President Dimondstein salutes the role of postal workers
‘Like other frontline workers, postal workers have been nothing short of courageous in these dangerous and stressful times.’
President Dimondstein salutes the role of postal workers
One of the issues facing the Committee discussed was the setting of mail standards. The draft legislative language included provisions that would allow the USPS to lengthen delivery times for certain classes of mail. Media reports, which were confirmed by the Postmaster General in his responses, indicated that changes to service standards, which would permanently slow the mail were included in the draft 10 year plan.
In his testimony, President Dimondstein spoke up for prompt mail delivery standards. “Current delivery standards should not only be upheld and met, but restored to the July 2012 level.
The Postal Service must not be allowed to artificially “improve” their performance scores by further lowering service standards,” President Dimondstein said. “This is no time to shutter or further consolidate processing facilities and post offices which will only further delay the mail and drive away postal customers and revenue. The law requires, and the people deserve ‘prompt, reliable and efficient’ service.”
President Dimondstein Testifies
President Dimondstein Testifies
APWU President Mark Dimondstein testifies to the House Oversight Committee, Feb 24, 2021.
The reported plan to reduce service standards for first-class mail was also criticized by members of the committee. During his allotted time, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) asked Postmaster General DeJoy to explain the “logic of eliminating First Class service which generally delivers the mail in roughly two days and moving instead to a three-to-five-day window. How will that improve the appeal and the resilience of the post office?” Raskin asked.
Rep. Jamie Raskin: How will that improve the appeal and the resilience of the post office?
Rep. Jamie Raskin: How will that improve the appeal and the resilience of the post office?
‘How will [mail delays] improve the appeal and the resilience of the post office?’ Asked Rep. Raskin (D-MD-08)
‘Postal banking represents a unique opportunity to provide incrased revenue for the Postal Service while advancing the cause of economic justice.’
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07).
During her allotted time, Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO-01) questioned Chairman Bloom and Postmaster General DeJoy on the current makeup of the Postal Board of Governors, its unfilled seats, and a lack of diversity across the Board. At the time of the hearing, the board was made up exclusively of white men.
Rep. Cori Bush on the USPS Board of Governors
Rep. Cori Bush on the USPS Board of Governors
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO-01) questions Postmaster General DeJoy and Chair of USPS Governors Bloom about the racial and class composition of the Board of Governors in the House Oversight Committee Feb 24
The Postal Service 10 year plan will likely be released before the end of March and we expect that the House Oversight Committee will publish actual legislation in due course. APWU national officers will continue to engage and, as always, members will need to keep the pressure up on all of our elected officials to ensure that our jobs and the future of our public Postal Service are safeguarded.
