Less than two months ago, the world as we knew it changed. For the first time in our lives, we are facing a global pandemic. Your National Board has worked day and night to stay on top of rapidly changing information about COVID-19 and its impact on the Postal Service and our bargaining unit, conferring with Postal headquarters, and keeping the field informed about changes to work rules and procedures.
Unfortunately, the state convention season never got started. Every state association made the difficult decision to cancel its state convention. We fully supported these decisions. For many weeks now, we have wrestled with what to do about bringing together thousands of rural letter carrier delegates and non-delegates, retirees, juniors, auxiliary members, and their families from every corner of the country for our National Convention in Spokane, Washington this August.
After considerable discussion, extensive research, consultation with numerous government officials and public health experts, and input from state presidents and their boards, the National Board has decided that in order to best protect the safety and health of our craft and our loved ones, the most prudent course of action is to cancel the 2020 National Convention.
