Montana Postal Workers Unanimously Endorse Jon Tester

Rare endorsement recognizes Tester for the “fight of his life”

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana Postal Workers Union (MPWU) is delivering a unanimous endorsement to Montana farmer Jon Tester in his campaign for his reelection to the U.S. Senate, citing his fight to protect rural post offices and the jobs of rural postal workers.

The MPWU has not endorsed candidates for federal office in years, but made an exception after Tester “put up the fight of his life” to protect rural Postal Service workers.

The union offered a strong rejection of Congressman Dennis Rehberg because of his opposition to their collective bargaining rights and his efforts towards privatizing the U.S.Postal Service (see endorsement resolution below).

“From the first time we first approached Jon about postal issues, he’s been a tireless advocate for us in the U.S. Senate,” said Gary Phillippe, President of the Montana Postal Workers Union. “The fact that Congressman Rehberg sued firefighters in Billings says everything we need to know about the way he treats public servants.”

Rehberg in 2010 sued the City of Billings and its fire department after a wildfire burned near his Billings subdivision. Rehberg’s lawsuit cost taxpayers $21,000.

The Montana Postal Workers Union includes more than 500 dues-paying clerks and maintenance workers in Montana’s small and mid-size communities.

Jon Tester is Montana’s only member of the Senate committee that oversees the Postal Service and serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that allocates funds for the Postal Service.

This year Jon Tester delivered several victories for Montana post offices. He saved 28 Montana jobs by stopping the closure of Missoula’s mail processing facility. Closure would have shipped Montana mail to Spokane, Wash., for sorting.

Tester stepped up transparency requirements and standards necessary to close rural post offices in a recent Postal Service reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate. A Tester amendment included in the bill will prevent the closure of 85 Montana post offices for at least one year if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Resolution Text:

Jon Tester Endorsement

Whereas: The Montana Postal workers are convened here for the 2012 State convention and

Whereas: This Union and its members face one of the most vital political races in the nation and

Whereas: Senator Jon Tester has put up the fight of his life in Washington DC and at home to protect us and our jobs and

Whereas: Denny Rehberg has not supported our cause as a union and

Whereas: Rehberg would support privatization of the US Postal Service

Be it Resolved: That the Montana Postal Workers Union, as assembled here, Endorsees Jon Tester for the US Senate from the great state of Montana

And Be It Further Resolved: That the Montana Postal Workers assist in Jon’s reelection to the fullest extent we can under the law.

Signed by the delegates assembled:

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