Postal Workers, Supporters Hold Picket

Members of the American Postal Workers Union held an information picket at the Post Office on Goffs Falls Road in Manchester on May 14.

The event was part of a National Day of Action by Postal Workers and supporters across the country to demand improved postal services and to protect good, living-wage jobs, according to a press statement.

Nationwide protests took place on the 14th, with the APWU contract with the U.S. Postal Service set to expire on May 20. There are widespread reports of severe delays in mail delivery. Postal workers will ask customers to sign postcards to the Postmaster General urging her to return to vibrant, timely service that maintains living wage jobs, keeping our communities strong.

“We’re standing with consumers demanding a return to better service,” said Dana Coletti, President of Manchester Area Local, “and we’re asking our neighbors and customers to join us in asking for a fair contract that protects good, living-wage jobs in our community.”

“Postal workers are fighting for a vibrant, public Postal Service that expands hours, offers new services, and gives quality service to people across the country – no matter who they are, where they live or how much money they have,” said national APWU President Mark Dimondstein.

During contract negotiations, the APWU has made the unprecedented move of bringing consumer issues to the bargaining table, insisting that quality service is crucial to creating a strong public postal service.

In addition to proposals that would protect good, stable jobs, postal workers are demanding extended hours at post offices to shorten customers’ wait time in line, an end to the closure of mail sorting centers, restoration of prompt mail delivery, and the addition of postal banking.

• USPS has abandoned overnight delivery in local communities, causing serious delays in mail delivery.
• Savings associated with the reduction in service standards is highly questionable
• Rural communities are most severely impacted

Although revenue from first-class mail has been declining, package volume – largely due to the growth of e-commerce – has been rapidly expanding and the USPS, not funded by taxpayers, is on track to earn a substantial operating profit again in 2015.

Follow American Postal Workers Union on Facebook and Twitter, #0514Action.