Brenda Middleton APWU President-elect for Local 299

TIME TO VOTE!
CHECK YOUR MAILBOX EVERY DAY BECAUSE BALLOTS ARE IN THE MAIL.
PLEASE DO NOT DELAY AND MAIL IN YOUR BALLOTS BACK RIGHT AWAY.

In closing,
If you are happy with what has been going on in our APWU Local 299 union for the past 20 years and want a continuation of these policies - then, I’m not your presidential candidate.

If you want chaos and strife with the intention of burning down management for personal financial gains, then I’m not the one.

The truth of the matter is that the Austin Area Post Office and its surrounding cities are in flux with possible upcoming changes that may have already been decided on at the national level by USPS management. Most importantly, technology with the intention of replacing human workers and/or shifting clerk work to other crafts is at our doorstep and may soon be a reality.

When elected, my job as your Local 299 President is to make sure that any job abolishment and/or excessing are done contractually in accordance with Article 12. I will fight to maintain all bargaining unit work for the APWU craft employees with Article 37. I will ensure that management follows Article 14, Article 38, and Line H for maintenance. Additionally, in the MVS division, I will make sure that Article 32 and Article 39 are being contractually applied.

Two of my opponents want you to believe that I am not knowledgeable or have much experience in labor issues and the grievance procedure process. They also want you to believe that because in the past, I was detailed in management for most postal operations and now work in the Administration Support Office (A*O), that I am close to management. To be very clear, I was lied on and have been treated in the most underhanded and reprehensible way by the very management team that I work closely with daily. So, no - I am not close to management. Please do not be fooled and led astray by their fear tactics.

Sadly, instead of some outgoing leadership for the past 20 years leading by example with helping navigate a peaceful transition of power and promoting positivity, they want to influence this election towards their preferred candidates by behaving in unethical ways with crafting biased and untrue campaign flyers that are being distributed throughout our coverage area about some of the other candidates and me. Their blatant interference in our campaign is causing doubt and apathy amongst our union members with some even telling me that they want out of the union because of their behavior. You must ask yourself, why are some of these officers who are leaving doing this to our local?

Please do not fear the most needed change in our union leadership because under my direction, I will be present in person with rotating locations that we represent by not hiding in the union cube so that I can be visible and available to your needs as a union member.

I will periodically work remotely at the Annex, PSA, Customer Service City Stations, and Associate Offices that fall under the APWU Local 299 umbrella so that you can interact in person with me. Grievances will be filed timely and the next APWU Local 299 team will notify you immediately of all status changes so that you have a direct say as to how the union proceeds with your case. The automatically kicking these grievances up to Step 3 will be closely monitored by me. We will return your call within 24 hours. No more leaving voice messages into the answering machine void with the hopes of a return call.

I ask you to fill in the rhyming blanks:
If you want more of the same, then vote for _________ _________
If you want to agitate then vote for _________ _________
If you want new heights, fresh beginnings, and our APWU Local 299 to win, then vote for Brenda Middleton!

No Middle Ground Brenda Middleton for APWU – Local 299 President

MALGA = MAKE AUSTIN LOCAL GREAT AGAIN!

I represent: Education, Class, Integrity, and Strength. Camera ready for the media (as seen in my other campaign flyer that shows my various professional pictures). I am versed in all aspects of political and social issues that tie directly into our jobs as federal workers because what is possibly coming down the line requires this attention and the support of the public.

With me at the helm, the dysfunction in our local union finally ends and the true leadership begins. Moreover, the games from management stop or the grievances and labor charges start.

I am the change agent. I am the resistance. I am not our current APWU Local 299 top brass establishment’s endorsement pick and I am the candidate that management does not want in this position!

The choice is yours as to what happens next and I hope that after your research all the presidential candidates, you will choose me to take APWU Local 299 to new heights!

In Solidarity and Respectfully,
Brenda Middleton

Today’s the day! 🌅📬 Letter carriers across the country are heading out on their routes with one extra mission: collecting your donations for the Food Drive.

If you haven’t already, there’s still time to help! Just leave a bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox before your carrier arrives. Every can, every box, every bag helps stock local food pantries and put meals on the table for families facing hunger.

For more than 30 years, NALC members have proudly led this effort while continuing to serve their communities on their regular routes. Today, we’re grateful for every carrier stepping up and every neighbor lending a hand. Let’s make a difference together!

💌📫🇺🇸

If you ask us, 250s never looked better 🤷

Happy International Workers' Day! Today, I stand with others at a VOCAL-Texas event to demonstrate the strength and solidarity of the labor movement. ✊🏾

It was great standing in unity and solidary with the NALC Branch 181 at a rally in Austin, TX on March 23, 2025!

My name is Brenda Middleton and I am asking for your vote to become our next APWU President - Local 299.

We are at a pivotal point in the United States Postal Service and the overall labor movement for federal employees; therefore, it is very important that we have someone at the helm who is efficient in their verbal and written skills to help rally our supporters in these upcoming difficult times.

As a 30-year career Postal federal employee who worked in several positions in the clerk craft and detailed as a supervisor in both mail processing and customer service for several years, I have vast knowledge and experience about Postal operations to help navigate us in the next phase of any possible changes by management or government officials to the APWU craft. During my time in management, I was trained on all Postal operations (Plant and Customer Service), TACS, eRMS, Safety - OSHA policies, the ELM, Labor Rules, and EEO-Redress.

I have been a continuous APWU union member from the first day of my Postal career which started in 1996. As serving on the Executive Board as your Legislative Director since 2018, I provided information to our local on how legislation in Washington, D.C. affects our jobs and the importance of us voting for all elections. Since we are in Austin, the Capital of Texas, it is time for our Local 299 to take the lead whenever our national officers call for a day of action with demonstrations by being on the steps of the Texas State Capitol or at any local area Post Office to rally others in the public to our cause. As a delegate with the Austin Central Labor Council (CLC), I fostered connections with other labor unions and leaders within the AFL-CIO and politicians who are willing to help us with our cause. Now is the time to meet the moment! Standing idly by as some in Washington D.C. promote union busting at federal agencies and with them possibly dismantling our institution which has been around for 250 years – even before the formation of our great Republic, comes to an end once I am elected as President.

I have been trained by the APWU at the state and national levels on the grievance procedure process, the Roles/Responsibilities for Lead Clerks, small and large offices issues, PSEs, OWCP, Wounded Warriors leave for our veterans, and the overall labor movement.

I have the necessary leadership, strength, integrity, and honesty for this top position. I will not promote myself in any self-serving tactics, back dealing gimmicks with management that goes against our membership, or gatekeeping to our members.

I will hold management accountable with their actions if they go against our contract toward the VMF, maintenance, and clerk craft(s) by filing grievances and labor charges immediately.

I am not here to make friends or to be liked. I speak the truth even when it is not popular regardless of who is in the room or how anyone will feel about me afterwards, and I will always have the APWU crafts’ interests as my top priority when dealing with management!

If elected as President APWU - Local 299, I, Brenda Middleton will:
1. Provide full transparency with all financial decisions. Including itemized financial reports which will detail all expenditures line by line.
2. Cut all unnecessary spending - including eliminating donations to non-member union individual or groups.
3. Update and modernize our APWU - Local 299 website.
4. Implement the electronic grievances procedure process.
5. Keep our APWU - Local 299 union members who opt in to receive text or email messages informing us about our local activities and key legislation concerning our jobs.
6. An advanced agenda for our monthly meetings.
7. Establish educational workshop opportunities for future labor union leaders.
8. Have union membership engagement activities and sponsor union member appreciation events for our local.
9. Have a steward program that will consist of active current USPS employees (not USPS retired employees) because it is crucial to have people in these critical positions who are personally affected by the day day-to-day interactions with management. Also, this will reduce spending.
10. Provide modernization and forward thinking - which are essential to future sustainability and growth by taking our APWU -Local 299 to new heights!

I have fought the good fight for myself with management, pushed back on union busting government officials who may want to dismantle our institution by selling our organization to the highest bidder, and if given the opportunity, I will be honored to fight for you, APWU Local 299 too!

Due to my vast knowledge and experience, my campaign slogan is as follows: “I am the person that management does not want in this position!”

ON JUNE 1 2026, BALLOTS WILL BE SENT TO THE MAILING ADDRESS THAT IS IN YOUR EMPLOYEE FILE.

ALL BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN ELECTION DAY: BY 11:00 AM ON JUNE 26, 2026.

In Solidarity and Respectfully,
Brenda Middleton
[email protected]