inclusion for all members. I believe that a union steward should only be limited by their own drive and that good leaders facilitate, educate, and listen.
I have successfully negotiated public and private sector contracts. Negotiation skills are paramount to achieve the best results for our membership. I never enter into negotiations without a calculated estimate of the probable outcome. You must know the bottom line to be an effective negotiator.
In 2011, we faced a proposal to close the P&DC. At first, most people said it couldn't be stopped and that we were wasting our time trying to fight it. Ignoring the naysayers, I played an instrumental role in building a broad coalition and acting as the spokesperson in a successful battle against plant closures and consolidations. I spent many tireless hours promoting our cause and coordinating a massive undertaking that made our issue the public's issue. We worked with both sides of the political aisle, at all levels of government, having countless meetings non-stop to get the truth out. Management's plans were flawed and ill-conceived and just a cloaked attempt at privatization. Eventually, management was exposed and heeded to public outcry. Knowledge gained from that experience helped me to hone the necessary skills to deal effectively in the political arena. When it comes to closures and consolidations, I am the battle tested candidate. Although, I received the 2012 OPWU Member of the Year for my efforts, knowing those 1500 jobs/families were not uprooted from their communities is where I find a sense of accomplishment.
You've heard it before, information is power. When you elect me as your NBA, I will use my position as a gateway for the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana area. There are two things necessary to improve representation throughout the Tri-State, those being the exchange of information and perfecting our strategies. You would think that this would be a top priority for any NBA; however, for the last three years the Clerk Craft has not been hitting on all cylinders. I will fix that.
Lastly, but most importantly, I am the only candidate that can boast about the level of success and experience I have had in arbitration. I have maintained a +80% win rate over several years. The reason arbitrations are so important is that each win or loss affects other cases. We can't have a NBA that loses too many cases. Once a particular issue has been decided against the union, management can't wait to wave that in front of the next arbitrator to sway her/his decision. Ask yourself, would you rather have an inexperienced NBA, one with a losing record to handle your case, or a winning NBA with a wide breadth of experience including a +80% win rate?
The answer is clear.
Vote for Michael William Funk, Jr. Thank you.
