AFL-CIO Endorses Boycott of Staples

Both the national and local affiliates of the AFL-CIO are supporting a boycott of Staples stores in the wake of a decision by the U.S. Postal Service to enter into an agreement with the chain to offer postal counters at some locations.

ALSO READ: Postal Workers, Others Protest Staples

The USPS is testing more than 80 "test sites" around the country and might expand operations to all of Staples stores, in an effort to compete with UPS Stores and FedEx/Kinko's locations. 

Organized labor believes this plan by the postal service is being done to harm the postal union workers who earn a lot more than workers at Staples that are non unionized and haven't "passed background checks" or "sworn an oath to uphold the highest standards of public service."

“The New Hampshire AFL-CIO fully and enthusiastically supports our sisters and brothers working in real post offices across our state and nation, and we will be boycotting staples until this unfair program is ended,” said New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie. “These Staples postal counters are staffed by low-wage, low benefit employees with little training and no credentials to handle U.S. mail. We can do better.”