Gary Mullins was re-elected NALC Vice President by acclamation at the 2006 Las Vegas Convention. He begins his second four-year term ready to apply the test of practicality to the grievance-arbitration procedures.

Mullins was elected Director of City Delivery in 1998 and served in that post until February 2002, when he was appointed Vice President by President Vincent R. Sombrotto to fill a vacancy.

At President Young’s direction, Mullins heads up the union’s Contract Administration Unit, a group of NALC officers and staff who deal on a daily basis with postal management on major issues of contract interpretation and enforcement. Mullins also chairs the national Committee on Appeals.

Mullins has 35-plus years of postal experience, and his knowledge of carrier route issues and technological changes in the workplace comes both from his experience as a resident officer and his eight years as National Business Agent for Dallas Region 10. As NBA, he earned a reputation as a practical problem-solver.

A member of Wichita Falls, Texas Branch 1227, Mullins started carrying mail in 1971. He was a shop steward for 18 years and president of Branch 1227 from 1978-1990. He was also president of the Texas State Association from 1987-1990.

As NBA, Mullins worked to expand the Union-Management Pairs process and the Modified Article 15 and 16 programs—precursors to the Dispute Resolution Process.

He laughs as he recounts how he got active. “I was putting up mail at my case, complaining about my working conditions and asking what has the union done for me today. Someone said, ‘Why don’t you do something about it—or shut up?’ As you can see, I’m still talking!”

Mullins holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. He married his “high school sweetheart,” Carol, and they have a son, Greg; a daughter, Allison; and five grandchildren: Garet, Gentry, T’ren, Abigail and William Ethan.