Thomas Daschle: “today I want to recognize one of America's great labor leaders--Moe Biller, president of the American Postal Workers…”

“today I want to recognize one of America's great labor leaders--Moe Biller, president of the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO--on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of his hiring by the Postal Service. On May 8, 1937, Moe Biller was hired as a postal clerk in New York City by what was then called the U.S. Post Office Department, beginning a long career of service to the American public. At the same time, Moe became a postal union member and activist--a journey that led him to the presidency of his New York City local in 1959 and then to the presidency of the national APWU in 1980. Moe's six decades of service included 2 years during World War II in the Army's Adjutant General Corps from 1943 to 1945, where most of his service was in Northern Ireland. We thank him for this service as well. Moe's steadfast and determined struggle on behalf of all postal workers led to enactment of the Postal Reform Act of 1970. By virtue of that legislation, postal workers were given the right to bargain for wages, benefits, and working conditions under the National Labor Relations Act. These events also led to the merger of five separate craft unions into the APWU in 1971, an historic event in postal labor history in which Moe played a leading role. At 81 years young and still going strong, Moe has rightfully been called the ``dean'' of the American labor movement and is held in high regard within the highest councils of the AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions.”