[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4136-S4137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MOE BILLER

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, 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.

[[Page S4137]]

  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. As we wish Moe congratulations on this, his 60th postal 
anniversary, we look forward to many more years of visionary leadership 
on his part.
  Congratulations, Moe Biller.

                          ____________________