WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 3 President David Grosskopf, Jr. strikes a pose in his Suburban Buffalo Union Hall with a stuffed lion, which is the identifying symbol of the Concerned Letter Carriers, a non-profit group striving to establish and maintain strong, capable and dedicated leadership within the NALC.  Grosskopf is heavily involved in the effort, just one of many initiatives Branch 3 has been involved in during 2024.    (WNYLaborToday.com Photo)

(CHEEKTOWAGA, NEW YORK) – What a year it’s been for National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 3 - and 2024 isn’t even over yet!

It started earlier this year with Branch 3’s involvement and successful fight to keep Buffalo’s United States Postal Service’s (USPS) Buffalo/William Street Processing Facility, that was targeted for closure, open - which was publicly noted and lauded by not only the Western New York Labor Community, but the City of Buffalo, among others.

Then it was Branch 3 President David Grosskopf, Jr. getting personally involved in the Concerned Letter Carriers Organization, a non-profit group striving to establish and maintain strong, capable and dedicated leadership within the NALC. 

And if that wasn’t enough - a number of Branch 3 Members have continued to be recognized for what they do in the Western New York Community by their National Union, including some who’ve come to the rescue and/or saved the lives of those they deliver mail to on their routes.

“It’s been a ‘super-busy’ year,” Grosskopf told WNYLaborToday.com during a recent interview at the Union’s Offices near the Greater Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Suburban Cheektowaga. 

Under the rallying cry of “This Is Not What Western New York Wants,” NALC joined with its Brothers and Sisters at the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) to stop the USPS’s plan to move some mail processing functions from Buffalo to Rochester (For More, Go To: 'This is not what WNY wants': Picket to save USPS facility on William Street - wkbw.com)).

Besides reaching out and receiving the support of a number of important and influential Federal, State and Locally-Elected Representatives, the Union held several rallies outside the William Street Facility during an intense Community Campaign, which was ratcheted up when 500 people crammed into a room to voice their displeasure during a public hearing as another 200 who loudly raised their objections outside the building because there was no more room inside.

“We’re ‘extremely proud’ for preserving the Processing Center.  ‘I cannot tell you how many in NALC and the APWU (American Postal Workers Union) have called from across the country asking me for a blueprint, tips and pointers on how they can do the same.’  We had (500 inside) at their public meeting and another (200) outside.  Our Members and Retirees ‘loved this stuff,’ including being on the picket line.  Our Retirees ‘showed up in force on the line’ and asked: ‘Where do you need me to go next?’  ‘They were ready at a moment’s notice,’” Grosskopf said.

It was not only NALC and APWU Members who got involved in the successful effort, but those NALC Retirees who “stood up in force,” Grosskopf noted: “Here in Buffalo, our Branch and our Members ‘are being recognized for what we did.’  At the annual Juneteenth Parade, people on the parade route called out: ‘Those were the guys who fought to keep the distribution center open.’  It was ‘pretty amazing.’”

But the accolades did not end there.

NALC Branch 3, its Leadership and Membership received recognition, awards and proclamations for their efforts from the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF), the Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ) and the City of Buffalo during several high-profile dinners and events, as well as a special proclamation from U.S. Congressman Tim Kennedy.

“‘It’s been crazy,’” Grosskopf (Pictured Below, Accepting Congratulations During The Ceremony Held At Buffalo's City Hall/Photo Courtesy Of NALC Branch 3) said.  “(NALC Branch 3 Members and their Union) have been treated like celebrities.”

Grosskopf posted this afterwards on Branch’s 3’s Facebook Page: “Labor is the community - the community is labor.  Labor must protect the community at all times - even if that means putting our Local’s agendas aside and sacrificing until the community is safe.  NALC and the APWU defended our communities.  On behalf of the NALC, I'd like to thank the Communities of Buffalo and Rochester for coming out and standing shoulder-to-shoulder telling the plan was DOA (Dead On Arrival) in Buffalo.  Buffalo is a Union City.  Rochester is a Union City.  Western New York is a force in the Labor Movement.  Thank you to everyone that made this happen.  For those about to go through USPS consolidations around the country, stand and fight.  You can do this, you can win.  Buffalo has proven it!  Don't let anyone tell you any different.”

On another front, Grosskopf has gotten deeply involved with NALC’s Rank-and-File Membership across the Nation who are looking to change the way their Union is run.

He’s part of the Concerned Letter Carriers Group (www.concernedlettercarriers.com) - a non-profit organization striving to maintain strong, dedicated leaders within NALC, and whose goal is to encourage and support leadership where integrity and total commitment to the Membership is the number one priority. 

Right now, NALC Members across the U.S. are voting on a new contract offer from the USPS.  Some are unhappy with the deal, saying they were “insulted” by what the USPS has offered (For More, Read: Rank-And-File Letter Carriers ‘Insulted’ By USPS’ Pay Offer - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York)

Inside Grosskopf’s Union Office, you cannot help but notice a large stuffed lion, the symbol of the Concerned Letter Carriers Group. 

It’s a reminder to NALC’s old guard - “The ‘lions are coming,’” he said.

“We’ve had leadership ‘failures and issues that have not been addressed properly,’” Grosskopf continued.  “We ‘need to put NALC on a footing where is way - back on top of scale in terms of pay and benefits.’  ‘We need to protect our Membership and do the right thing.’  Nationally NALC has (175,000) Active Members.  The next election (for NALC National Officers) is in 2026, so we’re building our network.  I’m running for a National Trustee position (with the Concerned Letter Carriers), while remaining President of this Local (Grosskopf was re-elected to a new three-year term that ends in 2027).  ‘We’re on the right track and moving in the right direction, but we’ve got to get more of the Membership engaged and we need our younger Members involved.’”

On another front, Branch 3 - which has grown to more than 2,000 Members and now represents the vast majority of Letter Carriers working in the far Western Regions of New York that encompasses 37 Postal Installations from Batavia west to Westfield and from Newfane south to Olean, is continuing an amazing run of recognition of its Western New York Membership with a total of 60 being honored as NALC Heroes for a number of good deeds, as well as three Eastern NALC Heroes of the Year recognitions.

From helping an incapacitated elderly Woman who’d fallen inside her home to helping evacuate residents from a smoke-filled apartment building to saving an elderly Woman from her burning mobile home - all have been amazing acts of courage, heroism and compassion.

“Our Members are ‘highly visible’ out in the public ‘and they are out there, every day, looking out for the people who live on their routes,’” Grosskopf (Pictured Below/WNYLaborToday.com Photo) said.  “They ‘stand up for them and they stand us for us (like they did in Branch 3’s fight to keep the William Street Processing Center open) and that’s the way it should be.’”