Metro Postal Union Leader Is Challenged

Metro Postal Union Leader Is Challenged

Voting has begun in elections for the New York Metro Area Postal Union (MAPU), which is part of the national American Postal Workers' Union.

Nearly 8,000 ballots were mailed March 27, said Clarice Torrence, president of MAPU. Members need to return their ballots to the American Arbitration Association. Votes will be counted April 21.

A 4-Slate Race

There are 31 positions to be filled in upcoming elections.

MAPU represents postal clerks, mail processors and maintenance and motor vehicle workers at facilities in Manhattan, The Bronx and New Jersey.

Four slates are running in these elections, with three of them headed by current or former union leaders.

Ms. Torrence, from the Power to the Workers slate, is seeking her second threeyear term as president.

Former MAPU President William Smith, who was elected in 1999 in a special election monitored by the state's Department of Labor and then unseated in 2003 by Ms. Torrence, is running on the Members First slate.

Joann McNeill is running on the Experience slate, which has ties to the Josie McMillian team that was in power until 1999, and relative newcomer Tyrone

Robb, who was previously chief shop steward for the union, is running on the Ray of Hope slate.